Ruger American Predator 6.5CM

[beaverpelt]

This seems like a good deal to buy and throw in one of those new Magpul Hunter stocks for a budget rifle. Worth it for a range gun or should I pass?

https://grabagun.com/ruger-american-pred-6-5crd-22-3rd.html

 

[Codiekfx400]

I had one it was very nice for the price. Much more accurate than I expected. It would hover around 3/4 Moa until you got the barrel good and hot then it would wander some.

 

[wesc]

I have an American predator in 6.5cm and I think it’s a great budget rifle.
Positives: It holds .6 MOA reliably with handloads and is .9 MOA with factory hornady ELD-M.
Made completely in US.
Completely reliable.
Negatives: Bolt lift is stiff on mine even with >400 rnds through it. It’s overall finish quality is low. The stock absorbs recoil well but is otherwise low-end and will apply some distal pressure to the barrel of you put enough rear torque on it.

Bottom line:
It’s a phenomenal gun for the money. It shoots better than any other rifle I’ve shot that costs <1000 bucks (to include browning abolts, factory Remington 700’s, ar’s, etc). As a hunting rifle you probably won’t do better given not much else matters and my complaints won’t negatively effect you. If you’re looking for an entry rifle to learn more about long range shooting and handloading on, I think it fills that niche as well. If you’re looking for something to compete in prs I think it would be a reasonable option for the production class although I haven’t done it. If you’re considering using it as a build platform or for high end target or prs competition I think you should probably look elsewhere. The upgrades would cost more than the gun and there’s not much aftermarket support.

Hope that helps.

 

[huntsman22]

I bought one and had lottsa mag problems with the factory plastic garbage.Ruger sent replacements that also bobbled. The rifle is a half moa gun, so I decided to spend on some upgrades. Slapped it in a LSS, and use it on the ranch as my truck/quad rifle. One way to get away from the shitty factory stock and mags.....



I returned to the truck this winter after calling coyotes and leaned the rifle against the truck bed while I stripped my camo. My dog knocked it over, slid all the way down the bed and landed right on the scope on the hard, frozen ground. When I got back to the house, I decided to check zero. One ping on the 200 yard gong was dead center. So, I dialed 700 yards and let 3 fly....





Took it elk hunting and kilt a bull DRT at 458 yds.

 

[Codiekfx400]

I bought one and had lottsa mag problems with the factory plastic garbage.Ruger sent replacements that also bobbled. The rifle is a half moa gun, so I decided to spend on some upgrades. Slapped it in a LSS, and use it on the ranch as my truck/quad rifle. One way to get away from the shitty factory stock and mags.....



I returned to the truck this winter after calling coyotes and leaned the rifle against the truck bed while I stripped my camo. My dog knocked it over, slid all the way down the bed and landed right on the scope on the hard, frozen ground. When I got back to the house, I decided to check zero. One ping on the 200 yard gong was dead center. So, I dialed 700 yards and let 3 fly....





Took it elk hunting and kilt a bull DRT at 458 yds.

What bullet did you use to drop the elk?

 

[huntsman22]

140 amax.

 

[beaverpelt]

I'd get the version that takes the AICS mags, stick it in a Magpul American Hunter stock, Magpul bipod, Seekins rings and top it with an Athlon Midas Tac 6-24x50. I've got an extra Dead Air brake to put on it and use my Sandman K.

 

[NVCowboy]

It appears the picture from your Mule Deer hunt got uploaded instead of the one from your elk hunt. It is a mighty fine mule deer though.

 

[huntsman22]

Nah, it appears I added the deer pic to show I kilt other stuff with the American. When I popped the elk across a canyon, he was dead immediately. No reason to pack a 12 lb rifle over there just to get a pic of it on the deceased elk. But since you care, here's the elk......grin





And here's the rifle on the handlebars of my wheelie-cart getting the meat to the truck.

 

[beaverpelt]

I ordered the Magpul American Hunter stock and the Midas Tac 6-24x50 yesterday. Ordered the scope from a friendly and very interesting gentleman from Cameraland. They gave me a good deal and very happy I called them.

 

[EchoDeltaSierra]

The girlfriend recently bought one and brought it during our last trip to the long range. It shot well enough we ordered one of the Magpul Hunter stocks (delivers tomorrow) and we will be installing my Steiner 3-15 optic on it. I plan to give it a good test run soon during PRS / high-power practice nights at our favorite local 1000y range.

 

[EchoDeltaSierra]

Here’s the ladies 6.5CR American Rifle Predator Edition with Magpul Hunter stock and bipod. Had her run 55 rounds through it today to get zero and do some SH dot tests. Looks good, shoots well, and she likes it.

 

[Josh0369]

I have had the same experience as Huntsman with my predator in the accuracy department. The little gun flat out shoots. Its not the fastest creed out there but it is accurate. I run the berger 130 otms in mine.

 

[hlesley]

The magazine for the 450 Bushmaster Ranch Rifle will work in the old model 6.5 CM Predator. It also works in my 7-08 American. You have 3 rounds instead of 4, but they do work.

 

[Ruger t]

I have had the same experience as Huntsman with my predator in the accuracy department. The little gun flat out shoots. Its not the fastest creed out there but it is accurate. I run the berger 130 otms in mine.

I just bought my predator 4 days ago and it'll stay stock. Loaded 129 accubond with 43 gr H4350 and wham sub moa at 100 yes. What's funny is I slowed it down to 42 and it went bad. Love a gun I can max load and accurate. Just polished the bolt with paint scratch remover after about 500 in and outs n much quieter

 

[BiggerThanLife]

How does this Ruger compare to the TC Compass?

 

[J Scott]

I bought mine(6.5CM) in 2015. The first pic is from my first range trip with it shooting factory Hornady 140gr ammo off of a bipod and rear bag and OEM trigger. The final pic is of my usual pre-hunting season 2 shot group to verify zero-this group was shot with Timney trigger. All shots at 100 yards. This rifle shoots way above it's pay grade.

 

[Ruger t]

I have an American predator in 6.5cm and I think it’s a great budget rifle.
Positives: It holds .6 MOA reliably with handloads and is .9 MOA with factory hornady ELD-M.
Made completely in US.
Completely reliable.
Negatives: Bolt lift is stiff on mine even with >400 rnds through it. It’s overall finish quality is low. The stock absorbs recoil well but is otherwise low-end and will apply some distal pressure to the barrel of you put enough rear torque on it.

Bottom line:
It’s a phenomenal gun for the money. It shoots better than any other rifle I’ve shot that costs <1000 bucks (to include browning abolts, factory Remington 700’s, ar’s, etc). As a hunting rifle you probably won’t do better given not much else matters and my complaints won’t negatively effect you. If you’re looking for an entry rifle to learn more about long range shooting and handloading on, I think it fills that niche as well. If you’re looking for something to compete in prs I think it would be a reasonable option for the production class although I haven’t done it. If you’re considering using it as a build platform or for high end target or prs competition I think you should probably look elsewhere. The upgrades would cost more than the gun and there’s not much aftermarket support.

Hope that helps.

I watched a video where some dude used polishing compound on the bolt and cycled about 400 times to get it smoother. I tried the same thing and in about 500 cycles it took most of the singing out of the cycle

 

[Ruger t]

I just bought my predator 4 days ago and it'll stay stock. Loaded 129 accubond with 43 gr H4350 and wham sub moa at 100 yes. What's funny is I slowed it down to 42 and it went bad. Love a gun I can max load and accurate. Just polished the bolt with paint scratch remover after about 500 in and outs n much quieter

These new noslers are a long range hunting bullet.

 

[missedbyamile]

I bought one as a test to see if i can hit a 1000 yards with a budget rifle. I Changed the Chassis to the Oryx Chassis and added and Area 419 break and I've smacked the 1 mile on two different occasions using Factory Hornady 147 ELD-X and ELD-M. Hand Loads are Next

 

[DukeGSP]

for the money they're great. i bought one in a .350 legend last year. dropped a Timney trigger and added a mdt chassis. it's prettying impressive for what i have in it. it'll serve it's purpose well.