Barrett Model 99 Bolt Action Rifle 50 Bmg 32 Heavy Barrel Review

If y'all're someone looking for a good bolt action burglarize that doesn't break the bank, you're not lonely. The budget bolt gun marketplace is practically booming these days, with companies like Barbarous, Mossberg Weatherby and Remington all jockeying to get the best combination of toll versus accuracy. This January Ruger introduced the American Rifle, their entry into the world of budget firearms. But is information technology actually any good? Or has Ruger compromised as well much to go the rifle below that magical $500 cost point? They handed me one of their rifles to find out . . .

There are a number of features that Ruger has built into this rifle (aluminum bedding, scope mounts from the factory, dual cam bolt…), simply iii are most of import: the stock, the trigger and the magazine.

The stock on this gun is a rigid polymer (plastic) of some kind, which gives it a very slick feel in both senses of the word. It looks great, just there isn't actually a lot of "grippyness" to the stock. Where the Weatherby Series two comes with a very grippy stock, this i feels similar ti is going to slip out of my hands. Not really an issue on the range, but in a tree stand or out on a hunt it might exist an issue. Ruger tried to recoup with some roughed upwards patches on the forend and grip, but they aren't all that ambitious.

 There is a benefit from this hard stock that the Weatherby doesn't become, which is a free floated barrel. The only place the metal bits contact the stock is at the aluminum mounting blocks that the receiver mounts to (shown higher up), which keeps the stock from pushing the barrel off target and lets the barrel shift around a little during the firing procedure. Free floating the butt is generally i of the offset improvements made when trying to make a rifle more accurate, so seeing one that comes that way from the factory was a pleasant surprise.

Something that was no surprise at all was that the rummage on this stock, merely similar every other commodities action rifle I've fired this twelvemonth, is nowhere near where it needs to be for a scope. The cheek piece puts the centre level with the butt, only not the scope. So at best you lot're getting an okay chin weld instead of the rock solid cheek weld I similar.

Just like I suspected when I examination fired the burglarize at SHOT this twelvemonth, I don't like the trigger on this gun. Sure it's adaptable and everything, merely information technology just feels cheap. The small metal flap protruding from the heart of the trigger is something that a lot of upkeep rifle manufacturers are doing (Mossberg dubbed information technology their "LBA trigger), every bit information technology gives the shooter the feeling of a two stage trigger without the need to engineer the two stages into the trigger itself. It also acts as a prophylactic, allowing the trigger to be set lighter than normal for a single stage trigger. But to me, it but feels… Inexpensive. Factor in the trigger itself which has a tendency to creep a little as well far earlier finally hit the break and y'all accept a trigger that I wouldn't take fifty-fifty on my shotgun.

Speaking of inexpensive, the commodities is another small issue I have with the gun. Emphasis on the small, here. In general, the bolt is fine. It works. Simply despite the dual cams working inside the thing and the slick sides information technology nonetheless feels stiff and looks rather lackluster. I tried operating the bolt with merely my wrist, just that wasn't happening. Not easily, at to the lowest degree.

The magazine on this gun, all the same, is a masterpiece of engineering on a budget. Seemingly taking a annotation from the Krag-Jørgensen rifle of the belatedly 1800s this gun uses a rotary style magazine not completely unlike their existing magazines for the 10/22 rifle. Using a unmarried rotating flap Ruger has fabricated a lightweight and reliable magazine capable of property 4 rounds of armament, a pattern that I hope volition phase out the older spring-and-follower magazines for low capacity firearms. It just seems like a really simple solution to a complicated trouble, and it was executed perfectly in this rifle.

The reason they need such a removable mag is that the top of the receiver on this gun is closed off. There's plenty room for an ejection port in the side of the receiver, but that's about it. The added textile not only strengthens the gun confronting the recoil of the ammunition only information technology besides keeps everything precisely aligned.

The existent question, as always, is how well information technology shoots. And to answer that I trucked it out to my favorite range in San Antonio.

This four round group was the best I could get all day, roughly 1 MoA. I say roughly because, like I mentioned earlier, I don't get my targets back.

To be honest, I'm slightly impressed. I was expecting this gun to be far worse, but information technology exceeded near of my expectations for a $450 gun. There are some minor gripes I have about this gun, merely all in all its a fine shooter.

Ruger American Rifle

Specifications
Caliber: .30-06 Springfield (too .308, .270, .243)
Butt: 22″, i:10 twist
Size: 42.5″ overall length
Weight: 6.12 lbs.
Operation: Commodities action
Finish: Matte blue
Capacity: 4+1
MSRP: $449

Ratings (Out of 5 Stars)
Remember: ratings are based on the merits of the firearm compared to other similarly priced and marketed firearms. So v stars here is nowhere almost 5 stars on a Barrett fifty BMG rifle.

Accuracy: * * * * *
Using a bipod I was able to get a one MoA group at 100 yards. Good plenty for deer slaying and just nearly anything else.

Ergonomics: * * *
The rifle feels okay in the hands, if a little slick. The bolt is tough to piece of work, but information technology functions. The cheek slice is far likewise low, though.

Ergonomics Firing: * * *
The recoil pad, which Ruger specifically designed, is very dainty. Just that trigger is terrible.

Reliability: * * * * *
In that location aren't many things to go wrong with a bolt activity, and the mag design makes this a really robust organisation.

Customization: * * *
There really isn't an aftermarket for this gun yet. And even if there was, aftermarket parts wouldn't aid all that much. This gun is nearly as accurate as it tin be without swapping some major components.

Overall Rating: * * * one/2
I still like my Weatherby amend, just at that place's no denying that this gun will strike fear in the hearts of paper and deer alike. An accurate shooter, cracking for a first hunting burglarize or commodities gun, just missing the refinement that makes for a lifelong companion and available for around $200 more than. Improve than the Mossberg 100 ATR, but a far cry from the Weatherby Vanguard.

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Source: https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/gun-review-ruger-american-rifle/

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