RugerSociety.com

Here's something that came as a surprise the other day....A ROCS/RENE member just sent a closeup pic of an XGI (.308) serial number and it is 800-03896!
Hmmm! What is an XGI doing with that high a serial number? The example pictured in Ruger & His Guns was said to be 800-01449 and a couple others that were also sold at Ruger's auctions did not go over 800-02000.
With XGI serial numbering believed to have begun at 800-01000 and not more than a few hundred guns being completed (including a few in .243), now 800-03896 shows up!
So who has Ruger been making the XGI for?
Another explanation might be that Ruger had at least 2,896 serial numbered receivers completed before the kabosh was put on the XGI...but really? Nearly 3,000 completed receivers for a model that was never going to see the light of day?
Chet15

I can't answer the mystery of the high serial numbers, but I sure wish they would try again building a M14 clone!

I also cannot answer those questions but it is an interesting find. Since I've not seen these items here, and because the topic came up here is the original 1984 New From Ruger Export announcement along with the back side of the USA release. The back of them are the only differences that I've found. Fronts and middle material appear the same.

And here's the follow up addressed to Gun and Outdoor Writers discussing the reasoning behind withdrawing further marketing of the product.