Thread: Brand new 308 Rugar American II not extracting and bolt it sometimes hard to close.

Seems like a common issue.

https://www.rugerforum.net/threads/r...oblems.422512/
https://www.rugerforum.net/threads/n...roblem.419870/
https://www.rugerforum.net/threads/r...issues.396114/

Will keep you guys updated if you are interested. Thanks for the help

That's good research @Sh3eep
Looks like you are on to it.
Yes, I'm interested in knowing how this gets sorted for you.

Thanks for posting the cases. Checks out, I dont see signs of excessive pressure.

It seems like the chamber might just be tight.

Ruger actions are generally pretty good quality and machinimg is accurate and of good quality.

Update:
Did some research and it seems that failure to extract an issue is with the Gen 2s, along with rough chambers. Some owners reports extraction issues with factory ammo. So it seems your experience is not isolated.

I hope the team at Gun City can get you sorted quick.

There's a longish thread this forum where I posted the same issue same rifle with a 7mm08.

The problem is well known across several forums/countries. It is caused by the small three lug bolt locking design not having the power to extract that a 2 lug more traditional design does. The 3 lug design is apparently to lessen bolt height lift to better install lower scopes which the bolt handle will still clear. As such the retailer, distributor, manufacturer chain (the chain)would not accept it as a "friday" gun or warranty issue. The effect is the same as overcharging to produce pressure causing bolt lockup even tho you are well within the pressure capabilities of the rifle overall design and published load data for the round. Other current cheap mass-produced rifles have a similar design but don't seem to report the same issue. Problematic for Ruger tho. In short, any factor that drives pressure above a certain threshold FOR A PARTICULAR RIFLE will cause extraction issues.

The solution in our case and likely all others was to first revisit FL sizing to ensure correct shoulder bump, Case Trim Length. C.O.L. etc. Then to incrementally download the round until the problem disappeared. The owner of the rifle I worked the load for is now shooting over a grain under max, about 200fps slower, very accurately. No bolt extraction issues and plenty of deer being reliably shot - for him. A tricky resolution however if you shoot factory and don't reload. Some rifles have the issue with off the shelf factory ammo which points to a powder charge pressure issue. Some with handloads only. Which means the chain will always (correctly so for most) blame the handloads rather than the design.

The other issue with the rifle the chain is not interested in resolving is the magazine. As supplied new his fails to feed occasionally and unpredictabley the 2nd or 3rd round. More often the 4th. He is about to buy another mag in the hopes of getting a "good" one.

Moral is, buy anything other than a Ruger American. Although I do love my Ruger American Ranch II in 5.56mm which has no issues at all.

Take it back and tell them you want a replacement, not your problem to fix. Good luck.

yes they need to sort it remember the law about fit for purpose and claims court if they get whiffy

NIOA are now the NZ agent for Ruger, been removed from Furley's who held it since day 1. If GC don't sort to your satisfaction contact NIOA, DON'T get anyone else to attempt to sort otherwise you leave yourself wide open for warranty claim.

NIOA have a reputation for service.

I dropped it off to Gun City today, they are going to look at it. Hopefully doesn't take too long, if they say it's a long wait i'm going to ask just for a replacement.

Originally Posted by Jhon

Moral is, buy anything other than a Ruger American. .

I understand where your coming from (I would probably be a bit sour if I bought a new rifle and it shit itself so quickly)but if we applied that to all the mass produced rifles today then we would all be shooting Tikkas ......and I'm sure they have the odd comeback....
what a boring forum we would have .....the most important thing is that (hopefully ) they stand by their product and hand over a new replacement and continue to do that till the customer is happy
I have a mate that has one of those s/s Ruger m77 things from about 15 years ago took him a long time to get the bolt running smoothly that was a mauser style action his father has an earlier 243 with the tang safety and thats seen some action and is still reliable.....

Originally Posted by Sh3eep

I dropped it off to Gun City today, they are going to look at it. Hopefully doesn't take too long, if they say it's a long wait i'm going to ask just for a replacement.

Make sure you check it all over before you leave the shop if they say they say they have fixed it. If its still not right i wouldn't be leaving without a replacement.

Originally Posted by scotty

I understand where your coming from (I would probably be a bit sour if I bought a new rifle and it shit itself so quickly)but if we applied that to all the mass produced rifles today then we would all be shooting Tikkas ......and I'm sure they have the odd comeback....
what a boring forum we would have .....the most important thing is that (hopefully ) they stand by their product and hand over a new replacement and continue to do that till the customer is happy
I have a mate that has one of those s/s Ruger m77 things from about 15 years ago took him a long time to get the bolt running smoothly that was a mauser style action his father has an earlier 243 with the tang safety and thats seen some action and is still reliable.....

I have a tool manufacturing background and i struggle to understand how a manufacturer that utilizes state of the art (i.e. technologies that have been around now for at least 10 to 20 years) cnc machining technologies would fuck up something as trivial as a chamber on a mass produced bolt action receiver.

theres plenty rifle manufacturers nowadays that have upgraded their manufacturing to what was essentially state of the art sometime around 2010. Sako/Tikka just appeared to have done it a bit earlier which is why they managed to build up their well deserved reputation. But there are quite a few of them nowadays.

The "big" american manufactuers seem to have been stuck in the 60s... And if they cant even reliably manufacture chambers I wouldnt want those guns in front of my face while they are containing 62000 PSI.

My one in creed is a little tight, scratches brass a little bit. One time I put a reload in and it felt tight before lock up so I pulled the bolt back and the round was left stuck in there about 5mm out. Couldn't pull it out myself, it was actually pretty intimidating having a live round stuck in there. Had to make the decision to fully lock the bolt and that let the claws grip it well and pull it out.
I assumed my reloaded case shoulder wasn't bumped back enough so out some factory ammo in and had a similar feeling. But I've ran ammo through it now a few times and it's working well, I'm thinking there might have been a burr in there.
Taken to gunsmith and he said it feels ok and the strong ejector pin that needs compressed before the extractor claws can engage adds to the feeling.

So maybe they're all a little tight and your one is just over the threshold of causing a problem

Just picked the rifle up from Guncity, they could not reproduce the issue trying it with 6 different rounds. I bought and tried some snapcaps and worked just fine. I purchased different rounds to try that are not Sako and will see how it goes. Bit weird that if it's the case, that one round would have this issue?

Originally Posted by Sh3eep

Just picked the rifle up from Guncity, they could not reproduce the issue trying it with 6 different rounds. I bought and tried some snapcaps and worked just fine. I purchased different rounds to try that are not Sako and will see how it goes. Bit weird that if it's the case, that one round would have this issue?

Mmmm i would have just shown them the video you put up here of the issue and said i am not leaving without a replacement. I feel you will be having these issues over and over. But for your sake hope i am wrong. good luck.