Ruger American Ranch 5.56 Accessories

[u/Nathanbks18]

Hello 👋🏻

I recently purchased a Ruger American Ranch chambered in 5.56. I originally wanted a scout-style rifle, but I plan to set this one up more for longer-range shooting at the range, but I want to be able to shoot short distance as well. I don’t hunt — this rifle will be used strictly for range shooting.

I had a few questions:

1. Since the rifle accepts AR-15 magazines, which brands or models would you recommend that are reliable and easy to find?
2. For optics, I’m looking for the best value for the money. I’m used to Vortex optics, but I’m open to other suggestions if there are options with better clarity or performance for shooting at around 100 yards and beyond (I know it's a 16 inch barrel, so it might be difficult)
3. Are there any accessories or upgrades you would recommend to improve the rifle? I plan to try it with the factory stock first, but I’m interested in other additions that could make it a better range rifle.
4. Ammunition-wise, can the rifle safely shoot .223 Remington, or should it only be used with 5.56 NATO? Also, do you have any preferred ammunition that tends to perform well in this rifle?

Thank you for reading and for your advice!

[u/gnu_gai]

I've put together a copypasta for whenever the 5.56/.223 chamber question comes up, enjoy:

There are two relevant civilian bodies/methods (US and Euro+), and two military, as follows:

• Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI),
  
• Commission Internationale Permanente pour l'Epreuve des Armes à Feu Portatives (CIP) [founded by one of the Liège proofmasters to standardize European proofing]
  
• USAF SCATP
  
• NATO EPVAT

All four place the piezoelectric transducer in the chamber wall of the test barrel, however CIP and EPVAT drill a hole in the side of the cartridge case to measure the pressure, while SAAMI and SCATP rely on the pressure transmitted through the case as it expands, resulting in the American pressures appearing lower overall

.223 Remington is proof rated by the civilian bodies (SAAMI and CIP) for 380 MPa and 430 MPa respectively
5.56 NATO is proof rated by the military methods (SCATP and EPVAT) for *drumroll please* 380 MPa and 430 Mpa

TLDR: the proof pressures for the cartridges are identical. 5.56 factory loads are higher pressure \on average\***, but no factory load is going to be over the proof limits*

An additional thing to consider: some manufacturers are legally required to mark their civilian firearms with civilian chamberings, even if they are actually working to military chamber specs

The only functional difference between the cartridges and their respective chambers for shooting factory ammo out of a commercial barrel is that the 5.56 chamber spec is looser ahead of the case mouth, and has more freebore. This means a 5.56 barrel is inherently less accurate, but handles chamber gunk better

[u/Moist-Wolverine-8531 → u/gnu_gai]

👏

Good lord, thank you. 👍 The amount of BS on this topic (and .308 vs 7.62x51mm) is mind-boggling.