Experiences with the Ruger Precision Rifle?

[NoDak]

Has anyone else out there picked up an RPR? If so, what have you thought so far. I'd like to get some real opinions- not the typical, shameless gun rag promotions.

Thanks!

 

[huntsman22]

heck of a rifle for the coin.....

 

[NoDak]

That certainly seems to be the case!

 

[GRAMPS 51]

Hi My son picked up one in 308 last week we just started picking up some loading components yesterday hopefully will start working up loads this week and post some results

Gramps

 

[azprancer]

Hi NoDak,
I began "Field Testing" two of the rifles a few months in advance of the official announcement and can say that based
on my experiences with examples in both 243 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor calibers that these Rugers are THE MOST
ACCURATE RIFLES AT THE PRICE POINT ON THE MARKET TODAY !
Besides the adjustable folding stock, the adjustable trigger, easy safety manipulation, the ability to handle various magazine
types, the 20 MOA scope rail for long range shooting and the obvious visual "Sex Appeal" the rifles are just plain fun.
During initial work-up's with reloads many (4) shot groups were in the 1/4" to 3/8" group size at 100 yards, at 200 yards
most groups were in the 3/4" to 7/8" range and at 300 yards a number of the groups were 2" or so.
During one testing segment I had the 6.5 on the 400 yard range at Gunsite where a challenge to engage fired 223 cartridge
cases from the 400 mark was made........didn't get them every time but a hit rate of 50% at nearly a 1/4 mile was pretty impressive.
Factory ammunition was fired in the 6.5 and was nearly as good as precision reloads.....Hornady 140 A-Max (Match) and
Winchester 140 HPBT (Match) were tried and overall groups were just slightly larger than reloads with the Winchester
edging out the Hornady by a small margin. The 243 with factory ammo produced groups from 3/8" to just slightly over 1/2".
Rifles in both calibers were taken to Colorado on a prairie dog hunt and the results can only be described as beyond
outstanding ! shooting 60 gr Sierra HP's in the 243 and 100 A-Max's in the 6.5 the hit rate for BOTH rifles was 94+ % at
ranges out to 425 yards! you simply couldn't miss.
I have also had minimal experience with the rifles chambered in 308 but to this point I have only tested with factory
ammunition so until I have the time to run one with match grade reloads I cannot form an objective opinion.
Given the choice of only ONE caliber I would without reservation choose the 6.5 Creedmoor.
If you can find one of these rifles for sale (Especially in 6.5) grab it ! You'll not be disappointed.
Let me know if you have any further questions.
Recently acquired some of Hornady's 140 Grain ELD (Match) bullets and decided to give them a try.....

40.5 grains of H-4350
140 gr. Hornady ELD (Match)
Hornady brass
CCI 200
Overall 2.790"
Muzzle Velocity of 2650 FPS
(4) shots into .236" @ 100 yards !

I'm sure the rifle will shoot tighter with some load tuning.
azprancer

 

[Don Lovel]

Murdock's Ranch Supply in Salida had a .243 in stock recently. Cool looking and dang good bang for the buck. My 77MkIIV .243 is one heck of an accurate shooting rifle, if these things can outshoot it, they are worth the money, which was really only $300 than I have into my MkIIV & scope.

 

[gtxmonte]

My experience has not been the same as above. I had one ordered and cancelled it. So far I have shot 5 of them in various calibers, as well as had conversations with those 5 owners. All have the same problem. A cold bore group is pretty good, but if the barrel gets any heat in it, the accuracy goes to pot........as far as grouping. Now does it still shoot "minute of prairie dog" or "minute of steel plates".........yep. But the groupings open way up, if that is something you care about.

3 of the 5 have now been rebarreled and the actions trued. They are getting exceptional results.

So I decided if I was going to pay over 1000 for a rifle and rebarrel it, I would just as soon buy a Sendero or similar and put it in a chassis instead.

I am sure others will be along to vehemently disagree and that's fine. One or two..........ok, but 5 rifles with same issue. I'm out

 

[AKDRSS]

My experience has not been the same as above. I had one ordered and cancelled it. So far I have shot 5 of them in various calibers, as well as had conversations with those 5 owners. All have the same problem. A cold bore group is pretty good, but if the barrel gets any heat in it, the accuracy goes to pot........as far as grouping. Now does it still shoot "minute of prairie dog" or "minute of steel plates".........yep. But the groupings open way up, if that is something you care about.

3 of the 5 have now been rebarreled and the actions trued. They are getting exceptional results.

So I decided if I was going to pay over 1000 for a rifle and rebarrel it, I would just as soon buy a Sendero or similar and put it in a chassis instead.

I am sure others will be along to vehemently disagree and that's fine. One or two..........ok, but 5 rifles with same issue. I'm out

What are the groups cold vs hot barrels?

 

[gtxmonte]

The groups start stringing and opening up considerably. Many tout these three shot groups. A ten shot string without letting the barrel cool between rounds will open that tiny 3 shot group to more than a few inches. If you just want to bang steel, it's great.................But to be really accurate, the barrel is neither heavy enough, nor high enough quality. The rifles I spoke of that were rebarreled shoot very well.

The statement above about "most accurate rifle at the price point on the market today". Not sure what that market is exactly but several less expensive rifles shoot better. Now if we are talking about the "Precision Shooting Series" which this rifle was designed for...........that may be, as it has no direct competitor

 

[AKDRSS]

You can't compare a 3 shot group with a 10 shot group in any off the shelf rifle.

 

[gtxmonte]

I know that. The point is, the RPR opens WAY up as the barrel gets heat, others don't. It's that simple.

Guys come on here and talk about these tiny 3 shot groups, the rifles shoot ONE time, out of a cold barrel. ONE tiny group ONE time, does NOT make it a 1/2 MOA rifle. It makes it a rifle that fired a 1/2 MOA 3 shot group, ONE time. The average that it shoots ALL the time, is what MOA rifle it is. Now, that said, this is NOT a target rifle and was never intended to be. It was designed to compete in the "Precision Rifle Series" as an entry level rifle. It seems more than capable of what it was designed for. If you are looking for a long range target rifle........there are better options for less money.

The OP of this post asked for real world opinions, not gun rag and "fan boy" opinions. I gave my results and thoughts on real world use. I'm not impressed, but that's only MY opinion, yours may vary

Heck, ask Huntsman22. He has a RPR and also has a Ruger American he just put in an alum chassis. I think both are 6.5 Creedmoor. Bet the RAR shoots just as well as the RPR

 

[427mach1]

I know that. The point is, the RPR opens WAY up as the barrel gets heat, others don't. It's that simple.

Guys come on here and talk about these tiny 3 shot groups, the rifles shoot ONE time, out of a cold barrel. ONE tiny group ONE time, does NOT make it a 1/2 MOA rifle. It makes it a rifle that fired a 1/2 MOA 3 shot group, ONE time. The average that it shoots ALL the time, is what MOA rifle it is.

Take a look at this review, which concludes that the rifle is sub-moa. http://www.gunsumerreports.com/review_ruger_precision_rifle_p5.php

The average of (16) 5-shot groups (not 3-shot groups) of 0.81 inches.

 

[gtxmonte]

I know that. The point is, the RPR opens WAY up as the barrel gets heat, others don't. It's that simple.

Guys come on here and talk about these tiny 3 shot groups, the rifles shoot ONE time, out of a cold barrel. ONE tiny group ONE time, does NOT make it a 1/2 MOA rifle. It makes it a rifle that fired a 1/2 MOA 3 shot group, ONE time. The average that it shoots ALL the time, is what MOA rifle it is.

Take a look at this review, which concludes that the rifle is sub-moa. http://www.gunsumerreports.com/review_ruger_precision_rifle_p5.php

The average of (16) 5-shot groups (not 3-shot groups) of 0.81 inches.

What you want me to say dude? My own experience with 5 rifles and their owners is not the same..........That's all I am saying. Once again, guy asked for opinions, I gave mine. Some don't like it, or don't agree........that's fine, but doesn't change my own findings.

I have a safe full of heavy barrel, long range rifles, that's my "thing". I shoot some matches and am involved with a large group that does the same. I am no brand "snob" as my rifles are Savage, Remington, Winchester, Cooper as well as some customs. Have had some Rugers as well. So when the RPR came out, I mentioned to my smith about wanting one, because I sort of wanted a "chassis rifle" and possibly shoot some of the "PRS" matches. He said you need to talk to "these guys" first. Those guys being in the group that had them. So that is what I did, as well as shot their rifles at the next group outing we had. The results are the results. My smith is also the one who rebarreled the rifles for 3 of the guys in the group and I saw those results as well. So as a result of that, I just decided that if I was going to have to buy a $1200 rifle and probably rebarrel it right off the bat, I would do something else. The something else was put one of my existing actions in a chassis.

 

[Nomosendero]

I know that. The point is, the RPR opens WAY up as the barrel gets heat, others don't. It's that simple.

Guys come on here and talk about these tiny 3 shot groups, the rifles shoot ONE time, out of a cold barrel. ONE tiny group ONE time, does NOT make it a 1/2 MOA rifle. It makes it a rifle that fired a 1/2 MOA 3 shot group, ONE time. The average that it shoots ALL the time, is what MOA rifle it is.

Take a look at this review, which concludes that the rifle is sub-moa. http://www.gunsumerreports.com/review_ruger_precision_rifle_p5.php

The average of (16) 5-shot groups (not 3-shot groups) of 0.81 inches.

What you want me to say dude? My own experience with 5 rifles and their owners is not the same..........That's all I am saying. Once again, guy asked for opinions, I gave mine. Some don't like it, or don't agree........that's fine, but doesn't change my own findings.

Yep, it happens with all products! I will not forget or ignore your findings, but I have read at least 5 good reviews to the one bad one, from Snipers Hide, Longrangehunting, on and on. Fortunately, I am not in a hurry and will be at least a year before I get one, but likely will.
I have to wonder why you had the shifting in issue with a free floated barrel and no "bedding" to worry about?
Oh well !

 

[gtxmonte]

I think it's just the quality of the barrel. These were all early run rifles. Maybe the barrels are better now, don't know for sure, only what I saw. I still may buy one at a later date and give it a shot, as admittedly I have not shot, nor even talked to anybody who bought one recently.

Like you, I have seen some GOOD results on the Hide, but have also seen several there that have been rebarreled as well. I think Patriot Valley is reworking them on a regular basis and has a waiting list