[Review] Glenfield Model A: Ruger Gives The People What They Want

If you step back from the dazzling array of space-age hunting rifles available today, you might catch your breath long enough to wonder if we really need all that stuff.

Can you still buy a decent deer rifle for a few hundred bucks?

The Glenfield Model A appears to be the cure for what ails you. It’s cheap, it’s user friendly, and the fact that it’s basically a first-generation Ruger American Rifle suggests that it works. But, since you and I both want to be sure, I snagged one and put a bunch of ammo through it.

Glenfield Model A

$372

at GrabAGun

Prices accurate at time of writing

$372 at GrabAGun

MidwayUSA (see price)

Kygunco (see price)

Battlehawk Armory (see price)

Glenfield Model A Specs & Features

Specs

• Caliber: .223 Rem, .243 Win, .270 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win, .30-06 Sprg, .350 Legend, .400 Legend, .450 Bushmaster
• Action: Bolt action
• Capacity: 3-5 (varies by cartridge)
• Barrel Length: 20” 
• Overall Length: 40”
• Weight: 6.3 lbs

Features

• Adjustable trigger from 3-5 pounds
• Picatinny rail for easy scope mounting
• Threaded barrel

Glenfield Model A Backstory

To understand the Glenfield Model A, we need to rewind all the way back to a January 2, 2012 media release. That’s when Glenfield’s parent company, Ruger, broke news about the Ruger American Rifle.

The American Rifle was light enough to throw over your shoulder and trek to the tree stand – it was also light on the wallet. Ruger wanted to build a hunting rifle that the average blue-collar worker could comfortably afford and take pride in owning.

To that end, the rifle was made entirely in the U.S. It was proof that building a quality rifle with American manufacturing was still possible.

Pew Pew Tactical’s 2016 Ruger American Rifle review was actually one of the first guns tested on the site, and we shelled out $375 to buy it. We saw impressive accuracy from the rifle’s bedded action again in 2018 – check it out!

In the final days of 2023, after more than a decade of strong sales, Ruger released the Ruger American Rifle Generation II. Highlights included a significantly more ergonomic adjustable stock, a three-position safety, and a spiral-fluted barrel with a radial brake. It was a big step forward, but also a step up in price.

Since this is no time to abandon budget-minded customers, Ruger filled the gap by relaunching the Glenfield brand in 2025. If the Glenfield Model A looks familiar, that’s because it’s basically a first-gen Ruger American with $100 taken off the MSRP.

"We're excited to bring back the iconic Glenfield Firearms brand with a new product that reflects Ruger's dedication to manufacturing affordable, American-made firearms for any and every hunter," Ruger president and CEO Todd Seyfert said in a company release at the time. "The Model A is a practical, reliable rifle built for hunters of all experience levels and we're proud to bring it to market under the Glenfield name."

The affordability is undeniable, but does the performance still hold up?

Shooting the Glenfield Model A: Accuracy & Reliability Analysis

As always, I welcomed the Glenfield Model A to the Pew Pew Tactical lab with a thorough cleaning and some quiet time with the owner’s manual. After scrubbing off any remaining residue for the factory and making sure I was up to speed, it was time for some basic number crunching on the firing line.

Many rifles have an ammunition preference, so I fired up the Garmin Xero C1 Pro to chronograph three loads through the Model A. 

Nothing looks too out of the ordinary, although I was surprised to see the slightly heavier Fiocchi Hyperformance outpace PMC Bronze by more than 150 feet per second.

Fiocchi Hyperformance .308 Win 150gr

$27

at MidwayUSA

Prices accurate at time of writing

$27 at MidwayUSA

Sporstman's Warehouse (see price)

Ammunition Depot (see price)

Palmetto State Armory (see price)

Show all prices

The Model A is an accurate rifle, but that word can take many meanings. Let's explore it a little more.

At first, most of my early 100-yard groups were in the 2- to 3-inch range, which was underwhelming. I figured out what was going on when I saw a nearly perfect vertical string of hits from Hornady ELD Match, indicating that overheating might be more of an issue than I thought.

I took a long break and let the barrel cool to the ambient temperature. After each of the next five shots, I pulled the bolt and dropped the magazine to maximize airflow through the bore. I stepped away, and set a timer for five minutes to make sure I didn’t rush the process.

The result? A 0.61-inch group of five shots at 100 yards. That’s very admirable work for such an inexpensive rifle.

Remember that this is a hunting rifle. Aside from practicing, you’ll ideally fire one cold-bore shot per hunting season. In that context, it works very well. (Remember to zero for a cold bore when you set up your scope).

Still, follow-up shots on deer-sized vitals weren't difficult. Here it is on C-zone steel at 200 yards in an audibly stiff crosswind.

Likewise, the light stock and thin barrel became an asset when I had to climb hillsides to reach a vantage point instead of setting up shop on a bench. Its old-school profile felt comfortable in all kinds of unconventional shooting positions, and reminded me why this Ruger – I mean Glenfield – stuck around so long.

Ergonomics: Fit & Feel

Overall Feel

The Model A feels inexpensive, but not cheap. More than a decade of production has given Ruger, and now Glenfield, plenty of time to dial in the manufacturing and put out a polished product.

I’ve heard some gripes about this platform’s action being sticky, but this one ran very smoothly. The three-lug action kept my hand well clear of the scope while cycling.

All in all, I think Glenfield buyers will be pleased with their purchase when they pull this rifle out of the box.

Controls

Digging deeper, the trigger is adjustable from 3 to 5 pounds with a blade-style safety. This one weighed in at just under four pounds, but it felt heavier to me. Maybe the short amount of creep and slightly gritty feel contributed to that.

It’s effective, but certainly not what you’d get from a more expensive rifle.

I appreciate the tang safety because it lets shooters operate it without breaking their shooting-hand grip.

This is a two-position safety; the bolt is free to cycle with the safety activated.

Ease of Use

There really isn’t any learning curve to speak of with the Model A. Even if you’ve never handled a Ruger American or bolt-action rifle in general, it’s all very intuitive and easy.

This would make a fantastic first rifle for a new hunter or shooter. It’s also light enough that slinging it over a shoulder and hitting the woods wouldn’t be burdensome.

I appreciate that Glenfield installs a Picatinny rail at the factory. That makes choosing a scope and rings much easier for the consumer than threading screws into the action and risking a costly over-torquing.

The treaded barrel is another perk that many comparable rifles don't offer. Go ahead and add a suppressor when the budget allows!

Improvements We’d Like to See 

While there are things I’m tempted to change about this rifle, that would defeat the purpose.

But if the people at Glenfield find it in their hearts to offer a few more models, I won’t complain. There’s lots of brand history left to tap into, and I’d be excited to see budget-oriented spinoffs of other popular Ruger and Marlin models.

I'd be particularly stoked about a budget-friendly lever gun like the old 30A. Sound off in the comments and let me know which one you’d like to see!

Who is it For?

Glenfield is very clear about the target demographic for this rifle: hunters on a budget.

By dusting off the old Ruger American Rifle tooling and keeping things simple, the company has managed to deliver a quality, U.S.-built rifle that retails for less than $400 in 2026. That’s pretty commendable.

Is the Model A going to outperform rifles that cost twice as much? No; parent company Ruger didn’t go through all this work just to kneecap its own Ruger American Rifle Gen II.

But the Model A is perfectly capable of doing its job: putting meat on the table without spending so much money that you could have just bought a side of beef and eaten ribeye.

By the Numbers

Reliability: 10/10

I expect a bolt gun to be rock-solid reliable, and this one is.

Accuracy: 7/10

The skinny barrel heats up and gets squirrely after two or three shots, but it’s perfectly serviceable at making that critical first shot count.

Ergonomics: 6/10

A conventional stock makes the Model A feel a little dated in a sea of precision-inspired hunting rifles.

Customization: 7/10

The world of Ruger American aftermarket support is at your fingertips. The threaded barrel is a nice touch.

Value: 9/10

A brand new hunting rifle for less than $400? Sign me up! 

Overall: 8.15/10

Yes, Glenfield brought a warmed-up Ruger American to market. At this price, I’m pleased as punch.

Glenfield Model A

$372

at GrabAGun

Prices accurate at time of writing

$372 at GrabAGun

MidwayUSA (see price)

Kygunco (see price)

Battlehawk Armory (see price)

Upgrades & Accessories for the Glenfield Model A

Bushnell R5 4-12×40

$274

at Kygunco

Prices accurate at time of writing

$274 at Kygunco

Amazon (see price)

Bushnell (see price)

DEGuns (see price)

I used a Bushnell R5 4-12x40 for this review, and it’s a great match for the Model A.

The optical quality is admirable for the price, the magnification range works for most big-game hunting scenarios, and the reticle makes quick work of elevation holds.

It’s not intended for long-range work, but I’ve shot out to 1,100 yards with this scope in the past, so I have plenty of confidence in it.

Galco No-Slip Sling

$88

at Ammunition Depot

Prices accurate at time of writing

$88 at Ammunition Depot

Palmetto State Armory (see price)

Hinterland Outfitters (see price)

OpticsPlanet (see price)

Your hunting rifle is going to spend a lot more time logging miles on foot than sending rounds downrange.

I appreciated the Galco No-Slip Sling during my time reviewing it because it’s sturdy, keeps the rifle locked on my shoulder while I’m hiking, and it doesn’t blow the budget.

WieBad Fortune Cookie

$75

at MidwayUSA

Prices accurate at time of writing

$75 at MidwayUSA

Amazon (see price)

Brownells (see price)

Battlehawk Armory (see price)

A good shooting bag can make a world of difference in the field. In this case, I recommend the Wiebad Fortune Cookie with one of the lighter fill options.

One of these bags can turn a stock gate, T-post, rock, or just about anything else into an incredibly stable shooting position in the time it takes to flop it down.

Athlon Talos 20-60×80

$144

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$144 at Amazon

OpticsPlanet (see price)

Need a budget-friendly spotting scope for range days or glassing in the field? The Athlon Talos 20-60x80 is a great entry point.

It's very utilitarian glass, to be sure, but it'll get the job done and it won't weigh down your pack. See it in action in my guide to the Best Spotting Scopes.

How We Tested the Glenfield Model A

Testing of the Glenfield Model A included more than 150 rounds of the following ammunition.

• PMC Bronze 147gr target ammunition
• Fiocchi Hyperformance 150gr hunting ammunition
• Hornady ELD Match 168gr match ammunition

I evaluated accuracy after giving the rifle multiple boxes of ammo and a few cleanings to break in the barrel a little bit. I fired five-shot groups with each type of ammunition at 100 yards from a Harris bipod and Wiebad rear bag, recorded the results, and made note of any patterns or anomalies I observed.

Here's a peek at the reticle I was working with.

To gather ballistic data on each type of ammo, I turned to the Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph. This gave me objective insight into velocity and consistency for each load.

Of course, I also considered factors like reliability, ergonomics, and aftermarket support when deciding who this rifle is for.

Meet the Experts

This article comes to you from Pew Pew Tactical Editor & Senior Review Analyst Scott Murdock. Following his time in the Marine Corps, Scott has spent extensive time shooting various bolt-action rifles. This includes rimfire plinkers, hunting rifles, and precision rifles ranging from entry-level to high-end. In addition to reviews, recreational shooting, and hunting, Scott has completed several professional training courses with various bolt-action platforms. 

Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers and edited this review. She is an NRA-certified Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.

Final Verdict on the Glenfield Model A

Competition breeds innovation, but it also creates opportunities like the one Ruger just seized. We’re lucky to have better, more accurate, more reliable, and more feature-rich rifles every year – but I’m also glad when affordable options stick around.

The Glenfield Model A isn’t fancy, but it does its job every time you pull the trigger. You can take as much pride in it as the next hunter takes in their rifle.

And it’ll never go out of style.

What do you think, is the Glenfield Model A the best bolt-action rifle for the money? Make your voice heard below. Looking for more rifles that are easy on the wallet? Check out our guide to the Best Budget Bolt-Action Rifles!