30-06 Ruger American vs Winchester XPR

[Double Dropper]

Looking at a lightweight 30-06 bolt gun and I like both if these, Have a BAR and a Rem 7600 in 30-06 tones of brass and reloading goodies, normally shoot a 300 Win mag ( have a couple ) but would like potentially to go back to the 06, thoughts on these two rifles?

1. no I don't want another caliber
2. no don't want to spend a $1000, want to put the money into optics.
3. Yes love the 06. 165 grain bullets @ 2950 are killers.
4. will be used for Whiteys and elk.
5. no I don't want a tikka
6. please stick to the two rifles please.

[700-223]

Have a ruger American rimfire. Pretty pleased with it. 17 hmr, total tack driver and trigger is surprisingly good. Have a Ruger 10/22 as well and am a fan of the manufacturer in general. Magazines are cheap and widely available, all of reviews I've ever read on it are positive. Have handled them a bunch, only handled a xpr once but didn't like it's feel or look as much.

I don't know how the price compares, but unless the winchesters > $100 cheaper I'd go with the ruger for sure.

Other thing about my ruger American rimfire... It's good practice for my tikka 243

[Koschenk]

Never tried out the Winchester but my buddy runs the Ruger in a 308 and it's real accurate and feels good.

[Okotokian]

Shot neither, but for your reading pleasure...

http://www.fieldandstream.com/articl...&lnk=read-more

http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/...fle?page=0%2C0

I like/trust Petzal and he likes them both. I'd choose whichever one you like to look at or feels good shouldering.

[Scottmisfits]

I've had two Americans and I enjoyed them both. I had a 30-06 and a 22-250. The 30-06 liked the Federal blue box and the 22-250 likes Winchester Super X.

[Huntsman]

I picked up an XPR before Xmas for a good deal at WSS,
It's the promo model which came with bases, rings and spare mag. It shares similar characteristics as the A-Bolt. So for I like it a lot and it shoots pretty darn accurate with my reloads and even surprised me when I shot a 5 shot group at 300yds with Winchester factory 180gr Silvertips. I handled the American and didn't like the stock, it felt flimsy and narrow.
It's no model 70 but I think I made a good purchase on a synthetic stocked bolt action hunting rifle for under $600.



300yard group, last two shots were flyers!

[700-223]

Originally Posted by Okotokian

Shot neither, but for your reading pleasure...

http://www.fieldandstream.com/articl...&lnk=read-more

http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/...fle?page=0%2C0

I like/trust Petzal and he likes them both. I'd choose whichever one you like to look at or feels good shouldering.

Interesting - sounds like you can't go wrong with either! Go with the one that feels better to you I'd say.

[Double Dropper]

Cool unfortunately I put no stock in magazine article, anybody can use google lol, just looking for opinions from others who have tried these or have friends who have tested. Thanks

[bigwolf]

I bought a Ruger American 270 3 years ago. It will shoot sub moa with 150gr fusions all day long. Going to to try hornady superformance this weekend.Great Trigger and I really like the bolt and clip compared to other value rifles.

It works great, feels great and is a tac driver. Awesome value.

[Double Dropper]

It kind of surprises me a bit, I just read an article on a rifle I was looking to purchase in a reputable magazine, it was a Browning Hells Canyon Speed in 7mm Rem Mag. What surprised me was the grouping with factory loads and the handloads, heres a premium rifle, fatter barrel, muzzle brake etc. and groups averaged around 1.5 inches. Gents with the new Ruger American and the new Winchester are getting some very decent average groupings ( around 1 inch ) seem happy with the rifles and the triggers. Its a basic stock, fat bolt, 3-lug, plastic clip, and a decent trigger and viola! for $620.00 Canadian.

[brewster29]

Last year I bought a Ruger American compact in 7-08 for my daughter. It is surprisingly accurate. Weight was 5-13 and it comes in well under 7 lbs with scope, rings and sling. Trigger is very good. Stock is not quite as rigid as Tikka, but miles ahead of Savage axis. Metal finish is decent, bolt is smooth enough as well. Recoil pad is excellent. I found it for $450, but I see they are now a lot more expensive due to our low dollar. All in all it is a decent rifle and I normally don't like entry level firearms!
If you are looking at paying in the $600 range I think you could find a used T3...which is absolutely a better rifle.

[Double Dropper]

Thanks Brewster, but no I have not seen a Tikka in 06 for 600.00 $$ secondly, don't like them lol.

[heybert]

Picked Up a Ruger American in 30-06 from Scotmisfits last year. Have it as a back up and it shoots better than me. Anyway, great rifle and if you want, it's no tax and free ship at Prophet river at the moment.

[Nyksta]

Ruger American 3/5

Winchester XPR 4/5

The XPR two position safety locks the bolt closed on safe with an additional release button to open the bolt.

The ruger american has a 2 position safety and no button. The Ruger American Safety does not lock the bolt down. I don't like that design, the bolt should be able to be secured from opening for if you are slinging the rifle or something.

Both have 3 lug bolts for shorter bolt opening and better scope clearance which is a nice feature.

The Ruger American Magazine is flush with the rifle and releases nicely with the button on the magazine.

I dont like the way the XPR single stack magazines stick out the bottom of the rifle, but someone else may not care about that.

Between these two rifles, my vote would go to the Winchester XPR due to the ruger safety design lacking the feature to lock the bolt closed. But if I would buy one, I know I would eventually have a desire for something just a tad smoother and streamlined and wish I would have spent the extra $300 on an Browning X-bolt or Tikka T3. Which between those two, my vote is the Browning X-Bolt.

[p3t3rsn]

Ruger American for me.

Bought one for my son and it's a great rifle, more and more impressed with it every time we use it. Sometimes makes me wonder why I spend so much more money on customs. Rifle balances well, shoots far better than it should for the price point and I have even heard rumours that an American gunsmith is going to start offering drop in stocks for it.

[Scottmisfits]

Can already get a Boyds stock for the American.

[100zero]

2 family members of mine work in the hunting outdoors industry. We actually had this conversation yesterday. They both don't like the XPR and both are having a hard time selling them. I have no experience with the XPR but I do have the Ruger American Predator (the version with the green stock) I bought it cause it was a good price and had a extra scope at home. I'm super happy with it. It's accurate, light and has a nice trigger. For the prices it's great. Are there better rifles for a couple hundred more? Yes. But I have full confidence that a decent shooter can make a kill shot out to 400 no problem.


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[sns2]

Originally Posted by p3t3rsn

Ruger American for me.

Bought one for my son and it's a great rifle, more and more impressed with it every time we use it. Sometimes makes me wonder why I spend so much more money on customs. Rifle balances well, shoots far better than it should for the price point and I have even heard rumours that an American gunsmith is going to start offering drop in stocks for it.

Isn't that the truth!

[gtr]

Originally Posted by 700-223

Interesting - sounds like you can't go wrong with either! Go with the one that feels better to you I'd say.

That sounds like good advise to me.

[Double Dropper]

I think they are both pretty close hmmmmm like the thoughts back and forth for sure. May have to go and play with these two to see which one feels better!

[brewster29]

Prophet River has the Americans for $549, no tax and free shipping right now...

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by Double Dropper

Cool unfortunately I put no stock in magazine article, anybody can use google lol, ...

Originally Posted by Double Dropper

It kind of surprises me a bit, I just read an article on a rifle I was looking to purchase in a reputable magazine...

Gee whiz. You could simply have said "thanks for your input", or said nothing, and moved on.

[agentsmith]

Also check out the Weatherby Vanguard S2 Synthetic, which I bought in 30-06. I was also looking at the Ruger American at the time, and while it seemed significantly more solid and higher quality than the junky feeling Savage Axis, the Vanguard felt like another step up again.

But the Vanguard does cost more. I caught a clearance sale, but they're $700-ish now, while Cabela's has the Ruger packaged with a Vortex scope for $750. That's probably the best budget rifle deal going, considering the Savage Axis II is only $150 less with a garbage scope.

[Unregistered user]

This Canadian company makes drop-in custom barrels for the American.

https://www.jccustombarrels.com/ Could be helpful.

[Double Dropper]

Well dropped the hammer, was in Bashaw Sports on my way to a meeting and they had a Winchester XPR....$499.00 couldn't pass that up. Went home later, gave it a quick clean and mounted a fresh Bushnell 3200 been sitting in the box doin nothing, bore sited and grabbed 4 rounds of factory ( Remington 165s) and shot a nice touching group at 70 yards ( backyard range ) impressed, Hell yes! trigger is ok very crisp about 3.5 pounds.

[Huntsman]

Enjoy your XPR. Did it come with bases/rings and spare mag?

[Double Dropper]

Yes 2 mags and bases and rings

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[Huntsman]

Good deal!!
That's close to $100 cheaper than what I paid at WSS.

[Double Dropper]

Shot it yesterday after a trigger adjustment, shoots decent still, better than my Weatherby Vanguard, magazine is a bit hokey, but it works, tried a variety of handloaded and factory loads, will eventually have to find a nice"lightweight" stock for it.

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[Scottmisfits]

What about it is better than your Vangaurd? Is it an S1 or an S2? My son has an S2 and we both like it quite a bit.