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Posted: 6/23/2023 10:36:55 PM EDT
[Last Edit: azdover][Edited]
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I wanted a bolt action that used the same ammo and mags as my ARs plus something with a folding stock. After finding a Ruger American Ranch 556, out came the plastic and I started a search for a folding stock or chassis. I decided to buy a Sharps Bros Heatseeker chassis, a Matador Arms Sidewinder folding adapter, and Phase 5 mini stock. I finished it off with extra AR pieces from my parts box. I then added a Primary Arms Slx 3x microprism in an ADM ACOG QD mount. I stumbled across some Griffin Armament M2 sights for backups on a LGS sale wall for $80. One of the reasons I picked the Heatseeker was the forend. Using a short MLOK rail at 12 o'clock I had a place to mount a backup front sight that was in the same plane as the receiver rail. The rear sight might look a little weird placed in front of the microprism, but I put it there since the Primary Arms has such a short eye relief. Still, even with only a 3 power scope at 100 yards, I can regularly get 2" groups with an occasional 1" group of a concrete bench and bipod with IMI 77gr Razorcore 556. When folded, the RAR just squeezes into a Bulldog Ultra Compact bag that fits nicely behind the backseat of my truck. This setup might not exactly meet the definition of a cheap truck gun, but it works for me. Plus I've got to spend it before The Boss wastes all the money on more living room furniture.    
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| If Ruger was smart they would have done a lightweight chassis gun already. They could do something similar to the Fix or Cross and have a killer on their hands. |
BikerNut:
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
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Originally Posted By ALASKANFIRE: If Ruger was smart they would have done a lightweight chassis gun already. They could do something similar to the Fix or Cross and have a killer on their hands. Sometimes it's just as well to let an aftermarket build up around your product - did really well for the Mk 2. |
Death to quislings.
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Originally Posted By backbencher: Sometimes it's just as well to let an aftermarket build up around your product - did really well for the Mk 2. Originally Posted By backbencher: Originally Posted By ALASKANFIRE: If Ruger was smart they would have done a lightweight chassis gun already. They could do something similar to the Fix or Cross and have a killer on their hands. Sometimes it's just as well to let an aftermarket build up around your product - did really well for the Mk 2. Maybe maybe not. Ruger did a ton of variants of the MK gun. For something like a chassis it's so much easier for an OEM to make it affordably. |
BikerNut:
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
Nice rifle OP, looks great. I did something similar with my ranch in 300 blk. Indian creek designs chassis, grey birch mfg folding stock, barrel will be chopped soon  Attached File |
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Originally Posted By Regularassjoe: Nice rifle OP, looks great. I did something similar with my ranch in 300 blk. Indian creek designs chassis, grey birch mfg folding stock, barrel will be chopped soon https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/493272/31318D8C-9A63-4A11-987D-EFB13B3CDBD5_jpe-2862052.JPG I really like the Indian Creek Designs Chassis for the Ruger American Ranch. I've bought two of them. One was a 556 that I rebarreled to a 300 HAM'R, and the other I plan to cut down for an 8" 300 blackout. The Grey Birch Mfg stock looks nice, but the 1913 interface is very flimsy. If you pamper it, it will work. If you ever hit it at an angle while extended, for whatever reason, it will probably break. On one of them I used the Indian Creek Designs folder, with a Luth-AR MBA-3 stock. For the other, I used a 1913 interface that screws in where the buffer tube goes https://engineeredsilence.com/product/picrailbuffer/ and a stock made for the Sig MCX. |
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My rifle might have been an answer in search of a question, but it was an interesting exercise and might be useable in some situations where a regular AR carbine can't be used or allowed. An A Team style Mini 14 style with a folding wire stock would have been cool. Unfortunately no one makes one. I considered the Indian Creek and MDT and they both looked pretty good. But I picked the Sharpes Bros chassis based on the wrap around hand guard. Like I mentioned in my original post, I wanted a way to mount a front sight. I also found out while shooting the rifle off hand, the barrel starited to get a little warm when I touched the uncovered part of the barrel after a couple of mags. Not as hot as a regular AR after some mag dumps but still uncomfortable. I've taken a couple of basic AR classes in the past and would like to try a one with my Ruger just to compare the two. Ergonomically, Stoner and Colt did a good job when they developed the AR. While my Ruger uses AR mags and ammo, it's got a number of disadvantages besides the most obvious - bolt action versus semiautomatic. Still, it might show if it could be used in place of an AR if it had to be. |
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