The Ruger American Rifle: A Budget Friendly Bolt Action

The Ruger American Rifle line quietly turned 10 years old last year, and in that short span it has expanded well beyond the Standard models American Rifleman introduced readers to in 2012. Today enthusiasts have entire families of the bolt-action centerfires from which to choose, including those Standard models, Predators, Hunters, Compacts, Ranches, Vortex Crossfire II Riflescopes and Go Wild Camo I-M Brush.

Each feature that famed Ruger quality, reliability and performance, yet somehow manage to get it done at a budget-friendly price. In the Standard line, for example, MSRP is $559, whether you select one chambered in .243 Win., 7 mm-’08 Rem., .270 Win., .30-'06 Sprg. or .308 Win. There’s even a version for lefties chambered in the latter, and although no price is published, 6.5 mm Creedmoor models are also available through distributor exclusives.

There may not be many fancy flourishes on these guns, but the quality is there. Those available from Ruger all wear 22", alloy-steel barrels and come with the Ruger Marksman Adjustable trigger, which can be set for let-off weights anywhere from 3 to 5 lbs.

Stocks are black synthetic and barrels are matte-black. The one-piece, three-lug bolts feature a 70-degree throw to clear optics with ease. The guns ship with an installed Picatinny rail for riflescope mounting and also wear a recoil pad. Magazine capacity, regardless of chambering, is four cartridges. The dealer exclusives have all the same features, but model’s barrel with a steel gray Cerakote finish.

There are 17 models in the Predator family of Ruger’s American Rifle alone. Most barrels lengths are 22". They are all threaded for muzzle devices. MSRPs run from $579 to $659 and the number of chamberings available is too long to list here.

If you’re in the market for a bolt action already set up for the range, consider the Vortex Crossfire II family. Nine models are available and each ship from the factory with a factory-mounted Vortex Crossfire II riflescope. Chambering options include .204 Ruger, .223 Rem., .243 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 Win., .30-'06 Sprg. and .308 Win. Synthetic stocks are green or black, depending on model, and four of the rifles ship with threaded barrels. MSRPs run from $749 to $869. 

Visit Ruger’s website for full details on its entire American Rifle line.