Went overboard on a Ruger American

[bushmaster1313]

I bought a Ruger American in 5.56 NATO capable of accepting standard AR15 magazines. The factory stock was too short, too low and too skimpy, so I replaced it with a Magpul stock. The restocked rifle fit me so well that I had a gunsmith install a 20” X-Caliber barrel in .223 Wylde. I was so pleased with this setup that I switched the factory trigger for a Timney. The last thing added was a Magpul M-Lok bipod.

Yes I went overboard
But it’s good clean fun after working for others for 50 years.
And as they say about money: “You can’t take it with you.”

 

[TJm15.38]

Really nice rifle. The .223 Wylde bull barrel and improved trigger are nice editions. Give us a range report.

 

[03hemi]

Nice, but what's overboard?

 

[lrrifleman]

Hopefully you selected a fast twist barrel, such as 1:7.5 or 1:8!

 

[ameridaddy]

Oooh! Prairie dog gun!

 

[Farmer17]

I looked at a Ruger American when they first came out and I thought it was a little cheezy, but they've turned out to very accurate and successful rifles at a pretty low price. Savage are similar and very accurate but I like the Ruger better for some reason.

 

[Yendor357]

There are few things in life better than a bolt gun with a big old custom stainless barrel. I’d love to be sitting behind that baby! That thing says half minute.

You’ve worked 50 years? No need to apologize nor explain anything. Well done. You have good taste.

 

[huntsman22]

you need a new handle.....

 

[bushmaster1313]

Hopefully you selected a fast twist barrel, such as 1:7.5 or 1:8!

1:7 twist to stabilize up to 77 gr bullets

 

[Steve_Revo_]

Go big or go home..... Nice rig.

 

[Rodan]

So... how does it shoot?

Last fall when I was building a .223 for my wife, I nearly picked the Ruger American, but decided to give post-bankruptcy Remington a shot and bought a 700 SPS. So far, I haven't been overly impressed, but we're only around 100 rounds in at this point. Interested to hear how the Ruger shoots...

 

[bushmaster1313]

You’ve worked 50 years? No need to apologize nor explain anything. Well done. You have good taste.

At 17 I finished high school on a Friday and began my first real job the following Monday. Worked 50 years at different jobs till I retired last year at 67. I am not looking back. Only forward through the Leupold.

 

[Squarebutt]

Overboard is underrated. Nice build. Enjoy it and enjoy your well-earned retirement!
I just bought the same basic rifle in 5.56. Looking forward to scoping it and wringing it out before changing anything.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I needed another 223 like a hole in my head! But while in a LGS the manager took me aside and showed me a recent (pre Bankruptcy) Remington 700 with a factory laminated stock. It had been barreled (24" heavy Stainless, chambered (Match 223 REM), and pillar bedded by Kelbly (in the Wooster, Ohio area). These guys are THE Bench Rest people! This gun was somebody's Varmint gun that cared about distance and accuracy. I paid way over a used 700 price but got it for about the barrel cost.

I threw a Leupold VX-III 6.5-20x40mm Varmint scope I literally had just laying around on the gun, bore sighted it with a magnetic gizmo Leupold used to sell, went to the 200-yard range at Woodbury, Ohio and was off zero by 1.5" on the first shot. I took several types of ammo with me to see what it liked, but some blue box Federal loaded with 50 grain Sierra Game King bullets from the factory-made multiple groups of 1/2" @ 200. (1/4 MOA) That ammo was the least expensive I own without being FMJ stuff! I shot this ammo from a time proven Copper 21 and got the same size groups. With a custom developed load, I'm expecting 1/8 MOA or a little better performance!

One of my buddies that shoots BR matches are going to have to have a shoot off. I know I'll take the day if it's windy at all!

Ivan

 

[hardluk1]

I bought a savage stevens 200 in 223 some years ago as a possible lite deer cartridge and coyote hunter with a 1-9 twist barrel . I did change the trigger group out for a rifle basic 1lb trigger upgrade . Winny's old 64gr sp has been a favorite for deer with moa or a less less groups while the fed 69gr match king is my most accurate load with clover leaf groups of ,3/8" inch at 100 yard groups and my best coyote load out to 300 yards . I tried a no /nogo guage and found 5.56 is ok too and several mil sprec M193 55gr fmj .

Today our two home assembled AR15's are as accurate and get far more hunting and range time . Glad this tread reminded me about the bolt action rifles we have .

 

[ladder13]

Well done. Can’t take your money or things with you so why not?

 

[AJ]

I have a .223 Savage M11 with a 3-9X Nikon Scope. Picked it up at our local range for $350.00, the owner decided he no longer needed it. The only thing that I have added was a leather check rest and a Harris Bipod.

 

[Yendor357]

I have a really accurate AR-15 in 223. I never got anywhere near the kill ratio on prairie dogs with that thing as I did with my Krieger/Rem700. I shot that gun until there was an inch of rifling gone. When groups opened up to 3/4 MOA, I knew there was a problem. My Rifle smith set the barrel back. It ow shoots as well as ever.

Like I said, you can’t beat a bolt gun with a heavy custom barrel.

My cousin’s buddy has shot several white tails from a tree stand with an AR-15, 16 inch barrel with 65 grain Game Kings. I’m told he calls that rifle “Three Step” because once they’re hit, the deer are on the ground before the they can take the 4th step.

In Indiana, a good 223 will do just about anything you need from a rifle.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have one of the 223 Savage single shot, right hand bolt, left hand port, heavy target rifles. It has 1:9 twist and stabilizes Hornady 75 grain A-Max and 77 grain Berger VLD's very well. This gun, with a Boyd BR stock installed, consistently shoots 3" groups at 1000 yards. It is also my record holder at 200 yards, 7 consecutive M&M's just sitting on the berm!

The ammo is seated out to .010 off the lands with a over book charge of Varget. Using Remington 7 1/2 primer and LC brass intended for a M-249 (a few thousandths thicker in the base area). There is only a single 223 hole at 200 yards or less.

In 223 I consider the guns that stabilize the 50 & 55 grain bullet to be 500 or so yard guns. The guns that do the 75+grain bullets to be 1000+ yard guns.

You might look at what will happen with the 88 grain bullets over Varget to a milk jug of water at 1000 yards. That 1:7 twist should be the ticket! You need to load longer than an AR magazine to get enough powder to keep the RPM's up for the distance. My long loaded 77's use 26.6 gr of Varget. In my rifle I can't seat further for one more tenth of a grain, I'm using a Drop Tube as is.

Ivan

 

[AJ]

This is a picture of the Savage M11 from post #17. The accompanying picture of the target i what I shot with my first three shots that convinced me to buy the rifle. Had been offered the rifle for $500.00 and I had said no as I thought it was to much. Before I left the range, I was offered the rifle for $350.00 and allowed to shoot it before up my mind. I fired the target shown and paid up.

Used American Eagle Varmint 50 grain at 3325 FPS ammo. The scope is a 3-9X Nikon Scope. The group was three shots with the Savage M11. Would I buy another Savage? Probably.