When the initial reviews of the Ruger Precision Rifle came out, I was skeptical about the gloriously rosey review noting groundbreaking features… it just screamed to me that someone was all too happy to whip out knee pads and a bib to be one of the first to review Ruger’s latest, so I waited a until now for my full review. Initially, my eyes rolled hard with the thought that Ruger has just dropped its standard, Mauser-influenced action into a billet chassis, and that did not sound particularly groundbreaking—I was of course wrong completely on that point.
Another part of that reluctance was that everyone was espousing the precision greatness of the Ruger Precision Rifle with almost every review being in the 6.5 Creedmoor round. Sure, the 6.5 CM has been around, however the round itself was developed and is known for insane levels of precision, so I was skeptical that, perhaps, all the glowing remarks would not carry over into a more traditional round such as the .308 or .243 chambering.
Not seeing a single .308 review of the rifle, I considered it my duty to get one. The rifle arrived, and my first words at my FFL dealer were, “Damn, Ruger nailed it on this rifle!” The only other rifle, which impressed me as much out of the box from an innovation, engineering, and quality, was the groundbreaking Tavor design. This new Ruger rifle was nothing like any Ruger I had seen before, and it most certainly is not your daddy’s Ruger.
As much as I hate to agree with some of the noted writers who love everything, I will make the statement that the Ruger Precision Rifle is a competition killer in the precision rifle market. After seeing, handling, shooting, and testing this rifle, it is that good. The Ruger Precision Rifle delivers it all in one package—and not just yet another package you need to upgrade later, but one which is arguably as good or better than anything available aftermarket right out of the box.
If I peer into my stable of precision rifles, I think of how the Howa 1500 series began turning the heads of hardcore Remington 700 shooters. I have a factory barrel Howa .308 which can shoot sub-½” groups all-day long with the right ammo, but I now have the action nestled into a XLR billet chassis and have upgraded to a Timney trigger. I have done the same to several Remington SPS 700s as well, and the net result is dropping about $1,200-$1,500 on a upgrades to make it as good as the Ruger Precision Rifle is right out of the box.
Precision rifles generally start in the $2,000+ range with my FN SPR A3G being a great example, which is still less than any of the custom shop options. So, most people plan to build a precision rifle from a Remington or Savage action knowing, in the end, the receiver may be the only remaining stock part left on the gun. Around $600-$700 is spent on a base rifle, then the upgrades start with a $250 trigger, $1,000 stock with box-fed magazine capability, and $500 in action tuning and barrel re-crowning.
A match-barrel swap may also be done if the factory barrel is not delivering on expectations that start around $500 including install. It does not stop there. Other must-have accessories include an extended bolt handle conversion ($100-$150) and a 20 MOA scope base ($100) to give you more adjustment for longer shots. In the end, that $600 Remington 700 ends up being a $2,700-$3,200 rifle pretty easily and looking back, the off the shelf options actually start looking like great deals.
Remington has a similar offering, as does Howa, but Ruger joined the party with this rifle, and it is fundamentally changing the entire price structure of the market with everything noted above included right down to the match barrel for a stated $1,399 MSRP. It is without question, the best deal on the market, and has been designed to be easy to upgrade should the desire strike you. Want a Timney trigger? Sure, drop it in, or any AR-15 barrel nut-compatible forend. Even the bolt handle can be swapped out easily. Many manufacturers are now making aftermarket drop-in barrels including carbon fiber sleeved premium barrels from Proof Research that only require a simple DIY installation with Go/No-Go gauges.
Like many of the newer high-accuracy Ruger rifles, the RPR (Ruger Precision Rifle) is crafted using the new high tech machining capabilities, and you can tell. The all around fit of the rifle is extremely well made. Out of the box, the Ruger RPR delivers everything a precision shooter would want, including a really nice precision action, threaded suppressor-ready barrel, fully-adjustable precision rifle stock with folding adapter included, AICS and Magpul compatible magazine well, really incredible trigger that is people get into arguments about whether it is worth upgrading, and a barrel which is arguably proving itself as one of the most accurate factory barrels on the market. It is all there in the box for a $1,300 MSRP complete with your choice of .243, .308, 6.5 Creedmoor, and 6mm Creedmoor caliber options.
At this point, I have had time behind all the calibers with the exception of the new 6mm Creedmoor, and all are outstanding shooting guns that will all deliver sub-MOA groups. One of my more impressive .308 groups was a .3” 100-yard group.
Specifications |
|
|---|---|
| Model Number: | 18001 |
| Caliber: | .308 WIN. |
| Capacity: | 10 |
| Stock: | Folding, Adjustable Length of Pull, and Comb Height |
| Barrel: | Cold Hammer – Forged, 5R Rifling |
| Barrel Length: | 20.00″ |
| Folded Length: | 30.60″ |
| Overall Length: | 38.25″ – 41.75″ |
| Height: | 7.30″ |
| Width: | 3.30″ |
| Weight: | 9.70 lbs. |
| Length of Pull: | 12.00”- 15.50″ |
| Twist: | 1:10″ |
| MSRP: | $1,399 |
At least with the samples I shot, the Creedmoor and .308 chamberings seemed to be the most accurate. Every gun is of course unique and the .243 was still easily a sub-MOA gun. The geometry was well thought out on the stock, and recoil was extremely forgiving once the stock was tuned to fit to me. With LR Magpul magazines, the RPR even delivers a last round hold open, so you know when your gun is empty during a spirited competition.
The selector is a fast 45-degree AR-15 style, which is notably quicker than other safety styles. The handguards are beautiful Samson Evolution handguards and can be swapped with any AR-15-compatible handguard. The bolt disassembly tool is stored in a small compartment at the and of the bolt, and the included scope base is 20-MOA—all nice touches and upgrades for any shooter. The newer version of the RPR includes a few upgrades, including muzzle brake, metal bolt storage area, and a different handguard.
Final Thoughts
The total Ruger Precision Rifle package adds up to a gun that shoots extremely well, is stunningly accurate for the price, and loaded with pretty much everything you could want in a precision rifle—for far less than any other offering on the market. Ruger… simply amazing gun for the price… now where is my .223 and 10/22 variants?
Do you own a Ruger Precision Rifle? What is your favorite caliber? Share your answers in the comment section.
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Major Pandemic is an editor at large who loves everything about shooting, hunting, the outdoors, and all those life saving little survival related products. His goal is simple, tell a good story in the form of a truthful review all while having fun. He contributes content to a wide variety of print and digital magazines and newsletters for companies and manufacturers throughout the industry with content exposure to over 2M readers monthly. www.MajorPandemic.com