First introduced back in 2012, the Ruger American rifle was well received as a high-performing and affordable hunting rifle. Indeed, the bolt-action rifle has been so successful that Ruger has continually developed different versions of the rifle ever since then like the Ruger American Compact, Magnum, and Ranch models.
Heck, Ruger even produces a rimfire model as well.
But one of the variants of the Ruger American that really stood out and is regarded as one the most iconic and effective rifles for its pursuit, is the model designed specifically with the avid predator and varmint hunter in mind: the Ruger American Predator.
The same detail oriented, quality standard that went into the original Ruger American is reflected in this model. Features such as the adjustable trigger, the detachable rotary magazine, a tang safety, a soft rubber buttpad, and of course, Ruger's patented Power Bedding System. However, there were several modifications and upgrades made to this model to better suit the needs of predator hunters.
One of the biggest and most obvious changes is the caliber options available. The standard Ruger American was primarily designed with the big game hunter in mind, thus was only offered in calibers fit for big game animals. The Predator is chambered for smaller caliber options, which are far more popular amongst varmint and predator hunters.
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Ruger currently manufactures the Ruger American Predator in .204 Ruger, .223 Remington, .22-250 Remington, .243 Winchester, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Grendel, 6.5 Creedmoor, and .308 Winchester in a right-handed version. Ruger also offers the rifle in a left-handed version chambered in .243 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08 Remington, and .308 Winchester.
Second, while both rifles have a cold hammer forged barrel, some Ruger American Predator models have a shorter barrel length (18" vs 22") and overall length than the standard American rifle. The Predator rifle also features a threaded barrel to accommodate a suppressor or a muzzle brake (which the standard model lacks).
All American Predator models also have a heavier taper barrel, which slightly increases the overall weight of the rifle. With a weight of around 6.5 pounds, it's still a relatively lightweight rifle though.
On top of all that, the Ruger American Predator features a one piece piccadilly scope rail, with a moss green synthetic stock. All things considered, the Ruger American Predator is a great rifle for its primary intended use of varmint and predator hunting. However, it's not limited just to predators and many hunters use it for deer and other big game hunting as well.
While the Predator is at a slightly higher price point than the standard American Rifle, retailing roughly $40 to $50 higher, it is still much less expensive than several of its competitors in the same class, and also outperforms many of those. For the price of this gun, it is quite impressive how accurate and consistent it performs, especially at long range.
Still, this rifle was designed for a very specific hunter in mind. For those predator enthusiasts who are looking for a high end competition or a highly technical precision hunting rifle, consider the Ruger Precision Rifle or the Hawkeye FTW Hunter rifle. However, if you want a rifle without a lot of bells and whistles that will still get the job done without breaking the bank, then the Ruger American Predator might be the perfect rifle for you.
