Well, this is my first go at a review so no laughing.
As my main discipline is 1500, I have opted, like most people, to use a heavy barrelled Ruger. Although this is not the case for everyone, those that have a heavy barrelled gun will be able to relate to the fact that these guns are not really suited to speed shooting, which everyone will have a go at from time to time.
So, if like me you do more that just the 1500, have you thought about a second Ruger?
This is the conclusion that I have come too and, luckily for me, Essex police are into the promotion of shooting and have let me have an RFD for reviews for this website.
Also, thanks to Roger Francis for letting me have this short-barrelled Ruger for my first test and review.
Could this be what you're looking for?
Barrel:
Although this is a heavy Adams and Bennett premium match rifle barrel its length
is only twelve inches. It has been cut back to the minimum legal length, cut
to take a compensator and finished in all matching anodised black. This barrel
makes this gun very versatile to shoot at speed and has good pointability. So
Bianchi is covered nicely along with such shoots as practical and steel plates.
There is just enough weight to keep me happy, but it still has the speed to
shoot fast.![]()
Trigger:
It comes with a standard trigger unit worked on by Roger, which is certainly
better than the standard trigger that it comes with a new gun. If this is still
not to your liking, Roger does a range of trigger units to drop into your gun.
Although you can not buy them now, I use a Jewell. I always say the gun's only
as good as the trigger unit you put in it, so I put my Jewell in - sorry Roger.
With the trigger unit installed, off to the range.
Accuracy:
Sorry again, but resistance is futile as the Borg would say, 1500 accuracy creeping
in here. I had to take it to the range and see what it's got in the accuracy
department. Test groups shown were shot at fifty meters with CCI mini mag
standard plus
and Geco
.
I would have liked to put some of that new Eley Match through the gun but did
not have any at the time. As a side note, it shoots great with my Volquartsen.
Still, back to the groups. Not bad and as a 1500 shooter, they will keep me
happy.
Scope:
This Ruger came supplied with a scope. Not much you can say about scopes. It's
down to personal preference.
A 1.5 X 5 Whitetail scope is nice for the fast and furious with not too much
magnification so you're not looking at a target from two inches away which helps
with the speed and acquisition.
Stock:
There is a fibreglass-filled polymer dragunov stock with a removable spacer
in the butt. It has a clip on hand guard and is available for the factory or
.920" barrel.
Roger nearly did not get the stock back. It's very nice and as I like wood this
is saying something. Versatile springs to mind - it's ambidextrous and is suited
nicely to Bianchi Barricades and all those shoots that these match directors
like to insist on you shooting strong and weak shoulder.
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In action:
I've had this gun on test for six months and used it at Shield to good effect.
Also Basildon's 1500 & Bianchi shoot and for the first time got all 192
rounds off and got myself into X class which I have been trying to do for about
seven years.
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