You want to get into the growing sport of precision rifle shooting and reach out and hit targets over 400 meters away. There are lots of rifles out there that claim they can do that, but most used in competition are custom made and very expensive.
However, in 2015, Ruger introduced its Ruger Precision Rifle to be a reliable and consistent rifle for long-distance competition shooting. It comes chambered in .223 Remington, .308 Winchester, .300 PRC, .300 Winchester Magnum, .338 Lapua, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5mm Creedmoor, and 6.5 PRC. MSRP varies by caliber, but they hover around $2,000-2,600. It’s a significant investment. The only question is, are Ruger Precision Rifles worth it? Keep reading to find out.
Ruger Precision Rifle Breakdown
First, let’s take a look at some features and specifications of the Ruger Precision Rifle.
Accuracy
This rifle is built to be accurate. After all, precision is its middle name! Out of the box, with the addition of a quality scope, this rifle will hit IDPA targets at 600 yards consistently. It will reach out to hit targets at 1,000 yards. The best part? It comes with adjustable components that are easily adaptable to the individual shooter, giving you a comfortable and consistent shooting profile for maximum precision.
In short: It’s dead-on accurate. Stack it with proper optics and a bit of training, and it’ll be a sub-MOA rifle for just about any properly experienced shooter. If you are not hitting your targets, it is your fault… not the rifle.
Reliability
The action of the RPR is simple and reliable. One point of contention is that the action is not always intuitively smooth. If any downward pressure is applied on the bolt as you start your push forward after the rear stroke, the forward stroke can become notchy and slightly bind. With some practice and breaking in, this issue should dissipate. However, the RPR chassis allows you to quickly install a new action with just the turn of a few screws, if you should so desire.
Handling
The Ruger Precision Rifle is based on the chassis system used by high-end rifles, built on a solid foundation designed from the ground up to mimic high-end rifle chassis systems. This system has the action directly attached to the chassis, which keeps the action stable and keeps the barrel away from moving supporting components.
Straight from the factory, the RPR comes with a fully-adjustable rear buttstock and recoil pad. This buttstock can be quickly and simply adjusted for length with a simple movement of the rear throw lever. The stock is easily folded with the press of a button at the rear of the receiver, making this rifle easier to transport or store in confined spaces. The toe of the stock also has a rail section for adding a monopod, if desired.
The entire buttstock mechanism is an uncovered skeletal design that can be exposed to the elements and could be snagged on branches, weeds, and other hazards. But, this rifle is designed for precision shooting competitions, not crawling through brush and muck. On the top of the buttstock is a small cheekpiece that is adjustable, both horizontally and vertically, to ensure the shooter has a correct alignment of the eye to the scope and target. This cheekpiece is made of a textured Kydex material and has a plastic feel to it, though it seems to be sturdy.
Trigger
The trigger on the RPR excels. It is a bladed trigger, which some shooters may not like, but the pull weight is easily adjustable with an Allen wrench that comes with the rifle. Ruger says the trigger is adjustable from 2.25 pounds to 5 pounds and comes from the factory at about 2.5 pounds – a setting that I like right out of the box.
The safety is an AR-style 45-degree lever, which most shooters know and are comfortable using. The safety does not lock that bolt, so the rifle can be cycled while the safety is on.
Magazine & Reloading
The RPR comes with two 10-round Magpul polymer magazines. (It also accepts AICS magazines.) The magazine release lever is directly in front of the trigger guard. However, the magazines cannot be removed unless the bolt is open and pulled all the way to the rear. The empty mag also prevents the bolt from going forward until the magazine is dropped or a loaded magazine is inserted. You may not like this if you want to manually feed single rounds in the chamber. If that is your thing, then I recommend choosing another rifle.
Length & Weight
The .308 Winchester and the .223 Remington versions have a barrel length of 20 inches, with the 6.5mm and 6mm Creedmoor being longer at 24 inches. Magnum variations come with 26-inch barrels. The overall length varies due to the adjustable buttstock, being about 43 to 47 inches. Weight is approximately 10.7 pounds, depending on the configuration.
Recoil Management
The RPR comes with Ruger’s hybrid muzzle brake, which does an admirable job of controlling the recoil of this heavy rifle. Since the barrel is threaded, you can easily put on any muzzle device you like, if desired.
Customization
The RPR comes from the factory with a threaded barrel and a threaded bolt handle, so customizations are easy. It is also modular and can be easily customized to each individual shooter using readily available AR components.
How About the Ruger Precision Rimfire?
The RPR may not cost as much as a true custom precision rifle, but it’s no budget blaster either. You might be thinking: There are cheaper rifles — such as the Ruger Precision Rimfire — that some claim do the same thing. How do they compare? Let’s take a look at their differences real quick.
Here is the straight-up answer. The Ruger Precision Rimfire is a .22 LR caliber rifle. It is a fun rifle for beginners, or a cheap date at the range. If you want to practice the fundamentals of precision shooting and target transition on a budget, the .22 LR Rimfire is a good choice. However, if you are looking for a serious rifle for shooting competitions or hunting, you’re going to want a bigger caliber — the Ruger Precision Rifle.
Final Thoughts
If you want a reliable and accurate precision rifle for long-range shooting, then the Ruger Precision Rifle is worth every penny.
Here’s why. It is:
- Inexpensive – Most precision rifles will cost significantly more than the RPR.
- Customizable – Out of the box, it can be made to properly fit almost any shooter.
- Accurate – That’s what is all about, right? With a decent scope, it will hit what you want.
- Modular – It can accept almost any AR furniture on the market for further customization.
In short, the Ruger Precision Rifle is a budget-friendly, highly accurate precision bolt-action rifle that hits the mark when you need it to. For the price, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy the RPR again.
Have you ever used a Ruger Precision Rifle? If so, what are your thoughts on it? Let us know in the Comment section.
Editor’s note: This post was originally published in April of 2020. It has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and clarity.
