The Ruger American Rifle is a cost-effective choice worth considering, if you're a hunter or shooting fanatic shopping around on a tight budget. This rifle is known for striking a balance between affordable pricing and solid performance. It skimps on some fancy bells and whistles to keep costs down, but it still brings respectably accurate firepower.

This review gives you an in-depth look at Ruger American’s key features, maintenance needs, safety mechanisms, comfort and handling, shooting capabilities, and overall value compared to the price tag. Read on to find out if this budget-friendly firearm meets your needs out in the field or on the range.

Overview of the Ruger American 

The number one highlight of the Ruger American rifle that grabs attention is its pleasing price tag. With an affordable manufacturer's suggested retail price of $379, this gun comes in much lower than many competing hunting rifles out there. 

When checking prices from major online gun dealers like Brownells, GrabAGun, and Kygunco, you'll typically see retail listings ranging from $300-to $599 for the new Gen II. Specific pricing may fluctuate a bit depending on sales and availability but stays firmly positioned as a budget buy.

This cost-efficient rifle is currently built in four of the most widely used big game hunting calibers - .30-06 Springfield, .308 Winchester, .270 Winchester, and .243 Winchester. This array of chamberings covers medium sized animals like deer and hogs all the way up to elk and bear with versatile, easy to find rounds. 

Having diverse models tailored across popular hunting cartridges allows the Ruger American rifle to adapt flexibly to various needs out in the field.

Key Features and Design

Keeping manufacturing costs down was clearly a priority in the Ruger American's design. This value-priced firearm skips elaborate bells and whistles or avant-garde aesthetics. The features plainly focus on practical hunting utility rather than flashy upgrades.

At its core, the American rifle sticks to a basic yet functional blueprint. But where it really counts when the game is in your sights, Ruger nailed the key mechanics.

The American keeps things simple but effective by featuring the rifle in four of the most trusted big game hunting cartridges on the market - .30-06 Springfield, .308 Winchester, .270 Winchester, and .243 Winchester. These provide plenty of versatile options for bringing down deer, bears, elk, feral hogs, and other medium to large animals.

Their popularity also makes matching ammunition widely accessible and affordable.

Ergonomics and safety clearly drove aspects of the rifle layout. Ruger intelligently positioned the safety toggle for intuitive thumb access without ever taking your trigger hand off the grip. 

The safety mechanism also uses a convenient logic system - it can only engage when you actually cock the gun's firing action. This prevents dangerous accidental discharges from toggling the safety on a loaded rifle. 

Its ideal positioning by your thumb enables muscle memory to kick in, allowing you to flick the safety off as you line up a shot.

The American comes standard with a sporty, lightweight synthetic stock that can withstand rough handling and severe weather exposure during extreme hunts. A thick recoil pad, caps the butt end to soak up the felt kick - especially helpful given this rifle's featherweight design which magnifies recoil forces.

The gun's crisp trigger breaks cleanly at a pull weight that adjusts from 3 to 5 pounds of force to your preference. Compared to the gritty triggers commonly found in cheaper rifles, the Ruger American's smooth pull action enhances accuracy for hunters.

Breakdown and Maintenance

Field stripping the Ruger American rifle for cleaning and basic maintenance takes very little effort, even for novice shooters. Just flip the gun over and remove two screws from the underside of the stock using a Phillips head screwdriver.  

With the screws detached, the two main assemblies - the barrel/action and the stock - can cleanly separate. This grants easy access to the trigger mechanism housed within for adjustments or cleaning. Locate the hex screw that controls the trigger pull weight and rotate it left or right to tweak the tension down or up per your preference within the 3-5 pound range.

Reattaching everything after maintenance or cleaning takes just seconds, too. Simply align the assemblies and firmly press the stock flush against the receiver. Insert and re-tighten the two stock fastening screws, and you are back in action.  

Removing and reinserting the bolt also proves buttery smooth, thanks to the thoughtful design. Pull the bolt fully rearwards until it stops to take out the bolt. Next, push the handy bolt release button on the left receiver and slide the entire bolt out. Repeat these steps in reverse order while aligning the bolt lugs into their raceways to lock them back in place. This breezy bolt manipulation further adds to the American's friendly handling.

Safety Features 

The American's safety toggle is cleverly positioned for easy access while gripping the rifle right-handed. Located at the back of the receiver near your thumb, you can keep the safety on while aiming without changing your hold. Then when ready to fire, a simple thumb flex disengages the safety without losing sight picture or delay.

The excellent positioning minimizes any shooting lag when flipping the switch off. However, one unique trait is the safety's audible click when toggled on or off. That metallic "snap" could prematurely reveal your location to easily spooked animals while stalking. 

Yet, some hunters intentionally condition more placid creatures like deer to associate the sharp click with a food reward. If trained this way, the sound prompts the animal to freeze rather than startle. So while generally a drawback, the loud safety "snap" could provide an advantage under the right circumstances. For general use though, lubricating the mechanism is advisable to silence the action.

Comfort and Handling  

The Ruger American Rifle's lightweight polycarbonate/ABS plastic stock helps keep it under 6 pounds without a scope or ammo. This lean design makes carrying it through rough terrain much easier when every ounce matters out in the bush. The ample space inside the frame enables free floating the barrel for optimal accuracy.

But shedding pounds has tradeoffs—felt recoil and muzzle jump are intensified. Heavier rifles better absorb recoil forces. Ruger wisely installed a thick rubber butt pad helping tame the kick of stout rounds like .270 Winchester. Testers found this pad impressively dampens the rifle's recoil compared to lighter platforms.  

The rifle’s slick plastic stock however lacks much texture or grip versus wood and grippy synthetic stocks. Adding custom texture via stippling or grip inserts could improve handling security. Ambidextrous palm swells allow better weapon control too.

The glossy stock surface also permits unintended head slippage when aligning your cheek weld. Ruger offers a free cheek riser to combat this issue. Taking advantage of that handy add-on helps stabilize face positioning for solid accuracy.

What’s Included with the Purchase?

The Ruger American Rifle packages a few nice extras to get you up and running out of the box. First, you get one rugged 4-round rotary magazine built from lightweight polymer. While an extra mag or two would allow faster reloads, this one unit should stand up to most real-world use.  

Ruger also saves you hassle and cash by fitting pre-installed Weaver-pattern scope bases right on the rifle. This eliminates the need to buy separate mount pieces just to add optics later. With the bases in place already, simply get rings and your preferred scope to dial in the American for your specific shooting needs.

Lastly, Ruger offers fresh owners a free soft cheek riser just for taking a minute to register the gun online after purchase. This foam pad attaches to the stock for a customized, comfortable fit. It’s a handy upgrade that costs you nothing.

Accessories and Upgrades

As a newly introduced budget-oriented rifle option, few aftermarket accessories specifically tailored for the Ruger American exist. However, customization and upgrades are somewhat limited for the bolt-action models, particularly when it comes to using standard AR-pattern components. Magazines, on the other hand, are more adaptable and can be upgraded in some models.

Picking up extra factory magazines identical to the one included makes inexpensive "spares," ensuring smooth reloads when you inevitably need more than the 4 rounds onboard. Replacing the basic stock offers options to fit the rifle better to your body dimensions and shooting style. Aftermarket drop-in trigger shoes allow adjusting the pull weight and trigger finger position exactly to your preferences too.

Shooting Experience and Performance

Based on in-depth reviews and firsthand experience from our team of experts, with military, competitive shooting, and backgrounds working in gun shops, the Ruger American Rifle has earned a reputation for solid performance at the range. Many shooters pair this rifle with a variable 3-9x40mm optic like the Weaver Kaspa scope with an illuminated Mil-Dot reticle for optimal accuracy. Proper setup and bore sighting at 100 yards enables the American to shine.

Trusted reports show that .270 Winchester ammunition works especially well with the Ruger American. Shooters have great success with 130-grain loads from Remington, Hornady, and Prvi Partizan. Affordable Prvi soft-point rounds can achieve 1-1/4 inch three-shot groups—great results for an entry-level factory rifle. Premium Hornady ammo produces sub-MOA groups under 1 inch. However, testers report Remington Core-Lokt performs best, with incredible 0.75 MOA accuracy that really leverages the American's precision with old-school round nose bullets.

Shooters widely praise the Ruger American's out-of-the-box accuracy when paired with a decent scope. While the basic stock feels a bit slick to some users, handling is smooth. Its lightweight build makes for an easy-carrying field rifle, though it magnifies the .270 Win's stiff kick. For beginners, the smooth running bolt, trouble-free loading, and simple controls, help shooters master this classic firearm quickly.  

The Ruger American provides performance exceeding its pay grade. For shooters prioritizing value over fancy extras, this rifle delivers money-saving precision other brands can’t match.

Conclusion

The Ruger American Rifle is a great affordable choice if you want a capable hunting or target shooting rifle without overspending. By focusing on the essential features hunters need, Ruger made a rifle that gets the job done without breaking your budget.  

You get a lightweight, hard-hitting, and super accurate bolt-action rifle at a price that won't drain your wallet. The basic synthetic stock could feel more comfortable during long days in the field. Adding a little more weight could also help manage recoil for shooters used to heavier guns. But, even as it comes straight from the box, assets like the Ruger's smooth running bolt and adjustable trigger help you shoot tight groups.

When you think about it, this rifle costs about the same as a nice family dinner out. So the minor corners cut to save money just aren't a big deal. The Ruger American is probably your best option if you need a reliable hunting rifle but have limited funds. It balances useful qualities with affordability. This is why the Ruger American Rifle really lives up to its name and value.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of game is the Ruger American Rifle suited for hunting?

With available calibers from .243 up to .30-06, the Ruger American can take anything from coyotes up to elk, deer, bear, and wild hogs. It has the power and precision for medium to larger games like whitetails out to moderate ranges.

Does this rifle come ready to mount a scope out of the box? 

Yes. Unlike most base rifles requiring separate scope mounts to be purchased, the Ruger American includes pre-installed Weaver-style bases. So adding on a scope only requires purchasing rings/mounts.

How expensive is match grade ammunition to feed this rifle?

Part of this rifle's budget appeal lies in its appetite for very affordable ammunition. It tends to shoot best with classic round nose lead bullets rather than costly hollow points. Remington Core Lokt is an economic choice.  

Is the Ruger American kid-friendly in terms of size and recoil?

With a lightweight but somewhat jumpy design, adult guidance and supervision are wise for young beginner shooters. But its smooth, easy cycling bolt does make it friendly for youth to master repeat fire.

Can I suppress this rifle for quieter use?

While not sold suppressor-ready, the American has a barrel well-suited to threading for the attachment of a sound moderator. So you can customize yours for suppressed and subsonic shooting.

Does Ruger offer this rifle with any kind of decent iron sights?

No, the American only comes drilled and tapped for optics mounting. But ghost ring aperture sights and scout style forward mounts can be added if you desire flexibility with iron sights.