Ruger American 30-06

[Elliott]

Well a few weeks ago I picked up the Ruger American in 30-06 from another member, JPhelps, and today I finally had the chance to shoot it!

I mated the rifle with a Nikon Buckmaster 3x9x40 scope with Leoupold scope rings.

I shot Winchester 165 gr psp and Federal 165 gr bonded.

I had the scope bore sighted at Cabelas this morning and the guy who did it said that he almost ran out of elevation getting to zero.  I thought well he knows more than I do so I will take his word for it. Well I got to the range, Marysville Rifle Club, and got set up and ready to shoot at 100 yds. I took my first shot with the cheaper ammo, Winchester, and compared to the 17 hmr and the .223 who were shooting a few lanes down, my shot sounded like a cannon. I find my target in my sights and I dont see a thing. I was aiming dead on at 100 yds, and I'm not even on the paper. So my next shot that I take I aim about 6 inches down, take a deep breath in and out and squeeze the trigger again. The familiar BOOM and hard push on the shoulder are there again. And like the first shot, I wasnt even on the paper. I dont want to adjust anything on the scope because i cant tell where my shots are landing so i dont know what to adjust. One of the club members, a seasoned veteren is spotting behind me and says, "I dont see any holes." 

We decided after two more shots, and two more misses that we were going to move it in to 50 yds after the cease fire.

After the cease fire was over I took aim again. Big breath in, and out slow and stead and squeeze the trigger, I involuntarily flinched, but there was no BOOM and no recoil, just a click. I had the gun on safety with the bolt back before I returned the rotary magazine. When I engaged the bolt with the gun on safety, and I learned that with this particular rifle, when its on safety it will not pick up a cartridge. Good to know for the future. After I fixed my little dilema, I took aim once again. This time I was on the paper! My shot was dead center windage wise, vertically however... The shot was about 11 inches high! 

Have any of you guys experienced a bore sighted rifle being this off?

Anyways after I was on the paper I could make adjustments. Also after 8 more rounds at 50 yds, I moved the target back out to 100 yds for my last couple shots. My best 3 shot group was just over 1 MOA at 100 yds and my worst was like 4 or 5 at 100 yds, due to an inexperienced shooter flinching. 

Anyways just wanted to get it out there, I have finally killed some paper with my new rifle.

Oh and a big thanks to the guys at the Marysville Rifle Club, definitely very helpful and a fun group of guys to be around, hopefully I am able to join the club. And a shout out to 'Dave' who was shooting the .260 at 200 yds, its always nice meeting members in real life.

Thanks for reading. -Elliott

[gaddy]

never trust a bore sighted rifle. or the guy that says its on the money.

[bobcat]

I always shoot at 25 yards first.

[Jason]

I always start out on the 25yd range the first 2-3 shots and then move to 100yds

[Elliott]

Yeah I was dissapointed when my first 4 shots werent even on paper

[crschralping]

Hate to bash but the Tulalip gun department stinks. I got a scope there last year and it was a horrible experience. First they put the mounting screws in backwards so when I got home my bolt wouldn't close. They fixed that I go to the range first shot scope falls in my lap, slid right off the mounts. Third trip to the store they give me different rings I go back to the range, first shot scope falls in my lap again! Fourth trip I made a fuss and got a better scope (your same scope actually) that was a little longer, go to the range third try, first shot scope slides back against my safety and breaks. Fifth trip to Cabela's I raise hell and finally got the problem solved. I still buy stuff there but will never bring a gun in there ever again. 

[Elliott]

Hate to bash but the Tulalip gun department stinks. I got a scope there last year and it was a horrible experience. First they put the mounting screws in backwards so when I got home my bolt wouldn't close. They fixed that I go to the range first shot scope falls in my lap, slid right off the mounts. Third trip to the store they give me different rings I go back to the range, first shot scope falls in my lap again! Fourth trip I made a fuss and got a better scope (your same scope actually) that was a little longer, go to the range third try, first shot scope slides back against my safety and breaks. Fifth trip to Cabela's I raise hell and finally got the problem solved. I still buy stuff there but will never bring a gun in there ever again. 

Granted I did buy the stuff there, my buddy from the Marines mounted the scope for me, they just "sighted it in"

[navdoc]

Any chance the mounts are incorrect?  Since that rifle is relatively new on the market, I don't know if the mounts/rings are specifically designed for the ruger.  If not, that might explain why they had to move the reticles so far.  I'll be interested to hear how it settles.  That rifle has nice reviews and I've had great experiences with ruger products.

[Elliott]

Any chance the mounts are incorrect?  Since that rifle is relatively new on the market, I don't know if the mounts/rings are specifically designed for the ruger.  If not, that might explain why they had to move the reticles so far.  I'll be interested to hear how it settles.  That rifle has nice reviews and I've had great experiences with ruger products.

I did get the high rings, so that might have something to do with it, but like I said in the beginning, I had to click down about 20 clicks to get it anywhere near sighted in. So I dont know if the guy at the gun counter just didnt know what he was doing, or their way of bore sighting is just innacurate. 

[navdoc]

Roger that.  Probably an inaccurate boresighting job.  Now that you're on paper, you can tweak it as you go!

[pips4bucks]

I was just looking at one of those rifles today.  My curiosity is up on this one.  I like that it's very light and it already comes with a Limbsaver recoil pad, and Weaver ring mounts.  The action seemed pretty smooth.

How was the recoil?  I'm not looking to shoot it every weekend, but I would be carrying it a lot in the high country.  I'd be interested to see what ammo you find shoots the best and what kind of grouping you get out of it.

[RadSav]

Just sounds like the guy that bore sighted it did not adjust for the high rings.  Happens all the time.  Can't expect gunsmith quality work out of someone who is making barely over minimum wage and has never bored his own gun...If he actually owns a gun that daddy didn't give to him already set up.

[Elliott]

Well for a guy who has onky ever shot a shotgun and a .22 the recoil was more than I expected. But after 40 shots down range I could still keep shooting all day, I'm just not that good with a rifle yet. As for ammo I dont know yet, my results aren't significant yet, I'm still learning how to shoot.

[bearpaw]

Because the Ruger American is a light rifle it will recoil a little more than heavier rifles. Everthing I have heard and seen has led me to consider the American a good value and a rasonably good shooting gun.

EASY DIY SIGHT IN  METHOD
When I mount a scope on a bolt action or if I have a hunter's gun that is questionable, I remove the bolt and set the gun on a good rest so that it sets there without having to touch it. I look down the barrel and compare where it is pointed to where the crosshairs are at. Every time I have had to change a scope by this method I have been able to get it within 3 to 6 inches at 50 yards.

[Elliott]

EASY DIY SIGHT IN  METHOD
When I mount a scope on a bolt action or if I have a hunter's gun that is questionable, I remove the bolt and set the gun on a good rest so that it sets there without having to touch it. I look down the barrel and compare where it is pointed to where the crosshairs are at. Every time I have had to change a scope by this method I have been able to get it within 3 to 6 inches at 50 yards.

Thats what one of the guys at MRC told me to do. I didnt have that good if steadiness or a good rest for the gun.

[bearpaw]

Shooting bags work well, or stack up anything that's reasonably solid to set your gun on.

DIY SHOOTING BAGS
Old shot bags, heavy weight socks, or even women's purses filled with pea gravel and the opening hand sewed shut could work pretty well for shooting bags. 

[Bob33]

Bore sighting can be off by quite a bit. I've actually had better results removing the bolt, looking through the bore at a target, and adjusting the sights until they align. That's always had me on paper at 100 yards.

Your flinching is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. If you flinch 4 inches at 100 yards from a bench, that's more than enough to cripple or miss at animal at hunting distances. My suggestions are to (a) shoot milder ammunition as you develop your shooting skills: start with lighter bullets (130 grain would be good) and work up; (b) do a lot of dry firing, (c) always strive for a "surprise break" whenever you shoot (the gun going off should surprise you), (d) treat every shot as the only one you'll have, and (e) get a friend to do "ball and dummy" exercises with you. That last step is one of the best, and in some cases the only way to beat a flinch.

[bearpaw]

Good points Bob33, another guy loading the gun for you to shoot and not knowing when your partner puts in a live round sure helps to cure the flinches. You definitely see for yourself and can concentrate on not flinching. 

Just be sure your partner puts the safety on every time and everyone always must practice safe gun handling as mentioned before at all times.

[buckfvr]

" ya pay peanuts, ya get monkeys ".............Cabelas mostly pays peanuts.   

[Elliott]

Good points Bob33, another guy loading the gun for you to shoot and not knowing when your partner puts in a live round sure helps to cure the flinches. You definitely see for yourself and can concentrate on not flinching. 

Just be sure your partner puts the safety on every time and everyone always must practice safe gun handling as mentioned before at all times.

Gonna have to try that, gotta go buy some dummy rounds and do that