Ruger is known for a lot of firearms, but they are relatively new to the AR-15 game, having introduced their version in 2014. How does their AR-15 measure up to others on the market, and is it even worth your time? Today we’ll be reviewing the Model 8507 Ruger AR-15.
Ruger Model 8507
The model we’re checking out today is the 8507. This model is a dealer exclusive that uses Magpul furniture. Aside from cosmetic features, it is the same basic rifle as Ruger’s standard 556 carbine. The standard carbines (Model 8500) should be around for a long time to come.
What cosmetic features am I talking about? Magpul furniture. The stock, pistol grip, and hand guard are all from Magpul and feature Flat Dark Earth (FDE) colored furniture.
Does the furniture make the rifle perform differently than the standard model? No. But it certainly looks pretty cool! The rifle is also shipped with two Magpul 30-round magazines.
Why should you own an AR-15?
There are lots of reasons. For starters, it’s the standard military rifle of our armed forces. The AR-15 design dates back to the 1950s, so it’s not exactly a new design and has been proven over the decades (after some initial teething pains). There are millions in circulation in the US currently. That means there is a massive amount of spare parts in the event our rifles might need to be fixed. Aside from that, the accessories are nearly endless for anyone who wants to dress up or customize their rifles.
They’re very accurate for a semi-auto rifle. The 5.56mm round shoots relatively flat, so we can reach out to a respectable distance with our AR-15s. And there’s not much recoil with the little 5.56mm rounds either.
Ammo is available for reasonable prices and in plentiful quantities. Magazines are also available in abundance and at amazingly low prices.
There’s not a lot to dislike about the AR-15, and it has a lot going for it. Everyone should have at least one in their inventory. It’s one of the best rifles we could choose for defensive purposes. The low recoil ensures that we can engage many attackers in a short time frame.
Model 8507 Specifications and Features
As mentioned, the stock is from MOE (Magpul) and is of the collapsible variety. It’s nice to be able to adjust the length, and there are six positions of adjustment.
The barrel length is 16.10 inches and the flash suppressor is proprietary to Ruger. Threading is the standard 1/2×28″ type. Rifling twist is the 1:8″ Right Hand Twist, which will stabilize both lighter and heavier bullets, and is a good compromise. Because the threads at the end of the barrel are standard, any muzzle devices that fit on other AR-15s will also fit on this one.
The total weight of the carbine is 6.5 pounds, so this is a very light carbine. The receiver is Type III Hard Anodized finish, which proves to be durable. The overall length is 32.25 to 33.5 inches, depending on how the stock happens to be adjusted.
Sights
The sights consist of a Ruger Rapid Deploy folding rear sight, which allows windage adjustments. It pairs up with the A2-type front sight post. That front sight allows adjustment for elevation. A front sight elevation tool is included.
The front sight is F-height and will allow co-witnessing with many optics.
The sights do their job and are not remarkable. One nice thing about the rear sight is that it folds down in the event the shooter mounts a scope on the receiver. The sight gets out of the way easily but if the scope is removed, it can be instantly deployed. I’m not certain who makes the sight, but it reminds me of something that Magpul would make.
Construction — Receiver & Bolt
The receiver is made from 7075 T6 hard-coat anodized aluminum forgings. The bolt is 9310 steel that is shot-peened and proof-tested. The bolt carrier is 8620 steel. The inside of the carrier and gas key are chromed and the key is staked.
The extractor has the black O-ring, which is the preferred variety for reliability.
Gas Block
The gas block is located at an M4 position for standardization and handling. A QD socket and bayonet lug are included.
Trigger
The trigger is a single-stage unit and exhibits a heavier-than-usual pull, with the break being very crisp. How heavy? We estimate about nine pounds. It’s not terrible, but the pull is heavy enough that we felt as though we were somewhat fighting our equipment. The saving grace is that the break is nice and clean. We’d definitely like to see Ruger lighten the trigger up. I’m not a trigger snob, by any means, but this one goes a little beyond the outer limits.
The trigger guard is enlarged, so it’s easier to use the carbine while wearing gloves, especially in cold weather.
Stock
As mentioned, the stock is from Magpul, it is their six-position variety. The buffer tube is Mil-Spec, which is a nice touch. It will accept a wide variety of other buttstocks, should the user decide to make a change.
Barrel
The barrel deserves a little more mention here. The contour is Medium, which is a nice compromise. It is a cold hammer-forged alloy. Ruger states that bullets between 35 and 77 grains will be stabilized. Another nice feature is that the rifle can fire both 5.56mm and .223 caliber rounds. This can only be safely done with rifles chambered for 5.56mm (rifles chambered in .223 should not fire 5.56mm rounds because of the increased chamber pressure), as this one is.
Upper Receiver
The upper receiver is made from aerospace-grade 7075 T6 aluminum forging. It’s a flat-top configuration, with a Picatinny rail, which allows the mounting of all sorts of sights and optics. The flexibility is great. There is also a forward assist, brass deflector, and dust cover, which covers most of the basics.
There are M4 feed ramps on this rifle, which is a good thing and helps with reliability.
Price
The retail price of this rifle is around $868 currently, which isn’t bad at all, considering the quality of the firearm that you’re getting. It can be found in gun shops in the mid-$700 range.
Hitting the Range With the Ruger AR-15
Since no firearm evaluation is complete without hitting the range, we retired to the local shooting establishment.
Reliability
A variety of 5.56mm ammunition was used, including Remington, PMC, and Winchester (all 55-grain fodder). Ruger’s 556 rifle ran 100%. There were no reliability issues whatsoever, which is how we expected things to go, given Ruger’s reputation.
And just in case, there is a forward assist on the right side of the receiver in the event the chamber gets overly filthy or there’s a stubborn round that doesn’t want to chamber. We didn’t need it, but it’s there.
The Feel
While firing, the action felt smooth and there were no hitches. It functioned similarly to every other AR-15 we’ve ever fired. The recoil was mild and all controls functioned perfectly.
It’s worth mentioning that the carbine balanced and handled very well.
Accuracy
We fired some rounds from the bench as well as offhand. Because the sights are black and we were using a black target, the results were less than stellar. I’ll note that this issue was due to two old, aging sets of eyes (your author and the rifle’s owner). Yes, getting old is not normally conducive to improved vision, and your author is no exception.
I then posted a target at 75 yards (a 10-inch paper plate with a hand-drawn bullseye). The black sights showed up nicely on the white plate and the 75-yard group was respectable, as seen in the accompanying photo. No, that’s not a group to brag about, but when we take a few factors into account, it’s not bad.
Aging eyes, range conditions, and the thick front sight post, coupled with the rudimentary flip-up sights all played a part. All in all, I think it’s a respectable group for open sights on this type of rifle. A scope will undoubtedly tighten groups up considerably. In fact, the rifle’s owner is scope shopping as I type this article.
Is the Ruger AR-15 rifle a good investment?
I’d say yes! It’s reliable, accurate, and just plain fun. Durability and longevity are there, as the parts are going to last for a long time. And if there are issues, Ruger’s customer service will take care of you.
The self-defense aspects of owning an AR-15 are certainly solid. The rifle works with a variety of ammunition and is reliable. Magpul’s furniture on this particular rifle gives it a cool appearance, and it’s high quality. It’s a basic, no-frills rifle that just plain works.
Why buy an AR from Ruger? My answer would be because they are a damn solid, American brand with a great reputation and good quality. This company has been around for a long time and stands behind its products, and they tend to build weapons that last.
