Laboratory and field trials were conducted to determine the extent of the genetic variation among 134 Russian wild ryegrass (Elymus junceus Fisch.) progeny lines for characters related to stand establishment under semiarid conditions. Progenies were evaluated in the laboratory for seedling emergence and subsequent vigor using a 7.6-cm planting depth, seedling emergence under controlled soil moisture stress, and seedling recovery after exposure to drought. Significant genetic variation was detected for emergence, seedling vigor, and stand establishment in the field and for all measurements made in the laboratory except seedling recovery after drought. The genetic variance comprised from 50 to 60% of the total phenotypic variance in most instances. Emergence and subsequent seedling vigor from a 7.6 cm planting depth were the most closely related to data collected in the field (r = 0.17–0.33**). Results from the other laboratory trials were not significantly correlated with field performance.