Ruger American Ranch - 5.56 AR
- Thread starter RifleDude
- Start date
Isn't the stock the same one used for Ruger Americans in other chamberings? Only the triggerguard/bottom-metal piece seems to be different. If this is so, then modding the stock for this one model would leave it with a big useless divot taken out of it on the other rifles in the line.
bigi, where did you find a replacement bolt handle for the American? I agree that the standard knob could be improved, especially for use with gloves in cold weather. I don't really want to order from the states, but can't find a Canadian source.
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thegrandpoohbah
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Terrace, BC
Probably Glades Armory. I have one on the way. Shipping was $25 USD.
Instead of replacing the complete bolt handle, why not put a clamp-on bolt knob over the existing bolt knob? MDT has one for the Ruger American which AFAIK the same as the Ruger American Ranch. h ttps://mdttac.com/ca_en/mdt-bolt-handle.html
Thanks for the tip! I wasn't aware of this product.
I've used the KRG bolt knob covers in the past, and wasn't in love with them; might try the MDT version at some point. For this current project, however, I already have a couple of threaded bolt knobs I want to use, and am in the midst of grinding down and threading the end of the existing bolt handle to accept those knobs. I was really just looking for a source of replacements in case I muck up the job...it's been known to happen.
Well, what to do if you have a whole bunch of AR15 magazines and lots of .223/5.56 rounds that you can't use. After thoroughly researching which bolt action rifle would be suitable to substitute for my AR15s, I decided to pull the plug and purchase a Ruger American Ranch in 5.56 cal using AR mags. After some more research, I decided to give Dante the business and was not disappointed (free shipping didn't hurt either). Canada Post was slow but came through just fine. I don't blame them too much what with the covid 19 problems for most businesses. First impressions where pretty good. There are a ton of reviews on the net so I'm not going into that much. Things I like are the compact size, decent trigger, threaded muzzle, 60 deg bolt throw, AR style mag release and of course the ability to use AR mags. The stock is functional and surprisingly solid. I checked whether the barrel was free floating and it was, no issue there. The trigger is crisp but a little heavy. I adjusted the trigger down to the lowest setting and it feels good to me. I don't have trigger gauge but I estimate it's around 3 lbs. The things I didn't like were the bolt stiffness when cocking the bolt and the mag release that was partially covered by the stock.
It also tended to pinch my trigger finger a bit due to the sharp edge on the stock when pressing the mag release. None of these things were a show stopper and being a tinkerer, I figured I could make some improvements. First, I removed the barrelled action from the stock, then I reshaped the stock area where the mag release is using a round file and sand paper.
This was a huge improvement. Not only does it look better but it's a lot more functional.
While I had the stock off, I decided to add a picatinny rail to the bottom of the fore stock. I like to have the option to add a QD mount for my bipod on the fore end and don't want to fiddle with mounting the pod on the sling swivel stud. I just had a pic rail with the correct mounting screw holes in my goodies drawer. The spacing worked out perfect with the internal stock webbing (2.375") and the existing stud hole. All I had to do was drill a hole in the right place and mount the pic rail.
After reassembling the rifle, I got to work to smooth up the bolt cocking issue. All I did was to cycle the bolt a few hundred times while I was watching my favourite TV show (The Unit). This got rid of a lot of the roughness but I was not totally satisfied. I took the bolt shroud off and applied a few daps of moly grease to the bolt camming surfaces. Note that there are 2 camming grooves you need to do this to. These two actions made the bolt cocking very acceptable.
I also had a muzzle brake in my goodies drawer and decided to install that as well. It's not that a .223 cal rifle recoils a lot, but it is a light rifle and I compete in CQB matches so I want minimal recoil to stay on target for fast follow on shots.
Here is a detailed picture of the Harris bipod mounted on the rifle.
Finally, I mounted an old Bushnell Tactical 10X scope on the top rail using Burris Signature Z-Rings.
Initial grouping is very promising. I used an existing batch of reloads I worked up for one of my AR15s, using 55gr VMAX bullets and 26.8gr of Varget. The largest group was 1.13MOA and the smallest was 0.63MOA. Out of 8 5-shot groups, 2 were slightly over 1 MOA and 6 were sub-MOA. All groups were fired from the bench using the bipod and rear bag at 100y. So, now comes the challenge to find the best loads for various bullets. Having a 1:8 twist, this rifle should be good for bullets from 40gr to 80gr. IMHO, this rifle has a good potential for CQB and Ganderite's sporting rifle matches.
I hate to say it but I went to a buddy's place a few weeks ago and he bought one of those rifles . Ruger uses a Tikka kind of action not a Mauser action in those rifles and the stocks are hollow . I thought it was a very cheaply made rifle . and they are charging a good dollar for it . looking at the back of your bolt it looks like investment cast not forged .old school craftsmanship went out the window years ago . in my opinion it's about a $450 dollar rifle not $700 plus .
Just out of curiosity...are there are any currently-made rifles, by any manufacturer...at any price point...which you feel are worth the money? Careful, check the calendar first; we are on the cusp of 2021, not 1921.
These are indeed cheaply-made rifles, like all the new-gen stuff by all the makers. That's the goal: to build these guns for the lowest possible cost, using modern methods and materials, while still keeping them functional. And they are functional...they're not pretty, they don't use high-grade walnut or hand-tuning or fine metal finishes, but they shoot very, very well and that's really the bottom line.
I like "old school craftsmanship" as much as anyone, and enjoy owning and using rifles that display it. I also like having cheap "beater" guns that can be loaned to ham-fisted friends or dropped in the snow or carried on quads in the rain without worry...as long as they also have decent shootable triggers and good accuracy. Today's "cheaply-made" rifles, at least the ones I have tried (a couple of Americans and also a Rem783), do exactly that. And this particular one even offers the bonus of utilizing all those dusty AR mags we have lying around. Win/win.
TacticalTeacher
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Georgian Bay, ON
Just unboxing my RAR 5.56mm AR mag rendition right now. UPS dropped it off this AM (yes, it’s Christmas Eve.) Tenda (board sponsor) had these on for $699. And yes, there’s a global pandemic on right now and of course me being EX-Infantry; I have to fzck things up royally and place my order on 15 Dec 20. 9 days from Richmond Hill, ON to Georgian Bay, ON. I am not complaining whatsoever. I’m just grateful this landed here before the Boxing Day Lockdown... ha ha ha ha.
First impressions before I mount up a scope and head to my range 20 minutes away.
* 5/10 round magazine is a Duramag C Products Defense unit. Orange follower. Not bad. Not too long, unlike my 5/30 CQB Pmags
* this baby is light...reminds me when I carried a C1A1 and on a US Army exchange they issued me an M16A1, then an M203
* Picatinny rail is (Norinco) sharp on my girly hands (now that I’m not working in Construction) this ain’t an EGW or Talley or NEAR
* Bolt cycling is decently smooth, and I’ve not CLP’ed up this bolt body, yet. Nor have I greased the bolt lugs
* this 16.2” barrel is hilarious!! Kinda like my wife’s 12” CQB AR barrel with a SPARC2. I’m used to a 20” C7A2 tube like barrel (SR)
* barrel is free floated already
* stock is cheap (hey, did you expect it not to be?) plastic and that’s fine for my coyote hunts and CQB drills in my basement (mirror commando, of course)
* bolt handle is factory small, but I’ve got a strap on coming (that sounded weird)
* action screws are 1/4” x 28 x 7/8” long. They use a 3/16” Allen key wrench
* now to adjust that trigger down to 3 lbs and lube that bolt body
Okay, time to mount up the Bushy 10 X 40 Mildot SFP and will print some groups
Peace Be To Journey!
Cheers, Barney
First impressions before I mount up a scope and head to my range 20 minutes away.
* 5/10 round magazine is a Duramag C Products Defense unit. Orange follower. Not bad. Not too long, unlike my 5/30 CQB Pmags
* this baby is light...reminds me when I carried a C1A1 and on a US Army exchange they issued me an M16A1, then an M203
* Picatinny rail is (Norinco) sharp on my girly hands (now that I’m not working in Construction) this ain’t an EGW or Talley or NEAR
* Bolt cycling is decently smooth, and I’ve not CLP’ed up this bolt body, yet. Nor have I greased the bolt lugs
* this 16.2” barrel is hilarious!! Kinda like my wife’s 12” CQB AR barrel with a SPARC2. I’m used to a 20” C7A2 tube like barrel (SR)
* barrel is free floated already
* stock is cheap (hey, did you expect it not to be?) plastic and that’s fine for my coyote hunts and CQB drills in my basement (mirror commando, of course)
* bolt handle is factory small, but I’ve got a strap on coming (that sounded weird)
* action screws are 1/4” x 28 x 7/8” long. They use a 3/16” Allen key wrench
* now to adjust that trigger down to 3 lbs and lube that bolt body
Okay, time to mount up the Bushy 10 X 40 Mildot SFP and will print some groups
Peace Be To Journey!
Cheers, Barney
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thegrandpoohbah
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Terrace, BC
I found that clamping it in a vice made this much easier. I wasn't successful with just the screwdriver method. But maybe that's just me.
TacticalTeacher
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Georgian Bay, ON
Okay, that was nice and cold, and icy on the range floor. I’m back and fed and ready to post
So this Ruger picatinny rail needed 3/32” Allen key driver. I wanted to torque all the 4 rail screws down to 17 in/lbs. I’m using a Brownells Torque wrench with Borka kit / bits. The 1/4” drive ratchet handle was not used.
It’s snowing up at my gun club, but we got many 3 round groups going. I did not choose to set up the LabRadar since it was snowing, the Doppler Radar would get all messed up reading/false reading the falling snowflakes. Why take a chance and risk lousy data? Next nice weather day, we can bust it open again.
I’ve got 3 bunches of ammo. 2 are handloads with 25.0 grains of WC735 (faster than H335 and BLC2). On top of the cases were Hornady 68 grain HPBT and then Remmy 62 grain HP; both are match quality boooolits. The Remmy 62 gr. Match booolits I bought many years ago for about $16 per 100 slugs. I’m just using them up. The Hornady 68 grain HPBT are my go-to booolit for SR back in my Connaught Range/ Mons Range days. That 68 grain boooolit has never let me down.....
That LabRadar is inside the padded blue briefcase.
Here are the results.....
Now to install a spare AR15 flash hider I had kicking around and it’s correct crush washer
I kinda like the CProducts Duramag length of 5/10 for this bench work. I tried my 5/30 PMags, and dropped to my elbows. Nice monopod feel with support hand bracing the bell of the scope. That’s another range report!
Peace Be To Journey!
Cheers, Barney
So this Ruger picatinny rail needed 3/32” Allen key driver. I wanted to torque all the 4 rail screws down to 17 in/lbs. I’m using a Brownells Torque wrench with Borka kit / bits. The 1/4” drive ratchet handle was not used.
It’s snowing up at my gun club, but we got many 3 round groups going. I did not choose to set up the LabRadar since it was snowing, the Doppler Radar would get all messed up reading/false reading the falling snowflakes. Why take a chance and risk lousy data? Next nice weather day, we can bust it open again.
I’ve got 3 bunches of ammo. 2 are handloads with 25.0 grains of WC735 (faster than H335 and BLC2). On top of the cases were Hornady 68 grain HPBT and then Remmy 62 grain HP; both are match quality boooolits. The Remmy 62 gr. Match booolits I bought many years ago for about $16 per 100 slugs. I’m just using them up. The Hornady 68 grain HPBT are my go-to booolit for SR back in my Connaught Range/ Mons Range days. That 68 grain boooolit has never let me down.....
That LabRadar is inside the padded blue briefcase.
Here are the results.....
Now to install a spare AR15 flash hider I had kicking around and it’s correct crush washer
I kinda like the CProducts Duramag length of 5/10 for this bench work. I tried my 5/30 PMags, and dropped to my elbows. Nice monopod feel with support hand bracing the bell of the scope. That’s another range report!
Peace Be To Journey!
Cheers, Barney
Attachments
Hey Barney, my Ruger American Ranch seems to like these powders; First choice: H4895 - works well with almost any bullet I tried, sub-MOA was not hard to achieve. Second choice: D8208 - this powder works almost as well as H4895, also a good number of sub-MOA loads. My third choice is Varget - with some bullets I get nice sub-MOA groups. And lastly, H335 - works well with 55gr bullets. I achieved 1 - 1.25 MOA groups with this powder and would be my choice for CQB matches. BTW, I'm impressed you got out today in the snow and wind, hoohah...
I've done that mod. I used an old ballpoint spring cut to size. It made a significant improvement, pull weight is about 2lbs now. I've read that some have removed the spring entirely and reduced the pull weight to 1- 1.5lbs. For me, that a bit too light. And yes, it's super easy to do this mod.
Thank you very much for your response . as for the post below from John . not much out there turns my crank anymore Brother . if I felt so inclined to go out and buy a 223 - 556 I'd look at a CZ or a Tikka . I feel that they have better value for the dollar than that Ruger rifle . I have owned a Mini 14 which I traded off and it was fantastic . made in the 200th Year of Liberty so it said on the barrel . and a 10-22 etc etc . all Ruger products I have owned in the past have been made to last the test of time . except for an item I bought something like 3 years ago . it gave me issues from the get go and had to go to the repair shop.
some days I work hard for my money . arguing with people fighting traffic in the rain in the mud and freezing my arse off . so when I buy something I want something that will last the test of time . and I don't lend out my guns . I try not to lend out anything anymore . so I don't even take into consideration that I have to pay a decent dollar for something that I may lend to a buddy . they are lucky to have a friend like you . the older I get the less people I'm apt to want to lend anything to . I've read some articles on Howa rifles also . if that Ruger rifle at least had a solid stock or they could have gone back to the paddle type stock then I might have given it the thumbs up but when I pick up a rifle costing over $700 dollars and I knock on the stock and it's hollow what am I going to think ?
are you supposed to stash your weed in there ? spare parts ? it made me want to puke . you have a nice Christmas .
