This may go for all of the Ruger American’s, is the bolt lift pretty tight after you pull the trigger even without a round in the chamber?

I had the magazine in doing some dry fires and noticed the bolt lift to be pretty stiff, requiring me to actually grab the bolt to lift vs just using the side of my trigger finger. My Savage is a quick and easy 1 finger operation, along with my Remington 700’s.

Is this normal? I didn’t notice it in the store because they don’t let you test the trigger or else I probably wouldn’t have purchased the gun.

Pic for fun

Well it’s a good looking rifle. Idk about bolt lift business.

I've a couple like that and they smoothed up after I sat there and ran the bolt a few hundred times.

Welcome to the world of three lugs…it might smooth out but the pressure to reset the firing pin spring is doing so in a smaller space. That’s why I don’t like three lugs, some are better than others but I don’t like’em.

Very nice looking rifle! Don’t have one myself but have you tried putting a little Hoppes grease on the lugs?

I bet it shoots good

I’ve used Flitz polishing compound on a few pesky lugs. Pretty simple, slather it on and run the bolt for a while.

I'll ask my buddy later this morning. He bought one in .223. VERY accurate gun with factory 69gr.

I polish the lugs. And sometimes polish the cocking piece.

As Judd said, it's a trait of 3 lug bolts. But a few minutes of attention makes it better.

Agree with Judd about 3 lug will be harder for the resetting the firing in but they can be very smooth and I actually prefer the 3 lug or in the case of the Remington 788 9 lug.
Smoothest 3 lug out of the box I have is the Cooper wish I had bought a few more of those. I am looking at a Ruger Ranch Gen 2 6.5 Grendel for the wife so can easily get the LOP right for her.

He has the Gen II ranch Rifle in .223. He said it was a bit stiff but has since smoothed out. I agree on greasing her up and work it till she's good.

His only complaint is the 10-round magazine. I "think" in Texas, during deer season, magazine capacity is limited to 5 rounds. He can't find a short 5 rounder.

There’s no magazine limit for rifles, only shotguns for migratory birds

I assume it uses an AR magazine? https://themagshack.com/product-category/rifle-magazines/ar-15-magazines/ Google search is your friend.

Thanks for the help, I’m going to oil it and run the bolt some and see if it cleans up, if not I’ll get some polish. It’s smooth, just tight, that’s good in something right?

JB Bore Paste works well too.

Huh!!!! Learn something new everyday! Small aside, i have been looking into custom actions and see alot of 3 lug fans. I often hear of the short throw as a positive, which I get. But the skeptic in me always wondered if there was a drawback. As Thomas Sowell likes to say (about politics at least), "there are not benefits, only trade offs." This makes sense.

Back to the Ruger American ii...has anyone been able to see if the gen ii actions fit gen i stocks?

Im a fan of the three lugs. I use Terminus mainly and the few ARC actions I have used are very good. On those two actions the extra effort to open the bolt is minimal.

I'm a 3 lug fan. I've built on and shot lots of Curtis Customs, and own several. The slight extra bolt lift does not bother me.

As others have said, its a trait of three lugs, and it will smooth out. Tikka's are similar, little tight lifting the bolt when compared to a Rem 700 style action.

However, I'm a fan of the 70-degree bolt throw and don't mind the tight bolt lift.

Not sure if you've shot it at the range yet, but try shooting and keeping your cheek weld, run the bolt, and see if you notice it. When I run a Tikka or three lug action I don't notice it when firing.