What’s Changed on the Gen II?
Ruger’s American Generation II launched in 2024 with a “bing, bang, boom,” as in three distinct model variants: Standard, Ranch, and Predator. Each is quickly identified with different color combinations, barrel lengths, and chamberings, yet in overall design and internal engineering, most features remain the same.
Starting with the aesthetic, the synthetic stocks are splatter-finished. There’s a user-adjustable trigger, spiral fluted barrel, and radial port muzzle brake. The rifle is fed by a detachable box magazine, with magazine style varying by chambering. The tang safety has long been a Ruger favorite, but it has now been upgraded to a three-position job, a clear sign the company has heard customers’ wishes.
All metalwork is finished with Cerakote. Both the comb height and length of pull can be customized with spacers. Ruger includes a factory-installed, one-piece Picatinny rail for optics mounting.
The bolt knob is oversized and the handle threaded for aftermarket knobs. The Gen II ships in a basic cardboard box, along with a set of sling swivels and one magazine. Retail pricing is set at $729 regardless of the model variant or chambering.
The Gen II Model Variants
Standard: Gun Metal Gray Cerakote. Dark Gray stock with black and light gray splatter. Mid-range 20-inch barrel with brake. Chamberings: 350 Legend, 400 Legend, 6mm ARC, 6.5 Grendel, 6mm Creed, 6.5 Creed, .308 Win, .223 Rem, 7mm-08 Rem, .243 Win, .450 Bushmaster, .204 Ruger, .30-06 Spfld, .270 Win, .300 Win Mag, 6.5 PRC, 7mm PRC, .22 ARC.
Ranch: Cobalt Cerakote. Flat Dark Earth stock with black splatter. Shorter 16-inch barrel with brake. Chamberings: 6mm ARC, 6.5 Grendel, 6.5 Creed, 5.56 NATO, 300 Blackout, 7.62x39, .450 Bushmaster, .308 Win, 350 Legend, 400 Legend, .22 ARC.
Predator: Burnt Bronze Cerakote. Green stock with black and bronze splatter. Longer 22-inch barrel with brake. Chamberings: 6.5 Creed, .308 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, .243 Win, 6mm Creed, .204 Ruger, .450 Bushmaster, 350 Legend, 400 Legend, .223 Rem, .22 ARC, 6mm ARC, 6.5 Grendel, .30-06 Spfld, .270 Win, .300 Win Mag, 6.5 PRC, 7mm PRC.
Our Test Rifle
We snagged a Standard model chambered in the light-recoiling yet surprisingly capable 7mm-08 Remington for testing. The 20-inch barrel is a heavier contour than we expected, but the deep relief spiral fluting keeps things light. The radial muzzle brake was factory installed on the threaded barrel, but no thread cap was included with our test gun, which is marked as being made in Mayodan, NC.
One of the first things we try is the trigger, which breaks cleanly at just over 5 pounds out of the box. Based purely on personal preference, I’ll likely adjust that down to the 3.5 to 4-pound mark, but that’s easily accomplished with Ruger’s setup, which is user-adjustable from 3 to 5 pounds.
Related Review: Ruger American Go Wild Rifle – 6.5 Creedmoor Bolt-Action Precision
Range Time
We headed for the range with a nice variety of ammunition from Hornady, Federal, and Fiocchi and a variety of bullet types and weights. The American Gen II, as with the majority of bolt actions these days, is built sans iron sights. We topped the rifle with a Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm optic for our 100-yard zero and accuracy testing.
As expected, most groups showed sub-MOA, an interesting fact since Ruger makes no such accuracy guarantees that we’ve seen. On the range, the Gen II proved itself intuitive, user-friendly, and more than practically accurate.
The single-stack magazine loads easily and feeds without a hitch. Though other chamberings likely use differing magazine types, our 7mm-08 mag sits roughly .75-inch extended beyond flush. The release, located just forward of the trigger guard, extends just a hair beyond the trigger guard.
We were pleased to find the magazine to lock very positively into the magwell without wiggle or rattle, whether empty or loaded. While no left-handed variants are yet listed at the time of this writing, we expect some eventually, as the original American could be had in southpaw.
Field Notes
We found much to admire, including the spiral fluted barrel tipped with a color-matched radial port brake. Ruger does not include a thread cap, though that’s really only a negative for shooters who dislike brakes or other muzzle devices.
We appreciate Ruger’s now clear lineup of model variants by name, color, and barrel length. What’s even better is that each carries the same MSRP. The list of chamberings is impressive, especially for a revamped firearm family that launched quite recently.
The three-position safety is a home run, with its positive operation and clearly visible system of white and red lines. Bolt throw is exceptionally smooth and free, with zero binding noted. The bolt body finish is rather nondescript given the eye-catching features elsewhere on the rifle, but one can’t argue with function.
The stock’s finish offers a useful amount of grippiness, while the contours fit well in the hand. We especially appreciate the customizable nature using inserts at both LOP and comb, but the fact that additional inserts are not included but must be purchased separately is a strike. While the goal is making the guns affordable to the masses, we’d gladly pay a bit more to have at least one more comb riser and shorter length spacer included. That’s not a dealbreaker by any means, though.
Ruger surprises many with another option available through its web store. The Gen II offers an aftermarket buttstock weight kit for those using heavier muzzle devices, with a goal of creating a balanced hunting rig. Ruger has put some serious thought into this gun, a major win especially considering this is the company's budget-level rifle. It’s built beyond its price range.
Conclusion
To be fair, there was really nothing wrong with the original American, itself a respected, accurate, affordable bolt gun. Yet, Ruger ups the ante with the Gen II, making an already good rifle undeniably better.
Now, there’s no going back. It’s too easy to fall for the mix of good looks, features, and customizable options available on the Gen II. Ruger has built another winner here, and especially given the price point, this one will be hard to beat.
