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While asking around on other forums about a less expensive bolt action in .204 the Predator was brought up. MSRP is $499 which looks to be a good buy if the rifle will group well. The main problem I've read so far is that the magazine can be problematic, but that they are good shooters. The stock is rated as "flimsy" but that can be remedied. The .204 Predator seems to be fairly rare out there. Haven't found one yet. Anyone have any experience with these rifles? | ||
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I looked at a Ruger American Ranch Rifle a couple weeks ago when Cabela's had them on sale. I thought this would be an inexpensive way to get a 300 Blackout, I work for a gunsmith and the price was less than I can get a Contender barrel for. I am a Ruger fan but I could not buy his rifle at any price. Ignoring it is ugly, the stock had mold flash that needed to be trimmed, the clip was flimsy and rattled when in. It had toy quality. I could go on, I am disappointed with the direction Ruger and may other manufacturers are heading. Mark | |||
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Mark: I agree that they ain't too purty. Buy shoot one and you may feel differently. Ruger had their engineers focused on the parts that matter. Mine will out shoot rifles costing 3x as much. | |||
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I keep hearing that they are pretty accurate, and that's the main thing for me. The stock will be very temporary. Have a question in to Boyd's about the hardware that comes with it. Just need to get one in my hands to check for fit. LGS has their own warranty as well as the factory warranty. That's making me feel more comfortable about getting one. | |||
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I bought a Ruger American Compact 7-08 the other day at a considerable discount because it was blemished in shipping. I mounted a scope and grabbed a box of rem corelokts and went shooting. The rifle shot great and even better with my handloads for my Sako 7-08. There was a man at the range with the predator model in 204 and he had some really impressive groups with factory ammo. | |||
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the american series appears to be in response to the request for a cheaper hunting rifle -- the hawkeye to go against the m70/m700 and the american to go with the savage/m710/other JUNK... i don't like ugly rifles.... opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
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Don't care for fugly rifles, either. Sad to go into any gunshop anymore and see 10X more tupperware stocked rifles than nice wood. I've heard it said that the manufacturers are just offering what the public wants. Really!?! If they only offer plastic stocks on most of their models, what CHOICE does the public have??? Thank God there's Boyd's out there....they no doubt enjoy the manufacturers attitudes. Their business is booming! | |||
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Yes, really. Manufacturers try to make products that will sell. If not, they don't stay in business long. There are plenty of wood stocked rifles available for folks who are willing to pay the difference. Thank God for capitalism and choices. | |||
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.......and Boyd's. You can have the tupperware. More models than not wear the plastic. If a person wants such models, he has NO choice! If the plastic truly sold better than a wood stocked rifle of the same model (that is, if there WERE a choice and an EVEN playing field), Boyd's would not be swamped with orders! Savage is finally seeing the light in response to angry customers, and WOOD-stocking their 17WSM model. Yes, thank God for capitalism and choices, WHEN they do give choices! | |||
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I have two of the predator models, one on 223 and one in 243. The 223 is amazingly accurate with excellent groups. The other is amazingly in accurate with groups approaching 4-5 inches. The stock is problematic with the forend flexing like spaghetti. I will not purchase another one. NRA SCI & DSC 9.3x62 375 H&H 300 H&H 450 Nitro 3.25 | |||
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All the rifle makers still offer walnut stocked rifles; problem is that the stores won't stock them; reason? as the Sheels gun manager told me, "they don't sell", meaning, they don't sell enough of them to make any money; everyone now wants cheap rifles so that is what the market fills. Plus, the young guys all want automatics. With the decline of good jobs for our middle class, they can't afford $1000 for a rifle, but can afford $350 for something that will do the job even though it looks like hell. You can still special order walnut but you won't find them on the shelves and I have looked all over; same situation. | |||
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Here are my posts that are on another forum. Hope these help. 3/19/15 I bought my son a Ruger American in 7mm-08 two years ago and it shoots quite well with Hornady American Whitetail 140g factory ammo and really well with handloads....0.72" groups. The Ruger American Predator in .223 I bought last Saturday and shot Sunday has an issue w/ the 55gr PPU factory ammo. I didn't want to spend $30 per box on factory ammo b/c I reload. I shot 40 rounds through it on Sunday with horrible groups...4" maybe...with nothing consistent. I'm hoping it's the ammo, I've only shot that one brand. I have dies on the way and I am going to load 55gr Hornady SP and 75gr A-Max to see what happens. Also bought some 64gr Winchester Super-X to try. I am going to pull bullets and weigh both powder and bullets to see if there is enough inconsistency there to explain 4" groups. More later. 3/22/15 Back at the range today... It's the ammo, this rifle does not like three types of factory ammo...PPU 55gr SP, Hornady American Whitetail 60gr IL, and Winchester Super-X 64gr PP. Shot tiny holes with handloads, Hornady 50gr SP with three weights of Varget and one of IMR3031 (believe it or not). The worst groups were shot with 75gr A-Max with two weights of Varget and one of Reloader 15, which I would expect given their similar burn rates. Will have to try other burn rate powders for heavier bullets in the .223. Glad it isn't the rifle or scope. I did shoot with a Burris Fullfield II, which is better of course, but after the bad groups with the PPU again, I know it isn't the scope. "The dog is a gentleman; I hope to go to his heaven, not man's." Mark Twain | |||
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Found a .204 Predator at a gun show for $389 and ordered a Boyd's stock for it for $117, so for about the price of MSRP, I'll have a nice wood stocked rifle that didn't cost $1,000. Due to unusual shape of the receiver, recesses for the lugs, and getting things right for the magazine, it took more fitting than other stocks I've gotten from them. Now I'm waiting on dies and brass to get here. Hoping it shoots as well as others have reported on various forums! | |||
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Normally equal amounts of Varget and RL15 are good with heavy bullets. I'd try TAC or 2520 next. A shot not taken is always a miss | |||
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