Rifle Shooter – July 2019

http://www.rifleshootermagazine.co.uk 101

Ruger American Predator with Phill Price FEATURE

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AMERICAN

DREAM?

Phill Price continues his quest for the every-man’s foxing rifle, trialling the Ruger

American Rifle Predator in .223 Remington

H

aving concluded that .223 was the ideal foxing

calibre for my needs, I started to look around for a

suitable rifle to launch it from. My attention was

drawn to the Ruger American Predator which looked

to me like an affordable real-world rifle, designed to survive

in the tough conditions of foxing in UK. The synthetic stock

and a matt metal finish should be able to be wiped down to

remove mud, blood and rain after a hard night behind the

lamp without too many worries about the rifle’s long-term

good looks.

I also liked the practical features, including a cocked

action indicator and a removable magazine. The mag gives a

clue about the intention of this rifle’s designers. The 10-shot

design has a follower that locks the bolt back to tell us when

the rifle is empty, which is vital for a ‘tactical’ gun, but is less

important for us hunters. The Moss Green synthetic stock

and matt metalwork also have the feel of a combat gun, but

both features work well for the hunter too.

Some other features feel much more ‘sporting’ to me, and

I particularly liked the safety, which sits naturally under the

thumb of the trigger hand to be disengaged just before the

shot is taken. I also appreciate little touches like sling swivel

studs fitted as standard.

I recieved the rifle fitted with an aluminium Weaver rail, a

B&T Tiger moderator, a pair of Leupold PRW2 mounts and a

VX.R 4-12x50 scope with its Fire Dot Duplex reticle. All in all,

I consider this a foxing rig that the man in the street might

choose. Sure, there are fancy custom jobs out there that

might perform better. Those of us who drive average family

saloons might dream of owning a Mclaren, but it ain’t never

goin’ to happen, so why bother thinking about it?

PICTURES:

PHILL PRICE

ABOVE: Unusually

for a hunting

rifle, the magazine

is a 10-shot

synthetic Magpul

BELOW: The moss

green stock and matt

metalwork give the

rifle a combat feel