This Precision Rifle Made by Ruger is Truly Unique

By Kyle Mizokami,The National Interest

In the precision shooting world, quality and affordability rarely go hand in hand. The pursuit of accuracy means precision rifles can often cost in the thousands of dollars. One of America’s most prolific gun makers with a reputation for both quality and affordability has released a rifle that manages to combine both, shattering the entry cost for the precision rifle world.

(This first appeared earlier in the month.)

Traditionally, the bar to becoming a quality, long-range precision shooter has been a high one. In order to shoot at exceptionally long ranges of 700 yards or more, an enthusiast has typically needed a relatively expensive, high-quality rifle. Companies such as Accuracy International made purpose-built precision rifles (also manufactured for military sniper use) or highly trained gunsmiths would take an unexceptional rifle, such as the Remington 700, and extensively customize it. The cost of such a rifle could easily range into the thousands of dollars—and that’s not even counting the cost of the scope.

In 2015, Sturm Ruger shook the precision rifle world with the introduction of the Ruger Precision Rifle. Founded shortly after World War II by William Ruger and Alexander McCormick, Ruger has concentrated on producing quality but relatively inexpensive firearms. Generally speaking, Ruger is to firearms what Ford is to the world of automobiles. Ruger has become known for such weapons as the Mini-14 semi-automatic rifle, the Hawkeye hunting rifle, and the GP100 double action revolver.

The Ruger Precision Rifle, or RPR, is based on the action of its budget Ruger American bolt action hunting rifle. The RPR uses the same three-lug bolt action, but that’s where the similarities end. The RPR has a cold hammer-forged chrome-moly steel barrel available in 20-, 22-, and 2- inch barrel lengths. The barrel is tipped off with the Ruger Hybrid Muzzle Brake, which minimizes barrel flash while at the same time mitigating noise and blast to the left and right of the shooter. Neighboring shooters who have been on the receiving end of muzzle brakes without blast mitigation in mind will appreciate the RPR’s reduced signature.

The base model Ruger Precision Rifle, in .308 Winchester, is 42.75” inches long with its stock extended, three inches wide, and 7.3 inches high. The rifle can fold its stock to the side, cutting length to an impressive 31.6 inches. The rifle weighs 9.8 pounds, and with a suitable scope and bipod will probably weigh just under thirteen pounds.

The RPR was first released in .308 Winchester, one of the most common precision shooting calibers, followed by 6.5 Creedmoor. Ruger has recently expanded its lineup to include even longer range calibers including 6mm Creedmoor, .300 Winchester Magnum, and the largest of all, .338 Lapua Magnum. Each rifle comes with two ten-round Magpul magazines. In order to tempt existing precision shooters who might be curious what the buzz is all about, Ruger made the RPR capable of accepting industry standard Accuracy International magazines.