Ruger American .556 Ranch Generation 2?Bolt action

[jeff43]

Anyone here have one? How does it do  as far as accuracy?Is it worth the extra money compared to the Gen 1?What do you think about it overall?

Edited September 29 by jeff43

[Moped]

I’d also love to hear some opinions. This is on my list.

[pop pop]

I have a gen 2 Mini 14 Ranch, if that is what you are talking about. The one I have fires 226 or 556. My son in law also has a Mini 14 gen 2. Both rifles are fairly accurate, but not tack drivers. Mine will shoot 1 1/2 groups with most ammo. I have never put it through the ringer, on accuracy, because it is sufficient for what I wanted the rifle for. 

My understanding is the gen 1 were not as accurate although I never owned a gen 1. I probably have fired 400 rounds through the one I have using 4 different brands of 223 and 556 with no problems in the reliability department. Fires both equally well. The one I have satisfies me. I never expected to fire 5 round groups that a dime would cover. Don't believe my Mini will ever do that. 

My Mini is fun to shoot, however can get into one's pocket where ammo is concerned. I just do not have the funds to shoot as much as I once did. Mostly concentrate on my EDCs now.

Edited to add; We purchased ours at Wal Mart a couple years after the gen 2s came out. I memory serves both were around the 500.00 mark each after taxes several years ago.  

Edited September 29 by pop pop

[jeff43]

No , I’m looking for information on the American Ranch 556. Bolt action

First picture is the Gen2

2nd picture is the Gen 1

Edited September 29 by jeff43

[eRay]

I just bought 3 new American Ranch Rifles in Gen 1. One in 5.56, one in 300BO and one in 7,62 x 39. I do not like the buttstock cut into two pieces to make it adjustable on the Gen 2  I am not too crazy about the looks of the black cheek riser either. I've always gotten about 1.5 inch groups out of the gen 1's. I can not imagine the Gen 2's being much better. The Gen 2's are only about $45 more than the Gen 1's at familyfirearms.com/ I thought I better go ahead and get a few of the Gen 1's while I still can.

[jeff43]

1 hour ago, eRay said:

I just bought 3 new American Ranch Rifles in Gen 1. One in 5.56, one in 300BO and one in 7,62 x 39. I do not like the buttstock cut into two pieces to make it adjustable on the Gen 2  I am not too crazy about the looks of the black cheek riser either. I've always gotten about 1.5 inch groups out of the gen 1's. I can not imagine the Gen 2's being much better. The Gen 2's are only about $45 more than the Gen 1's at familyfirearms.com/ I thought I better go ahead and get a few of the Gen 1's while I still can.

I’ve saw the Gen 1’s some places quite a bit cheaper than the Gen 2’s. I like the looks of the spiral barrel on the Gen 2’s , but if that’s  the only difference I will go with the gen1 for price.Im a cheap a$$.

Are you shooting factory loads or do you reload?

Edited September 29 by jeff43

[eRay]

2 hours ago, jeff43 said:

I’ve saw the Gen 1’s some places quite a bit cheaper than the Gen 2’s. I like the looks of the spiral barrel on the Gen 2’s , but if that’s  the only difference I will go with the gen1 for price.Im a cheap a$$.

Are you shooting factory loads or do you reload?

I am just using factory Federal Hi Shok soft point. If you check familyfirearms.com they are not charging sales tax. I got 3 Gen 1's for $448 each. The Gen 2's were $494. Only downside they charged $20 shipping on each one instead of packing them together to make it cheaper. I am old and like things simple. The Gen 2's look to me like they were designed by Mattel or Pfisher Price. Keep it simple.

[jeff43]

27 minutes ago, eRay said:

I am just using factory Federal Hi Shok soft point. If you check familyfirearms.com they are not charging sales tax. I got 3 Gen 1's for $448 each. The Gen 2's were $494. Only downside they charged $20 shipping on each one instead of packing them together to make it cheaper. I am old and like things simple. The Gen 2's look to me like they were designed by Mattel or Pfisher Price. Keep it simple.

Thanks

[jeff43]

I got a Gen 1 on the way.

[eRay]

46 minutes ago, jeff43 said:

I got a Gen 1 on the way.

You will like it. I put a variety of different scopes on my Ruger American ranch rifles. Everything from a Vortex Crossfire 2 x 7 x 33 to a Burris 4.5 x 14 x 50. The one I like best is a cheap Vortex 2 x 7 compact that I got from Amazon for $120.00. In a set of Vortex low mount rings it just clears the mounting rail by about 1/8 inch on each end. That puts the scope down close to the bore and lines your eye up about where a set of fixed sights would be. If I were doing it over I would put this one on all of them. The bigger scopes look kind of overpowering on these small rifles.

[jeff43]

I got a vortex 2x7x33 and a Redfield Rebel  1x6x24. I’ll probably use the Redfield .I’m wanting to keep it compact and light.

Edited October 2 by jeff43

[Ropin4gold]

I like my Grendel. Gen 1

[Thursty]

I've got a Gen 1 in 300 BLK and my dad has a gen 2 300 BLK. The spiral fluting looks cool, but were shooting sub sonic bolt action, so we don't really need the heat dissipation. The new stock is good in theory, but in practice we didn't find it to be that much of a game changer. I'm happy with my gen 1 with an ebay bolt on cheek riser. I also run the Vortex 2-7 in low rings

[jeff43]

I wound up putting a Leupold 3x9x40 VX Freedom scope on it. Shoots great,but I  want to smooth the bolt a little .

Edited October 29 by jeff43

[Handsome Rob]

Hey, just be aware that the Gen1 (don't know about the gen2) in .223, IS actually chambered in .223. Not 5.56 or .223 Wylde. If you're wanting to shoot heavier bullets (62gr+) you might run into problems with loaded ammo jamming into the lands. 

Even though they're a 1:8 twist, Ruger told me that they're chambered for common 55gr ammo. I bought mine specifically to shoot 77gr Sierra TMKs & loaded at 2.26" I was jamming them ⅛" into the rifling!

I ended up having the chamber re-cut to .223 Wylde & it'll put 10 into a very sexy little 1" dot now.

 

[eRay]

1 hour ago, Handsome Rob said:

Hey, just be aware that the Gen1 (don't know about the gen2) in .223, IS actually chambered in .223. Not 5.56 or .223 Wylde. If you're wanting to shoot heavier bullets (62gr+) you might run into problems with loaded ammo jamming into the lands. 

Even though they're a 1:8 twist, Ruger told me that they're chambered for common 55gr ammo. I bought mine specifically to shoot 77gr Sierra TMKs & loaded at 2.26" I was jamming them ⅛" into the rifling!

I ended up having the chamber re-cut to .223 Wylde & it'll put 10 into a very sexy little 1" dot now.

 

I just dug my Gen 1 out of the safe. It is stamped 5.56 NATO not .223, on the barrel.

[Handsome Rob]

1 hour ago, eRay said:

I just dug my Gen 1 out of the safe. It is stamped 5.56 NATO not .223, on the barrel.

Huh.

Mine was stamped .223 Rem.

[eRay]

1 hour ago, Handsome Rob said:

Huh.

Mine was stamped .223 Rem.

Mine is a fairly new one. They may have changed them.

[jeff43]

[Handsome Rob]

7 hours ago, eRay said:

Mine is a fairly new one. They may have changed them.

I'm an idiot. Ignore me.

Mine isn't a Ranch model, it's a standard youth model. Different chambering.