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Post by davers on Jan 26, 2017 5:52:21 GMT -5
Ruger American? What cartridge? Looks slick. Thanks, it's a .308. I got it for a song and it shoots really nice. It's extremely light though and the recoil got to me sighting it in. A couple of shots at deer isn't an issue at all but 20 rounds in a row got to be a little painful. I own two .308 rifles, and recoil was never an issue for me. I always considered the .308 having mild recoil, with both factory loads and my hand loads. I can shoot 30 rounds or more at the bench with no discomfort. Both my rifles have wood stocks, with one having a laminated stock & the Ruger having a walnut stock.
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Post by dbd870 on Jan 26, 2017 8:12:28 GMT -5
Thanks, it's a .308. I got it for a song and it shoots really nice. It's extremely light though and the recoil got to me sighting it in. A couple of shots at deer isn't an issue at all but 20 rounds in a row got to be a little painful. I own two .308 rifles, and recoil was never an issue for me. I always considered the .308 having mild recoil, with both factory loads and my hand loads. I can shoot 30 rounds or more at the bench with no discomfort. Both my rifles have wood stocks, with one having a laminated stock & the Ruger having a walnut stock. Mostly comes down to what you are used to/have experience with. My 30-06 doesn't recoil at all to me but I have a 416Rigby; if all I had experience with was a 243 and I picked up that 06 I guessing I'd think it had recoil.
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Post by TolusD on Jan 26, 2017 9:33:51 GMT -5
I own two .308 rifles, and recoil was never an issue for me. I always considered the .308 having mild recoil, with both factory loads and my hand loads. I can shoot 30 rounds or more at the bench with no discomfort. Both my rifles have wood stocks, with one having a laminated stock & the Ruger having a walnut stock. Mostly comes down to what you are used to/have experience with. My 30-06 doesn't recoil at all to me but I have a 416Rigby; if all I had experience with was a 243 and I picked up that 06 I guessing I'd think it had recoil. There's a couple of things going on with the recoil issue. The biggest one is that I was overseas for 3 years and didn't fire a shot the whole time. I used to shoot my 12 gauge and my CX4 often enough before I moved that I barely noticed any recoil issues. Another thing is that the stock on this American is hollow plastic and the forend is really just a handrest/place to mount a bipod. It isn't structurally anything more than a plastic honeycomb. I appreciate how incredibly light the rifle is at it makes it a great field gun but at the same time that lightness makes it uncomfortable for me from the bench. All in all it isn't terrible, I just need to step up the recoil pad a notch and it'll be fine.
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Post by TolusD on Jan 26, 2017 9:42:02 GMT -5
I own two .308 rifles, and recoil was never an issue for me. I always considered the .308 having mild recoil, with both factory loads and my hand loads. I can shoot 30 rounds or more at the bench with no discomfort. Both my rifles have wood stocks, with one having a laminated stock & the Ruger having a walnut stock. I agree about .308 recoil being relatively mild. I had a Ruger Hawkeye in .338mag in high school and that thing was a killer compared to this. Even our .30-30 Marlin was punchier and the 12 gauge I have now, even with the heavy gas ring installed, is still worse with full power slugs. I think I mostly just need to shoot more and I can do that with a better recoil pad I'm betting.
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Post by davers on Jan 26, 2017 9:50:30 GMT -5
There's a couple of things going on with the recoil issue. The biggest one is that I was overseas for 3 years and didn't fire a shot the whole time. I used to shoot my 12 gauge and my CX4 often enough before I moved that I barely noticed any recoil issues. Another thing is that the stock on this American is hollow plastic and the forend is really just a handrest/place to mount a bipod. It isn't structurally anything more than a plastic honeycomb. I appreciate how incredibly light the rifle is at it makes it a great field gun but at the same time that lightness makes it uncomfortable for me from the bench. All in all it isn't terrible, I just need to step up the recoil pad a notch and it'll be fine. If your Ruger Americans' buttstock is hollow, you might place some weight inside the stock to dampen recoil. My .308 Ruger Compact Magnum weighs a bit over 7 pounds with scope, same for my other .308 which is a custom stocked S & W Model "B". Both have open sights but I have Leupold scopes mounted on them. I have a 12 gauge pump shotgun and I have placed some weight (lead shot) inside the buttstock and this takes a lot of the recoil out.
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Post by TolusD on Jan 26, 2017 10:01:16 GMT -5
If your Ruger Americans' buttstock is hollow, you might place some weight inside the stock to dampen recoil. My .308 Ruger Compact Magnum weighs a bit over 7 pounds with scope, same for my other .308 which is a custom stocked S & W Model "B". Both have open sights but I have Leupold scopes mounted on them. I have a 12 gauge pump shotgun and I have placed some weight (lead shot) inside the buttstock and this takes a lot of the recoil out. Yeah, I've been seeing that in some of the Ruger forums. There's a few guys filling them with concrete patch but I don't think I want to do that. One guy used plumbers putty so he could take it out easily if he needed to and I think that sounds more reasonable. With the putty I can add empty PVC to lighten it or PVC filled with lead or oil to dampen it more if I need more weight. I can also take the putty out when I go hunting so the gun doesn't weigh me down all day. I'm gonna try the Limbsaver pad first though and see how that goes before I make any other mods.
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Post by tenring on Jan 26, 2017 10:07:57 GMT -5
I was working up a load for the American in '06, recoil was stiff but manageable. Fixed the hollow sound with a dowel rod and a bunch of Walmart bags.
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Post by TolusD on Jan 26, 2017 10:16:16 GMT -5
I was working up a load for the American in '06, recoil was stiff but manageable. Fixed the hollow sound with a dowel rod and a bunch of Walmart bags. I was thinking about something a little heavier but that's a great way to use walmart bags. I've heard of people saving enough of them to insulate their attics and apparently they make great insulation when you pack them between wall or ceiling studs. The only sounds I get out of my American that seem odd are coming from the bipod. It rings like a bell after every shot when I'm shooting off my shoulder. I kind of like it though.
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Post by omegahunter on Jan 26, 2017 10:22:44 GMT -5
I picked this up for next season. I'm not 100% sure where I'll be going to try and use it, but now that I have it I'm doubling down on my efforts to find some good ground for rifle hunting. I've actually been shopping for a land lease. Anyone got any experience with those? I have the exact same rifle. Bought it a few years ago. It has a Nikon 4-12x40 Buckmasters II in low rings. Shoots awesome! Super-soft recoil pad, too, as you can see the bottom of the pad flattened out in your picture.
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Post by TolusD on Jan 26, 2017 10:30:51 GMT -5
I have the exact same rifle. Bought it a few years ago. It has a Nikon 4-12x40 Buckmasters II in low rings. Shoots awesome! Super-soft recoil pad, too, as you can see the bottom of the pad flattened out in your picture. Yeah, I'm really happy with how it shoots. The scope on this one is a Bushnell Trophy XLT 3-9x40 that I got on clearance online. So far it's been really nice for what I paid for it and they seem to have good reviews. The recoil pad is very soft for certain. I don't think I've ever had one this soft actually. Have you had a chance to take it out hunting at all?
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Post by omegahunter on Jan 26, 2017 14:05:20 GMT -5
I have the exact same rifle. Bought it a few years ago. It has a Nikon 4-12x40 Buckmasters II in low rings. Shoots awesome! Super-soft recoil pad, too, as you can see the bottom of the pad flattened out in your picture. Yeah, I'm really happy with how it shoots. The scope on this one is a Bushnell Trophy XLT 3-9x40 that I got on clearance online. So far it's been really nice for what I paid for it and they seem to have good reviews. The recoil pad is very soft for certain. I don't think I've ever had one this soft actually. Have you had a chance to take it out hunting at all? Bagged an 8 with it this year. Shot handloaded Barnes 130 TSX's. Probably a whole, whopping 30 yard shot!! Post #12 www.go2gbo.com/forums/191-indiana/273407-opening-day-buck-pole-2.htmlDon't know if you can view this as a guest or not??
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Post by TolusD on Jan 26, 2017 14:09:55 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm really happy with how it shoots. The scope on this one is a Bushnell Trophy XLT 3-9x40 that I got on clearance online. So far it's been really nice for what I paid for it and they seem to have good reviews. The recoil pad is very soft for certain. I don't think I've ever had one this soft actually. Have you had a chance to take it out hunting at all? Bagged an 8 with it this year. Shot handloaded Barnes 130 TSX's. Probably a whole, whopping 30 yard shot!! Wow, where was that at?
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Post by omegahunter on Jan 26, 2017 14:32:13 GMT -5
I just edited my post with a link to another site with a couple pics.
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Post by TolusD on Jan 26, 2017 14:43:36 GMT -5
I just edited my post with a link to another site with a couple pics. It let me view it just fine. That's a nice one and a weird story about the bullet. My buddy collects .30-40 Krags and he's into reloading and has all the gear already so maybe I'll invest in some dies for the .308. I have a ton of brand new once fired brass from the sight in trip. I got a bunch of German MEN 7.62 NATO M80 spec to do sight in and range shooting with. The production stamps are from last year and the cases are gorgeous.
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Post by omegahunter on Jan 26, 2017 14:51:29 GMT -5
I just edited my post with a link to another site with a couple pics. It let me view it just fine. That's a nice one and a weird story about the bullet. My buddy collects .30-40 Krags and he's into reloading and has all the gear already so maybe I'll invest in some dies for the .308. I have a ton of brand new once fired brass from the sight in trip. I got a bunch of German MEN 7.62 NATO M80 spec to do sight in and range shooting with. The production stamps are from last year and the cases are gorgeous. You have the makings there for a hobby!!
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Post by davers on Jan 26, 2017 14:51:37 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm really happy with how it shoots. The scope on this one is a Bushnell Trophy XLT 3-9x40 that I got on clearance online. So far it's been really nice for what I paid for it and they seem to have good reviews. The recoil pad is very soft for certain. I don't think I've ever had one this soft actually. Have you had a chance to take it out hunting at all? Bagged an 8 with it this year. Shot handloaded Barnes 130 TSX's. Probably a whole, whopping 30 yard shot!! Post #12 www.go2gbo.com/forums/191-indiana/273407-opening-day-buck-pole-2.htmlDon't know if you can view this as a guest or not?? Jason, I harvested my Buck also with a .308, my hand loaded round where I used a Speer brand 150 gr. S.P.R.N since I hunted in heavy brush/woods. The Buck was some 60 yards from my stand, shot him he walked about 15 yards and piled-up. I've never used Barnes bullets, normally I stick with either Speer, Hornady, or Sierra Bullets. Use mainly IMR-4064 or WW-748 & Varget powders.
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Post by omegahunter on Jan 26, 2017 14:55:27 GMT -5
davers
I find that the Barnes bullets tend to have near zero bloodshot meat. One of my smoked racks of ribs had a pretty good hole in it, but was not bloodshot.
I am using IMR4895 for my .308.
I will be moving up to the 150's. I like them to leak from two holes!
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Post by davers on Jan 27, 2017 5:38:32 GMT -5
davers I find that the Barnes bullets tend to have near zero bloodshot meat. One of my smoked racks of ribs had a pretty good hole in it, but was not bloodshot. I am using IMR4895 for my .308. I will be moving up to the 150's. I like them to leak from two holes! I am assuming Barnes' Bullets are a bit harder constructed than say Hornadys' or Speers' bullets. The Buck I harvested this past fall, also had two bullet holes and no bloodshot meat. Bullet impact was in the Heart/lung area; I've found that Speers' 150 grain Round Nose Soft Point bullet to be ideal for woods or hunting in brushy areas where the range is < 75 yards. I use 44.0 grains of IMR-4064 with the Speer R.N. bullet. My Ruger M-77 Compact Magnum .308 has a rate of twist 1-10", haven't really tries any of the boat tailed bullets in it as my other .308 seems to prefer Sierras' 150 grain Soft Point Boat Tailed bullets using 45.0 grains of Varget. Its rate of twist is 1-12". The most destructive bullet, I've found, is a 130 grain .270 bullet, as if the Deer is shot under 100 yards there is bloodshot meat, thus when using my .270, I always try for a neck shot, and only use it for longer ranges out in my field > 200 yards.
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Post by omegahunter on Jan 27, 2017 8:54:43 GMT -5
The Barnes are monolithic copper, so quite a bit harder. But, thanks to engineers, the Barnes opens up very easily and creates quite a lot of internal damage.
I normally shoot their ttsx bullets in my .358 wssm, but got a good deal on an open box of tsx .308 bullets. My only complaint was not getting complete penetration at 25-30 yards with the 130 grain tsx's. Killed quick; he couldn't have been on his feet for 3 seconds after the shot.
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Post by omegahunter on Jan 27, 2017 9:08:45 GMT -5
Ruger American? What cartridge? Looks slick. Thanks, it's a .308. I got it for a song and it shoots really nice. It's extremely light though and the recoil got to me sighting it in. A couple of shots at deer isn't an issue at all but 20 rounds in a row got to be a little painful. You can add weight to the factory stock as well as using epoxy/bedding compound to stiffen the forend or get a Boyd's stock for it. It would just take a little bedding for the action lugs.
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