Ruger American 30-06

[zacii]

I sanded some of the barrel channel. I believe that it helped some, but that I need to do more.

165 grain Remington Core-lokt

There are two 3 shot groups in the above picture. The first group put one of the holes on the lower right and the other two on the upper left. The second group did just the opposite; one in the upper left and two in the lower right.

The above groups are similar to how the Winchester Super X performed, except the groups were spread further apart.

Then this happened:

This was 150 grain Federal Power Shok. I shot another group and it was similar to the first.

I'm going to keep playing with it. This gives me hope that I can find a load that will work in this rifle. I think that I need to remove some more plastic from the barrel channel and stiffen the forend somehow. Maybe I'll just scrap the stock and go with a Boyd's.

 

[Tim McCoy]

100 yard group? Looks just over an inch? If so, your rifle may just have told you to shoot 150 gr. Fed ammo and not worry about more tinkering.

 

[zacii]

100 yard group? Looks just over an inch? If so, your rifle may just have told you to shoot 150 gr. Fed ammo and not worry about more tinkering.

Those are 1/2" squares, so it's actually just under 1" @ 100 yards

 

[Tim McCoy]

That is very good accuracy for an entry level rifle with factory ammo. If you can get similar accuracy out to 200-300 yards, you have a gem. I've had a few champs at 100 that did not hold up at 200-300. But if it holds that level of accuracy, and that load will do what you seek, I would not touch a thing.

 

[zacii]

That is very good accuracy for an entry level rifle with factory ammo. If you can get similar accuracy out to 200-300 yards, you have a gem. I've had a few champs at 100 that did not hold up at 200-300. But if it holds that level of accuracy, and that load will do what you seek, I would not touch a thing.

I'm going to do some calculations on this Federal load and see what my trajectory should be.

My goal with this rifle is to be able to hit my 10" gong out to 500 yards.

 

[Tim McCoy]

Those are 1/2" squares, so it's actually just under 1" @ 100 yards

With 1/2" squares, if I am seeing it right, your group is just over 1/2", by the way I was taught to measure group size. I'd guess it right at 5/8".

 

[stevevan]

Those are more than acceptable groups for a hunting rifle. However, the big question remains. Stability, will it hold the same POI in November as it had in July?

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

When you take the action/barrel out of the stock, take a picture of the bedding. I have never seen this stock, but I might have some ideas on bedding that might help. Post the pictures.

 

[zacii]

When you take the action/barrel out of the stock, take a picture of the bedding. I have never seen this stock, but I might have some ideas on bedding that might help. Post the pictures.

Not my picture, but there's a shot of the v- blocks

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

There are no lugs on the action!!! Probably not much you can do, except live with it. A laminated stock will probably give you more stability and of course a weight penalty will come with it.

 

[Tim McCoy]

Never seen the like either. Almost looks like each V block has a notch it fits in on the action. Be like two lugs in the stock bedded into four notches on the action. Geez, that would be a real pain to try and bed. If your sanding took it from not free floated, to fully free floated, about all I'd consider is added sanding to make sure there is no contact with weather changes or use to help make sure you don't get the problems Steve alluded to above. If your sanding job left some pressure points, any further sanding is likely to change groupings. That said, you will be subject to problems in the field if you don't relieve the pressure points with a stock subject to movement like you have. But if that load it likes will work for your target species, I'd guess you are set, if the bedding job is done right. I've no experience with the 150 Fed load, but suspect it is an antelope/deer loading.

 

[zacii]

This stock is really junk. The sanding got the barrel free, but it stil l needs more. Any tweaking pressure on the forend will still touch.

I'm going to keep messing with it. I'm going to try the same Federal stuff in 180 and see what happens

 

[Tim McCoy]

Good luck with it.

 

[stevevan]

I'm afraid there's no way that you can work with that stock and bed it properly to insure that your POI will remain consistent. Ruger wanted to lessen the cost of the rifle and get it into a entrance market. It appears they did that by putting a very poor excuse for a stock on that rifle. My suggestion is not to spend more $ on ammo to shoot through that set-up. Take that $ you save and pick-up a replacement stock from Boyd's. I think the worry about more weight added by the laminate is for not. The weight gain will not be that much more than that of a factory wood stocked rifle. If those extra few oz. bother you than compensate with a light weight scope/mounting system. I think the benefits of going with the replacement stock exceed staying with that piece of plastic. Plus you'll end-up with a far better looking rifle.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

In all my years of stock making and work, I have never seen anything like this. Never seen anything in a bolt action w/o a recoil lug. What a POS! I am a big fan of Ruger, but this is making me rethink it. Hate to say it, if it was mine, I'd get ride of it and spend a little extra $$$ and get something that will work for years to come.

 

[zacii]

A lightweight rifle isn't worth anything if it doesn't shoot.

I expect that some stock makers will make better stocks as the RAR becomes more popular.

It's pretty much a given on a few rifles nowadays that you've got to replace the stock to get any accuracy out of them.

 

[Blockcaver]

I've seen Remington tupperware stocks reinforced in the fore end with carbon or aluminum arrow tubing epoxied in. My very accurate 22-6mmAI (Brux barrel) is in a R700 reinforced tupperware stock and it shoots bug holes and the fore end is stiff now. What do you have to lose? Looks like an easy job on the Ruger stock.

 

[In God We Trust]

Check out Stocky's Stocks. It is a website a bought a stock for my .300. It is worth the little bit of extra weioght. They look good and shoot better. HS Precision and Bell & Carlson make a good mid level stock.