Range report: Ruger American Ranch Rifle 7.62x39

[stage20]

Ordered the 10rd factory. From playing with the rifle, not real keen with fiddling with the 5rd. Not digging the lock in on this mag system.

Is it the same ar15 based release that the 223 has? It's kind of hidden in my opinion

 

[Rebel_Rider1969]

Is it the same ar15 based release that the 223 has? It's kind of hidden in my opinion

No it's a rock in, her mini 14 with 20rd work fine. Ya can't rock in a flush 5. Sorta gotta futz with it.

 

[16gauge]

It does take a little practice to get used to the mag release. A little more upward pressure on the rear of the mag seems to help IIRC, the release has a stiff spring. Also note that since its a Mini-thirty mag that the bolt won't close on an empty mag without pressing down on the follower or dropping the mag down a little.

 

[Fanner50]

It definitely has it's idiosyncrasies. This gun is kinda like the rough around th edges redneck girl that you can have a lot of fun with, compared to the smooth, refined ballroom dancer, Ie CZ, LOL. Gotta treat her a little rough, lol. The mags are a little difficult to get in and to eject. I've found to eject the mag it helps to push up on the mag slightly and then push the magazine release sharply forward. That helps a lot. It's rough around the edges, but it sure does put out, lol.

 

[SAWMAN]

Mine,chambered in 300BLK,uses rotary mags.
LOVE IT !! --- SAWMAN

 

[Rebel_Rider1969]

Mine,chambered in 300BLK,uses rotary mags.
LOVE IT !! --- SAWMAN

Did ya have to fiddle with the mag? My .02 buy more. YMMV.

 

[Rebel_Rider1969]

Question would the HP work for hunting??

 

[SAWMAN]

I have three mags for my gun. When new,sprayed them inside and out with silicone.
Never a problem with them. ---- SAWMAN

 

[Rebel_Rider1969]

All dressed up. Just have to go shoot!

 

[Rebel_Rider1969]

Here's the ammo I'll try. Crown bag is a pile of random loose x39 ammo. 196 sub, 154 sp hunting ammo. Several flavors of x39. Fmj and hp.

 

[SAWMAN]

With respect I say - - -> I wouldn't put ANY of that ammo thru a Ruger Mini-30 much less a RARR. Much less hunt game animals with it.
This is simply one persons opinion. I realize most others will be different. ---- SAWMAN

 

[Roaster's Gallery]

I reload for my mini 30 because I don't like the idea of running .311 down a .308 bore.

 

[FLT]

I believe that my die set came with two deferent sizer buttons one for .308 and one for .311.

 

[Rebel_Rider1969]

Well supposingly the bore is 310 Groove to groove.? Somebody dig and find out. I have these bullets btw.

 

[Rebel_Rider1969]

Something..... bit o trivia. As far as accuracy potential is concerned, 7.62x39 is the parent case of .220 Russian, which evolved to .22PPC and eventually the legendary benchrest caliber, 6mm PPC

 

[Roaster's Gallery]

I better slug my bore. After a little research, there seems to be quite a bit of contradictory information regarding ruger bores for the 7.62 x 39. Including a couple of my reloading manuals.

 

[Rebel_Rider1969]

I better slug my bore. After a little research, there seems to be quite a bit of contradictory information regarding ruger bores for the 7.62 x 39. Including a couple of my reloading manuals.

Yep, from my reading the later/newer mini 30s were 311. Let us know!

 

[SAWMAN]

IMO - -> if your .308" or your .310/.311" gun shoots much better with a certain bullet,that is what I would use. Especially in a Mini.
Also - -> you can quite easily turn a .310/.311" expander button into a .308",but not the other wsy around.
I relize that my thoughts on reloading for the X39 guns (bolt or semi auto) could be different than most.
My opinions on this are just that,my OPINIONS. This,gained from limited expierance but a good bit of reading.
A great gun such as a CZ deserves to be fed the best ammo possible. For me,it would be reloads using NEW brass. For a Ruger bolt bun,pretty much the same. Would/could possibly use once fired brass if I knew which weapon it was fired in.
For a Mini ... most anything other than steel.
Got a friend that has a special made bull bbl bolt gun that will shooy in the lower .200" 's. That is the aggregate of 5 shots X5 groups.
If treated with some love,the X39 will shoot.. Just not "normally". ---- SAWMAN

 

[16gauge]

My reloads were made back 1994 during the Clinton era. Reloading components were hard to come by back then also and we were trying to come up with a hunting load for our SKS rifles that we paid $79 for. Ordered 500 pieces of brass and some Hornady 123gr SP .310 diameter. Problem is an SKS slings empties everywhere and we didn't want to lose them. So my loads sat around and were forgot about for 27 years. Now comes the Ruger Ranch and my loads finally get to shine. 1" groups with no work up or powder trials, that rarely happens on the first try. Seated to the cannelure and crimped with a Lee factory crimp die I'm stoked to see how it will perform on game. Speer used to make a 125gr. .312 bullet that works well also not sure if they are still available. You can find brass FMJ loads that you can shoot and then reload if you can't find any hunting loads right now.

 

[Rebel_Rider1969]

Scope choices? Here's what I've got. 2x7x32 tasco wide view, crossfire 2 3x12, crossfire 1.5x4x20, nikon prostaff p5 2x18x50?, nikon buckmaster 2 3x12x40. Wideview is on the gun now. Just didn't want to overload the rifle with a giant optic for 100-200 yard shooting.