Ruger American Predator stock MODS

[Chris Golding]

Been using the site for a while for ideas, figure I should put a post up!

I will start off by acknowledging that, YES you can buy, spend less time, and perhaps less money on such efforts! But my ADHD and high functioning PTSD will not allow such madness to sit idle .

So this is the second time I've done the 2 part epoxy on the for end. And can't speak enough of how rigid the stock is after! This time I figured I'd try and pack in some BB's as a means to add some extra weight!

As for the grip. I learned to shoot in the army (easy lol), so the ergonomics of a hunting rifle.... just pisses me off!

So I found a few posts on here with epoxy putty, and went to work on a rainy day. Only thing I'd do different is, before prime and paint. I should have stippled the grip. Nbd as I usually use foam tape.

Not shown. I also took off the Ruger cap on the grip, then scored the walls with a dremel, then packed the grip solid with epoxy putty!

Added a SRS hunting arca rail to finish off.

Cheers!

 

[Chris Golding]

Mdt Grnd-pod.... worth every cent!

Put the 5.56 (ruger american ranch) in the stock to save a few bucks on ammo. Same scope, same trigger, same eye re-leaf. Why not!

Plan is the train at the range this week, shooting off the tri-pod in prep for rifle season!

 

[Chris Golding]

 

[Charmingmander]

Nice work!

I saw a video a couple years back where someone took a long piece of steel and inset it into the forend to stiffen it. He said that worked quite well and stopped the forend from flexing due to a bipod.

 

[Ranchhand]

Looks good.
Your grip mod and paint job are awesome.
I've added SRS hunters rails to my rifles as well, I love them.

 

[sgtsmmiii]

You have WAY too much free time !!! LOL. Very nicely done. Looks great.

 

[paulrem308]

Must have ESPN, cause you read my mind. Forgot how much I absolutely hate a traditional stock grip. Tossed around this idea for a while just Haven't done it yet.
Question on jb, did you do it all at 1 time or in layers?

 

[johnnyvw]

I did something similar on my American. Older model, 5.56 with the 5 round magazine. The forend I drilled down the length and inserted two 1/4" steel rods, then filled it with an industrial epoxy we have by the gallon at work. In the butt stock, I filled that as well, but a little bit at a time since epoxy tends to go exothermic during curring, and I was concerned I would start melting the plastic with the mass. For the last pour, I took a length of PVC pipe and partially filled it with lead shot, then epoxied that into the buttstock. I haven't weighed it but it's not something you want to carry for hunting LOL.
I also added an adjustable cheek rest. That was the first mod I did, and I found out the previous owner had used some type of stuff that didnt cure and it started oozing out when I drilled through the stock!

I like the mod you did to the grip. I saw something somewhere where a guy used polymer modeling clay and made some bolt-on custom grips that were molded to his hand and the rifle stock. But I like youre idea a bit better so I may steal it LOL Nice paint too!

 

[Chris Golding]

You have WAY too much free time !!! LOL. Very nicely done. Looks great.

Retired vet sir, you may be correct lol. But what better thing to put time and effort into!

 

[Chris Golding]

I did something similar on my American. Older model, 5.56 with the 5 round magazine. The forend I drilled down the length and inserted two 1/4" steel rods, then filled it with an industrial epoxy we have by the gallon at work. In the butt stock, I filled that as well, but a little bit at a time since epoxy tends to go exothermic during curring, and I was concerned I would start melting the plastic with the mass. For the last pour, I took a length of PVC pipe and partially filled it with lead shot, then epoxied that into the buttstock. I haven't weighed it but it's not something you want to carry for hunting LOL.
I also added an adjustable cheek rest. That was the first mod I did, and I found out the previous owner had used some type of stuff that didnt cure and it started oozing out when I drilled through the stock!

I like the mod you did to the grip. I saw something somewhere where a guy used polymer modeling clay and made some bolt-on custom grips that were molded to his hand and the rifle stock. But I like youre idea a bit better so I may steal it LOL Nice paint too!

I did the same with the pvc pipe, easy solution. A socket works well too! I put about 1lb in total on the gun after the work.

Cheek rest, love me the camo foam tape. Simple and it works. Not using rn as I've relocated my rifle shooting position from shoulder pocket to collar bone. I am finding its not needed so much any more.

 

[Chris Golding]

Must have ESPN, cause you read my mind. Forgot how much I absolutely hate a traditional stock grip. Tossed around this idea for a while just Haven't done it yet.
Question on jb, did you do it all at 1 time or in layers?

Thank for the questions buddy. No ESPN, it's terminal al list when I tune my guns

The fore end. This was my second time doing it.

I did it ongoing while watching terminal
So I go slow, more to prevent mess. I even added some copper bb's to squeeze in some extra weight. The heat produces from the epoxy is not that much. Just don't rush it, and let it cure for a week ish to be real sure.

As for the epoxy on the grip. Make sure to scroe the stock to increase bonding with the epoxy putty. I did half a epoxy stick at a time. Making sure to press it hard together so it bonds. Did this over 2 days ish.

Hope that helps!

 

[Chris Golding]

Nice work!

I saw a video a couple years back where someone took a long piece of steel and inset it into the forend to stiffen it. He said that worked quite well and stopped the forend from flexing due to a bipod.

Very same reason I went down the rabbit hole. Zero flex now! Also I had a shitty Cadwell bipod. Cannot speak enough of the mdt-grnd pod. One word, stable!

 

[Chris Golding]

Not in the original post.

A big complaint of the ruger american is the zipper sound of the bolt. 1000 & 2000 Grint sand paper and some good old arthritis did the trick.

Not a sound, slicker than snot now. CLP lapping grease, wd-40, what ever. Time and patience.

With the over size bolt knob, cycling is now effortless.

If anyone has the ruger made brake on their 6.5 (like on my 5.56 in the post) love to hear your reviews. Love the mdt brake, but too tac .50 for my liking!

God bless!

 

[CNC-Dude]

I tossed the ugly green factory stock on mine and replaced it with the much better Magpul stock that has adjustable length of pull ability. Its inexpensive and a great upgrade.

 

[Chris Golding]

I tossed the ugly green factory stock on mine and replaced it with the much better Magpul stock that has adjustable length of pull ability. Its inexpensive and a great upgrade.

Saw those. Good stock bit not a fan myself as options are limited compared to MDT for weights and other options like forward mount NV. Waiting for the mdt black friday sale and I'll get the xrs chassis.

50.00 is cheaper than a new stock when it meets your needs.

If I wasn't a vet getting raped on pension I may have went chassis of the hop lmao.

 

[Charmingmander]

Not in the original post.

A big complaint of the ruger american is the zipper sound of the bolt. 1000 & 2000 Grint sand paper and some good old arthritis did the trick.

Not a sound, slicker than snot now. CLP lapping grease, wd-40, what ever. Time and patience.

With the over size bolt knob, cycling is now effortless.

If anyone has the ruger made brake on their 6.5 (like on my 5.56 in the post) love to hear your reviews. Love the mdt brake, but too tac .50 for my liking!

God bless!

I've nearly pulled the trigger on a Predator model several times and that zipper sound on the bolt always gave me pause.

 

[TonyAngel]

Been using the site for a while for ideas, figure I should put a post up!

I will start off by acknowledging that, YES you can buy, spend less time, and perhaps less money on such efforts! But my ADHD and high functioning PTSD will not allow such madness to sit idle .

So this is the second time I've done the 2 part epoxy on the for end. And can't speak enough of how rigid the stock is after! This time I figured I'd try and pack in some BB's as a means to add some extra weight!

As for the grip. I learned to shoot in the army (easy lol), so the ergonomics of a hunting rifle.... just pisses me off!

So I found a few posts on here with epoxy putty, and went to work on a rainy day. Only thing I'd do different is, before prime and paint. I should have stippled the grip. Nbd as I usually use foam tape.

Not shown. I also took off the Ruger cap on the grip, then scored the walls with a dremel, then packed the grip solid with epoxy putty!

Added a SRS hunting arca rail to finish off.

Cheers!

I did the same thing to my grip using JB Weld steel putty. It made a big difference for me. If you're looking to add weight, try tungsten powder. Lots of weight in little space.

If you do the thing with the BBs, don't just pour the BBs in and pour the epoxy on top. Mix the BBs with the epoxy first. Lol

 

[Chris Golding]

I've nearly pulled the trigger on a Predator model several times and that zipper sound on the bolt always gave me pause.

2000 Grint sand paper works perfectly. If I wasn't banned of meta for life (took on the vegans) I'd send you a link!

 

[Chris Golding]

Boiler room at 75 yards with Eld-x. Ran 10 yards into a tree head first and dead.