Thoughts and Impressions of the Ruger American Rimfire bolt actions?

[Metal Wonder Nine Guy]

Currently have a basic Savage Mark II G rifle that I got several years ago. It's a great, lightweight and accurate 22LR bolt action. Plus I love the look of the rifle- it kind of reminds me of the Varmint Rifle from the video game Fallout: New Vegas. But the Mark 2 does have something that annoys me. The magazine design is not the greatest. I've had one Mark II magazine break its spot welds along its back and another magazine that caught the rim of a cartridge and would not feed.

Since I have a bunch of Ruger 10/22 magazines, I've been eyeing up the Ruger American rimfire rifles. They make several 18 inch barrel versions with threaded muzzles which would help make this rifle an excellent suppressor host. I also wanted to ask all you small game hunters a couple questions. What would you have for the gun's metal finish if you're out hunting- blued or stainless? And would you want to have iron sights just in case or do you just use a scope? I ask because the older friends and my family prefer irons as that's what they've grown up on. Of course, I have buddies who have bad eyesight like me and they swear by having a scope on your rifle.

I do also want to ask about the quality and accuracy of the rifles too. My one friend is convinced that the American Rimfire rifles aren't accurate enough. I also looked at 2 of these rifles in the shop yesterday and the machining on the bolt undersides was quite rough with very apparent tool marks. But the bolt cycling was fine for both rifles.

These are the three models that I've eyeing up right now. All 18 inch and with threaded muzzles.
Blued with iron sights
https://ruger.com/products/americanRimfire/specSheets/8305.html

Blued with no iron sights and green stock (I live the green stock)
https://ruger.com/products/americanRimfire/specSheets/8334.html

Stainless Steel with no iron sights
https://ruger.com/products/americanRimfire/specSheets/8351.html

[studenygreg]

I have a RAR .22lr. I got it because I wanted a bolt action for shooting suppressed.  I also liked that it uses the same mags as my 10/22s. I'm no sniper but I find it plenty accurate . I only shoot out to 100 yards so far. I added the mcarbo trigger spring which makes the pull around 2lbs or so iirc.  I have a leupold 2-7 on mine.

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[v35]

Blued with iron sights
https://ruger.com/products/americanRimfire/specSheets/8305.html

That's the one I have, which I chose for many of the same reasons you explained. I put a Leupold scope on it. Also a suppressor. Unfortunately I don't hunt and I'm not much of a long range target shooter either, so my opinion might not be worth much. I have no complaints though. Fit and finish are excellent, as is Ruger quality and support.

Now, if you want to talk about accuracy this is what you want:



 

[Metal Wonder Nine Guy]

That's the one I have, which I chose for many of the same reasons you explained. I put a Leupold scope on it. Also a suppressor. Unfortunately I don't hunt and I'm not much of a long range target shooter either, so my opinion might not be worth much. I have no complaints though. Fit and finish are excellent, as is Ruger quality and support.

Now, if you want to talk about accuracy this is what you want:

Thanks for the reply! What rifle is that in the picture above? And what Leupold scope do you use for your Ruger? Both my brother and Uncle like Leupold scopes.

[AZ_CZ]

I love my Ruger 10/22s but they’re not in the same league with my 452s even with upgraded barrel, stock, actions, and triggers. (I know that’s not an equal comparison) If I were going for a bolt action I would go with the SS barreled action. All I use are scopes or RDS so irons are useless to me. For about $425 after shipping, taxes and transfer fee it looks worth a try. I use a Leupold 3x9 Rifleman that was factory reset for parallax at 50yrds. Love the scope! Not saying you should get a CZ but off a bipod I’m shooting .81 @ 50 and .68 @25 moa with basic federal auto match ammo with my Trainer.

https://i.imgur.com/TNA66f9.jpg

[v35]

What rifle is that in the picture above? And what Leupold scope do you use for your Ruger?

The rifle in the picture is a CZ 455, heavy threaded barrel, with a Vortex 6-18 x 44 scope.

https://cz-usa.com/product/cz-455-varmint-thumbhole-fluted-discontinued/

Not shown in the picture is a suppressor. The first time I used subsonic ammunition I thought I had a dead cartridge because it made literally no noise. All I heard was a click It's my favorite rifle.

The scope I mounted on the Ruger is a Leupold VX3i 3.5 - 10x40. I like Leupold for their legendary support, fortunately I have never needed it.

You are fortunate to have a brother and uncle interested in shooting. Rifle target shooting was perplexing and frustrating to me and don't have anyone to learn from, and those rifles have been sitting unused for years 

[Metal Wonder Nine Guy]

The rifle in the picture is a CZ 455, heavy threaded barrel, with a Vortex 6-18 x 44 scope.

https://cz-usa.com/product/cz-455-varmint-thumbhole-fluted-discontinued/

Not shown in the picture is a suppressor. The first time I used subsonic ammunition I thought I had a dead cartridge because it made literally no noise. All I heard was a click It's my favorite rifle.

The scope I mounted on the Ruger is a Leupold VX3i 3.5 - 10x40. I like Leupold for their legendary support, fortunately I have never needed it.

You are fortunate to have a brother and uncle interested in shooting. Rifle target shooting was perplexing and frustrating to me and don't have anyone to learn from, and those rifles have been sitting unused for years 

Nice. My little brother is eventually planning to get a CZ 22LR bolt action like a 457 or 452.

My little brother helped get me back into firearms post college. My first job out of college involved working at a retirement home in late 2015, and I befriended a WW2 navy vet who also got me back into firearms. He knew a lot about WW2 firearms and he even showed me how to field strip an M1 carbine. He's still alive at the ripe old age of 98.

[v35]

You are truly blessed to have such shooting buddies.

CZ makes a fine rifle. Your little brother might want to consider this one:

https://cz-usa.com/product/cz-457-varmint-at-one/

I have that stock but on a different gun. The laminate is a classy alternative to synthetic stocks. Boyd's makes good products.

[Tinker Black]

I have a RAR .22lr. I got it because I wanted a bolt action for shooting suppressed.  I also liked that it uses the same mags as my 10/22s. I'm no sniper but I find it plenty accurate.

I have a RAR 22LR w/ 18" barrel, and my experience has been similar. I picked it up on a whim, b/c it came w/ a decent scope for under $300 out-the-door.

I'm not a great person to ask, b/c admittedly, it's the first bolt-action I've ever owned. I have owned several 10/22s, so the BX mag compatibility was a major draw. Compared to a similar 10/22, the fit, finish, accuracy, & trigger are clearly superior. I enjoy shooting it more than my 10/22s, b/c I don't shoot 10/22s to do mag dumps.

I don't have a reference to compare against other bolt-action rifles, but from watching & reading reviews, it's seems to be at least competitive in its class & price point vs Savage, Marlin, Winchester, Rossi, etc. I.e., it's not fair to compare it against a CZ.

[warriorgeez]

I picked one up for cheap, and if it weren't so inexpensive I'd be pretty disappointed.

Compared to my 452, the action is very rough and the accuracy is surprisingly mediocre. I haven't done much to find which ammo it likes, though, because it's just not as fun to shoot as the 452.