Ruger All American Ranch /Predator, short review

Tjkiller

Tjkiller

Well-known member
SO I thought Id share:
I bought (2) Ranch models and (1) Predator Model all in 5.56 and 223 (Pred). As far as I can tell, the guns only differences are the stock color and the barrel (1/7 16" vs 1/8 22").
Break in ammo - Fiocchi 50 gr FMJ and various handloads

Overall - accuracy is good to very good, will be better once the guns are really broke in. Right now 100-150 rds each. I bedded one of the Ranch model front end in Marine-Tex to stiffin it up. It did make a small difference in group size, added weight as well. I was gettin 1.5 to .85ish at the end with hand loads on a cold barrel. FMJs were 3in plus
What I like:
-The action, its smooths out really quick. The bolt is HUGE,heavy and thick (no jokes pls). The action has a hole cut in it (ejection port), like the old 788. Results in a stiff action. Bolt throw is 70deg I believe, nice. No recoil lug, the bedding system in innovative, makes sense. Plastic stock holds it back a little IMO.
-Detachable mag- almost a necessity these days. speaks for its self.
-Trigger, absolutely acceptable. def under 5 lbs, similar to accutrigger, not quite as clean.
-Barrels - threaded, smart with the growing popularity of cans and on the ridiculous BOOM of the shorter barrel. You can throw a Keneti-tech shroud on it if u like.
- Picatinny standard, comes on gun. Aluminum but hey , pack light freeze at night.
-weight, light guns, great packable accurate lil shooters.

What I do not like (not much, for an economy gun, sacrifices are made, not many here)
- the stock - I get it, costs are cut somewhere. When someone comes out with a stiff aftermarket stock for these,, the bedding system will really shine.
- The magazine its self, once again an aftermarket would be nice. I had NO ISSUES with any of the mags, they all worked flawlessly, each held 5 rds. My only issue is that they are plastic. You push the round through the top, and it works. I bet at some point it will wear out. I heard thy are pricey too.

- one issue with one of the Ranch models. I know how to mount a scope, I have all the tools and training. This one perplexes me. I used 2 different rings sets, Warne and a off brand, similar to warne. I used the pica-tinny slots farthest apart, the scope was not on straight.I measured with a micrometer, the holes were Good. Adjusted all the way left, still hit right....then I saw it. I took it all apart, base off rings apart etc. Put it all back together. I ended up moving the rear ring up a slot, Good to go.....scratch my head, but whateva its good now. Something with the rail I believe. Not taking it apart again to find out.

OVERALL-- if you shop around or know a guy that knows a guy, these can be had 350-400$. These rifles are a game changer. perfect for kids, new hunters, veteran killers on a budget, or if you just lookin for a packin rifle with all the bells and whistles. FYI - the Predator has MUCH less BOOM than the Ranch, kicks less as well.

Ive always been on the fence with Ruger. Not a Mini fan , not really impressed with the M77s. Revolvers and 22 s I thought were OK. In recent years I changed my mind. The all american and the new precision line really are awesome. They are lookin out for us workin men and women...

-no affiliation with the company.

Good day
 
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Nice review. Day in and day out Ruger is awfully hard to beat for the money. I have a bunch and they are all fine rifles. The American fits a niche with the price point.
 
Last winter, was looking for a less expensive rifle in .204. I
checked out the Sav 25 Walking Varminter and the RA Predator.
I knew the Varminter wouldn't stack up to my 110 and VLP's but
wow, it just wreaked of cheap. Then I handled the Predator,
which seemed to be twice the quality of the Varminter, so that's
what came home with me.

First time out, shotgun patterns! The brass came out of the
chamber with horrible marks on them, reminding me of the
beginnings of case head separation. Back home, I checked out
the chamber and it appeared the chamber reamer they used was
in pretty bad shape. To Ruger's credit, they replaced the
barrel.

Since then, I have tried several different loads along with
Hornady 40gr factory loads. So far, the best it has done is
7/8", but I haven't tried any loads with the fire-formed brass.
Hopefully, it will do better with them.

I'm guessing it will do its best with bullets seated out too
far to fit in the magazine, just like my old 788 in .22-250.
It will do 1/2" groups with 50gr SBK's with bullets .015 off
the lands, but seated so they will fit in the mag, the same
load groups just over an inch.

Boyd's does make an aftermarket stock for the Predator, and
sends the recoil lug hardware with it, thus the higher price
of that stock. They strongly recommend to bed the hardware,
which I did. It makes for a lot more stable setup. Hope I can
eventually get it to shoot as well as it now looks!!
 
I have two that I am very pleased with. I did have to have both magazines replaced, which Ruger did promptly upon me reporting the issues to them. The 223 would jam the last round in the mag into the feed ramp, and the 243 Predator would not pick up the last round from the mag. Bolt slid over the top because the round would not rise up into place in the mag.

Both are 1" shooters with the occasional tighter group. Great hunting/truck/starter rifles for just about anyone. I'm very hard on my hunting rigs. All my "nice" rifles are now pretty dinged up so I like having these around to drag through the timber and rocks.
 
Originally Posted By: DannoBooneSo far, the best it has done is
7/8", but I haven't tried any loads with the fire-formed brass.
Hopefully, it will do better with them.


Just remember that these were introduced as hunting rifles at an extremely low cost point. In my humble opinion, 7/8" groups ain't too bad for what the gun costs.
wink.gif
 
Here's what I don't get...

Why on earth does the half price ruger american consistantly shoot better than the expensive hawkeye?

I don't get it. I understand the hawkeye is more quality built but don't you think quality built would mean more accurate?!?!?

I read over and over how accurate the american is out of the box and I read over and over on how much tweaking it takes for a hawkeye to shoot.

I don't know, seems odd to me...
 
What you've read and what I've experienced are two different things. We have 2 Hawkeyes that were under MOA out of the box. With a bit of load tweaking they are almost 1-hole rifles. The only Hawkeye or M77 that I've ever had a problem with was a lefty in .243 that had a serious headspace issue that Ruger promptly replaced.
 
Originally Posted By: Robinhood21Here's what I don't get...

Why on earth does the half price ruger american consistantly shoot better than the expensive hawkeye?

I don't get it. I understand the hawkeye is more quality built but don't you think quality built would mean more accurate?!?!?

I read over and over how accurate the american is out of the box and I read over and over on how much tweaking it takes for a hawkeye to shoot.

I don't know, seems odd to me...

I'll go along with your, "I don't know". You should try one/buy one before you characterize yourself as an expert on the trials and travails of the Ruger Hawkeye simply from reading about them.

I bought a RAR Predaor in 223 Rem and it shoots fine, but I own several Ruger 77's from the tang safety models to the current production Hawkeye Model 77, and I can't say from experience that the RAR shoots better than any of them because it doesn't.

For a fact, the most accurate factory grade rifle I own is a totally box stock no add-ons blue/walnut Hawkeye in a sporter weight configuration with a relatively light barrel chambered in 220 Swift. It far out-shoots some other factory rifles in my safes, some of which cost considerably more than the Hawkeye did.

Unlike you, I truly can't say it, "seems odd to me...", again from real time experience with no books or internet chatter involved.
 
Originally Posted By: HidalgoOriginally Posted By: DannoBooneSo far, the best it has done is
7/8", but I haven't tried any loads with the fire-formed brass.
Hopefully, it will do better with them.


Just remember that these were introduced as hunting rifles at an extremely low cost point. In my humble opinion, 7/8" groups ain't too bad for what the gun costs.
wink.gif


You're right.

And my tweaking target of 1/2" will be utterly fantastic for
what the gun costs.
thumbup.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Winny FanOriginally Posted By: Robinhood21Here's what I don't get...

Why on earth does the half price ruger american consistantly shoot better than the expensive hawkeye?

I don't get it. I understand the hawkeye is more quality built but don't you think quality built would mean more accurate?!?!?

I read over and over how accurate the american is out of the box and I read over and over on how much tweaking it takes for a hawkeye to shoot.

I don't know, seems odd to me...

I'll go along with your, "I don't know". You should try one/buy one before you characterize yourself as an expert on the trials and travails of the Ruger Hawkeye simply from reading about them.

I bought a RAR Predaor in 223 Rem and it shoots fine, but I own several Ruger 77's from the tang safety models to the current production Hawkeye Model 77, and I can't say from experience that the RAR shoots better than any of them because it doesn't.

For a fact, the most accurate factory grade rifle I own is a totally box stock no add-ons blue/walnut Hawkeye in a sporter weight configuration with a relatively light barrel chambered in 220 Swift. It far out-shoots some other factory rifles in my safes, some of which cost considerably more than the Hawkeye did.

Unlike you, I truly can't say it, "seems odd to me...", again from real time experience with no books or internet chatter involved.

Wasn't trying to be arrogant or even categorize myself as an expert on the subject.

It's just something that seems to come up often.
I've owned a hawkeye in .223 and it was my most inaccurate gun I owned so I sold it. Just my experience. I have not however owned an American so I can't tell my personal experience on that. Like I said, it just seems like, from what I hear/read, the american is the more accurate gun out of the box.
 
Originally Posted By: Robinhood21Like I said, it just seems like, from what I hear/read, the american is the more accurate gun out of the box.

Welcome to the internet ............
 


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