Rather than using a traditional flat lug to transmit recoil, the rifle's barrelled action is secured into the stock via a proprietarybedding system known as "Power Bedding®". The design uses two steel action blocks each with a pair of V-shaped recoil lugs that fit onto reciprocal slots on the barrel base, which wedge the receiver firmly in place to prevent lateral shifts when screwed tight. Because the front and back action screws are fastened through the centers of the action blocks, the blocks also function as pillar beddings that negate potential compressivedeformations that can happen to wooden and polymer stocks due to temperature change or moisture.
The Ruger American Rifle is the first to use the trademarked "Ruger Marksman Adjustable™" trigger, which is similar in design to the Savage "AccuTrigger" and allows the user to adjust the weight of pull between 3–5 lb (1.4–2.3 kg) by means of turning a set screw on the trigger housing.[2] The trigger mechanism itself is actually single-stage, but an integrated safety blade (similar to those on Glock pistols) has to be fully depressed first before the main trigger can be unlocked and pulled, thus preventing accidental discharges, and the spring tension of the safety blade functionally creates a "pre-travel" feel that mimic a two-stage trigger, allowing the shooter to exercise a much smoother and comfortable trigger pull. The rifle also comes with a separate tang-mounted safety.[3]
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.
Introduced on Christmas Eve, 2023, Ruger's 2nd Generation Ruger American Rifles feature a 20 in (510 mm) fluted barrel with 5/8"-24 (Standard model) or 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-style tang safety, this is now a three-position.[4] As of January 2024, Ruger has 2 variations of the Generation II:
Standard: 20 inches (510 mm) 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: 16.12 inches (409 mm) barrel carbine version of the Standard models. 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.
