Sixteen-inch .925 bull barrel, with target chamber and bore specs, beech sporter-type stock, and a clone of a Harris bipod. I temporarily liberated a scope from another rifle. Street price of $400 (less scope) was $100 less than deluxe models with 18" stainless barrels, and a more "target-type" laminated stock.
The stock will be the first thing to go, replaced by a Bell & Carlson Kevlar target/tactical stock optimized for firing from a rest. I also ordered a bunch of minor parts (extended bolt handle, oversized safety, plastic bolt buffer, etc.) that would be classified as a "comfort and convenience package" on a new car.
This will let me work out baseline accuracy without grinding my teeth a lot. The most important changes will come towards the end of the program, when I pick the scope that's most appropriate, and the proper bull barrel threaded for a suppressor, and with a 1-in-9 twist to handle the really heavy Aquila 60gr bullets. People who have already reached that destination say the Ruger is then capable of popping small varmints out to 300 yards, a worthy objective.
After applying a break-in treatment of Nanolube on the trigger mechanism, I found their "special target trigger" produced a remarkably consistent 5lb, 10oz pull. While a pull that weight is good for a plinker, I will feel better if I can cut it down at least by half along the way.
If you're a Ruger lawyer, I was just kidding about all that stuff. I read and follow every work in the manual, 90% of it outlined in red, warning of all the dire consequences of violating the other 10% of the manual devoted to operating the weapon.
With luck, tomorrow I'll be able to try out some standard, target, and subsonic brands as the break-in process starts.