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I bought a Ruger American in 7.62x39 about 9 months ago. I wanted a training rifle for the kids that shot good and was cheap to feed. It's been an excellent shooter right out of the box and with x2 shots it took x2 deer last season with Barnaul 123gr soft point. (My dad taking his buck and mine a doe)
Pictured below is how the rifle was set up during hunting season, minus the cheek rest.
OpticsPlanet had a "TRYBE Defense" sale recently and I saw an aluminum chassis that fits the Ruger American for $300. It's significantly cheaper than any other chassis or stock, so I bit.
Testing-
I didn't weigh the rifle with original stock setup but with the barreled action on the chassis, feels slightly heavier. My setup with chassis is 11lb 8oz. That's scope, bipod and suppressor. It's heavy but not so much I would go back to the oem stock. The website says the chassis is 3.7lbs. My oem Ruger stock was 2.1lbs with cheek rest still on.
I did x3 4 shot groups with the oem stock, dropped it in the chassis and did x3 more 4 shot groups.
OEM stock- at 100yds off bench on a sled.
Barnaul 123gr SP 1.5in group
Wolf 123gr HP 1in group
Brown Bear 123gr HP 2.5in group
TRYBE Chassis- 100yds off bench on a sled.
Barnaul 123gr SP 3/4in group
Wolf 123gr HP 3/4in group
Brown Bear 123gr HP 1 3/4in group
Barnaul on left. Wolf on right.
The chassis its self is comfortable in the hand and simple in design. Easily adjustable length of pull with plates at the end of the stock. Multiple cheek pieces to get the right height for eye relief. The cheek rest is hard plastic. I'll probably stick on some 1/4in foam. The grip is basic and not great. It'll get replaced with the fat Ergo grip.
The bad news is the magazine. I figured the Ruger mags would work. I figured wrong. It looks like it takes a short action AI mag. I ordered one to test. Hopefully it feeds the 7.62x39, but I guess I'll find out soon.
Last note on the Ruger American 7.62x39… the bolt is horrendous. It chatters the whole time going forward. I'm going to try lapping it, but if you buy one, give the bolt a try in the store first. Even knowing the bolt sucks, I'd still buy this rifle again.
Pictured below is how the rifle was set up during hunting season, minus the cheek rest.
OpticsPlanet had a "TRYBE Defense" sale recently and I saw an aluminum chassis that fits the Ruger American for $300. It's significantly cheaper than any other chassis or stock, so I bit.
Testing-
I didn't weigh the rifle with original stock setup but with the barreled action on the chassis, feels slightly heavier. My setup with chassis is 11lb 8oz. That's scope, bipod and suppressor. It's heavy but not so much I would go back to the oem stock. The website says the chassis is 3.7lbs. My oem Ruger stock was 2.1lbs with cheek rest still on.
I did x3 4 shot groups with the oem stock, dropped it in the chassis and did x3 more 4 shot groups.
OEM stock- at 100yds off bench on a sled.
Barnaul 123gr SP 1.5in group
Wolf 123gr HP 1in group
Brown Bear 123gr HP 2.5in group
TRYBE Chassis- 100yds off bench on a sled.
Barnaul 123gr SP 3/4in group
Wolf 123gr HP 3/4in group
Brown Bear 123gr HP 1 3/4in group
Barnaul on left. Wolf on right.
The chassis its self is comfortable in the hand and simple in design. Easily adjustable length of pull with plates at the end of the stock. Multiple cheek pieces to get the right height for eye relief. The cheek rest is hard plastic. I'll probably stick on some 1/4in foam. The grip is basic and not great. It'll get replaced with the fat Ergo grip.
The bad news is the magazine. I figured the Ruger mags would work. I figured wrong. It looks like it takes a short action AI mag. I ordered one to test. Hopefully it feeds the 7.62x39, but I guess I'll find out soon.
Last note on the Ruger American 7.62x39… the bolt is horrendous. It chatters the whole time going forward. I'm going to try lapping it, but if you buy one, give the bolt a try in the store first. Even knowing the bolt sucks, I'd still buy this rifle again.