I don't have an issue with Rugers in general, they make fine guns, I just think their pricing structure is out to lunch. The Ruger American was originally priced to compete with Savage Axis, Rem 783, Mossberg patriot, now the gen 2s are damn near Tikka/Browning prices... personally I don't get it. Again, ymmv.
Talk me into keeping one or getting rid of one
- Thread starter Ontario Gunner
- Start date
I don't have an issue with Rugers in general, they make fine guns, I just think their pricing structure is out to lunch. The Ruger American was originally priced to compete with Savage Axis, Rem 783, Mossberg patriot, now the gen 2s are damn near Tikka/Browning prices... personally I don't get it. Again, ymmv.
A quick google shows me $820 for a Gen 2. Tikkas are $1100.
I hardly call that close. That leaves you 300 to get a glass and be at the same price point.
While the T1x is a great production piece of kit, it has no personality and I prefer my Ruger over it.
For my $$, I don't see any "deal" in a Ruger Hawkeye or whatever they call their semi-98 clonish rifles.
I want something that cost time and money to manufacture, assemble, finish. Casted receivers and bolts are not necessarily off the list, but what I dislike about the Ruger method, is they only finish "visible" surfaces, everything under the stock line is left "as cast" which is a complete cheap out cop out for me... at their retail price for sure, personally, they are 50% overpriced, $600-$700 Hawkeye I'd bite, that is all they are worth to me.
Italians can put out cast hunting rifles with better triggers, better barrels, and better wood for $500 retail here, yeah couple years ago now, but that was the retail price.
Bergara does a Spanish 700 cast clone with better barrels and better triggers for $1100, no real interest to me as I find them overpriced too, but just trying to give you a ballpark where these Ruger fit in.
Cheapest Win M70 is right in the Ruger ballpark, and there is no comparison there in quality, Ruger fails hard.
Just my 2 cent's, but I'm a dude that appreciates quality and workmanship. I'd work over a $300 HVA 98 before I'd even consider spending 5 cents on a Ruger Hawkeye/M77 whatever.
I bought 2 gen 1 Americans when they came out for $300 new each, and they were not worth $300 even, zipper bolt, couldn't even wipe down the exterior it was so rough it would shred your rag, shocked me they were even letting crap like this out the door.
After a while they got a bit a better in the finish, but the scary part for me was these are all machined billet, not cast, lots of MIM garbage where it shouldn't be like cocking piece, extractor, probably all the trigger components, so yeah cheap as #### to make, but the wrong corners cut.
Not a $800 rifle, not even close.
Most places are much closer to $900 for the Ruger, with some being well above that, but whatever, if we're going with the absolute cheapest one you can find on Google, heres a Tikka for $999 that is apparently in stock.
https://www.siwashsports.ca/t3x-lite-223-rem-ns-4rd-224.html
$820 is damn near $1000 in my books, and you're not getting much for an optic with $180 these days. Hell $300 doesn't get you much these days with optics, a Vortex Diamondback is $350+ and a Leupold Freedom is like $500. YMMV of course.
Well that turned into something lol.
Have fun op, you choices expanded. To the model 70 also. Personally I’d go Ruger but you wouldn’t go wrong Winchester either. But I’d take either over the savage or browning.
I have an American ranch also I think gen 2 if that’s when they stiffened the stock. No zipper and it has been amazing. But that’s just gonna add to the derail lol. That’s a class below even the savage and browning lol. The Hawkeye and model 70 are a class above. Anyway good luck op, you have more options now that you won a free rifle. I’d sell both and move up a weight class. Or certainly get the wood stainless browning if they make it and savage wouldn’t be on my list but I just can’t with those actions. Ick
Have fun op, you choices expanded. To the model 70 also. Personally I’d go Ruger but you wouldn’t go wrong Winchester either. But I’d take either over the savage or browning.
I have an American ranch also I think gen 2 if that’s when they stiffened the stock. No zipper and it has been amazing. But that’s just gonna add to the derail lol. That’s a class below even the savage and browning lol. The Hawkeye and model 70 are a class above. Anyway good luck op, you have more options now that you won a free rifle. I’d sell both and move up a weight class. Or certainly get the wood stainless browning if they make it and savage wouldn’t be on my list but I just can’t with those actions. Ick
My choices are between 2 guns I already own.. a very nice looking savage 114 wood stainless and a little better built browning Xbolt synthetic stainless. I don’t know how the talk of a ruger even entered the picture,, I have no interest in that gun period.
Probably what’s about to happen
Lol, why ask on an Internet forum anyway. Maybe didn’t see that possibilities that open up budget wise once a free one lands in lap. Intentions were solid. Didn’t want you to miss anything lol. The Internet remains undefeated. 
- Location
- WMU247 near Edmonton
I have owned pretty much every brand of hunting rifles over the years
from your 2 choices I would lean towards keeping the Browning x-bolt. (I currently have one in 325WSM)
the Savages are good rifles too but I have never gotten around to liking the accutrigger, all my savages have aftermarket or the original savage pre-accutrigger triggers, those were not bad and easy to adjust.
7RM is a good all around cartridge. I own an older Ruger M77 tang safety in 7RM, it doesn't get much use as I normally hunt with either the 300WM Savage 110 or the 25-06 Tikka 695.
from your 2 choices I would lean towards keeping the Browning x-bolt. (I currently have one in 325WSM)
the Savages are good rifles too but I have never gotten around to liking the accutrigger, all my savages have aftermarket or the original savage pre-accutrigger triggers, those were not bad and easy to adjust.
7RM is a good all around cartridge. I own an older Ruger M77 tang safety in 7RM, it doesn't get much use as I normally hunt with either the 300WM Savage 110 or the 25-06 Tikka 695.
Personally I think your suggestion was the best advice by far but I’m also partial to the same features and quality you are. For the most part lol. I still think those Howa mini actions are good little rifles with some work done.Lol, why ask on an Internet forum anyway. Maybe didn’t see that possibilities that open up budget wise once a free one lands in lap. Intentions were solid. Didn’t want you to miss anything lol. The Internet remains undefeated.
Anyway sorry for side tracking more OP.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
You wanted the Savage for the looks of the rifle. So keep it. The Savage will shoot. It's almost inconceivable that it wouldn't.
Sell the Browning, buy a 3.5-10x Leupold, and live happily ever after knowing you're using a free scope with more cash in your pocket.
Sell the Browning, buy a 3.5-10x Leupold, and live happily ever after knowing you're using a free scope with more cash in your pocket.
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
X2. Dang tootin'.
Sell them both and buy a Model 70? lol. If you like the Savage better, then there's your answer. Nothing at all wrong with either of those rifles, but if it were up to me and I had to only keep one, it would be the Savage. Sell the Browning and use that money for glass.
