Ruger American Predator

Yes, the 223 Predator gives me everything I want except that stupid spacer in the clip, stupid that is for us who want to seat long & the throat allows that, but an outside source is working on that since Ruger won't.

A couple of good articles.
http://www.realguns.com/articles/616.htm

http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-AmericanPredator.htm
 
I'm already making 6.5 Creedmoor brass out of 243's for mine. The barrels on the 6.5 CM and the 308 are threaded 5/8 x 24 to accept the same accessories as the 308 AR's. I'm going to install an A2 flash hider on mine. I normally don't like black stocks, but the green stock sorta grows on me. The deciding factor, of course, was it's availability in 6.5 CM. I think the 308's 18" barrel has hog hunters in mind, but what a woods rifle for deer. Ruger needs to think about adding the 7-08mm and dare I suggest the 358 Winchester. Bob! :D 8)
 
rangerbob said:
I'm already making 6.5 Creedmoor brass out of 243's for mine. The barrels on the 6.5 CM and the 308 are threaded 5/8 x 24 to accept the same accessories as the 308 AR's. I'm going to install an A2 flash hider on mine. I normally don't like black stocks, but the green stock sorta grows on me. The deciding factor, of course, was it's availability in 6.5 CM. I think the 308's 18" barrel has hog hunters in mind, but what a woods rifle for deer. Ruger needs to think about adding the 7-08mm and dare I suggest the 358 Winchester. Bob! :D 8)
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Both are good but at least from a sales standpoint the 7-08
 
WMB30 said:
This rifle needs iron sights.

Bill
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Agree, all rifles need iron sights. Still, this one is interesting at the price point, I won't buy one, but a buddy is after one for his 10 yr. son in .243.
 
If they would offer the .223 in a shorter barrel, I'd be more interested... still good to see them moving forward.
 
9x19 said:
If they would offer the .223 in a shorter barrel, I'd be more interested... still good to see them moving forward.
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I had my RAR 308 shortened to 18.5" for 60 bucks with a target crown. Yes I know about the Compact but the stock on the compact is too short for me.
I don't worry when a barrel is too long, easy and cheap remedy.
 
Unfortunately, there aren't any decent 'smiths around here and I hate shipping long guns (poor excuse, I know)... BTW, the stock on the compact is too short for me as well.
 
9x19 said:
Unfortunately, there aren't any decent 'smiths around here and I hate shipping long guns (poor excuse, I know)... BTW, the stock on the compact is too short for me as well.
Click to expand...

that sucks, they come in handy from time to time.
 
57k, et al. To answer some of your questions. I use 243 brass to make 6.5 CM. I load 260's, so I don't use them, but they would work just as well. The first operation is to shorten the brass. I use a small 2" cut off saw from Harbor Freight and a homemade jig for uniformity. I take off about 1/10". Next I run the shortened brass through my Hornady 6.5 CM FL sizing die. Lube the inside of the neck as well as the body. I push a little at a time, back up slightly and then push some more into the die, until the shoulder is pushed all the way down. All that is left to do is trim the cases with my Lee Case length gauge and ball cutter and deburr inside and out. I use the Hornady seating die and a Lee factory crimp die to finish. I'm using RL17 to load with as I have a bunch of it, and like Brillcream, a little goes a long way. A better case would be the 250 Savage, one pass through the sizing die would do it, but I don't have any of these and they are hard to find. Any range that collects brass should have 243's. I have one of the few Browning A-Bolts in 6.5 CM and cases made this way work fine in it. The first firing will fire form the brass and then they load normally. Of course, Hornady brass would be the way to go if one can find and or pay for them. BTW, I've been reloading since 1967 and still have all my fingers. 8)
 
57K, the Hornady 123SST is quickly becoming my go to bullet for the 6.5 CM and the 260 when I can get them. I bought some 120 Sierra's last week because I could and have a stock of 120 Speer's as well. The expander in the Hornady die works really well, especially after one shortens the neck on the 243 brass. I'm 63 years old and have a college buddy that's 62. He's shot handguns for years, but just got into rifles. We started with a M7 Remington in 260 and last week added a Ruger SS Hawkeye in 260 and I do all of his loading. The 6.5's just work. Bob! 8)
 
57K said:
rangerbob said:
57K, the Hornady 123SST is quickly becoming my go to bullet for the 6.5 CM and the 260 when I can get them. I bought some 120 Sierra's last week because I could and have a stock of 120 Speer's as well. The expander in the Hornady die works really well, especially after one shortens the neck on the 243 brass. I'm 63 years old and have a college buddy that's 62. He's shot handguns for years, but just got into rifles. We started with a M7 Remington in 260 and last week added a Ruger SS Hawkeye in 260 and I do all of his loading. The 6.5's just work. Bob! 8)
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I agree, and since I live in Texas, the 6.5 CM would be enough rifle for anything here. I sent an email to Hornady yesterday asking if the 123 gr. SST would hold up with top-end loads in 6.5 CM for whitetail. They advertise it for rounds in the Grendel class and I want to make sure that it's a tough enough bullet for top-end 6.5 CM loads. Thanks for your help! I'm a newer reloader, LOL, only been at it for 28 years! :wink:
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I am anxious to see what they say. No doubt though it would be purely wicked if you "lung um"!
 
When I first started reloading, it was with the 6.5 Jap in a Type 38 Sporter I built from a museum quality Type 38 rifle(who knew). It was given to me by a WWII vet who acquired it first hand. Then one could count the available 6.5 bullets on his fingers and I started with the 129 Hornady(don't remember if it was the SP or the RN) and IMR4320. Now there is almost no end of high quality bullets for the 6.5's. Certainly the 130 Accubond and Scirroco and the 129 SST would be fine hunting bullets, plus all of the 120's and 140's, as well. But, the 123 SST has a high BC and it can be pushed to high velocity as well. Did I mention I also load for the 6.5 x 55, 6.5 Rem Mag, the 6.5 WSM, and have dies and brass for the 264 Win Mag. Bob!! 8)
 
I was checking stock at several distributors this am and noticed that one had Predators on hand in 223 and 308 already. It's not even June yet! With a little imagination and iron sights, the 308 could almost be a scout rifle. Bob!! :D
 
Been toying with the idea of buying a 6.5 CM and having a smith rechamber it to 260 (as I already have the dies).
Just checked ShopRuger.com and they don't show the magazine for the 6.5 CM, but do show the magazine for the .308 and 22-250 are the same part number; so the magazine shouldn't be a problem.

Ted
 
Tbear77, I may be mistaken, but I believe one would have to set the barrel back to rechamber a 6.5 CM to 260 due to the CM's lack of body taper, even though it's shorter. Compare the drawings in the loading manual's to be sure. Bob! 8)
 
57k, et al, Ruger doesn't sell barrels except when installed by them. Let me make it clear that I am not advocating the use of 243 brass in lieu of 6.5 CM brass, but in a less that perfect reloading world, it is a viable alternative. And of course, anybody that does is on his own, I was simply stating that it has worked for me to make practice/training ammo and save my Hornady brass for more demanding roles. I was able to catch some Hornady CM brass on sale a while back for about 55 cents apiece and bought 100, which are now loaded with 123SST's and 4x.xgr RL17. I was tempted to order a 308 predator yesterday, but I decided to wait till my local distributor gets some to save on shipping and CC fees. Bob!! :wink:
 
It would be nice if Ruger would make them in 260. It would make my wife happy. Heck, she'd be really happy if they made the GSR in 260.
 
I just managed to order a Predator in 308 this morning, should have it by tomorrow. I ordered a Bushnell 3x10x40 short action scope as well. I'll report more when I get it all together. Bob! :D 8)
 
I got my 308 in today. It is short, handy, and light . Just got a few minutes to look at it at lunch. BTW, Midway is running a bunch of optics and brass on sale this week with Hornady 6.5CM and 300 Blackout just to name a few. This is the first time brass has been on sale and available lately. Bob! :lol: 8)
 
Well, at least some of the Predators are available now. My distributor has them in 204, 223, and 308 by the score and they are showing a Scout Rifle in stock, the first time that's ever happened. I got my 308 Predator home and attempted to mount my A2 flash hider on it, but my crush washer was the wrong size( for a 223), however the A2 went on fine, but did not index correctly. I'll try to order a crush washer from Midway today. I mounted a Bushnell Elite 3x10x40 using Weaver rings(medium height I think, but I'm not 100% sure) with the scope as low as it would go. It makes a nice package with a quick adjust nylon sling attached. Bob!! :D
 
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