Ruger American....wow, what a piece of crap!

Superbrad said:
This is a weird thing I see amongst the budget gun crowd....... Why should anyone have to work on a brand new item to make it good?..... It's a rifle, not a scale model kit.....
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Brad, this was a first rifle for a boy, and most people aren't prepared to start their ten year old off with a Sako 85. We did look at other budget rifles that didn't need any fine tuning, like the Vanguard 2, but my son liked the Ruger. They're made as cost effectively as possible, and labour to finish and polish is expensive...so I get why the extra work was needed...and a couple of hours on a Sunday to sand and polish my boy's rifle so it works like a Swiss watch was time well spent. Nothing against guys that can barely replace a light bulb, though...lol...:-D
 
Hitzy said:
Because some American companies already make a decent quality rifle with an acceptable finish for $400? If Remington and Savage can do it, why can't Ruger?
I've been impressed with the value you get from a 783/Howa/Vanguard and even the lowly Axis for what they cost. The Ruger not so much. It's price point based on the example I got should be less then an Axis, it would have to be a $300 rifle to make all the short comings acceptable. In the US they are easy to find at $300 for the most part and occasionally get blown out for $200 on sale.
I've got 6 HVA's from the '40s and '50s, nobody puts anything like these out today unless it's custom ordered, the amount of work that went into the polishing, blueing, inletting, is remarkable.
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They were craftsmen that took pride in their work, and turned out art in the form of a firearm. Today, like you said, that would be a multi thousand $ custom rifle. Amongst the budget rifles we looked at for my son, I liked the Vanguard 2 the best, but he found it a bit heavy...and he chose the Ruger. So, Dad had the pleasure of sanding and polishing to finish it off...:)
 
Hitzy said:
Because some American companies already make a decent quality rifle with an acceptable finish for $400? If Remington and Savage can do it, why can't Ruger?
I've been impressed with the value you get from a 783/Howa/Vanguard and even the lowly Axis for what they cost. The Ruger not so much. It's price point based on the example I got should be less then an Axis, it would have to be a $300 rifle to make all the short comings acceptable. In the US they are easy to find at $300 for the most part and occasionally get blown out for $200 on sale.
.
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Those are all cheap budget rifles. I haven't come across an SPS or Axis I'd class as "quality".
It's a far better idea to purchase good quality used guns, like older Rem 700's,Win M70's, Ruger 77's, etc. for the price difference of only a couple of tanks of gas over the crap plastic entry level guns.
 
pisces-guy said:
Brad, this was a first rifle for a boy, and most people aren't prepared to start their ten year old off with a Sako 85. We did look at other budget rifles that didn't need any fine tuning, like the Vanguard 2, but my son liked the Ruger. They're made as cost effectively as possible, and labour to finish and polish is expensive...so I get why the extra work was needed...and a couple of hours on a Sunday to sand and polish my boy's rifle so it works like a Swiss watch was time well spent. Nothing against guys that can barely replace a light bulb, though...lol...:-D
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That's fair..... But IMOP, with today's injection moulding and compounds available, there is no excuse to have to sand down a stock so that it doesn't touch the barrel..... These budget rifles are advertised as being accurate, and there is no way you're would have met expectations if you had not intervened..... But polishing an action to make it smoother is fair....

I am actually quite handy, and like to tinker..... But I don't understand why people would accept poor product that doesn't meet advertised specifications and then take the work on themselves..... Not to mention the guys that buy a bargain rifle, do the work then get it cerakoted because of poor finish, drop a timney in it and put it in a Boyd's stock....
 
pisces-guy said:
And a lot of people these days aren't prepared to work on something to make it good...or they're hopeless when it comes to working with their hands. :)
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I don't actually care a lot about cosmetics. I shoot rifles, I don't use them as props for selfies. :)
ECONOMICAL rifles don't need to look good, they need to shoot well. There's a reason they can sell them for a lower price, and as long as that reason doesn't hurt the mechanical shooting ability then it's not a biggie for me.
 
My RAR Compact in 300blk took significant work to get mag to function properly. They're junk, no ifs and or buts here.
Took some sanding on stock to freefloat, and yep, its still a cheesy throw about plastic stock but I prefer my offroad rigs beat looking anyways.
Took a few minutes to get trigger pull down to crisp and 1.5lbs.

With a 1-4 scope on it, its a fantastic lightweight little rig (Sub 7lbs) that capable of shooting just over 1/2" with 208gr AMAX @100yds.
Sounds like a zipper when closing bolt..(oh no). Machining marks..(oh no)
Is the rifle what I would call a finished quality rifle, no. Does it shoot. Yes.
The short stock, short theaded barrel 300blk isn't the most prevalent layout out there so its kind of in a class of its own and some quirks I can deal with until I can chamber my own barrel and plunk it on an action. Its what I get.
I'm quite confident short of the mags this is going to be a favorite rifle of mine for years to come and the mags aren't really the hardest thing to figure out. Its a mag.

I've read plenty of rants on here and I'm not sure what exactly the point is? Reassurance from the cheap seats?

Not happy with it, return policy? Use it.

..end rant..
 
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Superbrad said:
That's fair..... But IMOP, with today's injection moulding and compounds available, there is no excuse to have to sand down a stock so that it doesn't touch the barrel..... These budget rifles are advertised as being accurate, and there is no way you're would have met expectations if you had not intervened..... But polishing an action to make it smoother is fair....

I am actually quite handy, and like to tinker..... But I don't understand why people would accept poor product that doesn't meet advertised specifications and then take the work on themselves..... Not to mention the guys that buy a bargain rifle, do the work then get it cerakoted because of poor finish, drop a timney in it and put it in a Boyd's stock....
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I hadn't directed that at you, Brad, by the way...I have to admit I was surprised they couldn't get the plastic fore-end to not touch the barrel! A guy would also think that having a machine or person holding a rotary fine sanding device in the path the bolt takes in the action, to smoothen it out, wouldn't add that much to the cost of the gun? I did it carefully by hand, but a quick passable job could be done with a machine... As I said, I would've bought something else, but it was my mugwump's present so it wasn't up to me. That being said, I don't mind it at all now, lol!
 
jethunter said:
I don't actually care a lot about cosmetics. I shoot rifles, I don't use them as props for selfies. :)
ECONOMICAL rifles don't need to look good, they need to shoot well. There's a reason they can sell them for a lower price, and as long as that reason doesn't hurt the mechanical shooting ability then it's not a biggie for me.
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Neither do I, but the stock contacting the barrel on one side would've had a negative effect on accuracy, and cycling the bolt for a fast second shot, if necessary, is easier when it cycles as smooth as glass. Besides, why tolerate something I can improve with a bit of time and effort?
 
Receipt said:
My RAR Compact in 300blk took significant work to get mag to function properly. They're junk, no ifs and or buts here.
Took some sanding on stock to freefloat, and yep, its still a cheesy throw about plastic stock but I prefer my offroad rigs beat looking anyways.
Took a few minutes to get trigger pull down to crisp and 1.5lbs.

With a 1-4 scope on it, its a fantastic lightweight little rig (Sub 7lbs) that shoots just over 1/2" with 208gr AMAX @100yds.
Sounds like a zipper when closing bolt..(oh no). Machining marks..(oh no)
Is the rifle what I would call a finished quality rifle, no. Does it shoot. Yes.
The short stock, short theaded barrel 300blk isn't the most prevalent layout out there so its kind of in a class of its own and some quirks I can deal with until I can chamber my own barrel and plunk it on an action. Its what I get.
I'm quite confident short of the mags this is going to be a favorite rifle of mine for years to come and the mags aren't really the hardest thing to figure out. Its a mag.

I've read plenty of rants on here and I'm not sure what exactly the point is? Reassurance from the cheap seats?

Not happy with it, return policy? Use it.

..end rant..
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Sounds like you're happy with it for what it is...an hour with some sandpaper and she'll cycle nice and slick...think on it...and it's a good excuse to drink beer...:)
 
pisces-guy said:
Sounds like you're happy with it for what it is...an hour with some sandpaper and she'll cycle nice and slick...think on it...and it's a good excuse to drink beer...:)
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I'm planning to take the route of letting the parts mate through repetitive use. And those ribs on the bolt do come in handy for holding in dry moly.
My projector screen sounds like a zipper too, should I be worried? Its not chrome lined.
 
bearkilr said:
Those are all cheap budget rifles. I haven't come across an SPS or Axis I'd class as "quality".
It's a far better idea to purchase good quality used guns, like older Rem 700's,Win M70's, Ruger 77's, etc. for the price difference of only a couple of tanks of gas over the crap plastic entry level guns.
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Have you seen or handled a Vanguard? They are beefy, smooth, made from forged steel and billet, great triggers, well finished made in Japan where manufacturing pride still exists.
I would never own a Ruger 77, cast everything, horrible trigger, all for the low low price of $1000+. Wayyy overpriced for what you get.
I have a few 700's and 70's, they are fine guns. I just don't need a $1000 gun for every application, or just to piss around with a new cartridge to see if I like it.
 
Hitzy said:
Have you seen or handled a Vanguard? They are beefy, smooth, made from forged steel and billet, great triggers, well finished made in Japan where manufacturing pride still exists.
I would never own a Ruger 77, cast everything, horrible trigger, all for the low low price of $1000+. Wayyy overpriced for what you get.
I have a few 700's and 70's, they are fine guns. I just don't need a $1000 gun for every application, or just to piss around with a new cartridge to see if I like it.
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Lol.... More M77 for me.....

I agree on the Vanguard.... But it's at a higher price point to the point that it is entry mid level and not "budget"
 
Hitzy said:
I would never own a Ruger 77, cast everything, horrible trigger, all for the low low price of $1000+. Wayyy overpriced for what you get.
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Yeah, cast to perfection........ ;)

I'm a 77 Hawkeye fan, the American, not so much.

The TC Venture would get my nod for the entry/mid level class. Lots of people pass by it for whatever reason, but they are great value for the money.
 
GMC403 said:
Yeah, cast to perfection........ ;)

I'm a 77 Hawkeye fan, the American, not so much.

The TC Venture would get my nod for the entry/mid level class. Lots of people pass by it for whatever reason, but they are great value for the money.
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Shhhh.... Next thing you know, you will be telling him to research investment casting and how much time and effort goes into it.....
 
Superbrad said:
Shhhh.... Next thing you know, you will be telling him to research investment casting and how much time and effort goes into it.....
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Dammit, uhhhhhhh......

Yeah, pffffsst..... Stupid cast guns, I mean they're about as good as a Cabelas cowboy cap gun.

Yeah...., Cap gun.
 
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