The Ruger American Predator is a synthetic-stocked bolt-action 6.5mm Creedmoor built for predator and deer hunting. Ruger has replaced it with the Generation II Predator, so this one is a used buy. It weighs 6.60 lbs with a 22-inch cold hammer-forged barrel in a heavier taper, threaded 5/8x24 under a factory thread protector.

A one-piece Picatinny base is already on the receiver, so rings and a scope are the whole shopping list, and no sights were fitted. Power Bedding puts two bedding blocks in the stock that locate the receiver and free-float the barrel, and length of pull is a fixed 13.75 inches. One AI-style magazine came with the rifle and it holds three rounds, though AI-pattern spares are easy to find.

If you're cross-shopping, the Ruger American Rifle Generation II Predator has an MSRP of $769, weighs 0.10 lbs more, and adds a radial port brake on the threads, a spiral-fluted barrel, Cerakote metal and a stock with removable spacers and comb inserts. The Howa 1500 is still made and holds five, loaded from the top one cartridge at a time. Buying the first-generation rifle used, count the thread protector and the magazine, because both came in the box.