In the previous installment of the Ruger American Rimfire Compact saga, we got to examine the rifle and fire it with factory supplied iron sights. It's a sweet-handling little gun and I wish I could simply use it with the irons – but the eyes just don't have it any more. A word about factory-supplied iron sights on sporting rifles: why not? Like many, I like having the fallback in place and I seldom consider a rifle shipped without sights. Many people see them as obstructions to placement of optics – and they could be right – but "belt-and-suspenders" types like having them aboard in the event the optics take a dump. I contacted Vortex Optics, an outfit with a growing reputation for very useful glass, and was rewarded with a box containing the riflescope and rings. The test scope is the Vortex Diamondback 2-7x35 Rimfire, a fourteen-ounce unit with a one-inch tube. The reticle is the Vortex V-Plex hunting reticle. The click adjustments are light but pronounced enough that even I could feel them.

Weaver #12 bases installed.

I'd ordered the Weaver #12 bases – a pair of them – from MidwayUSA and had them in place when the Vortex gear arrived. I'd ordered rings and Vortex supplied their 1" Hunter rings, medium height. Using the Tipton "Best Gun Vise" to hold the rifle and the Wheeler Engineering FAT Wrench, I was able to quickly install the pieces and parts to the Ruger rifle. Installation, following instructions from Ruger and from Vortex, was easy – it seemed too easy. I didn't change the stock module to the higher cheek piece unit. After mounting the Diamondback, I mounted the rifle and saw that I had a good cheek weld as I peered down the center of the optic – no need to change it. On the next range trip, I took an assortment of ammunition, a couple of extra 10/22 magazines – also ordered from MidwayUSA -- and some targets. My first effort to zero the rifle, at fifty yards, showed a group clustered at "0" windage, -12" for elevation. I had the variable power optic set for 4X at the time. I hoped that there was enough adjustment in the optic to bring it up. I needn't have worried. Running it up 96 clicks, the next five rounds hit center. The Ruger American Rimfire and Vortex Diamondback were zeroed in minutes. I brought them to zero at 4X and did the accuracy testing at 4X.

CCI Blazer produced a three-shot 7/8" group a little to the right of point of aim at fifty yards.

I found that the little rifle has an affinity for CCI Blazer 40 gr. ammo. This is remarkable as it's the accuracy load for my son's single-shot utility rimfire bolt gun that's likely more than 40 years old. I put three rounds into 7/8" at fifty yards. I'm no rifle shooter. While it was fired from a seated bench rest, it's still a light rifle – a compact, by factory description and a carbine by anyone's reckoning. The CCI "Quiet" subsonic 40 grain load put three rounds into two inches, with one a clear flier – el snatcho! – and the group was eight inches below point of aim. Federal American Eagle shot to the right and put three rounds into 2 ½". Federal Champion 40 grain loads gave a 1 3/8" group. With loads it likes, the Ruger American Rimfire Compact seems to be more accurate than I can hold. I cranked up the riflescope to 6X and engaged steel targets at 150 yards. After a few rounds getting on target, I found myself hitting steel regularly with Remington Golden Bullet ammo. The amplified ear protection helped me hear the hits, but I was watching lead hit the steel through the Vortex scope. That's good glass. More on the rifle is upcoming, assuming the weather breaks. -- Rich Grassi