The Ruger American .308, a good first hunting rifle?

blasted_saber said:
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.
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You might be confusing the 710/770 with the 783...those 2 are pretty terrible examples.
783 is pretty decent in the $400-$500 range, no real issues with them, decent enough trigger, well made, syn stock is not butter container quality, and they are pretty accurate. Molded in sling swivels are the only possible negative, mine still haven't let go. If they ever did, it's not hard to clean up and install a metal sling stud.
The walnut ones are nicer stocks, but should be compared to the syn stock prices and decide if the difference is really worth it.
 
No, im not confusing them. Im glad you like yours, but its not worth $500 when QUALITY used guns are available for that much with relative ease.

Hitzy said:
You might be confusing the 710/770 with the 783...those 2 are pretty terrible examples.
783 is pretty decent in the $400-$500 range, no real issues with them, decent enough trigger, well made, syn stock is not butter container quality, and they are pretty accurate. Molded in sling swivels are the only possible negative, mine still haven't let go. If they ever did, it's not hard to clean up and install a metal sling stud.
The walnut ones are nicer stocks, but should be compared to the syn stock prices and decide if the difference is really worth it.
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I am roughly in the same boat as you looking for my first big game rifle, decided on taking advantage of this deal on a .308 (have not recieved mine yet): https://www.northernelitefirearms.c...-557-carbine-bolt-action-rifle-308-win-5-rnd/

Little more than what you are looking at, but a pretty hard to beat deal if you value wood stock with a cheek rest, iron sights, .308, great accuracy reviews, and a well respected manufacturer for durability. I also love how the CZ feels when shouldered more than any other gun under $1500 and I really like my CZ 452. Looked at a bunch of used rifles... but as a newbie who wants to get shooting and is still learning what to look for I didn't want to buy an older rifle that I was not confident on the condition of and the used prices for newer models would not actually have been that much lower.

Matt
 
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blasted_saber said:
No, im not confusing them. Im glad you like yours, but its not worth $500 when QUALITY used guns are available for that much with relative ease.
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The majority of my rifles are all over 50 years old, so yeah no question old world quality holds true.
I went through pretty much all the new budget guns for ####s and giggles, some were not bad, some were cutting way too many corners for me. I got my 783 for $299 new when out $$ was high, not a whole lot I could find wrong with it.
The Howa/Vanguard are pretty much the cream of the budget crop.
 
I picked up a 783 in 308 as my first hunting rifle and have been very happy with it.
As a new shooter this thing is still out shooting me but I’m printing holes within an inch of each other at 100 yards so I have no complaints.
 
RidgeHunter said:
I picked up a 783 in 308 as my first hunting rifle and have been very happy with it.
As a new shooter this thing is still out shooting me but I’m printing holes within an inch of each other at 100 yards so I have no complaints.
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Mine was 30'06 and also a really decent shooting gun. Prophet River had a few Boyds stocks on for $150 and I gave mine a facelift.
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Hitzy said:
Mine was 30'06 and also a really decent shooting gun. Prophet River had a few Boyds stocks on for $150 and I gave mine a facelift.
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Wow that’s nice Hitzy.
I see you did the same as me and ditched the package scope and put on a Nikon prostaff.
Love that scope with this rifle. I put the package scope on my 22 but I’m not even sure it’s worth it on a rimfire.
That to me was the biggest downfall of this package. But I knew that going into it and to me the scope was just a throw away anyway.
 
RidgeHunter said:
Wow that’s nice Hitzy.
I see you did the same as me and ditched the package scope and put on a Nikon prostaff.
Love that scope with this rifle. I put the package scope on my 22 but I’m not even sure it’s worth it on a rimfire.
That to me was the biggest downfall of this package. But I knew that going into it and to me the scope was just a throw away anyway.
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I was lucky, got mine before the package deals came out, rifle only. First scope you see on it is a Redfield 3-9 which is not terrible, I put the Nikon on with the Boyds as I needed some extra eye relief due to the LOP being a bit longer.
 
Hey Gents,

Just an update:

I managed to find a used .308 X-Bolt hunter on the EE. I put Nikon glass on it and am quite happy! The thing functions beautifully, likes some of the handloads I've been feeding it, and can certainly outshoot me.

Thanks for all the advice!

If anyone is in the Edmonton area and wants to come out to the range, feel free to give me a shout!
 
I have a used one in .223 and a new Remington 700 in .308. I would defiantly chose the ruger american over the remington 700. The accuracy is insane for such a budget rifle. Cycling the action of the ruger is choppy as hell compared to the remington, but that doesn't matter too much. I have also had some problems with the magazines but they have seemed to get better after they get some use. The stock fells like garbage too. Overall it feels cheap compared to my remington but the thing can shoot straight and that's all that really matters.
 
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I have a 700 in 30-06 and a buddy has an american in the same. Both shoot equally accurate with their favorite loads. Difference is the american action sounds like a loud zipper opening, the 700 is smooth and quite. The all metal mag on my 700 has never given me an issue. While my buddy is fully expecting the plastic one on the ruger to break. The stocks are night and day. The american feels and looks like crap! All in all i'd avoid the american if possible and buy something built better.
 
BearChillz said:
Hey Gents,

Just an update:

I managed to find a used .308 X-Bolt hunter on the EE. I put Nikon glass on it and am quite happy! The thing functions beautifully, likes some of the handloads I've been feeding it, and can certainly outshoot me.

Thanks for all the advice!

If anyone is in the Edmonton area and wants to come out to the range, feel free to give me a shout!
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Great choice.
I bet spending a wee bit more doesn't quite hert so bad now that you have a quality rifle
you can be proud to own.
 
BearChillz said:
Hey Gents,

Just an update:

I managed to find a used .308 X-Bolt hunter on the EE. I put Nikon glass on it and am quite happy! The thing functions beautifully, likes some of the handloads I've been feeding it, and can certainly outshoot me.

Thanks for all the advice!

If anyone is in the Edmonton area and wants to come out to the range, feel free to give me a shout!
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Great choice, much better quality then the American. You'll be much happier a couple years down the road having that in your cabinet then the American
 
My Ruger American experience has been outstanding. I had never been into economy firearms. The American in .308 was a new adventure for me.

I have used this rifle for medium range target work, and as a back-up wolf gun. My American has performed very well. It has become a high-volume shooter. It has been delivering slightly more than MOA performance at 500 metres with a variety of ammo, and sometimes groups at 1 MOA at that range. Bottom line for me has been a healthy marriage of results and cost. If this is what you are looking for, I'd recommend it.
 
This is my first hunting season (ever) and I bought the American in 30-06. My buds all hunt with Tikkas, and other than the fact they paid twice I did for a rifle there are no distinguishing advantages. In fact, I can't imagine spending more money on a rifle, since my only purpose for it is to fill the freezer. I slapped a Vortex Viper on it, and stuffed the butt end with sponge material to help with the recoil.

The gun feels very light, similar in weight to the Tikkas, fantastic trigger, bolt is good, the Tikkas are for sure more smooth, but again, for taking down game, I'm only shooting once, for the 100-200 range I'm comfortable with.
 
BearChillz said:
Especially with the bankruptcy that gives me some apprehensions about Remington haha. I'll have to keep that in mind when it comes to Nikon, warranty is really important, especially when it comes in to the bush with me. Leupolds are really nice, but that $$$ is so much.
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Redfield scopes aren't too overpriced. I have a few and they work great for me.
 
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