Ruger American Compact

[sureshot375]

I ordered a Ruger American Compact with a camo stock and cerakote finish. I picked it up at the local gun store today and man was I disappointed. It is unquestionably the worst action and finish of if any gun I have ever purchased. You practically have to beat the bolt out of the thing.

I got it for the kids to shoot. I thought it would make a great suppressor host because it has 16” threaded barrel. I’m not sure if I got a lemon if if there are all coming out of the factory like this.

So now I guess I have to see about sending it back or getting it to a gunsmith to sort things out. It’s a 600 dollar rifle so I wasn’t expecting much, but this is terrible.

 

[buckshot85]

Seriously?????
It’s a price point gun. Its not top shelf. Hell, it’s not even lower middle shelf.
Not sure why you’d expect more.

But, guys I know that have one say they shoot just fine.

 

[AHughes]

I had a 22-250 ruger compact that was amazing and slick as butter , must be a crap shoot on getting a good or bad gun but mine was really nice for a cheap gun

 

[R.M.C.]

My old man won one of those in .308 and it has a decent action and a cheesy plastic stock. Maybe there's something amiss with yours, might wanna have someone look at it. My father's is pretty good for $500-$600

 

[TucsonFX4]

I got my son one in .243, but just all black. The action definitely isn’t slick as butter, but I consider it acceptable for the rifle it is. I think as I get him shooting it more it will probably improve as well. Though I’ll never expect it to be a M70.

Yours may have a defect if it’s as hard to operate as you describe.

 

[Andrew Short]

I bought one for the wife when she expressed interest in hunting and shooting. Granted she has shot most of my rifles over the years but I wanted her to have something of her own. The Ruger is a lower end rifle as previously stated however her rifle shoots 1 MOA and does what she needs it to do. The action is smooth. I’ve paid more for rifles including Christensen and Fierce but her little Ruger is almost as accurate for 1/5 the cost.

 

[slam8031]

I have one in 300 blackout to shoot suppressed. I am pleased with the performance and accuracy, especially at the price point!

 

[Safari Dave]

Yeah, you shouldn't expect much from the lowest tier of bolt action rifles available, but (IMO) it is better than the Savage Axis, Remington 783 or the similarly priced Mossberg.

I have the Ruger American Predator Model in .308 Winchester, as the rifle that stays in my truck. It's a long way from being a Sako or even a Remington 700, but I think it's the best of the budget bolt actions.

 

[sureshot375]

Seriously?????
It’s a price point gun. Its not top shelf. Hell, it’s not even lower middle shelf.
Not sure why you’d expect more.

But, guys I know that have one say they shoot just fine.

I have a number of other bolt guns, svavage, Remington, etc, that cost less and they all work just fine.

I don’t expect it to be buttery smooth, but I shouldn’t have to force the bolt open or closed.

 

[sureshot375]

I got my son one in .243, but just all black. The action definitely isn’t slick as butter, but I consider it acceptable for the rifle it is. I think as I get him shooting it more it will probably improve as well. Though I’ll never expect it to be a M70.

Yours may have a defect if it’s as hard to operate as you describe.

Based on the replies here is seems as though mine might have an issue.

 

[Joedad]

just on the off chance!
If it came with supplied scope bases check those screws for over length. They can mess things up.

 

[Marc Ret]

Contact Ruger, they'll make it right.

 

[Woodcarver]

Based on the replies here is seems as though mine might have an issue.

That would be my guess as well. The one I picked up a few years ago for the grandkids was pleasingly accurate even with factory ammo and the trigger was better than anticipated.
If the problem isn't related to overly long base screws dragging on the bolt, I would definitely get in touch with Ruger. Good luck with it.

 

[503]

I recently got one on .22 mag. Action is fine and it shoots great at 200 yards. For a $400 rifle and a $100 scope I'm thrilled. I'd send it back.

 

[Alaska Luke]

Definitely check the screws. I had a compact as a kids gun for a while and it was good for the money.

 

[Doug3006]

Sorry to hear about your Ruger! I agree that it’s not a top tier rifle, but it should function properly. I have one and it cycles fine. You should call customer service and arrange to send it back. Ruger will fix it.

 

[austrianhunter]

Had many of them running trough my shop. The .223s were ok regarding accuracy, but nothing special. The .308s were tack drivers. I have a .300 BLK thats also near 1/2 MOA with Hornady VMax and all working great. My stainless .338 is around MOA - so exactly what to expect from a cheap gun. The magazines of all are a PITA. Especially from the .338, cause the rounds are not held by the shoulder, so the recoil forces the bullet forward in the mag and deformates the sharp point. They should call them junkazines instead of magazines.

Just my .243 isnt as accurate, as I would like. Now i chopped the barrel and threaded it, lapped it and have to take another test. Hopefully its better now.

 

[NE 7x57]

I have a Ruger American Predator in 6.5CM and a custom built rifle in 6 CM. While the action on the custom rifle is smoother the cheap Ruger will shoot just as well and for a lot less money. If the bolt is difficult to move there's something wrong with the rifle.

 

[Arkansas_Traveler]

Here's a third vote for checking the scope base screws. Overlength screws will absolutely cause the problem you're describing. If the rifle came as a package with scope mounted, that would be the first thing I checked.

 

[AHughes]

Here's a third vote for checking the scope base screws. Overlength screws will absolutely cause the problem you're describing. If the rifle came as a package with scope mounted, that would be the first thing I checked.

Seen this myself too ... met a fella to take him out on an airboat ride and he was putting a leupold scope on an a17 rifle and had leupy mounts ,,, and just got through telling me how he was a "guide" in southern Oklahoma... gave him a few min to get his rifle in order and then he couldn't get the action to move at all ! I posed the base screw question and quickly got shut down and as I'm no hunting "guide" my ideas were thrown into the river , took him down river let him borrow my rifle for the hunt and when we got back and a few beers later guess what ,,, he used the included screws in the base set instead of the factory provided base screws and they were about 2mm longer and that was about 2mm more than the rifle could handle lol....

Such a simple thing caused such a ruckus and a bunch of cursing and undo stress... I tried to tell him it didn't have a brain and we do but that went to the wayside as well