- Location
- Niagara Region, Ontario. For now
So I have now had this thing for a week, and have had it out to the range to do some testing, as well as having it up at the cottage for some back woods plinking.
First impressions were overall very good, and it was exactly what I hoped it would be when I first removed it from the box however after a week and shooting her lots there are some things I notice that need to be mentioned in an honest review that you may not find in the gun mags.
First issue was the finish of the stock. So many people put savage down for there stocks and the flashing, or seems left from the molding process, but this Ruger is just as bad if not worse than any Savage I have ever had, and there has been a few pass through my safe. It isn't a deal breaker for me at all as I bought it to be a rugged camp plinker, but you aren't getting anything special, and at the $700 mark I was expecting a little bit more.
Second was the finish on the stainless steel itself. There are marks on the gun that may be from a gun rack a the store I bought it, but I know it was not on their shelf long. Also the final finish on the receiver and the insides of the gun leave much to be desired. Again not a big issue, but I did expect more.
Another thing I mentioned in my original thread about the gun that originally the mag would get stuck and the last round would not pop up to be fed, but this issue has never happened in practice, only dinking around at home. I suspect the recoil helps overcome whatever flashing or gunk was holding the rotary mag up, but regardless I am happy to report it has not been an issue.
The last complaint I have that isn't really a complaint, but more of a comment on the design of the rifle would be the barrel is not free floated. I have read someone on here reporting of 3rd, and 4th shot flyers, and this may have had something to do with it, but I had no issues at the range, taking time between shots.
Now the positives! This gun is absolutely the single best camp/backpacker I could imagine. It is so light, weighing just 5.5 lbs, and even topped with a Leupold VX II 2-7 x 33 it is the lightest centrefire rifle in my safe, even beating out my Savage MKII, but thats cuz it has a bigger scope and a heavy barrel.
The rings are included in the package, so that saves a few bucks, and they are solid. There was however a piece of metal flashing or something stuck in the inside of a ring that I had to file down in order to mount a scope. No big deal but again a QC issue I was not expecting.
The bolt through and the actions cycling are smooth, and very easy on the wrist. At first it took a bit of force when the rounds first entered the chamber and the round had to slide up under the ejector as it is a controlled feed action. As I put more rounds through it she does get better and smoother and am pleased with it so far. It also does allow single feeding of rounds into the chamber, but no top loading the rotary mag.
The iron sights on the gun are pretty damn good, and I was able to get some 2 inch groups at about 60m out in the gravel pit at the cottage. They are elevation adjustable with a couple screws to move the rear blade up and down, and windage adjustments come from moving the rear sight in the dovetail. None of this was even necessary as the sights were dead on out of the box which was much appreciated as I had no time to sight it in before heading off to the cottage.
The trigger is very crisp, although it could be lighter. I am not going to complain, and just going to have to get used to it. It likely played a part in the less than stellar groupings as I am used to the Accutrigger on my Savages, so it will take some getting used to.
One strange note; The firing pin hits primers off centre. So far there has been no issues with this and every round has gone off without issue I just found it strange. I have never had a gun do this before, but can't imagine it is a defect.
Overall my impressions of the gun are very good, and it has functioned perfectly with the first 150 rounds I have put through it.
So the scope I through in her was a Leupold VXII 2-7 x 33 with a "Dot" reticle. It is kind of strange, and definitely not meant for any precision stuff, but it is light and handy so figured it would work.
Anyways here is the rig in all her glory:
So now to the actual range report:
Not much to say here other than I am pretty happy! Can't complain with the cheapest ammo on the shelf, and no testing any other rounds, or playing with my own handloads.
I will let the pictures speak for themselves. All shots off of a block of wood, and rear bag.
Also note that those squares are a little smaller than an inch, so the groups are better than they look.
The first few rounds after sighting in, and the worst group at 50m:
50m best group, 6 shots just to make up for the 5th round flyer:
And having limited ammo left over from my cottage shooting I only had enough rounds for 2 groups at 100m.
This one is about 2 inches.
This one a little worse:
As far as the accuracy is concerned I have confidence that with some more trigger time, and some hand loads I will definitely be able to improve, and for a pistol calibre carbine I am pretty happy. The reticle on this scope is also the "Dot" style that is about 1 MOA at 100m so it isn't exactly a precision scope at 7x's power.
Of course I will keep everyone updated as I go.
First impressions were overall very good, and it was exactly what I hoped it would be when I first removed it from the box however after a week and shooting her lots there are some things I notice that need to be mentioned in an honest review that you may not find in the gun mags.
First issue was the finish of the stock. So many people put savage down for there stocks and the flashing, or seems left from the molding process, but this Ruger is just as bad if not worse than any Savage I have ever had, and there has been a few pass through my safe. It isn't a deal breaker for me at all as I bought it to be a rugged camp plinker, but you aren't getting anything special, and at the $700 mark I was expecting a little bit more.
Second was the finish on the stainless steel itself. There are marks on the gun that may be from a gun rack a the store I bought it, but I know it was not on their shelf long. Also the final finish on the receiver and the insides of the gun leave much to be desired. Again not a big issue, but I did expect more.
Another thing I mentioned in my original thread about the gun that originally the mag would get stuck and the last round would not pop up to be fed, but this issue has never happened in practice, only dinking around at home. I suspect the recoil helps overcome whatever flashing or gunk was holding the rotary mag up, but regardless I am happy to report it has not been an issue.
The last complaint I have that isn't really a complaint, but more of a comment on the design of the rifle would be the barrel is not free floated. I have read someone on here reporting of 3rd, and 4th shot flyers, and this may have had something to do with it, but I had no issues at the range, taking time between shots.
Now the positives! This gun is absolutely the single best camp/backpacker I could imagine. It is so light, weighing just 5.5 lbs, and even topped with a Leupold VX II 2-7 x 33 it is the lightest centrefire rifle in my safe, even beating out my Savage MKII, but thats cuz it has a bigger scope and a heavy barrel.
The rings are included in the package, so that saves a few bucks, and they are solid. There was however a piece of metal flashing or something stuck in the inside of a ring that I had to file down in order to mount a scope. No big deal but again a QC issue I was not expecting.
The bolt through and the actions cycling are smooth, and very easy on the wrist. At first it took a bit of force when the rounds first entered the chamber and the round had to slide up under the ejector as it is a controlled feed action. As I put more rounds through it she does get better and smoother and am pleased with it so far. It also does allow single feeding of rounds into the chamber, but no top loading the rotary mag.
The iron sights on the gun are pretty damn good, and I was able to get some 2 inch groups at about 60m out in the gravel pit at the cottage. They are elevation adjustable with a couple screws to move the rear blade up and down, and windage adjustments come from moving the rear sight in the dovetail. None of this was even necessary as the sights were dead on out of the box which was much appreciated as I had no time to sight it in before heading off to the cottage.
The trigger is very crisp, although it could be lighter. I am not going to complain, and just going to have to get used to it. It likely played a part in the less than stellar groupings as I am used to the Accutrigger on my Savages, so it will take some getting used to.
One strange note; The firing pin hits primers off centre. So far there has been no issues with this and every round has gone off without issue I just found it strange. I have never had a gun do this before, but can't imagine it is a defect.
Overall my impressions of the gun are very good, and it has functioned perfectly with the first 150 rounds I have put through it.
So the scope I through in her was a Leupold VXII 2-7 x 33 with a "Dot" reticle. It is kind of strange, and definitely not meant for any precision stuff, but it is light and handy so figured it would work.
Anyways here is the rig in all her glory:
So now to the actual range report:
Not much to say here other than I am pretty happy!
Can't complain with the cheapest ammo on the shelf, and no testing any other rounds, or playing with my own handloads.I will let the pictures speak for themselves. All shots off of a block of wood, and rear bag.
Also note that those squares are a little smaller than an inch, so the groups are better than they look.
The first few rounds after sighting in, and the worst group at 50m:
50m best group, 6 shots just to make up for the 5th round flyer:
And having limited ammo left over from my cottage shooting I only had enough rounds for 2 groups at 100m.
This one is about 2 inches.
This one a little worse:
As far as the accuracy is concerned I have confidence that with some more trigger time, and some hand loads I will definitely be able to improve, and for a pistol calibre carbine I am pretty happy. The reticle on this scope is also the "Dot" style that is about 1 MOA at 100m so it isn't exactly a precision scope at 7x's power.
Of course I will keep everyone updated as I go.
