Ruger's Bargain American Rifle Compact: Review

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There is no shortage of bargain priced guns on the market, but if they don’t perform well, what’s the point? Sure, we’re all looking for a good deal, but that’s not simply a matter of cost. The real value comes from purchasing an affordable firearm that performs like a more expensive one. In the firearms industry, the name Ruger is synonymous with reliability and value. As a case in point, their American Rifle line delivers more than what you pay for.  The American Rifle spawned several variants, including the Ranch, Predator, Hunter, Vortex Crossfire II (scope included), Go Wild Camo, and the Compact, which is a much shorter and slightly lighter version of the standard model. The Compact is well suited for smaller shooters or anyone wearing bulky clothing. It’s also handier to wield when on the hunt. The Compact is available in .243 Win., 7mm-08 Rem., and 6.5 Creedmoor, in addition to the .308 Win. version I reviewed. Like the standard American Rifle, the Compact’s cold-hammer-forged barrel is made of alloy steel and features a 1:10 RH twist. The big difference is the Compact’s 18-inch barrel length, which is 4 inches shorter than the standard version. The stock is also shorter by 1.25 inch, giving the Compact a 36.75-inch overall length and a 12.5-inch length of pull. That’s 5.25 inches shorter in overall length and 1.25 inches shorter in length of pull as compared to the standard American Rifle. At 6 pounds, the Compact is lighter than the various standard model chamberings. Otherwise, the Compact is identical right down to the numbers on the price tag.

The American Rifle Compact features a black, lightweight, synthetic stock with a contoured forend that is grooved, providing an excellent gripping surface when shooting off-hand. These grooves, combined with well-located  serrations, facilitate a solid, comfortable grip. The butt of the stock is capped with a rubber pad to tame felt recoil, but having undergone a recent neck surgery, I wasn’t taking any chances. I erred on the side of caution and purchased a LimbSaver recoil pad for around $45. I’ve used LimbSavers before with very favorable results. I figured a 6-pound .308 chambered rifle would buck. I was right, but more on that later.  Ruger’s patented Power Bedding integral bedding block system contributes to the accuracy of the American Rifle by providing stability and rigidity. The Power Bedding perfectly situates the action within the receiver and free-floats the barrel.

The Ruger Marksman Adjustable Trigger is also conducive to accuracy, enabling the user to adjust the trigger pull weight to their preference between 3 and 5 pounds.  The American Rifle Compact runs on a 3-round, rotary style, flush-fit magazine. When loading the magazine, the rearmost portion is inserted first, then the front clicks into place. To remove, press the tab on the front of the magazine rearward and pull down. The one-piece, full body 3-lug bolt features a 70-degree throw, giving it plenty of scope clearance. Dual cams divide the cocking force for smooth and easy cycling even while maintaining a shoulder mount. The two-position tang safety is easily manipulated with either thumb. When the safety is pressed forward, it is disengaged. You’ll notice a red “F” for Fire. The safety was stiff enough to confirm positive engagement and disengagement without being so stiff that the rifle moves when switching it from Safe to Fire. The factory installed, one-piece Picatinny scope base makes for easy mounting. Topping the American Rifle Compact with a budget friendly scope like the Crimson Trace Hardline 4-16x42 MR1-MOA is a sensible option. With a MSRP of $430, you’re in just over $1,000 for rifle and scope, which is impressive, considering the quality you’re getting.

The trigger has a blade safety that must be depressed for the rifle to fire. The trigger was decent, with considerable take-up prior to the shot breaking. Regarding trigger pull weight, a lighter pull undoubtedly promotes accuracy. But, for testing, I decided to leave the trigger pull stock rather than lighten it up. The stock trigger pull on my rifle was 4 pounds, 3 ounces, according to my Lyman digital trigger pull gauge. It was consistent, with all five pulls measuring within 3 ounces of each other. Not bad, but when the trigger pull is nearly the same weight as the rifle, it’s challenging to pull the trigger without disrupting the alignment of the muzzle and subsequently sending rounds askew. While adjusting the trigger pull weight to 3 pounds may have enhanced accuracy, the rifle proved plenty accurate as is. I sat on a stool, behind a concrete bench, with the rifle propped on a bipod and rear bag rest. From 100 yards, I fired three three-shot groups with three different loads. I opted to fire three-shot groups rather than five because of the thin barrel profile, which tends to heat up quickly.

A hot barrel can compromise accuracy, but realistically, the American Rifle Compact is unlikely to be used to fire multiple rounds in rapid succession. On the contrary, it’s built for ease of carry, an accurate first shot, and follow-up shots if needed. In addition to the scored groups, I fired a couple three-shot groups with the barrel almost too hot to touch. Not surprisingly, those groups were nearly twice the size as the groups obtained with a cool or only a lukewarm barrel. Again, the American Rifle Compact isn’t designed for firing 60+ rounds in a single session. It’s intended to fire between 1 and 4 rounds at a time. For that purpose, the thin barrel profile suffices. My colleague, Alfredo Rico, put some rounds through the American Rifle Compact as well. When I watched him shoot, I was able to see just how much the rifle recoiled. Still, the recoil impulse wasn’t at all sharp or abusive to the shoulder thanks in part to the LimbSaver recoil pad.

More than a rubber cushion, the LimbSaver AirTech Precision-fit Recoil Pad is made for a variety of shotguns and rifles, including the American Rifle Compact. Atmospheric chambers produce uniform energy dissipation, and when combined with their proprietary NAVCOM (Noise and Vibration Control Material) technology, the pad dampens vibration and reduces felt recoil by up to 70 percent, according to LimbSaver. The non-slip surface and Anti Muzzle Jump technology ensure a stable shooting platform for improved target acquisition and more accurate follow-up shots.  The rifle didn’t cause any soreness or bruising, which I expected from firing so many rounds through such a lightweight .308. I wouldn’t want to put as many rounds as I did through the rifle without the LimbSaver. Nobody likes recoil, and it can be a real hindrance to accuracy, especially for newer shooters.

I also attached an adjustable Bradley cheek rest riser to the stock for added comfort and a more custom cheekweld. This will set you back about $115, but it’s a good investment that can be easily transferred to other rifle stocks. This combined with the LimbSaver make the American Rifle Compact that much more comfortable to shoot, and when accuracy is the goal, comfort matters. The American Rifle Compact produced an overall group size of 1.3 inch — not bad for a budget rifle! The best group was obtained with Federal 168-grain Match Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing BTHP and measured just .60 inch. That load also produced the best average at 1 inch. Hornady Match 168-grain V-MAX and Barnes VOR-TX 150-grain TTSX BT generated an average grouping of 1.4 inch and 1.5 inch, respectively. My law enforcement background includes SWAT and patrol, with my go-to firearms being pistols and ARs. I don’t own many bolt-action rifles, but I own the American Rifle Compact. It’s a rifle that’s easy on the wallet, easy to carry, and capable of bringing down any big game in North America when chambered in .308 Win. Its compact size and light weight make the American Rifle Compact right at home in heavily wooded areas and in close-quarter environments, where a longer rifle is apt to snag. Since it’s a Ruger, reliability is not in question. The biggest surprise for me was that this $600 rifle shot as well as many rifles I’ve shot that were twice as heavy and cost three times as much. When it comes to manufacturing lightweight, affordable, and accurate rifles, Ruger seems to have cracked the code. As the name implies, the American Rifle Compact is 100 percent American made. It’s deserving of a place in your bolt-gun collection, even if it’s the only one you own.

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