Best hunting Rifle poll.

[bobcat]

Accuracy wise right out of the box I would put the Ruger American up against almost all the rifles on that list

Almost all? I sure wouldn't. Steyr, Tikka, Savage Long Range, Browning A bolt and X bolt, and the Sako A7 would almost surely be accurate out of the box, much more likely than a Ruger American with the flimsy plastic stock. Again, you get what you pay for and there's a reason the Ruger American is one of the cheapest bolt action centerfire rifles made.

[Mtnwalker]

I love everything about both of my A-bolt II's (not new ab3), great action great triggers and both shoot one ragged hole. Haven't tried an x bolt yet but feel pretty nice too,I like the ergonomics. Not quite as fond of my tikkas but still good shooters and great guns for the money. The only a7 I've dealt with wasn't that great for the price.

[BULLBLASTER]

Accuracy wise right out of the box I would put the Ruger American up against almost all the rifles on that list

Almost all? I sure wouldn't. Steyr, Tikka, Savage Long Range, Browning A bolt and X bolt, and the Sako A7 would almost surely be accurate out of the box, much more likely than a Ruger American with the flimsy plastic stock. Again, you get what you pay for and there's a reason the Ruger American is one of the cheapest bolt action centerfire rifles made.

Have ya seen the stocks on the tikka and savage? They're also plastic and not great for stiffness. I don't have experience with the others

[Bofire]

 :)I use the Tikka rings on all my Tikkas and so does everyone I know who has one from 223 to 338, ZERO problems, and they mount really low. The Tikka T3x has larger loading ejection port, foam filled butt stock, available with adjustable cheek piece and forearm, maybe some other stuff.
Carl

[carpsniperg2]

Accuracy wise right out of the box I would put the Ruger American up against almost all the rifles on that list

Almost all? I sure wouldn't. Steyr, Tikka, Savage Long Range, Browning A bolt and X bolt, and the Sako A7 would almost surely be accurate out of the box, much more likely than a Ruger American with the flimsy plastic stock. Again, you get what you pay for and there's a reason the Ruger American is one of the cheapest bolt action centerfire rifles made.

I usually agree with you bob, not on this one. I own 4 of them myself. 2 of the standards and 2 predators. Every one of them shoots amazing beyond my belief. My buddies have 4 or 5 of them as well. Clips are my only complaint. I have some some very fancy rifles that sit in the safe more then I thought they would because of the way these guns shoot. I still prefer the fit and finish on the tikka and sako much more. I have also sold about 15-18 of them and everyone has loved them. Its crazy really.

[bobcat]

That's great that the Americans are often accurate. The one I shot, you were doing good if you could get a 2 inch group at 100 yards. But even if you get a good one, it's still not a $1000 rifle. The quality just isn't there. That's why the cost is low. If we're going to consider the American here, as being "the best rifle for under $1000" then let's also include the Savage Axis. I've heard it's accurate as well.

[Karl Blanchard]

Accuracy wise right out of the box I would put the Ruger American up against almost all the rifles on that list

Almost all? I sure wouldn't. Steyr, Tikka, Savage Long Range, Browning A bolt and X bolt, and the Sako A7 would almost surely be accurate out of the box, much more likely than a Ruger American with the flimsy plastic stock. Again, you get what you pay for and there's a reason the Ruger American is one of the cheapest bolt action centerfire rifles made.

  I highlighted the important parts you ignored.   Almost means most but not all.  Accuracy wise means the little holes that get punched through paper from the bullets being fired from the gun. 

I've set up 6 ruger Americans in the last two years and all 6 well under a minute.  @whitpirate shot half minute with factory hornady out of a youth model.  I never once said they were the highest quality rifle out there but stacked up against brownings, remingtons, or winchesters (which I own or have done extensive load developement on) the American spanks em.

Tikka seems to be the alpha of out of the box accuracy in my experience.

[jackelope]

It seems anymore that any rifle you buy is usually capable of shooting 1" groups at 100 yards. Not even a talking point anymore if you ask me. A $1050 Sako A7 or a $350 Ruger American will do it. I won't buy a Kimber rifle. They're beautiful, but I've seen too many cases where they don't shoot or it takes a month of sundays to figure out a load and only those handloads will shoot. I don't like the garbage looking stocks on the Tikka or the Savage accustock. I don't like the weight of the "long range" rifles.
Find a rifle that you like the look of, the fit and finish, the weight or whatever. They all seem to shoot and it seems like more of a fashion show to me.

[Karl Blanchard]

It seems anymore that any rifle you buy is usually capable of shooting 1" groups at 100 yards. Not even a talking point anymore if you ask me. A $1050 Sako A7 or a $350 Ruger American will do it. I won't buy a Kimber rifle. They're beautiful, but I've seen too many cases where they don't shoot or it takes a month of sundays to figure out a load and only those handloads will shoot. I don't like the garbage looking stocks on the Tikka or the Savage accustock. I don't like the weight of the "long range" rifles.
Find a rifle that you like the look of, the fit and finish, the weight or whatever. They all seem to shoot and it seems like more of a fashion show to me.

  That's why you need one of Mikes rifles.  Looks cool, shoots lights out and don't weigh much.  May be a touch over the 1k mark though

[bobcat]

Yep, it's really a matter of personal preference and how much you can afford. But the fact remains, out of 165 votes for the best rifle under $1000, the Ruger American got none.

[jrebel]

Savage model 14 or 114 in .270, 7mm-08, 308, etc with stainless on wood.  Beautiful, durable and very accurate. 

[Karl Blanchard]

Yep, it's really a matter of personal preference and how much you can afford. But the fact remains, out of 165 votes for the best rifle under $1000, the Ruger American got none.

  well that "fact" still literally has no bearing on how accurate of a rifle it is.

[coachcw]

Ruger American .308 with a vx3 4x14 done best buy under a grand with hsm bergers two boxes for Bobcat .

[jackelope]

Yep, it's really a matter of personal preference and how much you can afford. But the fact remains, out of 165 votes for the best rifle under $1000, the Ruger American got none.

The only reason I would want one is because they tend to shoot lights out. There is literally no other reason I would want one. They're even ugly. If I was looking for a $350 rifle, it would be at the top of my list. If I was sitting on a $1k rifle only budget, it's on the bottom of my list, because it is a cheap rifle with crummy fit and finish and it's ugly as H. E. double-hockey-sticks. Things like fit and finish and stylish, handsome good looks are not the things that makes stuff dead though.
 

[jackelope]

Yep, it's really a matter of personal preference and how much you can afford. But the fact remains, out of 165 votes for the best rifle under $1000, the Ruger American got none.

  well that "fact" still literally has no bearing on how accurate of a rifle it is.

The BLRman makes an extremely valid point.