Ruger has added three Varmint Target models to the American Rifle Generation II range. The US announcement on 11 November introduced 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester versions, all with a 20-inch heavy barrel and a Woodland camouflage target stock. The stock is the big change here. Its squared fore-end, upright grip and broad underside at the rear give the Varmint Target a different profile from the familiar American Gen II.
A closer look at the target stock
The TerrainFade Woodland pattern catches your eye first, but the shape is what’s worth a closer look. The fore-end is wide and flat underneath. Ruger has put a removable aluminium insert with M-LOK-compatible slots into it. Behind the grip, the underside of the buttstock flattens out into an integrated bag rider. Both details make sense on a rifle designed with supported target shooting in mind.
Ruger lists length of pull from 13 to 14.5 inches (33 to 36.8 cm) across the three models, with spacers providing the adjustment. The cheek riser has its own push-button adjustment. That gives the stock two distinct points of fit, which is useful context if you’re familiar with the slimmer stocks on the Standard or Predator models.
A heavy barrel on the Gen II action
The barrel measures 20 inches (508 mm) across the range. Ruger uses a cold hammer-forged barrel with a heavy target contour, and the action has a Graphite Black Cerakote finish. At around 4.4 kg before adding an optic, this is a substantial rifle. The extra mass is a significant part of the Varmint Target’s character, especially next to the slimmer rifles elsewhere in the American family.
The rest of the action will look familiar to anyone following the Gen II range. Ruger carries over the three-lug stainless steel bolt, three-position safety and factory-fitted one-piece Picatinny scope base. The spec sheets list a five-round AI-style magazine for each of the new models.
The three US models
The 6mm Creedmoor is model 56921 and the 6.5 Creedmoor is 56920. Ruger lists both at 9.7 lb (4.39 kg). The .308 Winchester is model 56924 and is slightly lighter at 9.6 lb (4.35 kg). Overall length is the same across the line at 40.5 inches (102.8 cm).
For Australian readers, those model numbers refer to the US launch. Ruger’s announcement didn’t give an Australian release date or local pricing. Read Ruger’s launch announcement.
PRECISIONRIFLE