Ruger SFAR - Come on Ruger... QC Needs to Improve

[@guardianminifarm8005]

Appreciate the vid and attitude. I am pleased with mine. Only 1 or maybe 2 failures to feed with proper ammo. As a reloader I hit pressure with a few that were too hit for gas system. So those couple failures to function are on me. Mine is MOA to 1.5" MOA with most of what I run so far. M80, standard Winchester Power Point, a variety of match and hunting handloads.

[@exxonv1719]

I'm a reloader as well, this baby is sweet, gas key came loose, but guessing it'll be fine now. Taking her out soon to see, with a long range optic to test accuracy. The 1 x 8 LVPO is nice, but I'll try a 5-25x56 to see how accurate the is with 150 grain and 168 grain hand loads. Video should be up in the next week or so.

[@guardianminifarm8005]

@@exxonv1719 Look forward to your results. My 155 Nos. BTHP Match with Varget a bit under max gives great groups. 2 165 BTSP(Horn & Speer)are really impressive with a variety of powders(Varget, Staball Match and H4895) all right around MOA 5 shot groups. My 13 year old is hunting with the Varget Horn loading this year. Thank you.

[@exxonv1719]

Sweet! I am working on the video - great results despite a windy day (very windy) - the H335 and 150 grain Hornady FMJs did great, the 175 grain SIE 2nds did well with Ramshot Tac, as did the 150 grain Hornady FMJs, but the 5-25x56 Cabela's optic was not all that big a difference from the Primary Arms 1x8 LVPO... I hope your son tags out! We were only able to pull Elk this year - no mule deer or pronghorn, but my son bagged a sweet buck pronghorn last year at 400 yards with his 300 Win Mag (yeah, way over powered) - that's some good eating!!!

[@charlescox-Chuck]

I’ve had my SFAR, for a couple yrs, and I did have problems when I first got it. It wouldn’t go into battery, I found a small piece of metal, under the extractor, once removed, it runs great. Mine loves Hornady Black 168 gr. I’ve taken several hogs with it.

[@exxonv1719]

Very nice!

[@jayperreira2778]

Second the Hornady Black 168, shoots great.

[@scottpulver8692]

I got over 2500 rounds through mine. 2 FTE's. Dual extractors ripped the rim clean off..use new brass now...good luck

[@thesaint1517]

Sorry to see you going through this hazzle. I would send it to Ruger since it is under warranty so if something goes wrong, they are responsible for it. They are pretty good time wise. I had to send mine back because of double stacking and shaving. They received it on a Monday and I had shipment confirmation back on Wednesday. They took care of the problem.

[@exxonv1719]

Great to hear and thank you!! They were quite helpful over the phone.

[@okienightstalker3145]

I'm surprised the gas key is not dovetailed in the front since they only run one screw. Guess they didn't exactly copy the POF Revolution. Two guys I pig hunt with have them ones a 16" and the other a 20" and they have both had problems with stuck cases running PPU and Federal ammo.

[@exxonv1719]

I love the platform (small frame 308), but concerned about reliability and longevity...

[@trpshooter9945]

With modern machine equipment, theres only one explanation. This is intentional to create after market parts demand.

[@toddparsons2980]

I think every video I've seen on these have issues.

[@exxonv1719]

I've seen people saying their rifle is perfect, but quite a few say otherwise... Either a design flaw or two, or some people don't shoot much. The firearms industry as a whole seems quick to release generation one weapons that end up having problems, unfortunately...

[@johnhenrytrotter9030]

I’ve had mine for a month now. 16” barrel . 500 rds No issues yet

[@justusbryant7366]

Man i seriously dont know if i wana buy this now

[@floorpizza8074]

Supposedly, the latest SFAR's coming off the line have had a bunch of engineering upgrades done to them. If you're going to get an SFAR, get one NEW, not used, and make sure it is of recent manufacture, like in the last three months. One nice thing about Ruger is that even though they've had a bunch of engineering/QC issues in their firearms the last few years (or possible even decades), they do have fantastic customer service and turn around times. If the firearm you send in has an engineering change/upgrade done to it in the manufacturing line, your firearm will also include that upgrade. Many of these are "stealth" upgrades that won't be listed on the bill of work performed. Example: One guy uses his Ruger LCP Max in micro class competitive shooting. His recoil spring seat kept failing after 1k rounds. He ended up sending it in three times, and all three times they repaired the gun, but the last time he received it, he noticed that they had increased the thickness of the firing spring seat by 1mm. This was not noted on the work performed sheet. IMO, they do this so that they don't have to do a warranty recall on such a thing, as most people aren't going to put 1k rounds through a micro defense gun over its lifetime. Oh well, at least they do take care of their customers. Just such a pain that you have to spend the time and effort to contact them about the problem, get return authorization, then go through the return hassle.

[@evachier]

Wind was a bit crazy, but i am not liking that bolt.

[@exxonv1719]

Nope, disappointed for sure - but I think I can fix it. Ruger customer service is great - the rifle does need some updates though... It's always windy at the range :).

[@justusbryant7366]

How many rounds have you ran so far?

[@exxonv1719]

Roughly 150, prior owner said 170.

[@lmbear]

Shooting at 50 yards? Horrible accuracy, or lack thereof.

[@Gmny1MOA]

Ruger sfar was the worst financial decision on a firearm ive ever made...went back to ruger 3xs before i sold it...would not cycle and bolt lugs started peening in under 1k rounds of basically bolt action shooting

[@exxonv1719]

Ouch... Mine was running fine for about 140 or so, then the gas key came loose... Prior owner said (Ruger confirmed) the barrel, BCG, handguard, and gas block were replaced. Ruger is spending a lot to fix this, they need another update with a better BCG design.

[@Gmny1MOA]

@@exxonv1719 mine went thru that process as well...mine was more accurate than yours...actually got a 130in 8 point buck w it...I tried to fix it myself after ruger refused to completely replace the rifle...sprinco springs...h3 buffer the whole 9...also it was gouging the case heads of the brass and leaving deep burrs on them....I think something wasnt right w headspace and barrel extension...it always seemed was overgassed but it was infixable...wasn't ab to spend more money on a whole new gas system...wound up replacing it w a sig spear and haven't looked back...only bc I got a good deal on it

[@Gmny1MOA]

@@exxonv1719 I spent almost as much on ammo messing w ruger testing it for them as I did on the rifle itself...I prolly had somewhere around 700-900 rounds on it...of all types...expensive dirt cheap and everything in between

[@exxonv1719]

RE: Accuracy, I'm pretty sure I could get better groups with a better optic, but I'm not expecting half inch groups at all with it - I DO however have serious doubts about the BCG holding up... One screw to hold that part on seems crazy....

[@Gmny1MOA]

@@exxonv1719 yes and the lugs...they say they are some kind of magical metal hardness but mine was peening and eventually would have broken a lug...like I say i think something was wrong my barrel extension

[@coltonowens2742]

That Gas key design is absolute trash. WTF was Ruger thinking with that. Add a few mm to the damn receiver so you can fit another fastener on that thing. Also is that a YSF fastener? they're fine for many things, but they've known to sheer when used on high stress applications like a cycling BCG.

[@exxonv1719]

Totally agree, wonder if they'll end up recalling due to the BCGs, probably not...