Since I bought my rifle new the summer before last I have had 2 optics slide rearward, the trigger housing holes hogged out so it rattles loosely from side to side, the magazine dropping out every couple of shots, and action screws keep comming lose in the three shooting sessions when I've taken it out load testing in the last year and a half. I ended up wrecking an optic because it slammed into the rings so I got a little frustrated and put the gun aside. I finally bought another optic and switched from warne maxima rings to leupold PRW. Used rosin on the rings and had a gunsmith install it. The new scope slid reward again in 12 rounds. I checked scope ring torque and action screws...they were tight. Kept shooting and the scope kept moving! Ruger did send me a replacement magazine last year. I finally had enough and sent the rifle back to ruger last week. When I removed the scope to send it back I found out the rear factory weaver rail screw closest to the bolt was finger loose. It has probably been the culprit the whole time causing everything to vibrate loose beside my stout loads. The rail barely contacted the top of my receiver! Just the outter four corners touched the top action. I could tell because it wore all the bluing off from vibrating. I blue loct tited it down. I asked ruger to inspect it. The ruger tech removed it, inspected,retorqued, and said it was fine. They shot the gun and said five shots with factory ammo make one big hole in the target at fifty yards. I asked it they would update the weaver rail with the new picantinny rail. They sent one along loose. When I received the gun back the new trigger had so much travel it felt like it was a 2 stage. I fixed it in a half hour and it brakes a crisp 18 oz. I went to remove the factory weaver rail they torqued and the rear screw was loose as a goose again! All the others were tight just like it was the way I found it the first time. So I don't know if the tech was messing with me or there is an issue with the screw or threads in that rear hole. The more I researched the rear loose bad scew issue I found out this is a common occurrence with the ruger American 450 BM. I called Randy's in Michigan and they said that all their guns now get the factory weaver rail loct tited before they leave their shop because they were getting a lot back with loose rear screws like mine causing the same issue. I went a step further and acraglass bedded the new updated picantinny rail in place and blue loctited all four new base screws in place. I'm sure some of the acra glass went in the screw holes and around the threads to lock it perminately in place this time. I also installed another set of medium Warne maxima rings again but this time I sprayed 3M 77 industrial grade adhesive inside the rings and let the adhesive dry for a good 10 to 15 minutes before mounting them to my optic and rail. I also cleaned and degreased the ring screw holes and screws again before blue loctiting them in place. New issue...When I removed the action Yesterday the pin that holds the bolt release in place fell out twice! I hate to say it but this thing is turning out to be a cheaply made, disposable firearm. The RAR is like a staw house in a tornado. When I talked to the Ruger tech who repaired it he told me this is not a target rifle and not made to be taken to the range and shot but a hunting rifle. That right there tells me its cheaply made for the average Joe that shoots four boxes of ammo through it in their lifetime and won't hold up if you actually bought it to shoot. Imagine that a gun made not to be shot! Lol! The other notes that he put in the system that were read to me before I talked to the tech direct was that the base screws were like car maintenance. Just like an oil change I was was responsible for checking screws. Well the oil change wasn't done correct before the car left the factory I told him and at the rate they were conning loose I would have to remove the scope every 12 rounds to check torque and then resight it in...rediculous! The first optic came loose halfway during the first range session. I still believe there is more going one with this gun causing everything to come loose. Either the rail is just so poorly contacted to the receiver it comes loose or something else like the action is flexing. The new trigger still has some play in it from front to rear, black paint chipped off by the safety, and rear paint smeared from excess overflow when painting the "s" and or "f". All in all I still love the light little rifle but it's almost as cheapy made as a kel tech I hate to say.
So long story short I'd tell everyone who owns a RAR chambered in 450 BM to do yourself a favor now that hunting season is over and bed your scope base or at least Lock tite the whole base to the receiver besides putting lock tite on the base screws because from what I understand it's not if but when it's going to rattle loose. Also put some type of sticky adhesive on your optic rings as well because rosin doesn't cut it with this rifle and round combo. The ruger tech said the 450 BM RAR's have been destroying optics non stop(which was no big secret) and to change over to a light straight tube shotgun scope. Less weight to try and shake loose. Well, that defeats the purpose of of buying this gun for 300 plus yards of precise shooting as far as I'm concerned.
Well my new base is acraglassed, base screws blue loct tited, the inside of my scope rings sprayed with ahesive and ring screws loct tited, and lastly I torqued my warne rings down a little harder to 35 in pounds instead of the recommended 25 per factory specs. 25 inch pounds felt a little wimpy, maybe the adhesive squishing didn't feel like it was tight enough so I gave it a little more love. I used my wheeler touque wrench this time so they are all even torqued VS tightening by hand to the point I would probably strip the heads. Blows my mind, I have the same optics mounted on my 300 and 375 RUM's that have not come loose with WAY more recoil.
I'll have to call Ruger again tomorrow to see if they can send me a bolt release pin or an oversized one that won't fall out.