Ruger American Predator 30—Accuracy Issues?

[Evan Colt]

I picked up a Ruger 46931 American Predator in .30 recently, and I'm having some accuracy issues with it. I was expecting solid performance out of the box, but I've noticed my groups are a bit inconsistent, especially at longer distances. I've tried different ammo brands, but I'm still getting some variance.
Has anyone else experienced this with their Predator? Could it be a scope issue, or do I need to spend more time dialing it in? Any suggestions on ammo that works best or tips for improving accuracy with this rifle?

 

[XUSNORDIE]

What distance? What bullet? Heavy big game bullet or lighter varmint/predator bullet? What are you going for?

That rifle has 1:10 so heavier typical 308 rounds will give you better accuracy.

The lighter varmint/predator rounds will be finicky as to stabilization with 1:10

Have you tried 140 gr SST? That's a popular dual purpose 308 for folks who use it for both preds and deer and don't want to switch.

Otherwise yes check you scope, rings, mounts, stock screws, etc.....

 

[RoninPA]

Evan Colt, You probably would get more replies if you posted your question in the Rifles Section instead of the Revolvers section.

As XUSNORDIE said, that twist lends itself to heavier bullets to get the best accuracy. But I would double check everything just to make sure nothing is loose or too tight. Or, if the accuracy seems to start to varying as the barrel heats up, check the barrel/channel fit. I don't know how Ruger fits these rifles.

 

[hittman]

Good catch Ron ….. I'll move it over there

 

[kmoore]

Please describe what is the inconsistent of the shots or groups, what ranges are you talking about. What actual ammo are you shooting and is the inconsistent the same with all ammo. Your question is too subjective and helping to solve it is impossible without details.
Advice, shoot slow, really slow. Check each shot, mark them down as in #1,#2 etc. Shoot 5 round groups. Don't switch ammo until you have some patterns. Switching up ammo before you understand what the problem is. Leds to more questions. The zero doesn't matter at this point in testing. I wouldn't start testing any further then 100 yd. Maybe even start shorter. Until then, is the problem the shooter, the rifle, the ammo or the scope? I can't tell. To rule out shooter error, you have to have lots of trigger time into shooting. If you don't a person who does might be good to coach, you. A coach will see your mistakes in rifle support, position, trigger use etc.

 

[Mike J]

A good place to start would be to check all the fasteners used to mount your scope. A loose screw can cause these types of issues.

 

[416_Taylor]

I've got 8-10 RAR's in most of the configuration. All short action. Had a few that had loose mounts. The plastic stocks have stiffer forearms on more recent vintages. Everyone has the barrel closer to one side in the barrel channel. My standard procedure is to check the mount torque first. I remove the barreled action and take out the trigger so I can remove the little spring behind the trigger adjustment screw. I trim off 1 1/2 coils, file it flat, reassemble, and adjust the trigger to 2 1/2-3 lbs. I then open the barrel channel until I have 1/8 inch of clearance on all sides. The barrel will whip like a noodle when fired and needs plenty of stock clearance. The barreled action is installed and the screws torqued to the recommended 65 in- lbs. Mount a scope and begin load development.

I have had several RAR's that didn't produce nice round groups with the best loads. I'm talking right around inch groups where 3 rounds were in a ragged hole with a couple opening the group. The normal solution was shooting 150-250 rounds of jacketed bullets and it went away. Firelapping with soft cast bullets, at airgun speeds, will do the same thing.

 

[Mobuck]

kmoore "Please describe what is the inconsistent of the shots or groups, what ranges are you talking about. What actual ammo are you shooting and is the inconsistent the same with all ammo. Your question is too subjective and helping to solve it is impossible without details."
^^^this
We have no idea of what you consider 'solid performance'. Drill down to the specifics and someone here will have a solid response. Hopefully, we can point you in the right direction.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Evan Colt was this just a quiz on basic troubleshooting procedure for us?:

I'm Evan Colt, a firearm expert and enthusiast based in Dallas, Texas. With years of experience in both handling and studying a variety of firearms, I have a deep passion for everything from precision shooting to tactical training. I enjoy sharing my knowledge with the community, whether it's about firearms safety, customization, or the latest gear. Always open to discussions, I aim to stay updated on the latest industry trends and contribute to making responsible and informed decisions in the world of firearms.
Precision isn't just in the shot; it's in how you prepare.

 

[kmoore]

Evan Colt was this just a quiz on basic troubleshooting procedure for us?:

I'm Evan Colt, a firearm expert and enthusiast based in Dallas, Texas. With years of experience in both handling and studying a variety of firearms, I have a deep passion for everything from precision shooting to tactical training. I enjoy sharing my knowledge with the community, whether it's about firearms safety, customization, or the latest gear. Always open to discussions, I aim to stay updated on the latest industry trends and contribute to making responsible and informed decisions in the world of firearms.
Precision isn't just in the shot; it's in how you prepare.

Was this posted somewhere?

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Was this posted somewhere?

Yes. His forum member profile under the "About" tab

 

[kmoore]

Yes. His forum member profile under the "About" tab

Thanks, I didn't look up his member profile, I should have before asking.
There are some experts on here that could give solid help if details are added about his question(s).

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Thanks, I didn't look up his member profile, I should have before asking.
There are some experts on here that could give solid help if details are added about his question(s).

All good. But if he's an expert he should not be asking such basic questions details or not, in several threads. He's still posting here and there. Honestly it reads as if it's more than one person posting. Don't expect him (them) to respond to anything either...

 

[RC44Mag]

Give Federal Gold Match 168's a go. With my M1A I was going nuts trying to get it to be consistent, tweaking and modifying, was real finicky and once I tried FGM it was a tack driver Expensive rounds but worth it.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Give Federal Gold Match 168's a go. With my M1A I was going nuts trying to get it to be consistent, tweaking and modifying, was real finicky and once I tried FGM it was a tack driver Expensive rounds but worth it.

American Eagle 168gr OTM shot well out of my tinkered SAI M1A Standard. WIN 147gr FMJ was ok, but pricier for my needs.

But the "OP" is asking about a bolt rifle with different barrel profile than a M1A (Standard).

 

[RC44Mag]

For the price of a box or two of higher end ammo that might tighten groups considerably might rule out a lot of guessing as to what's wrong, either using 168's or other weights to try and dial in the the correct fodder for the rifle. As we know they can be finicky as to what they prefer, either bolt or SA or profile differences, often times it's just finding that particular round, weight that gets it done.

 

[Mobuck]

Truthfully, I've not had much problem finding a factory load that would meet the accuracy expectations I have of a moderately priced rifle.