To be honest I'm very satisfied with mine. 'Twas exactly what I was expecting; heckin' tack driver.
The Ruger American .308, a good first hunting rifle?
- Thread starter BearChillz
- Start date
To be honest I'm very satisfied with mine. 'Twas exactly what I was expecting; heckin' tack driver.
That's an interesting take. Upon purchasing the action and stock; will it need glass bedding?
A Savage 64 is pretty well an equal to a 10-22 out of the box at half the price. The 10-22 can be made better than the 64 ever can... but that's with buying different triggers, stocks, sights, all the other bolt on for a fee stuff. The 64 doesn't have much going for it for mods... but it's still $200 vs $400 for an out of the box 10-22
Yup picked mine up for 269$ back in the day.
for a MOA rifle with factory ammo thats a good deal. I dont care about crappy finish on a rifle I hunt with. But the finish on my 300$ American is better than the finish on a 2K BCL102... LMFAOThe Ruger trigger is also way better than the Savage Accu-Junk. It wont lock up on you when set to a lower setting.
- Location
- Saskatoon Saskatchewan
I had mine out today. 7mm-08 left hand that I picked up off the ee for $400 used but as far as I know unfired. I shot 11-3 or 4 shot groups at 100m. Largest group was 1.3" center to center. Smallest were in the .4" range. It's a fun rifle that has proven to be accurate and reliable. Would I pay $650 for it? Probably not.
They did a good job with the trigger on the Rugers. Axis II's with accu triggers aren't bad, now the lighting bolt trigger on Mossberg's they are total junk.
Yup picked mine up for 269$ back in the day.
The Ruger trigger is also way better than the Savage Accu-Junk. It wont lock up on you when set to a lower setting.
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Nope they are pretty good as is bedding in my opinion would be a waste of time - not all things bedded shoot better. My advice on this would be to shoot the gun with out bedding if you think the groups can be better have someone else shoot the gun and see if there is a difference. What I am saying is that one main factor of an inaccurate gun is a lousy shooter. My best group last September was just under .45 inches 5 shots at 100 yards with my weatherby 223 (1-12 twist) sitting in a Bell and Carlson stock. I have since sold both and purchased a Howa 6.5 CM which shoots darn good as is
I think you hit the nail on the head with that last point. I am most certainly going to be much more inaccurate than many (all) of the rifles listed here. I'm really just looking for something that won't break the bank and won't have me questioning if it's me or the gun. I appreciate all the different guns people have been suggesting and I'll be off to Cabelas this evening to hold em. This is only the start of my journey as a shooter and I hope one day I can hit sub 1/2" groups like you!
- Location
- Edmonton Area Ab, Candle Lake Sk
A $600.00 dollar Howa barreled action and a $400.00 stock certainly changes the OP budget. Your now firmly in New Tikka T3 or used Sako A7 price range.
Every bit as accurate as a Howa and alot lighter.
357
So I went to Cabelas this evening and took a few rifles for a handle. 'Twas nice to have them in my hands.
I understand why people view the Ruger American as overpriced. The bolt was indeed rough to operate and the stock left much to be desired. I'd pay no more than $400 for such.
The Remington 700 was exceptionally heavy, likely from that monster barrel. I can see why the long range shooters build on this platform.
The Tikka T3 and the Weatherby Vanguard were beautiful to hold and nice and light. I would love to see them at the range.
The lady who was helping me shoots a Remington 783. The one I held had beautiful checkering and came with a vortex scope. Seemed like a reasonable option I hadn't considered before.
Finally, the Browning X-Bolt. This rifle seemed like a high quality peice, it felt nice in my hands and the bolt was oh so smooth.
Unfortunately, all these where trigger locked and without shooting them I know I'm only getting a partial picture of what they are capable of. It was nice being able to put a face to the name, so to speak.
Now, if only I can get my hands on a Husqvarna or a Parker Hale...
I understand why people view the Ruger American as overpriced. The bolt was indeed rough to operate and the stock left much to be desired. I'd pay no more than $400 for such.
The Remington 700 was exceptionally heavy, likely from that monster barrel. I can see why the long range shooters build on this platform.
The Tikka T3 and the Weatherby Vanguard were beautiful to hold and nice and light. I would love to see them at the range.
The lady who was helping me shoots a Remington 783. The one I held had beautiful checkering and came with a vortex scope. Seemed like a reasonable option I hadn't considered before.
Finally, the Browning X-Bolt. This rifle seemed like a high quality peice, it felt nice in my hands and the bolt was oh so smooth.
Unfortunately, all these where trigger locked and without shooting them I know I'm only getting a partial picture of what they are capable of. It was nice being able to put a face to the name, so to speak.
Now, if only I can get my hands on a Husqvarna or a Parker Hale...
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
Perfect? No. Adequate? Yes.
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
There are different versions of Rem 700s. You must have had a varmint or target barrel version.
Stay away from the Rem 783. Of all the budget priced rifles it has the worst reputation. With ANY of the budget priced guns these days its not accuracy thats the question (they are all accurate) its the build quality and workmanship. How smooth is the bolt? What are the components made of? What is the finish like? Things of that nature.
Its fine for hunting, a value focused rifle. Personally, I'd look for a used Tikka t 3or t3x. At least go and handle one, inspect the action, fit, finish, machining, trigger.....You'll happily spend the extra few hundred bucks on the Tikka knowing you have a lifetime rifle.
The 783 is the best of the budget offerings IMO, the mag system is leaps and bounds ahead of the Ruger and Savage plastic crap.
Mystic Precision has a couple good write ups about the 783, I agree with his points, excellent gun for the money. Wait for a sale and then grab one.
For the record I also have a Ruger American Ranch in 308, I only bought it because Cabela's was honoring a pricing mistake and I got it cheap. Still in box unfired, I feel people are blinded by patriotism and only see the "American" branding.
Mystic Precision has a couple good write ups about the 783, I agree with his points, excellent gun for the money. Wait for a sale and then grab one.
For the record I also have a Ruger American Ranch in 308, I only bought it because Cabela's was honoring a pricing mistake and I got it cheap. Still in box unfired, I feel people are blinded by patriotism and only see the "American" branding.
