Ruger Piston 300BLK

[Tokarev]

Ruger announced yesterday the introduction of their SR556TD. TD is for "takedown" and the rifle uses a quick detach barrel that is not unlike the system used on the Steyr AUG. The gun ships in a 10/22 takedown bag and comes with three PMAG's, a guad rail forend and Samson folding sights.

The sights themselves bear the Ruger logo and appear to be made especially for this rifle. The sights fold and work in the usual manner but the front sight is adjustable for both elevation and windage. The idea here is that each barrel can have its own dedicated sight that can be zeroed with the rear sight on the upper. From there it should be no big deal to switch barrels and then dial in a red dot using the iron sights as a guide.

Otherwise, the new rifle feels and functions just like the other Ruger piston AR's and field strips the same. There has been a small coil spring added to the piston assembly that keeps the piston from rattling or sliding out the gas block when the barrel is not installed but I imagine it really does nothing for functionality and is really unnecessary.

Those who've been using/watching the Ruger since its launch several years ago might recall the leaked drawings that appeared on one of the firearms blogs showing a Ruger prototype with a QD barrel that had a handle attached to the gas block. I believe the rifle was originally envisioned as something to compete with the USMC's M27 although I don't know how far Ruger went with the concept. It looks like Ruger's desire for a QD barrel for an LMG has manifested itself as a takedown gun for the civilian market.

Anyway, along with the launch of the new rifle is a complete front end in 300 AAC Blackout. The new barrel assembly is currently available through the Shop Ruger website and is priced at about $450. This seems a bit steep but it is a ready to install barrel including gas parts and magazines. This is really key to the future success of the new gun and I'm glad to see Ruger co-launch barrels. What's the point in a QD barrel if nobody makes a conversion kit to go along with it?

I was able to "jury test" the TD rifle for Ruger some months ago. The sample I messed with was only chambered in 5.56 and I wish I would have been able to try the gun in 300BLK. Pistons and Blackout don't always get along so I wonder how well the Ruger system works with subsonic unsuppressed, etc.

To mount and unmount the barrel, clear the rifle and lock the bolt back. Then pull back on the spring-loaded locking block at the front of the forend while giving the barrel a slight twist. Once the barrel is unlocked, pull it straight up and out of the railed handguard. Slide the new barrel in place, twist to lock and close the bolt. Simple.

I do have a few photos to post and will see if I can't get a 300BLK barrel ASAP. Thanks for reading.

[Tokarev]

Here is the Blackout barrel on Ruger's website.

http://shopruger.com/SR-556-Takedown-300-AAC-Blackout-Barrel-Kit/productinfo/90455/

[Tokarev]

Here's Ruger's blurb on the new rifle. Please note that the folding front sight is mentioned here as being part of the complete barrel but the sight isn't shown in the picture on the Shop Ruger site.

http://www.ruger.com/mobile/news/2015-07-02.html

[Tokarev]

Here I am popping the barrel off. Changing calibers will be just as quick.

https://youtu.be/I1t0FwoHhTk

[Tokarev]

Here's the upper alongside the unmounted barrel. As can be seen, each assembly is about 16" long.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1258_1_zpshjtafarj.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/tokarev/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG1258_1_zpshjtafarj.jpg.html)

[FlyingHunter]

very interesting, thanks for the "new" information

[Tokarev]

I suppose this is the natural progression for Ruger's piston gun and, now that it is released, some of the oddities of the design have been answered. I always wondered why Ruger used a two piece piston rod. Now it makes sense that the piston itself would be part of the barrel while the transfer rod is pinned into the handguard. I also kind of wondered why the original gun wasn't free floated. But now that the barrel locks in place using a lug on the barrel that interacts with a lug on the handguard it becomes obvious that free floating isn't going to work with Ruger's barrel mounting system.

Overall, this is a clever and simple design and I like that the barrel can be pulled without tools. With that said, I doubt most owners will be swapping barrels back and forth all the time. I assume most people will set the gun up with one barrel and use it that way 95% of the time.

With that said, I can see the attraction to something like a 22LR conversion that easily allows for a slow twist or a gun that can be set up in 5.45 for training and, with a simple amount of work, be reconfigured to 223 for defense. Something like that anyway.

[Tokarev]

I had hoped my 300BLK would have been here for today's trip to the range. But, alas, nothing has arrived yet.

[Tokarev]

I got a tracking number from Ruger and it looks like my Blackout barrel will be delivered tomorrow. I hope to be able to shoot it this weekend.

Just for reference, here is a photo comparing Ruger's DI upper with the new takedown. 13494

[USMA84DAB]

Tokarev - You practically live on this board posting testing and use info - thanks for the hard work.

I wonder if you can shed light on an aspect of Ruger's policies due to your experience working with them. I recently divested myself of an SR 7.62. The main reason was that they would not sell me spare parts for it. Well, OK - $300 for a bolt assembly and a recoil spring. No extractor, no extractor spring, no pins, no firing pin, etc.. Why should I buy a product from Ruger that I cannot support with spares vs. go to PSA and buy all the parts I want and build all that I want? Similarly, the inability to replace barrels on M&P rifles brings up the same issue - I don;t like owning a weapon that I cannot support/work on/replace wear and tear breakage parts. The Glocks are not perfect for everyone, but I can buy the parts to build a complete gun from half a dozen vendors.

Do you see Ruger enabling it's clients, or just selling end items?

USMA84DAB

[Tokarev]

I don't know why Ruger doesn't sell certain parts other than it could be something to do with production cycles and general warehouse availability. There's no point in selling parts if you're having a hard time getting parts from suppliers and/or using up all the stuff you can get to build rifles. That is just a guess but it is based on Ruger's current stance on producing barrels for other manufacturers. Ruger used to supply CHF barrels but they've stopped now because they're using everything they can make in house.

Now I do know that, in years past, Ruger refused to sell parts that might be installed incorrectly and cause safety concerns. This is why parts like the Mini-14 bolt has never been available as a spare part.

1930's technology aside, I believe Ruger really should support the factory AR parts market. Or at least sell the proprietary bolt carrier and gas parts. The rest of the stuff (bolts, firing pins, etc) can be bought from a variety of places.

[USMA84DAB]

Kind of what I could surmise, but appreciate your cut on it as well.

[Tokarev]

Just guesses on my part.

[Tokarev]

I put forty rounds (thirty subsonic and ten supersonic) through the Ruger 300BLK barrel this afternoon.

The subsonic ammo consisted of 220gr handloads with 10.8gr of Accurate LT-30 and factory Remington 220gr stuff. The supersonic was handloads with the Sierra tipped 125gr Matchking and H-110.

The Ruger uses a four-position gas regulator that I'm assuming is regulated like that used on the 223. Position "0" is off. "1" is for suppressed use. "2" is for normal use and "3" is the setting for underpowered ammo or for using the gun in extreme cold or when dirty, etc.

I tried all loads with and without my suppressor attached. Interestingly, the subsonic stuff ran fine without the suppressor attached on the medium setting. The smallest setting ran the gun fine with the suppressor attached. With the supersonic, the gun ran fine on the small setting both with and without the can attached. I didn't try the gun at all on the "3" setting.

I'm really surprised that the rifle worked fine with subsonic ammo and no suppressor. I figured at the least I'd have to open the gas all the way up.

Here are the gas parts. Those who're familiar with the SR-556 will note that the gas piston for the 300BLK is probably twice the diameter of the one Ruger uses in the 223. The gas regulator appears to be the same size/shape and comes out out the front of the block as per usual but the bigger piston comes out the back.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/PSX_20150712_165316_zps5pudr2lg.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/tokarev/media/PSX_20150712_165316_zps5pudr2lg.jpg.html)

Here's the piston.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/PSX_20150712_165356_zpsk0az4mcp.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/tokarev/media/PSX_20150712_165356_zpsk0az4mcp.jpg.html)

The piston and the rear plug that retains it in the gas block. Note the addition of the spring.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/PSX_20150712_165543_zpszve4lkf6.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/tokarev/media/PSX_20150712_165543_zpszve4lkf6.jpg.html)

The regulator is marked "300 BLK" and the gas ports are huge compared to 223.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/PSX_20150712_165701_zpsqcnxb11n.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/tokarev/media/PSX_20150712_165701_zpsqcnxb11n.jpg.html)

Inside the gas block.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/PSX_20150712_165741_zpshbcpnlhp.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/tokarev/media/PSX_20150712_165741_zpshbcpnlhp.jpg.html)