Range Report: New Ruger American .22 Bolt Action (lots of pics).

[enfieldphile]

Fellow .22 shooters, my first range test.

Trigger spring removed, pull now 1-5/8 #
Action screws torqued to 12"# This setting may be too low. It's just where I decided to start. I think I'll move up to 20 or 25 "3's next.
Bore polished w/ J&B. 12 slow, careful strokes, prior to shooting.
2 each Weaver #16's lapped to match contour of AR receiver.
Burris Signature Zee Rings (low)
+ & - .020 inserts sideways in rear ring to bring scope to intersect w/ the bore (within 8 clicks @ 25 yards)
Used Weaver CKT15 15X (Japan) Duplex reticle. I have several scopes in my stash!

weather: 85 degrees, wind 12-15 MPH switching 180 degrees every few minutes (or less).

The footprint of the firing pin is small! Every round went bang; but I would still like to see a bigger pin footprint.

now, for shooting, first off, NONE of this! The "Keyboard Shooters" can always outshoot we mere mortals

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q228/ultramag44/KeyboardShootera_zps1c4446da.jpg

You get my setup and my groups, the good, the bad and the ugly. No cherry picking. This is only the beginning for the AR

I Started shooting @ 25 yards.

This is how I shoot. I have no idea what the "Experts" do.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q228/ultramag44/Ruger%20AAR/AARd_zps67c88a8e.jpg

5 rounds to finish final zero, then I put 25 rounds of fed automatch (old lot)through the AAR as fast as possible(no pic saving pic count).

The more rounds I put through the ARR, the closer to center the shots moved. Either the bore was slicking up some more, OR, the AAR just likes a lot of bore dressing. Or???? Any guesses out there.

First 5 shot, 25 yard group automatch (as I dodge the wind watching the flag & probe do a disco dance)
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q228/ultramag44/Ruger%20AAR/AARAuto25b_zps724f30ee.jpg

Barrel cleaned w/ patches, brush & solvent. 10 shots of Golden Eagle match to dress the bore (no pic saving pic count).
First 5 shot, 25 yard group Golden Eagle match
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q228/ultramag44/Ruger%20AAR/AARGolden25b_zpsc9ade321.jpg

again, more rounds down the bore, things tighten up. dressing?

Barrel cleaned w/ patches, brush & solvent. 10 shots of S&B Surplus (from 1982, The stuff AIM had last month) to dress the bore (no pic saving pic count).

First 5 shot, 25 yard group, S&B
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q228/ultramag44/Ruger%20AAR/AARSB25b_zps6ae61e99.jpg
Second 5 shot, 25 yard group, S&B
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q228/ultramag44/Ruger%20AAR/AARSB25c_zps7160b906.jpg

Barrel cleaned w/ patches, brush & solvent. first 6 shots of Eley Club were so nice, I used that as barrel dressing, then shot a second 5 shot group

First 6 shot, 25 yard group Eley Club
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q228/ultramag44/Ruger%20AAR/AAREClub25a_zps2d961f42.jpg
Second 5 shot, 25 yard group Eley Club
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q228/ultramag44/Ruger%20AAR/AAREleyClubL_zpsf81f2330.jpg

I was out of time, but I moved target back to 50 yards
First 5 shot, 50 yards group Eley Club
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q228/ultramag44/Ruger%20AAR/AAREClubc_zps58eb391d.jpg

Not too bad for a first outing! Still a lot of work to do! I have to increase torque on the action screws. I need some better wind conditions. or lack of wind (fat chance that :D) I think the barrel is slowing slicking up. I have more groups & pics, but space is limited here. You get the jist...

Best Regards,

[williamwaco]

Piece of junk Ruger!

If you send it to me, I can tune it up for you so it will shoot good.

Shouldn't take more than two or three - - - years.

[enfieldphile]

Williamwaco, wait for the Big Brown truck and wait, wait, wait, wait, ;-)

This rifle may motivate Remington to get another US made .22 bolt gun in their line. Either a revamp of one of their old designs or a new one.






Piece of junk Ruger!

If you send it to me, I can tune it up for you so it will shoot good.

Shouldn't take more than two or three - - - years.

[RED333]

Ya pi&& of a tree rat aint ya.
The first pic is great, nice shooting!

[Lefty Red]

Nice rifle. But great shooting too!

Lefty

[enfieldphile]

Thanks guys!

Ruger seems to have a winner here! Regular 10/22 mags are the same as the new RAR.

I really believe in Burris Signature Zee rings and Weaver bases. Ruger calls for two each Weaver #12 bases. I could not find any #12's, but I had a used set of #16's in my parts stash. I lapped them to a perfect fit on the receiver. This article has the procedure about 1/2 way through the article. http://www.jmtpublishing.com/articles/2011/917V_and_917VS.asp

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q228/ultramag44/Ruger%20AAR/AARf_zpse58a9abc.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q228/ultramag44/Ruger%20AAR/AARa_zps5961db6c.jpg

[Firebricker]

I like the Ruger and looks like a shooter right out of the box. Now as far as your keyboard goes you should know being that short and no scope it's just not going to shoot well LOL. FB

[williamwaco]

Well?

I am still waiting ? ? ?

[LAH]

Good report. The Auto-Match does well in my CZ, probably a little tighter than your Ruger at this point. Is your barrelled action the same as a 77/22?

[Baron von Trollwhack]

Looks like typical 22 results with nearly any common 22 rifle on sandbags off a solid bench at 4 X, cleaning and relubing between ammo changes.

BvT