1,000 Yards from a $500 Rifle–Ruger’s American Predator

The Ruger American Predator:
http://www.ruger.com/products/americanRiflePredator/models.html

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I really despise gun writers that have no problem selling their soul to whatever company sends them a gun or product to review. I will not ever be that guy. With that being said go ahead and get prepared for a review of the Ruger American Rifle Predator edition that will make it sound like my soul was bought and paid for.

When I began this review, Ruger had asked me what caliber I wanted the Predator in and I almost went with .308, but a friend suggested that I give 6.5 Creedmoor a chance. I am glad I chose the 6.5. I’ve now fallen in love with the cartridge and the reason will become more clear the article progresses.
When I unboxed the Predator, I found a skinny little tapered barrel, a light composite stock, and a surprisingly smooth action. I say surprising because there was really nothing remarkable about the rifle other than the action. Admittedly, I did not have high expectations for the predator. It is a deceptively modest gun.

The American Rifle is known for its modest appearance and solid performance.

Specs:

Stock: Moss Green Composite
Capacity: 4
Material: Alloy Steel
Finish: Matte Black
Barrel Length: 22.00″
Overall Length: 42.00″
Thread Pattern: 5/8″-24
Weight: 6.62 lbs.
Twist:     1:8″ RH
Grooves: 6
Length of Pull: 13.75″
Sights: None-Scope Rail Installed
Suggested Retail: $499.00
A few features make the Ruger American Rifle Predator an exceptional rifle. Likely the most important in terms of accuracy is the tapered cold hammer forged barrel. The process allows for precise rifling, which aids accuracy. The barrel on the predator also comes threaded for a suppressor. The 6.5 Creedmoor is threaded at 5/8”-24.

There’s nothing pretentious about this gun. That doesn’t limit its capabilities.

The barrel is also free floated using Ruger’s Power Bedding that positively locates the receiver, thus increasing accuracy. As with other variations of the American Rifle, the Predator uses the Ruger rotary magazine for smooth feeding and a flush fit to the stock.
The stock is ergonomic and lightweight.   That flimsy feeling that I noticed at unboxing had no noticeable negative effect during my time shooting the predator. The stock, weight and ergonomic design aids in the overall design of the rifle making it comfortable to shoulder for long periods of time in various shooting positions.
To add a little awesomeness to the rifle that comes threaded for a suppressor, I attached a Harvester from Silencerco. The Harvester is a very impressive suppressor as it manages to be an affordable, lightweight, and effective.
I had a Leopold Mark AR optic in on T&E–an optic designed for a completely different platform; despite that, I mounted it on the Predator and zeroed at 100 yards.

100 yards, top group is one 4 shot group from bipod. Bottom group is 2 shot group after sight adjustment.

I was immediately getting sub MOA groups and quickly had the rifle dialed in. While the groups were better than I expected, what impressed me the most was the trigger. The Ruger Marksman Adjustable trigger is a fine trigger that feels much better than one would expect in a rifle in this price range.

On The Range

I had about 500 yards to play with, and a series of 5” plates hanging at the base of the berm. I had about 30 rounds of Hornady left, so I decided to get the barrel hot and see if would retain its accuracy. At 300 yards, I began whacking plates. I manipulated the bolt and transitioning to another plate.   About 20 rounds later, the gun still couldn’t miss, so I backed up to 500 yards and got the same results with my last 10 rounds.
A few days later I taught a long range hunting class and let eight different shooters put rounds through the Predator at 400 yards. Everyone remarked how light and how soft shooting the rifle was. Some of the shooters had some very expensive rifles and scopes at the class. One such student remarked that he paid a couple thousand dollars to get his rifle to be able to do what the Predator was doing out of the box.
My hope for this article was to keep the rifle, optic, and bipod all under $1,000 and be able to consistently hit at 1,000 yards. I was able to keep the cost of the entire set up under $900. After the long range hunting class, my confidence was high that the Predator would allow consistent thousand yard hits, but I wasn’t able to test it until a few months later.

The 6.5 Creedmoor is an excellent choice for predators.

Stretching out

We joined some friends for some fun on Independence Day, a fitting day to be testing the American Rifle. There were a few children and several adults out for our shoot. I brought the Predator and a Primary Weapons Systems MK3 chambered in 300 WinMag (wearing a Vortex Razor HD). The line also included a decked out Remington 700 in .308 and a Winchester Model 70 also in .330 WinMag–a gun that kicked like a mule.
After the guns were confirmed, everyone took turns shooting each others’ guns. Everyone loved shooting the $10,000 rifle/scope combo of the PWS MK3, but the predator was the easy favorite among the kids and the ladies.
Finally, we took a long walk to a location where we could get a 1000-yard shot. The range was built on a recently harvested wheat field, and had steel targets ranging in size and distance from 200 yards to 1,000 yards. Fortunately the Kansas wind was taking a break for the holiday and we only had a 5 MPH full value wind blowing from right to left. I plugged some data into an iPhone app, put the data on the gun and pressed the first shot at 1,000 yards.   There were a few adjustments made, but after the Predator was dialed in. It could not miss the 3’x3’ plate at 1,000 yards.

Price Tag

The Ruger American Rifle Predator can be purchased for under $500. Paired with a quality optic for around the same price, one can expect to have a superb hunting or target rifle. I actually intend to get an optic with a little more reticle in it to mount on the predator and take it to a long-range match. I am sure it will get some funny looks until the participants see the rifle’s capabilities.
The Ruger American Rifle should appeal to anyone who wants an affordable and extremely accurate rifle for hunting or fun at the range. Pair it with a good suppressor such as the Harvester and you get a fun soft shooting rifle that can deliver a high level of accuracy from 0 to 1,000 yards.

Odds are the doe never heard that shot.

And a side note:

A friend who needed a rifle for a deer hunt conducted the final test for the Predator. Her first hunt ever, she carried the rifle to her stand, sat quietly until the buck walked into view, raised the Predator, and too her first deer. I imagine the Predator would be a suitable rifle for many young men and women to use on their first hunts and many more thereafter.

The Ruger American rifle Predator holding its own in some tough company. Foreground is PWS MK3 with Vortex Razor HD.

The American Rifle and the Leupold Mark AR are a solid match.

Rifle, scope, and bipod for under $900? Not bad.

The Harvester, from Silencerco, doesn’t make the rocket fast 6.5 round completely quiet, but it takes some of the bite off.

Safety mounted on the tang.

Obama's Power Grab to Ban Ammo in Full Swing. Only YOU Can Stop Him!

In a familiarly troubling pattern, the Obama administration’s wanton crusade against the Second Amendment marches on.  You must act NOW if we are to stop them in their tracks!

In an attempt to suppress the acquisition, ownership and use of AR-15s and other .223 caliber general purpose rifles, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) is moving to ban a whole class of common rifle ammunition with a radical reinterpretation of a nearly 30-year-old law regulating so-called “armor piercing” ammunition. The BATFE’s new “Framework” would prohibit the manufacturing, importation, and sale of M855 ball ammunition, one of the most popular cartridges for the AR-15, the most popular rifle in America.  The Obama Administration's repeated attempts to outlaw the AR-15 and other firearms have been unsuccessful, so they're attempting to do what they see as the next best thing--ban one of the most popular types of ammunition the AR-15 uses.

Urge Your Lawmakers to Sign the Congressional Letters to ATF!

In an effort to thwart BATFE's attempted action, NRA has worked with U.S. Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, to draft letters to BATFE expressing the lawmakers' opposition to the proposed framework. Use our online tool to strongly urge your lawmakers to sign the letters and protect our Second Amendment rights by putting a stop to this action!
WRITE YOUR LAWMAKERS

To thwart BATFE's attempted action, NRA has worked with members of both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate to draft letters to BATFE expressing the lawmakers' opposition to the proposed Framework. Efforts in the House were led by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.  To read a copy of the House letter, please click this link.  Efforts in the Senate were spearheaded by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.  To read a copy of the Senate letter, please click this link.  NRA would like to thank Rep. Goodlatte and Sen. Grassley for their leadership and quick action on this critically important issue.

NRA will be submitting its own detailed comments to BATFE in opposition to the ban and is continuing to work with Members of Congress on legislation that will put a stop to this abuse.

It cannot be overstated--gun owners and other affected members of the public must act now to help ensure BATFE does not get away with this latest attempt to deprive Americans of ammunition for their favorite rifle and to squeeze ammunition markets between converging bans on both lead and non-lead ammunition.

BATFE is accepting comments on their proposed ban and will consider all comments received on or before March 16, 2015.  Please be sure to submit your respectful comments in opposition to the ban.

Comments will only be considered by BATFE if received by March 16, 2015. They may be submitted in any of three ways:

1. Via email at APAComments@atf.gov (follow the instructions at the link for submitting comments).
2. Via fax at (202) 648-9741.
3. Via mail to Denise Brown, Mailstop 6N-602, Office of Regulatory Affairs, Enforcement Programs and Services, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, 99 New York Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20226: ATTN: AP Ammo Comments.

For more detailed information on how you can submit your comments to BATFE online, please click this link.

Finally, please contact your U.S. Representative and urge him or her to sign Rep. Goodlatte's letter, and please contact your U.S. Senators and urge them to sign Sen. Grassley's letter to OPPOSE BATFE's proposed "armor piercing" ammunition Framework.  To contact your lawmakers by phone, please call the Congressional Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or click here to Write Your Lawmakers.

Stop ATF's Ammo Ban: Urge Your U.S. Representative to Sign Congressional Letter to ATF on Proposed Ammo Ban

As NRA has been reporting since the night the news broke, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) is moving to infringe upon the rights of law-abiding gun owners with a drastic reinterpretation of a nearly 30-year-old law regulating so-called “armor piercing” ammunition. So draconian is BATFE’s new “Framework” that it would prohibit the manufacturing, importation, and sale of M855 ball ammunition, one of the most popular cartridges for the most popular rifle in America, the AR-15. Not coincidentally, the AR-15 is among the firearms the Obama Administration has unsuccessfully sought to outlaw. If they can’t ban the pie, so the thinking apparently goes, they might at least get the apples.

In an effort to thwart BATFE's attempted action, NRA has worked with U.S. Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, to draft a letter to BATFE expressing the lawmakers' opposition to the proposed Framework. To read a copy of the letter, please click this link.  

According to the letter, “The idea that Congress intended [the ‘armor piercing’ ammunition law] to ban one of the preeminent rifle cartridges in use by Americans for legitimate purposes is preposterous.” It goes on to state that the law “should be construed in accordance with the American tradition of lawful firearms ownership, as protected by the Second Amendment.” This includes due consideration of “the many legitimate uses Americans make of their firearms including target practice, hunting, organized and casual competition, training and skills development, and instructional activities.“ The letter concludes with several pointed questions for B. Todd Jones, BATFE’s director, including why the agency bypassed the Administrative Procedures Act in proposing such a radical change to its prior interpretation and enforcement of the law.  

NRA will also be submitting its own detailed comments to BATFE in opposition to the ban and is continuing to work with Members of Congress on legislation that will put a stop to this abuse. 

In the meantime, gun owners and other affected members of the public must act now to help ensure BATFE does not get away with this attempt to deprive Americans of ammunition for their favorite rifle and to squeeze ammunition markets between converging bans on both lead and non-lead ammunition. BATFE is accepting comments on their proposed ban and will consider all comments received on or before March 16, 2015. 

Please be sure to submit your respectful comments in opposition to the ban. For more detailed information on the proposed ban and how you can submit your comments to BATFE, please click this link. 

Finally, please contact your U.S. Representative and urge him or her to sign Rep. Goodlatte's letter and to oppose BATFE's proposed "armor piercing" ammunition Framework.  To contact them by phone, call the Congressional Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or CLICK HERE TO WRITE YOUR LAWMAKERS.

Zero wait time for handguns proposed

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At a Glance

Wisconsin is one of 10 states, as well as the District of Columbia, which have laws requiring a waiting period to buy guns, according to the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Waiting periods range from 24 hours to two weeks.

RACINE — State Sen. Van Wanggaard wants to get rid of the state’s 48-hour waiting period to buy handguns, a law supporters say gives people in emotional distress a needed cooling-off period.
Wanggaard, R-Racine, said the original intent of the waiting period was to give gun dealers enough time to complete a background check. Now that information is digitized and background checks can be done nearly instantly, a 48-hour waiting period amounts to a “time tax,” he said.
Handgun purchasers would still have to pass a background check to prove they can legally have a gun.
“An individual that is able to lawfully possess a firearm, they’re restricted — why?” Wanggaard said. “It doesn’t make any sense.”

Cooling-off periods

It makes sense to some — like Luann Simpson, program director at the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Racine County.
Simpson said NAMI isn’t necessarily opposed to the bill, but feels waiting periods can help tamp down impulsive behavior.
A suicidal person, for example, may be able to pass a background check and get a handgun. But if they had to wait a few days, they would have time to rethink or have a chance for an intervention, Simpson said.
“If I could pass a background check and get a gun immediately, I’m more likely to make that suicide attempt than if I had to wait three days to get a weapon,” she said.
A waiting period is also helpful for people struggling through a cycle of domestic violence, said Laura Cutilletta, senior staff attorney for the California-based Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
“If you introduce a waiting period into that cycle,” Cutilletta said, “you may save somebody’s life.”
Wanggaard doesn’t buy the argument that waiting periods help prevent violence. He asked rhetorically if the state should put waiting periods on buying baseball bats, razor blades, steak knives or other items that can be used to cause harm.
“If somebody has the thought of doing something, they’re going to use whatever is at their fingertips at the time they make that decision,” he said.

Dealers can still refuse

Ten states and the District of Columbia have laws requiring a waiting period to buy guns, according to Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. The organization did not have statistics comparing states with waiting-period laws to those without them.
Wanggaard, a former police officer, said it used to take several days of digging through records to determine if someone could legally possess a firearm. Even then, the checks weren’t as thorough as they are now, he said.
He added that dealers still have a responsibility to ensure guns stay out of the hands of people who can’t legally possess them — like people with a felony conviction or some suffering from mental illness.
“If a dealership feels there is any issue, they just won’t allow the individual to purchase,” Wanggaard said.
The Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety has scheduled a public hearing on the bill at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the state Capitol.

The AR-15 vs. The .22 LR – What’s the Best Rifle For Survival?

in Rifle Reviews

When it comes to survival preparation, the more planning you do, the better. Tightening up your survival plans now is much better than being left defenseless and out in the cold later. And no good survival defense kit is complete without a smart and sensible firearm.
While many people choose to stock up on several firearms for their survival kits, others just don’t have that kind of money or the resources. That’s why we’ve tried to help you narrow down the rifle debate by taking on one of the largest firearms debates below. We are talking about the debate of the two most popular survival rifles, the AR-15 and the .22 Long Rifle.

So which gun is better for survival, the AR-15 or the .22?

The pitch for the AR-15 as a top choice:
The AR-15 is one of the most popular survival guns on the planet. Essentially a semi-automatic version of the M-16, this gun is a great choice whether you select the classic Colt AR-15 or a variant model by a different brand.
One of the biggest things that the AR-15 has going for it is its ease of use and accuracy. It is a powerful gun but this does nothing to take away from its handling. It is a gun that almost anyone can learn to use and use well. Increased firepower is nothing if you don’t know how to use it.
Furthermore, the AR-15 is more than powerful enough to get the job done. Instead of standard cartridges, it is best to use metal-jacketed, lead alloy core bullets with a 10 grain hardened steel penetrator tip inside. Though more expensive, these bullets are far heavier duty and greatly improve the AR-15’s ability to puncture hard targets such as a steel helmet.
Finally, the AR-15 is a reasonably affordable option when it comes to a semi-auto rifle. The gun itself can be found for a reasonable price. Stocking up on the ammo is economical as well.
Check out the video below for a great breakdown on why some other survival experts feel this is a great option.

Now that we’ve given you the basic run down on the AR-15, let’s take a look at the other side of the coin with the 22.
The pitch for why the .22 is your best bet:
The .22 has been gaining steam in survival and self-defense circles as of late. Though it is very different than that AR-15, many people have made the claim that it is the best survival gun on the market.
Part of the reason that the .22 is such a popular survival pistol/rifle is that is just so versatile. It can be used for anything from self-defense to hunting large game to primary offense. In addition, numerous advancements have been made in the past few years including higher velocity bullets and higher quality .22 rifles and pistols.
Another excellent benefit of the .22 for survival is that almost anyone can use it. Despite being a powerful gun, it has very little recoil. Anyone, even a small child, can shoot the gun accurately and reload quickly. Better yet, ammunition for a .22 is very cheap and compact. This allows you to stock up on a whole lot of it without breaking the bank.
Checkout the video below for more information on why one of our favorite youtube channel hosts feels that the 22 can be a perfect survival caliber.

So Which is Best?
As far as these things go, both the AR-15 and the .22 are great survival options. It all depends on your personal preference and individual needs. Each gun will better suit different people. Let’s break it down depending on the category and also what we feel if we had to choose the only rifle we could grab one from our safe.
Winner on Cost:
The .22 Long Rifle wins on cost, as long as you can actually find ammunition. Picking up a rifle like the Ruger .22 can be a great option and will usually run you under 300.00 at any major retailer.Some stores will actually offer the Ruger 10/22 under 200.00.
The 22 rifle is one of the best choices around cost, availability of parts and ammunition (everyone has one) and mobility (easy to carry and store large amounts of ammunition).
Winner based on stopping power:
The AR 15 wins here as the caliber itself has a much higher velocity than the 22 LR. It’s used by most law enforcement agencies and the military for a reason.
Most people just starting out don’t realize that the bullet size of an AR-15 (.223 or .556 caliber) is actually about the same size as a 22 LR bullet. It has a lot more powder in the shell and packs a much bigger punch than the 22 LR, but it also costs significantly more than a .22 rifle both in the actual cost of the gun and the cost of ammunition to go along with it.
Wrap Up:
If you are looking for something that can act as not only a rifle that has stopping power for survival in an urban warfare position, the AR-15 is a great choice. It can be a little more expensive to equip with accessories like red or green dot sights, but it’s a great option for anyone with some experience shooting a gun.
If you are looking for something to take down small game and just need an entry level gun, the 22 rifle is an outstanding choice. Beginners should always start with a .22 rifle in our opinion but working up to an AR-15 is always a good choice if you have both the money and experience to handle one.
Bottom line is that there are dual rifle cases out there for a reason, and if you can afford both, you should have each in your arsenal readily available. But if you only gave me the option to pick one, I’m taking my Ruger 10/22 and I’m never looking back.

 

Gov. Greg Abbott: ‘I will make Texas the 45th State to Allow Open Carry’

During his 2015 State of the State Address, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott made it crystal clear as to what his intentions are with respect to open carry.
“Let me briefly follow up on a word I mentioned a moment ago–liberty. In a single word, it encapsulates what the country stands for, what Texas symbolizes,” said Abbott, according to Breitbart News. “I will expand liberty in Texas by signing a law that makes Texas the 45th state to allow Open Carry.”
Abbott’s unflinching support for open carry is arguably a hot dagger in the eye of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, the Bloomberg-funded coalition that has been fighting tooth and nail to persuade restaurants and corporations to ban the open carry of firearms on their premises.
With an open carry law on the books, the hope is that the practice becomes more widespread and mainstream in the Lone Star State.

AR-15 Can Cannon

The Can Cannon is one of those AR-15 accessories that are totally non-essential while at the same time being a must have.
To quote DemolitionRanch, “Um, yeah this thing is awesome. If you own an AR15 you need to buy this now, and no one paid me to say that.”