Rifle was provided by Ruger for testing & evaluation. Ruger did not see the video prior to publication. No compensation was received. This is the unboxing / first-impressions video — live-fire range work is a separate follow-up.
Squat Squad — earlier in the week I’d already walked through the Gen 2 Ruger American launch, but I didn’t have a rifle in hand yet. This week I do. First Ruger American on my bench is the Gen 2 Ranch, and per the channel poll it’s chambered in 7.62×39.
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What’s in the box
Classic Ruger cardboard + foam — not a hard case. Inside: cable lock (smaller packaging than older Rugers), bolt, mag, manual, registration card (register for 20% off shop.ruger.com), sticker / NRA card, and the Ranch itself. Dealer verified contents; I hadn’t cracked the box before the camera rolled, so these really are cold first impressions.
Ranch Gen 2 walkaround
- 16-inch Ranch barrel (standards run ~20″; longer Predators / Go Wild configs exist for bigger cartridges)
- Spiral-fluted medium-heavy contour — sheds weight and adds surface area
- Black splattered polymer stock with spacer, cheek piece, and rubber buttpad
- More aggressive grip texture and a nicer palm swell than Gen 1 vibes
- Three-position safety: fire / safe-with-bolt-cycle / bolt-locked (big hunting win)
- ~70° bolt throw, fluted bolt handle, small-ish bolt knob I’d still upgrade later
- Picatinny scope base — same idea as before; verify it’s tight/torqued before you shoot
- Receiver marking: Mayodan, North Carolina (production moved from the older New Hampshire marking on Gen 1s I remembered)
- Feeds from Mini-30 magazines in 7.62×39 — I still want to try an AR-mag inlet later, since other chamberings (e.g. 6.5 Grendel) use AR mags
First hands-on feel
Bolt throw is noticeably smoother than the old “zipper” Gen 1 feel. There’s still some slop, but lockup feels more consistent. Length of pull with the spacer in felt a touch long for my 32–33″ sleeves — shorter shooters can pull the spacer. Extra cheek risers / spacers weren’t obvious in the box on camera; I’ll confirm that before calling it a downside.
Threaded muzzle is the plan for most of my range time — both subsonic and super 7.62×39 through a can. Handload interest: this chambering is often talked around .311, but Ruger’s aiming closer to ~.3105, so I’ll test both classic .311 bullets and tighter options when that follow-up lands.
What I’m chasing next
This video is not the accuracy test. Goals for the range series: honest 100-yard groups, then see how far a 16″ 7.62×39 Ranch will stretch (I’ve got ~750 yards handy; personal stretch goal is sniffing at 1,000). Context from an older stock Ruger American Predator in 6.5 Grendel: with a buddy on ballistics we connected out to about 1,550 yards on a small plate — 7.62×39 won’t be that efficient, but it’ll be fun to find the ceiling.
Also noted on camera: Gen 2 bolt geometry isn’t a drop-in for Gen 1 bolt parts, but chassis/stocks largely carry over. Aftermarket triggers can work, with the caveat that you typically lose the factory-style three-position safety (two-position behavior). Fine for target; hunters may care.
At the time of filming, Ruger was also lining up 6mm ARC and .22 ARC Americans for early 2024 — those were on the “get them too” list.
Bottom line
Cold unboxing of a Gen 2 Ranch in 7.62×39: smoother bolt, real three-position safety, spiral-fluted short barrel, and a property/deer-gun package that makes a lot of sense before a single round is fired. Watch the video for the full walkaround; range numbers come later.
Keep squatting.
Would you run the Ranch in 7.62×39, or wait for 6mm ARC / .22 ARC?
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