Ruger American Ranch 5.56 - officially sub-MOA if I'm not the one shooting it

RabbitTeeth

RabbitTeeth

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200-yard 10-shot group:
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I took a buddy of mine to the range for the first time (he doesn't have a license) because he really wanted to do some 200 yard shooting after seeing a bunch of movies like American Sniper and Enemy at the Gates.

He shot a 10-shot group at 200 yards that came out to 1.97 inches after the RO busted out a set of digital calipers to measure it. Meanwhile... I only managed a 5 inch group, so I'm clearly a lousy shot.

The rifle details: Ruger American Ranch chambered in 5.56x45mm with the AR mag well. 16.12" barrel, 1:8" RH twist, bolt-action. Sighted in for 50 yards. I've had it for about 2 years and put about 300 rounds through it.

  • Bushnell AR Optics 1-8x24mm LPVO scope with illuminated BDC reticle
  • Linear compensator / faux suppressor (forgot the brand name)
  • Caldwell bipod
  • PMC X-TAC 62 grain green tip ammo

The scope was simply taken off my AR15 after the 2020 OIC. I'm thinking that I'll eventually swap it out for a 4-16x Diamondback. Obviously the best way to get better groups at this point is for me to get better at shooting.

Feel free to roast me on my skills, I think I deserve it. :p

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I would focus on how you load the bipod. Many find that having some consistent forward tension on the bipod improves consistency. Me, I prefer a front rest, or a bipod with skids and shooting off carpet.
 
Those Ruger's are good value, people complain about the bolts not being buttery smooth out of the box and the stock having some flex.... but it's hard to argue they can't shoot!
 
Grizzlypeg said:
I would focus on how you load the bipod. Many find that having some consistent forward tension on the bipod improves consistency. Me, I prefer a front rest, or a bipod with skids and shooting off carpet.
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That's a good point. I will have to be more aware of that next time.

Can-down said:
Those Ruger's are good value, people complain about the bolts not being buttery smooth out of the box and the stock having some flex.... but it's hard to argue they can't shoot!
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I thought it was just a so-so rifle (seeing as my best group at 100 yards over the last couple years was 2 MOA) but I can't blame the rifle, scope or ammo combo anymore.
 
Only shot a Ranch once, but it shot plenty good enough. I would have bought one if they made 'em in lefty, not a lot of options for lighter guns in lefty.
 
Three out of the four that I own shoot sub 1” with quality ammo. I haven’t played much with the fourth to say how accurate it is.
 
RabbitTeeth said:
That's a good point. I will have to be more aware of that next time.



I thought it was just a so-so rifle (seeing as my best group at 100 yards over the last couple years was 2 MOA) but I can't blame the rifle, scope or ammo combo anymore.
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Everyone expects to be shooting 1 MOA these days but in reallity 2 moa is pretty good! Specially if you shooting average ammo.
 
Joel said:
Sounds like most of my rifles lol.
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I remember going to the range with a Norwegian friend of mine years ago who had never shot handguns before.... she shot tighter groups then me with a snappy .40SW CZ compact pistol I had.... :)
 
Can-down said:
I remember going to the range with a Norwegian friend of mine years ago who had never shot handguns before.... she shot tighter groups then me with a snappy .40SW CZ compact pistol I had.... :)
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LOL. BTDT as well. There's a sci fi writer I think is actually a Terminator. Sounds similar.


Second what Rev-X said about the 7.62x39s. They're very accurate rifles. My last one was a bit over 1" with PRVI and under that with handloads. Never did have one that shot steel case as well as some people's do. Not surplus at any rate. But still not bat at all.

Some RARs come with pretty smooth bolts. Some not so much. Seems to be pretty variable. But they've all been useful and smoothed up as the round count grows.
 
I have a 556 and 7.62, my son uses the 556 at our friends ranch to shoots yotes and I have shot many deer with the 762 out to 300. They always work and are very dependable for me. Leupold optics and good ammo and there are a great rifle for the cost 4 years ago.
 
I'm happy with the 3 RAR's I use. Loose the blade safety on the trigger & put a Yodave spring in 'er and adjust to yer comfort setting. Works dandy fer me.
I put a Timney trigger in me RAR 450BM & it be sweet as well, albeit a bigass pricey over the method I used above for me 300 BLK & 350 Legend units.
 
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I have a bunch of them, all in .223

They shoot great. They are not refined or fancy but they shoot well and are reliable. I would take one over most of the other budget bolt actions on the market.
 
Suther said:
Only shot a Ranch once, but it shot plenty good enough. I would have bought one if they made 'em in lefty, not a lot of options for lighter guns in lefty.
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It’s odd that they do t make a LH .223, it’s one I was looking at recently. They make LH American’s in .243 and 6.5cm iirc but not .223, which seems odd due to the popularity of the cartridge and sheer amount of ar15 mags out there.
 
bluegrizz77 said:
I have a 556 and 7.62, my son uses the 556 at our friends ranch to shoots yotes and I have shot many deer with the 762 out to 300. They always work and are very dependable for me. Leupold optics and good ammo and there are a great rifle for the cost 4 years ago.
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Dang that's reaching out there. What bullet were you killing deer with at 300 yards?
 
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