Build Thread Ruger American

slimmer13 · Sep 29, 2017

Not exactly a build, but this is the most customization I've ever done to a bolt gun, so I figured I'd show it off.

Picked up a RAP in 6.5 CM
Boyds Platinum stock w cheek riser in pepper
Warne steel 20 MOA base
Put a Harris notch leg swivel bipod
Topped with Vortex pro rings and Vortex Viper PST 4-16

I also bedded the V blocks in Devcon

Kind of alot of scratch in to it for a RAP, but I enjoy it.

Also curious if anyone has tried to inlet their own stocks for the PTG Ruger American bottom metal?

Ruger American Short Action (SA) Detach Mag Bottom Metal - Pacific Tool and Gauge

Should be a shooter

11Charlie · Sep 29, 2017

Love the stock.

slimmer13 · Sep 29, 2017

SKrueger said:
Love the stock.

Yeah you can definitely go overboard with the "build your own stock" option on the Boyds site with all the choices. With the cheek riser, it ended up being $229 I think.

11Charlie · Sep 29, 2017

slimer13 said:
Yeah you can definitely go overboard with the "build your own stock" option on the Boyds site with all the choices. With the cheek riser, it ended up being $229 I think.

I don't think thats to bad. Love the color and grain in the wood.

daved20319 · Oct 5, 2017

How was the stock fit to the action? I'm thinking seriously of doing my own "build" using a Boyd's stock, but around a Howa 1500 barreled action, and I'm curious as to how much final fitting was needed. Thanks.

Dave

slimmer13 · Oct 5, 2017

daved20319 said:
How was the stock fit to the action? I'm thinking seriously of doing my own "build" using a Boyd's stock, but around a Howa 1500 barreled action, and I'm curious as to how much final fitting was needed. Thanks.

Dave

The only issue was a slight amount of warping of the forend to the right so the edge of the barrel channel contacted the left side of the barrel. I considered straightening it in a clamp, then epoxying in a steel rod to hold it straight but ended up just sanding off a few thousands of the left side.

Other than that, good to go.

daved20319 · Oct 5, 2017

slimer13 said:
The only issue was a slight amount of warping of the forend to the right so the edge of the barrel channel contacted the left side of the barrel. I considered straightening it in a clamp, then epoxying in a steel rod to hold it straight but ended up just sanding off a few thousands of the left side.

Other than that, good to go.

Thanks for the info, nice looking rifle BTW. Later.

Dave

Portaledgepete · Oct 9, 2017

Your rifle looks great. I was thinking about getting a Boyd's for my RAR. Did it come set up for the V blocks or did you have to address that yourself?

slimmer13 · Oct 9, 2017

Yeah the notches are pre cut out and Boyds sends new blocks with the stock. They just slip right in the notches, so they recommend bedding them.

I used black Devcon, which worked great. I didn't really know what I was doing, so I just spread it all over the blocks as thick as I could, filling all the dead spaces. I used Vaseline as a release agent on the bottom of the receiver and the mounting screws. I ended up having to sand a couple spots where it oozed where it wasn't supposed to. All in all, it was pretty straightforward and turned out good.

Mooseknuckles · Oct 12, 2017

This almost exactly what I want to build for a nice little deer rifle. Really like your setup.
What did the overall weight end up coming out to?
Also what are you shooting out of it?

slimmer13 · Oct 12, 2017

I'm not sure what it weighs in at, I can throw it on a scale tomorrow.

I sighted it in with some factory ELDs. Im looking to do some load development, hopefully this weekend. I bought a few hundred 143 grn ELDXs. I just need to pick up some RL17 or maybe some H4350. I haven't decided.