Honestly, from what I've seen and heard, Ruger rifles really do deserve their reputation for being reliable, especially the Ruger American Gen 2. My uncle's been using one for deer hunting, and he swears by it, saying he's never had it jam or mess up in the middle of a hunt. The thing is, it's not just about hype from fans. People actually like how affordable these rifles are compared to something like a Tikka, but they're not giving up much in terms of performance. Ron Spomer, who’s big in hunting circles online, said he puts a lot of trust in his Ruger and wouldn’t recommend it if it didn’t deliver.

What makes hunters stick with Ruger is that you don’t need to spend a fortune for a gun that’s safe, tough, and pretty accurate right out of the box. It’s not perfect, but for the price, lots of people would rather risk scratching up a Ruger American in the woods than their fancy, expensive rifle. If you care more about the experience and less about showing off your gear, Ruger's a smart pick. So yeah, in my experience and from what I see in the hunting community, Ruger’s reputation is legit. Go for it if you want something solid and trustworthy.