Ruger American Ranch Rifle - Pictures and Info Thread **Lots of Pictures**

VancouverSkiBum

VancouverSkiBum

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With these rifles starting to trickle in from the states soon, they caught my eye . chambered for .556/.223.

With the heavyish 1/8 twist barrel profile, paired with the short length, AND threaded, it was a instant favorite for me! Along with a Free floating barrel, and Rugers V style bedding and accutrigger(3-5lbs), this is sure to be an accurate varmint rig. Comes with one 5 round Plastic Rotary Magazine that seems to be well made and can have rounds pushed right in from the top. The Rubber recoil pad feels nice and soft and mushy, its actually amazing, I wish I had it on my '06 and 12g.

I was on a pre order list at no charge, but saw one used for only 40 rounds, so I jumped.

It just feels well built. Nice thick receiver and barrel.

I decided to pair it with a Bushnell AR optics 4.5 - 18 x 40 with BDC reticle for 55-62gr bullets, in Leupold 1'' Med PRW rings from Reliable Gun, a Dlask A6 Brake from Dlask, an Allen Company Buttstock Shell Holder and Pouch , and a Caldwell 13-24'' bipod (Amazon). The Brake needed no washer and was almost a perfect index, it just needed a min with a file to take off the smallest bit and voila! Took it to the range with some factory loads just to sight in, ran out of time for anything special.

A small note. With this scope, Burris med rings were about 1/16 inch to short due to the extruding pin under the scope. The med. Leupolds gave the scope enough clearance, just barely. Perfect. No issues with bolt clearance.

I have H335 and 55g Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets in the mail.

recently installed a front rail on the bottom for a grip and bipod.

********** Update Post 5 and 7 **********


Here are some pics!

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I be sure to update with some loads and groups after I get my stuff in the mail. Would like to see other peoples same rifle, and info on it! Cheers!
 
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Did a little testing today. Pretty sure its the ammo, groupings were not too good, not too bad. Rifle functioned flawlessly though. Here's 2 pictures, shot from 100 yards, using S&B 55g FMJ .223 REM. Scope "Zeroed" at 100. 3rd picture is shooting at 200 yards holding on the blue X. These were the best groups out of a few I shot.

I hope to improve groupings when my reloading supplies get here. beautiful sunny day in Vancouver for Easter Sunday, No one at the range!! I expected to see a lot full of cars and a wait time, but empty!

Note the larger holes, that was from my 30-06, dont mind them.

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I added a video of a quick 5 shot group to the OP.
 
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Updated with more pictures.got my Nosler ballistic tips in the mail today, still waiting on the classic loader. Haven't been back to the range, not gonna bother with that S&B ammo, just save it for sh*ts and giggles i guess. on a side note, Cabelas wanted to charge me 180$ to ship 1lb of h335 to me... LOL... i was speechless on the phone. I promptly contacted Henry and shipping was 9$... I wonder what Cabelas is smoking!

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Alright! Yea!

Went to the range today with my 1st reloads. made up some 23, 24, 24.5, 25, and 25.5 gn rounds.

Shooting at 100 yards I had excellent results with my 1st type of bullet and powder purchased! Not sure on where to measure from, but seems to be around 1/2 MOA! Yea!

Seems to like 25 grains of H335 over a 55g bullet in remington brass, loaded to MAX COAL according to Nosler, with CCI SR Primers. I could not seat the bullet just off the lands because they would not fit into my magazine. Max COAL just barely fits, so I went with it.

I was using a bipod and a sand bag on the rear. Cheers!

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Hey SkiBum, looks like that gun is startin' to shoot! I started with 55 VMAX and they were OK, but I found that the 53 BT shot a little better, so try 'em. Also, try playing with seating depth... I found that 15 to 20 thou. off the lands worked for me. I don't know if this is true, but I've heard that H335 is temp. sensitive so be careful when we start getting warmer... you might have to drop a few 10ths.

Question... those Nosler BT's... are they the 40 grainers? If so, have you tried 'em yet? Thinking I might work up a load for them.

I have a box of 75gr. AMAX that wouldn't shoot in my gun (1/9 twist), so if you'd like to try them in yours, we could probably meet somewhere. I promise, I won't try to charge you double what they're worth! :rolleyes:

I have heard that the R. American is almost as good as the Savage 10, so I wanna see those bullet holes touching on your next series of pictures!! My gun will hold 1/2 min. out to 300 (far as I can go for now) :d Nice gun... good luck... C.
 
Yes Nosler 55 grain ballistic tip boat tail. They are what I used for most of the groups above. I could not seat the bullet off my lands because they wont fit in my magazine at that length. I had to seat them to max coal according to Nosler, then they JUST fit. Not even close to fitting 20 thou off lands. My scope is drop calibrated for 55 - 62g bullets so imma stick with those for now, but thanks for the offer.

I would be curious to see the velocities since I have a shorter barrel.
 
good thread VCskibum

ive been waiting to do the exact same thing but ive been waiting for the Ruger PREDATOR in 223, so same gun as yours just 6" longer barrel.
im hoping they will start to come into stock this summer so i can get out and play with it before the snow fly's again!
 
wayupnorth said:
good thread VCskibum

ive been waiting to do the exact same thing but ive been waiting for the Ruger PREDATOR in 223, so same gun as yours just 6" longer barrel.
im hoping they will start to come into stock this summer so i can get out and play with it before the snow fly's again!
Click to expand...

thanks. i looked at the predator and i like it. but im in love with my itty bitty barrel. cheers!
 
VancouverSkiBum said:
you can shoot .223 out of a .556, but you cant shoot .556 out of a .223. my gun is stamped .556
Click to expand...

ruger mini 14 you can.

they have stated this on their site and in interviews a couple times over the years and even in the mini 14 manuals (under the section on ammunition)
why they just dont stamp all their guns 556 is beyond me, it would save people getting into this conversation all the time.
but rest assured that you can indeed shoot 556 out of a Ruger Mini 14 with the endorsed blessing of Strum Ruger.
 
here is a PDF right off the ruger site of their current manual, page 13 at the top first paragraph.

Mini 14 Manual

The RUGER® MINI-14® RANCH rifles are offered in two calibers: the .223
Remington (5.56mm) cartridge and the 6.8mm Remington SPC cartridge. The
Target Model uses .223 Remington cartridges only.
The Mini-14 Ranch and Mini Thirty Rifles are designed to use either standardized
U.S. military, or factory loaded sporting cartridges manufactured in accordance
with U.S. industry practice.
Click to expand...
 
wayupnorth said:
ruger mini 14 you can.

they have stated this on their site and in interviews a couple times over the years and even in the mini 14 manuals (under the section on ammunition)
why they just dont stamp all their guns 556 is beyond me, it would save people getting into this conversation all the time.
but rest assured that you can indeed shoot 556 out of a Ruger Mini 14 with the endorsed blessing of Strum Ruger.
Click to expand...

Except for the mini 14 target rifle! It's .223 only, just throwin that in so as to hopefully save an accident someday somewhere.
There we go that's my daily good deed, back to living wild and dangerous ;)
 
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