Ruger American gen 2 .204 ranch
- Thread starter Corbinb1313
- Start date
Yeah everyone I talk too loves the gen 1’s. Im flip flopping between 5.56 and .204 I’ll probably go with whatever I figure I can handload for cheaper
Well, I've had a Ranch in 7.62x39 for a couple years and I love it - aside from needing 'mini-30' mags which are pricey. The alternative was spending xx$ for a conversion kit - 6-of-one I guess. I don't need lotsa mags for this. It's very accurate, shoots MOA out to 175 - max at my range - even with Chinese M-S but does very well with Barnaul or other ammo. And cleans easily.
I also have a Ruger American in .223 - Gen-1 w-rotary mag. It shoots sub-MOA with many brands.
I also have a Ruger American in .223 - Gen-1 w-rotary mag. It shoots sub-MOA with many brands.
Hunter1970
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I got tired of waiting for a 204R gen 2, and saved a few bucks on the gen 1. Nothing but good to say about it. I also have a gen 1 in 223 and 300BO. both are very accurate rifles as well. Did the mag release mod (AR mags), upgraded trigger springs (removed the "accu" type blade), and added qr sling swivel cups. All three solid guns.
Better in every way, unless you count price and weight. Lol
I'm really hoping they give the lefties some love. The LH gen1 options were pretty limited, including no Ranch models, and I really want a 7.62x39 bolt gun.
Pretty much lol. The two Gen 2s I had were nice, but felt a bit too "clubby" to me compared to the Gen 1s being a bit more svelte and light. Thats personal preference. What wasn't though, was it was stiffer to turn down the bolt handle. Dunno if that is the extractor slipping over the rim, or compressing the ejector spring? But it was quite noticable.
They shot very well! But I went back to the Gen 1 and never regretted. If you want a chambering that only exists in the Gen 2 tho, could definitely live with that. Maybe yours will be smooth as can be, I dunno. My two definitely needed a good push forward to close the bolt.
They shot very well! But I went back to the Gen 1 and never regretted. If you want a chambering that only exists in the Gen 2 tho, could definitely live with that. Maybe yours will be smooth as can be, I dunno. My two definitely needed a good push forward to close the bolt.
Hmmm not sure. Wish I could verify for certain but I don't have a gen 2 on hand.
Would be a really nice swap. The later Gen 1 stocks with the honeycomb pattern under the barrel were rigid enough. Much better than the early Gen 1 stocks.
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They swap straight across.
I traded my Gen II stock Taken off my Gen II Ranch for a late (honeycomb) Gen I Predator stock, simply a personal preference thing.
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I agree with you Joel, I have both and prefer my high round count Gen 1. Although aesthetically the Gen 2 receiver is more pleasing to my eye.
Ruger listened to the complaints about rough bolts, zipper sound etc. of the Gen I and decided to go with a Stainless bolt that was polished in a tumbler for the Gen II.
They succeeded for the most part, but then decided to Cerakote.
ANY firearm that is coated with Cera, Gunkote, Durakote etc. that receives overspray inside the action now has stacked tolerance and will need to be worked to some degree to wear that coating down.
This was the case with my Gen II Ranch, and it was not as smooth until that oversprayed Cerakote was worn down, and it took a few evenings of cycling as that is damn hard!
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Definitely can second all of that. Was the same here. Once the action "wore in" it became even smoother. You can feel the thickness of that cerakote for a lil while. Personally could take or leave the cerakote, but theres no contest for looks, the Gen II by a wide margin.
I should have been precise, what I was complaining about was the turning down of the bolt handle while in the process of chambering a round. I don't know why it required more force than any of the Gen 1s.
Maybe headspace on the tighter side? I'll bet those employees on the production line spend about 3.7 seconds between closing on a go-gauge and cranking that barrel nut gudenteight.
I had both a Gen 1 predator in .223 and my current Gen II Ranch that had very little headspace from the factory, had to move my sizing die right down and made for snug chambering with factory ammo...not to my liking.
Thankfully, RAR's are easy to adjust with their pseudo barrel-nut, and both mine now have aftermarket ones.
On the image below you can see by the rollstamp I backed off the barrel slightly...much easier chambering. I verified with my gauges that headspace was still GTG.
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That could be it! In which case, there's worse problems to have. I was wondering if it was just a stiff ejector spring or the extractor really takes a bit of force to snap over the rim, but I think you probably have it there.
No big as long as you aren't trying to work the bolt in a hurry, but it was there.
Just cut 1 coil off the trigger spring of a Gen 1 here. Wouldn't try more than that. Surfaces that touch the sear looked smooth enough. Its lighter alright. Not a timney but not $300 either.
