|
|
|
|
Low prices on the Ruger American Ranch Rifle in .300BLK start at Champion Firearms-
"The Road Not Taken" is a narrative poem by Robert Frost that symbolizes life's complex and difficult choices, and the Ruger American is a perfect example of this principle in action. With so many hunting rifles on the market today, a quick glance at the American's price tag will undoubtedly leave some skeptical about its true capabilities and overall quality.
The old adage, "if it sounds too good to be true..." certainly comes to mind, because in reality, how good can a $375 threaded barrel rifle really be? The answer may just surprise you.
With the flood of cheap (and I don't mean affordable) bolt action hunting rifles that have hit the market in recent years, it's no wonder buyers have grown weary of bargain basement guns that sometimes only shoot "minute-of-pie-plate" size groups at 100- yards. To the company's credit, Ruger chose another path and in this instance, the road not taken was the decision to avoid sacrificing quality for the sake of economy.
The engineers of the American Rifle didn't just set out to build another cheap rifle. Instead, they set out to build a very nice rifle that just happened to be inexpensive-- which is the very reason the series has been so successful.
Sturm, Ruger and Company was founded in 1949 by business partners Alexander ("Alex") McCormick Sturm and William ("Bill") Batterman Ruger. Prior to the partnership, Bill Ruger had previously designed machine guns for the U.S. military during World War II and afterwards, successfully duplicated two Japanese Baby Nambu pistols in his garage based on samples acquired from a Marine. It would serve as the basis for launching the company when Ruger ingeniously combined the looks of a German 9mm Luger with rimfire engineering from the Colt Woodsman and the operating mechanism of the Nambu.
Bill Ruger and Alex Sturm rented a small machine shop in Southport, Connecticut and immediately introduced the world to the greatest rimfire pistol in history-- the legendary MK-I, which still continues to this day in its third generation. Alex Sturm was married to the granddaughter of President Teddy Roosevelt, was a Yale graduate, a talented artist and business entrepreneur that supplied the capital investment to start the fledgling company.
In addition, he personally designed the famous Germanic heraldic red eagle that still serves as Ruger's company logo. Bill Ruger supplied the business acumen plus technical-know-how as a skilled gunsmith and celebrated inventor. Tragically in 1951, Alex Sturm fell seriously ill and died at the age of 28 just as the company was beginning to gain traction.
After Sturm's passing, Bill Ruger mourned the loss of his old friend and business partner by permanently changing the company's distinctive red eagle logo to solid black (or white, shrouded in black), where it remains to this day in remembrance. Bill Ruger would go on to lead the company to world prominence, becoming the largest manufacturer of firearms in the United States.
A pioneering legend in American industry until his death in 2002, Ruger had a hand in the design and styling of every single gun the company produced while under his direction. To date, Sturm Ruger has manufactured more than 30-million firearms, while also becoming a leading supplier of precision investment castings in diverse industries such as aerospace, automotive and even golf clubs.
Unlike many "price point" models, the Ruger American is a handsome rifle with sleek lines, a well designed stock, an excellent trigger and a very accurate barrel whose combined synergy have resulted in a high performance package. At the heart of the design lies a smooth action with a short 70- degree bolt throw.
The 4140 chrome-moly receiver starts out as a 6- pound block of bar stock steel that is then milled to precise tolerances. It is paired with a 16.12" fully free-floated, cold hammer forged (carbon steel) 5/8-24 thread-per-inch barrel has been threaded to accept sound suppressors.
A triple lugged bolt offers strong, tight lock-up, while dual cocking cams allow the shooter to more easily cycle the bolt while shouldered. Ejection is by way of a standard push feed plunger, where extraction takes place via a conventional sliding blade design. Innovative new "Power Bedding" technology has replaced the traditional recoil lug system.
Two sets of slots are machined into the underside of the front and rear of the receiver. The action is then mated to stainless steel V-blocks molded into the stock, and a set of Allen head screws secure everything in place. The result is a steel-on-steel system immune to warping during inclement weather. Exacting tolerances guarantee the Ruger American action will index and seat consistently each time the screws are securely torqued down.
Barely noticeable is a nut which attaches receiver to barrel. During assembly, a collet grabs the barrel nut and applies the proper amount of torque without marring parts. This is a great way to set minimum headspace quickly and efficiently, while also increasing accuracy. All metal parts are then finished in a corrosion resistant black oxide that is expertly applied.
There is a two-position, top tang safety located just behind the bolt shroud, which is easily accessible under all shooting conditions. The safety does not actually lock the action closed, so to unload the chamber, you can still cycle the bolt while the gun remains on "Safe".
The Ruger American weighs in at just 6.1 pounds empty and has what the company refers to as a "Marksman" trigger system, which is user adjustable from 3-to-5 pounds. Turning a set screw at the front of the trigger body allows you to change the pull weight. Most shooters are familiar with the center safety blade system that protrudes from the trigger's face in a similar fashion to Glock's Safe Action or Savage's AccuTrigger.
The flat dark earth stock is nicely contoured and outfitted with unique finger grooves in the forearm. It is constructed of a highly weather resistant glass filled polypropylene. A straight comb design has been paired with a palm filling pistol grip, which features an enhanced molded-in gripping surface for exceptional handling and control. The recoil pad is soft enough to do a good job absorbing recoil, but not so soft that it snags your shirt or jacket when mounting.
While the Ruger American does not wear iron sights and assumes the shooter will mount optics, it is supplied with a set of Picatinny scope rail. Rings are not included with the package, but unlike the proprietary system of the Ruger M77, the company's decision to go with the M1913 mil-spec platform provides the shooter with a much wider selection of affordable rings choices.
While Ruger does not provide a written warranty, the company has always promptly, professionally and courteously repaired the extremely limited number of malfunctioning firearms we've sent them. In our humble opinion, they have a better warranty and service track record than many manufacturer's offering a so-called "limited lifetime" policy (which by the way is not your lifetime, but what the manufacturer deems to be the life of your gun).
Like all Ruger firearms, the American Rifle is 100% made here in the U.S.A. Overall, it's an accurate, reliable, lightweight and affordable hunting rifle built to provide decades of reliable service in the field.
Established in 1993, Champion Firearms is a retail gun store and indoor range located in College Station, Texas. As a brick & mortar store, we pride ourselves on customer service, quality products and our competitive pricing. Each listing is an item we actively plan to stock. While not all of our inventory is listed, the items contained on our website represent some of the most popular products we carry. Our staff has worked hard and done their best to ensure the accuracy of every listing. In the event an error has been made, Champion Firearms asks your understanding while we make it right. From all of us here at Champion Firearms, thanks for visiting our store. For assistance, please do not hesitate to let us know what we can do to help: (979) 693-9948 or [email protected]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Features
Marksman Adjustable Trigger: crisp release with a pull weight adjustable from 3-to-5lbs.
Ergonomic, Lightweight Stock: in flat dark earth finish, designed for quick, easy handling
Soft Rubber Recoil Pad: for maximum recoil reduction
Three- Lug 70 Degree Bolt: provides ample scope clearance and utilizes a full diameter bolt body and dual cocking cams for smooth cycling
Power Bedding- an integral bedding block system that positively indexes receiver and free- floats the barrel for outstanding accuracy
16.2" Hammer- Forged Barrel: ultra- precise rifling provides exceptional accuracy, barrel longevity and easy cleaning
Easy-to-Actuate Tang Safety: provides instant security and accessibility
10-Round PMAG
Drilled & Tapped: scope rail included
Caliber: .300 Blackout
Finish: Matte Black
Action Type: Bolt
Sights: None (Scope Rail Included)
Weight: 6.1 lbs.
Warranty: "Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. has elected not to provide any written warranty, either limited or full, rather than to attempt to comply with the provisions of the Magnuson-Moss Act and the regulations issued thereunder."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|