I was in my LGS today and they got in the Ruger as above, bolt action, takes 10/22 magazines etc. As is usual with .22s these days, it seemed that the rifle was tiny, made exclusively for 12 year olds who would grow out of it like a pair of shoes, and with a length of pull that nearly produced a crick in my neck right in the store- but that's likely just because I've been playing with big boy rifles almost exclusively for too long now. I have a 10/22 but I'm none too happy with its accuracy, something I blame on its being a semi-auto. On the other hand, I can't afford an Anschutz Fortner biathlon rifle right now so I'm wondering if this model Ruger will up the accuracy factor over my 10/22- while of course saving ammo when I play with it?
Questions: Ruger American Rimfire.
- Thread starter Big Bad
- Start date
The reviews I've read say it's pretty mediocre in terms of accuracy.
My 10/22 is quite accurate, usually a little under 1" for 15-20rnd groups at 50yds, but it's very picky on what ammo it will do this with. CCI Standard Velocity and Blazer (in the 50rnd trays, not the one big box) are my two go-to choices. Both are more difficult to find now-a-days.
The higher end Savage Mk.2's, especially the heavy barrel ones, are quite accurate. Of course you are looking at a couple hundred more than a Ruger American but it's the choice I'd make. Two friends of mine have them and with match ammo (mostly European brands) they can fairly easily shoot ~1/2" groups at 50yds with ideal conditions. They both have the higher end, heavy barrel versions though; somewhere around the $350-450 price point (at least they were a year ago).
Personally I use a Russian TOZ-78 (Winchester sold these rebranded as the "Wildcat" rifle for a number of years) for scoped shooting and a Shultz & Larsen M77 for non-scoped shooting (it has diopter sights). Each rifle cost me around $300 but neither are as easy to find as a Ruger or Savage. I've shot some .25" 5-shot groups with the TOZ at 50yds with perfect weather and recently put 15-rounds into a little under .75" in the M77 at the same distance.
My 10/22 is quite accurate, usually a little under 1" for 15-20rnd groups at 50yds, but it's very picky on what ammo it will do this with. CCI Standard Velocity and Blazer (in the 50rnd trays, not the one big box) are my two go-to choices. Both are more difficult to find now-a-days.
The higher end Savage Mk.2's, especially the heavy barrel ones, are quite accurate. Of course you are looking at a couple hundred more than a Ruger American but it's the choice I'd make. Two friends of mine have them and with match ammo (mostly European brands) they can fairly easily shoot ~1/2" groups at 50yds with ideal conditions. They both have the higher end, heavy barrel versions though; somewhere around the $350-450 price point (at least they were a year ago).
Personally I use a Russian TOZ-78 (Winchester sold these rebranded as the "Wildcat" rifle for a number of years) for scoped shooting and a Shultz & Larsen M77 for non-scoped shooting (it has diopter sights). Each rifle cost me around $300 but neither are as easy to find as a Ruger or Savage. I've shot some .25" 5-shot groups with the TOZ at 50yds with perfect weather and recently put 15-rounds into a little under .75" in the M77 at the same distance.
If I had a choice, it would be the RAR.
I bought a compact model and I'm not displeased with it.
As a matter of fact, I prefer shooting it over my CZ452 Scout.
No worry of marking it up and those boner mags make it sort of fun.
Sounds like you shouldered the compact model.
Try and fit a 10-22 mag into the 'Merican.
They don't quite fit. Bit fat unless I tried a dud.
I'm sure not disappointed in mine.
Gopher season is around the corner and this petite shooter will be tried out.
I did some trigger work to mine and have it sitting at around 16-18 ounces.
Put a nice Classic on it and I think it's going to be a weinner........
I bought a compact model and I'm not displeased with it.
As a matter of fact, I prefer shooting it over my CZ452 Scout.
No worry of marking it up and those boner mags make it sort of fun.
Sounds like you shouldered the compact model.
Try and fit a 10-22 mag into the 'Merican.
They don't quite fit. Bit fat unless I tried a dud.
I'm sure not disappointed in mine.
Gopher season is around the corner and this petite shooter will be tried out.
I did some trigger work to mine and have it sitting at around 16-18 ounces.
Put a nice Classic on it and I think it's going to be a weinner........
Big Bad;
Good afternoon to you sir, hopefully the weekend has been treating you acceptably well.
It sounds as if you were indeed looking at the compact model of the Ruger American - which is the one our eldest daughter picked up and is discussed in this linked post.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1213129-22LR-bolt-action-recomendations/page8
Interestingly, to see if the ammo that her rifle didn't like was less than grand in mine, I ran the Imperial and the Winchester Wildcat through my 1958 Brno on Friday and while it did better with the Wildcat - it wasn't too keen on the Imperial either. Funny how that's all we had back in the day and didn't know any different.
Our daughter commented that if one didn't have a bit of a stash to test the rifle with and only had say the Wildcat, then the review on her Ruger American would have been much, much different than it was.
We've since also picked up a hopefully better scope with an adjustable objective, so we'll put it on her rifle and wring it out when she gets back home from her latest globe trotting adventure this summer.
Anyway that's another sample of one to think about. Good luck with your rimfire rifle search whichever way you decide.
Dwayne
Good afternoon to you sir, hopefully the weekend has been treating you acceptably well.
It sounds as if you were indeed looking at the compact model of the Ruger American - which is the one our eldest daughter picked up and is discussed in this linked post.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1213129-22LR-bolt-action-recomendations/page8
Interestingly, to see if the ammo that her rifle didn't like was less than grand in mine, I ran the Imperial and the Winchester Wildcat through my 1958 Brno on Friday and while it did better with the Wildcat - it wasn't too keen on the Imperial either. Funny how that's all we had back in the day and didn't know any different.
Our daughter commented that if one didn't have a bit of a stash to test the rifle with and only had say the Wildcat, then the review on her Ruger American would have been much, much different than it was.
We've since also picked up a hopefully better scope with an adjustable objective, so we'll put it on her rifle and wring it out when she gets back home from her latest globe trotting adventure this summer.
Anyway that's another sample of one to think about. Good luck with your rimfire rifle search whichever way you decide.
Dwayne
- Location
- West Quebec
I'd get a CZ 452-455 if I were in the market for a bolt right now
A friend picked one up a couple of weeks ago and it seems to shoot quite well. We really haven't tried it on paper targets but use it to practice offhand shots at swingers. It is a bit short but nothing a slip on but pad can't fix. One thing I really do like about the short length is the ease of packing it into camp. Overall I'd say it's quite a good rifle.
If you want better accuracy in a rimfire maybe look at a .17 instead they shoot way flatter faster and further and the ammo is much more quality controlled, Ammo is a little bit more expensive then .22 but not enough to cry about for what you get its like $18 for 50 where .22 is like $12 for 50. The .22 is fun and I have a lot of fun with mine but I am heavily leaning towards going for a .17 and every store I see has .17 ammo in stock.
Wait- you're saying that regular 10/22 magazines won't work in the RAR?
Thanks for the info about ammo. If only there was an actual selection available in stores these days!
And thanks to everyone for the info and suggestions. I'm particularly interested in the RAR because I already have beaucoup mags for the 10/22, but we'll see what else I come across.
I bought a 10-22 clear mag and it wouldn't fit the mag well on my RAR.
With a bit of filing it should work.
The 10-22 mags are slightly fatter in width.
Jest me s'perience at a one time try with it.
yup. according to ruger, the clear mags were introduced in 2004 and are slightly wider than the standard black bx-1 mags.
