This morning I got to go to my happy place; the Nephi Shooting Range. I had the place all to myself. Today I zeroed in my new Ruger American Predator 6.5mm Creedmoor at 200 yards. This will be my Pronghorn rifle this Fall.

I picked this rifle up a few weeks ago; one, because it was cheap and two, because I wanted to play around with the 6,5 Creedmoor cartridge.
There is nothing really special about the 6.5 Creedmoor when compared to the 100 plus year old 6.5x55mm or the more recent .260 Remington. All three are pretty much ballistically identical. Of course the 6.5mm Creedmoor is the current must have caliber. I guess I just wanted to be socially aware in shooting circles.

The Ruger American Predator is a cheap entry level rifle that seems to be developing a reputation for being a tac driver. So far with about 100 rounds down range I can say the reputation is well deserved. My Ruger 6.5 shoots the Hornady Precision Hunter ELD-X143 grain factory loads into about 1/2 MOA groups. Not bad for a sub $500 rifle with cheapy plastic stock.

I have an older Leopold Mark 4 3-9x36mm LR/T M3 scope with MRAD reticle mounted on the Ruger with Vortex 30mm rings. This rifle could use more magnification to really bring out its best. I plan on using it as a deer, elk and Pronghorn rifle good out to about 500-600 yards so the scope is okay for its intended use. The scope use to be on an 5.56 AR and the dials are calibrated for an 62 grain load. Hopefully Leopold can make me some custom caps matching the Hornady ELDX 143 grain loads.

I shot 15 groups: the largest going about 2 inches at 200 yards, the smallest just under 1 inch at 200 yards and most hovering right around the 1 inch range.

I guess you could say I'm enjoying my cheap shooter.
forgive typos, context errors and missed words.

[img]http://m6.i.pbase.com/o10/10/209910/1/165830886.CgU8b9Pl****GER.jpg[/img]

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Bill Bates

Sounds like fine accuracy to me. I for one like the green color of the synthetic stock and would consider one in .243. Bought a rimfire compact and it is sure handy for a varmint woods rifle. Thanks for taking the time to post a pic of the gun and your shooting scores.

I have an old Ruger M77 .243 Win. I bought back in 1975. It a great shooter. I've put a lot of meat in the freezer with that rifle.

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Bill Bates

I had an old Ruger M77 Hawkeye Compact in .243. Tremendously accurate. It's now in the possession of one of my grandsons. After dropping a nice little Coues deer and a beautiful four-point Mule deer buck, he informed me that I wouldn't be seeing that rifle again. They're great, accurate rifles.

Congrats on the new rifle!

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Pack light and cinch tight.