The Ruger American has a
receiver made from
4140 chrome-molybar stock and a hammer-forged
barrel with a
bluedblack oxide finish, mounted onto a
polymer compositestock. Some models are also available in a stainless steel variant. Rather than using a traditional recoil lug, the rifle's
barrelled action is secured in the stock by a
bedding system known as "Power Bedding®", which uses two V-shaped steel action blocks that wedge the receiver firmly in place to prevent lateral shifts and also serve as recoil lugs. Because the front and back action screws are fastened through the centers of the action blocks, the blocks also functionally act as
pillar beddings and allows the barrel to be
free-floated.
The rifle feeds cartridges into the
chamber from a proprietary detachable
rotary magazine via a
push feed mechanism employing dual cocking cams on the stainless steel
bolt, which has three locking lugs allowing for a smaller 70° throw angle of the
bolt handle. The trademarked "Ruger Marksman Adjustable™"
trigger is a functionally two-stage trigger similar in design to the
SavageAccuTrigger, which allows the user to adjust the weight of pull between 3–5
lb (1.4–2.3
kg) by means of a
set screw on the trigger housing.[2] The rifle comes with a
tang-mounted
safety.[3]
Models
Generation I
Standard: 22
in (560
mm)
alloy steel sporter barrel, with an overall length of 42 in (1,100 mm) for short-action or 42.5 inches (1,080 mm) for long-action cartridges.
Compact: 18 in (460 mm) alloy steel sporter barrel, shorter
length of pull than the standard model, with an overall length of 36.75 in (933 mm), and chambered for short-action cartridges only.
Predator:
varmint/
target model with an 18 in (
.308 Win only) or 22 in (560 mm) threaded alloy steel (stainless option available for
6.5 Creedmoor) Medium Palma barrel, with an overall length of 38 in (970 mm) or 42 in (1,100 mm), and comes with factory Weaver rail installed.
STANAG magazines are found on the Predator versions with model numbers 26922 (
6.5 mm Grendel) and 26944 (
.223 Rem).
AICS style magazines are found on the Predator versions with model numbers # 26948 (6 mm Creedmoor), # 26971 (
.204 Ruger), 26972 (
.243 Win), # 26973 (
6.5 mm Creedmoor), # 26974 (
.308 Win) and # 36902 (
.350 Legend).
Ruger American Ranch version in 5.56 Nato with sound forwarder at the muzzle.Ranch: short-barrel
carbine version of the Predator model with a 16.12 in (409 mm) threaded alloy steel Medium Palma barrel, with an overall length of 36 in (910 mm), chambered for
5.56 NATO/
.223 Rem (Model # 6965),
.300 Blackout (# 6968),
.450 Bushmaster (# 16950 and # 16978),
.350 Legend and
7.62 Soviet cartridges (# 16976), and comes with factory
Weaver or
Picatinny rail installed. In early 2018, Ruger introduced variant models for the 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem (# 26965) and .300 Blackout (# 26968) that accept
STANAG magazines.
Go Wild: This version offers a threaded barrel protected with a bronze colored cerakote finish screwed to a camo pattern stock. The rifle is offered in a series of cartridge options ranging from straight walled such as the
350 legend and the
450 Bushmaster up bottle necked cartridges such as the
.243 Winchester,
25-06 Remington, 6.5 PRC, 7mm PRC and
300 Winchester Magnum.
Generation II
Introduced by 2023 Christmas Eve, Ruger's 2nd Generation features a 20 inch fluted barrel with 5/8"-24 (Standard model) and 1/2"-28 (Ranch) barrel threading for muzzle devices, an ergonomic stock allowing the shooter to easily adjust the stock's height and length, and a replaceable bolt handle. While still maintaining the shotgun safety, this is now a three position.[4] As of January 2024, Ruger has 2 variations of the Generation II:
Standard: 20 in (508) alloy steel sporter barrel, with an overall length of 41.25 in (1073.15 mm) for both long and short-action cartridges. Offered in the same calibers as the Generation I American Standard.
Ranch: 16.10" (408.94 mm) short-barrel barrel version of the Standard Generation II. It is available in the same calibers as the Generation I American Ranch.[note 1]
^As of January 2024, some calibers for the Generation II Ranch Model are not available. These are: .350 Legend, .400 Legend, .22 ARC, 6mm ARC, 6.5 Grendel, and 6.5 Creedmoor.
