New Ruger in Hand(Massad Ayoob)

backwoodshome ^ | 11 June, 2009 | Massad Ayoob

[marktwain]

A few entries ago, you were promised that as soon as we got our hands on the latest new Ruger rifle, you’d hear back. Well, we muckled onto three or so of ‘em this past week, so here we go. As noted here earlier, the rifle is designated SR556, for Sturm, Ruger 5.56 millimeter. It takes standard AR15/M16 magazines, and comes with three of them, produced by Magpul, one of the best makers.

It’s the most “vendor-outsourced” firearm this company has ever assembled – really, pretty much everything but the barrel and barrel extension come from outside the factory – but it’s an AR15 clone, after all, and that’s the logical way to make one given the nature of the industry.

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Ruger’s switchover to “lean manufacturing” has changed the look of the factory dramatically in the last few years. SR556s were literally flowing off the production line.

But, enough of that: how does it SHOOT? The subtle feel of the mechanism as it cycles is different from your usual Stoner-type AR15, because the Ruger entry works of a piston design, specifically a proprietary two-piece piston. One of my fellow shooters said, “It feels like a whoosh, not a sproing.” That about describes it, even if it ain’t engineer terminology. My buddy Russ Lary threw a 6.5-20X variable power Leupold Tactical scope onto his T&E SR556, and cranked it all the way up. Twenty power magnification ain’t much for sophisticated bench rest shooters, but for us meat n’ potatoes riflemen, think “Hubble telescope with crosshairs.” At about 100 yards, he found sub-one-inch groups easy, with Match grade 69 grain and 77 grain loads from Black Hills Ammunition shooting the tightest.

[GBA]

Sounds like the Mini-14 is finally what it should have been all along. Well done Ruger!

[Spktyr]

Yeah, it only took them, what, forty years and one huge sellout of all gun owners to do it!

[Shooter 2.5]

I was commenting on the fact they fire every time.

[NTHockey]

Thanks, but I’ll keep my trust in the M-1 Garand. It too will fire every time, in all conditions AND what you hit, stays dead. Just ask anyone who has ever fired one, combat or range.

[Fee]

I classify the Mini-14 a carbine. It will hit a dog size target at 100 yards. Definitely not a sniper qualtiy carbine. Especially if you use high capacity mags. Barrel tends to heat up and flex.

[Spktyr]

Just FYI, here is a USA-made unit complete with all the modernizations - Picatinny rail on top, Magpul PRS stock, freefloat handguards over a 21" bull barrel, etc, etc. It's not mine, but it's an example of what you can get these days:

I'm going to model my 'new' FAL after that guy's FAL - most of those accessories are bolt on. :D

[Spktyr]

It would help if I could successfully add the picture. :P

[Spktyr]

One problem - BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGclackPIIIIIINNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!

[Spktyr]

The barrel whips under rapid fire of even 5 and 10 round mags. High-caps have little or nothing to do with it.

[edpc]

How long until they issue a recall as they did with the LCP and SR9?

[Noumenon]

The Free World’s Right Arm, as it has been called. I sure do like mine. It’s an Austrian StG 58 built on a DSA receiver.

Learn to use that sling. My last Appleseed taught me a whole new perspective on loop slings and hasty slings.

[Spktyr]

That’s not my rifle. I’m just starting to build up my L1A1 variant and right now it doesn’t have a sling mounted.

[barb-tex]

Now and then there comes along Mi’s and 1911’s and
BMG’s that are hard to replace.
barbra ann

[Mouton]

Wait till I tell my wife I “need” another rifle!

[barb-tex]

Now and then there comes along Mi’s and 1911’s and
BMG’s that are hard to replace.
barbra ann

[Deaf Smith]

After 24 years and only about 2k rounds, mine will now shoot MOA. Out of the box, it started out at 2" @100yrds. I knew right off to never heat it up and not to abuse the bore with excessive scrub'n. The break in period took about six years & 1k rounds. I now have confidence that it will always put a round behind the ear of a pig @200yrd if I use a good rest. Beyond that, the energy drops. As a result of the energy drop, we now have a three legged ‘yote running around the ranch that I knocked down @325 yrds but he didn't want to stay down.

I do note that my M1A tends to make them stay down.

[Redleg Duke]

Damn! The price is an issue!

[Noumenon]

You’ll want that sling. Just a simple canvas one with a quick-detach front. the reason for which you will discover if you haven’t already.

[KoRn]

Hard to beat a FNFAL! I used to have one, and I loved it.

I recently purchased a PTR91. It too seems to be a great battle rifle. It was awesome to see a brand new pristine HK91 type rifle, with all new American made parts. I almost hated to shoot it, until after I fired the first round. :p

[Armedanddangerous]

I want one bad, but not bad enough to spend $1995 for it when I can get a nice colt post ban police carbine for about a grand that has plenty of good features.