It used to be that you had to build a custom rifle to be competitive in the Precision Rifle Series(PRS) or National Rifle League (NRL) shooting sports. Nowadays, that’s not so much the case. With the increase in popularity of long-range shooting sports, more and more manufacturershave seen the value in building factory race-ready rifles. Ruger is one such company in the long-range rifle manufacturing world that is in tune with the increase in demand for these types of guns.
Ruger sent me one of the new 6.5 Creedmoor bolt-action rifles to review, which is easy to accessorize and customize. The Ruger Precision Rifle (RPR) isn’t a new gun, as it was introduced in 2015, but it has been overhauled with upgrades enough to call it a new design. This re-design came at an excellent time for Ruger as long-range shooting sports have seen a massive increase in participation in the last couple of years, and the guns competitors use now are nothing like they were in 2015. The RPR was revolutionary back then, and Ruger has improved the design after garnering years of feedback from professional competitive shooters.
Ruger Precision Rifle Series
In the Precision Rifle Series, for example, new shooters can compete in the Production division, which caps the amount a shooter can spend on their rifle and scope. This division allows for more competitive equity amongst shooters and is where many new shooters start before eventually moving to the Open Division. All Ruger Precision Rifles other than the 6mm GT would be legal to use in the Production division. While the RPR is legal for use in the Production division, this rifle isn’t one to count out as an option to compete with in the Opendivision.
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After spending a year competing in the Precision Rifle Series, I learned much about what matters in a rifle and what I’d consider bonus features. In my opinion, Ruger hit the mark when upgrading this rifle, and with the new calibers and even more new features they’re coming out with, it looks like Ruger is investing long-term into the long-range shooting market. The RPR, at its core, is a rifle that meets all my basic needs to compete and perform in long-range competitions.
Customizable Stock
The biggest issue shooters have, especially those new to rifles, is incorrectly setting up the gun to them or not doing any setup. Every shooter needs to customize the stock to fit them for many reasons. The length of pull is crucial to reaching the grip and having the perfect trigger pull. The cheekpiece height must be set up so the shooter can create a proper cheek weld and look through the optic with ease. Finally, the height of the buttstock aids with the comfort and stabilization of the rifle when shooting. If any of these items are out of place, a shooter can develop bad habits to correct the issue by moving their body, grip, head, or arm to compensate for a poor setup.
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The Ruger Precision Rifle has a stock that is completely adjustable, and no tools are needed, so it can be adjusted in the field. The length of pull can be adjusted by rotating the lever counterclockwise and pushing the button to allow the buttpad stock assembly to move freely. Reverse the process to lock the assembly in your desired place. The buttpad can be raised or lowered by holding the buttpad button on the left side of the stock while adjusting. The cheek riser can be raised or lowered by rotating the thumbwheel. Finally, the cheekpiece can move forward or rearward by pressing the cheek rail button under the cheekpiece and sliding the cheekpiece to its desired location.
Pro Tip: Mount your optic first before making adjustments, as the scope mount height and scope field of view will affect the position of the cheekpiece.
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ARCA & M-LOK Handguard
The RPR handguard is compatible with ARCA and M-LOK accessories. In the PRS and NRL world, ARCA rails rule. Most competitors use the ARCA rail system to mount bag riders, bipods, bipod extenders, Chronograph mounts, and more. I recommend sticking with ARCA rails if you plan to compete in long-range shooting competitions, as you can always borrow gear from other shooters if needed. The M-LOK rail allows you to mount sling mounts, external weights, a data card holder, a spare round holder, and more.
The name of the precision game is stability, whether you’re competing, hunting, or simply plinking. A quality bipod is an essential tool all long-range shooters should have. The FC-5 G2 bipod by Accu-Tac is a behemoth of a bipod that can do it all. This bipod has four individual leg positions, nine height adjustments, and includes panning and canting capabilities,which can be locked in place with a lever. The Sled Feet makes for a more stable position when shooting prone, modified prone, and benchrest. I recommend the G2 spikes for shooting on top of cars, on uneven terrain, and soft surfaces.
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20 MOA Picatinny Rail
Ruger outfitted the RPR with a 20 MOA rail for mounting optics. A 20 MOA (Minute of Angle) rail essentially tilts the scope downwards, which is what precision rifle shooters want to make elevation adjustments to hit targets at 1,000 yards and beyond. When the scope is mounted downward, the scope’s internal elevation adjustment can be used more effectively to dial up in elevation rather than having to dial downward.
It’s important to talk about choosing a quality long-range scope to impact targets easily and with a wide field of view. The minimum magnification level I recommend for PRS is 5x, and the maximum is a personal preference that also can depend on your eyesight. You never want to max out your magnification when shooting at long-range targets. You want to have a wide field of view around your intended target to see missed shots and be able to make corrections. When you’re at max magnification, finding your next target can be very challenging without zoomingout. I typically set my scopes at 19x or 20x magnification and never change it. With all that said, a 5-25x, 5-30x, or 7-35x scope are all great options. And without getting into the weeds, learn to use an MRAD reticle and not MOA for long-range shooting.
Sig Sauer Riflescope For The Ruger Precision Rifle
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The Sig Sauer Tango DMR 5-30x scope is on the more affordable end of long-range scopes but still of quality. It is also legal to use in PRS’s Production division. You want a long-range scope with a zero stop on the elevation dial to make it easy to set it back to zero without looking at the dial. The first focal plane MRAD reticle makes it easy to hold for elevation and windage if needed. I’ve never used a throw lever with fiber optics to mark the magnification level, but this feature is helpful after shooting in rainy and overcast conditions. Sig Sauer also sent scope rings that came with a leveling tool. Something else I appreciate about the scope rings is the inch-pound torque specifications engraved on the rings themselves. Sig can’t make it any more straightforward than that!
Adjustable Trigger
The RPR is built with the Ruger Marksman Adjustable trigger, which can be adjusted from 2.25 to 5 pounds. When learning to make precision shots, it’s never a bad idea to start with a heavier trigger pull and work your way down to a light trigger. This is especially true of new shooters. Ruger stored the wrench for adjustment in the bolt shroud for easy access anywhere and anytime.
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Easy Controls
I want to mention the easy controls on this rifle. An ambidextrous safety is set up on a 90-degreethrow, like an AR-15 safety. The oversized bolt handle makes it easy to reload without searchingfor the handle and gives you a great purchase even when wearing gloves. Finally, the magazine release lever is behind the magazine and accessible from the left or right-hand side of the rifle.
Range & Accuracy Testing
If you plan to shoot the RPR suppressed, great, but if you want a race-ready rifle without modifying it, the stock muzzle brake efficiently reduces recoil. A quality muzzle brake that reduces recoil also helps improve your accuracy. Of course, ammunition selection is a big piece of the puzzle that determines the accuracy of a rifle. I have different tiers or levels of ammunition, including training ammo, plinking ammo, competition ammo, and hunting ammo. Since the Ruger Precision Rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor would also make for a solid hunting rifle, I tested both competition and hunting ammo.
I’m so used to shooting from a 26-inch barrel that a 2-inch shorter barrel felt different but still performed well. The RPR 6.5 Creedmoor rifle has a cold hammer-forged, chrome-moly steel 24-inch barrel with 5R Rifling. At 100 yards, I was getting around 1 MOA to ½ MOA accuracy out of the rifle. The Federal Gold Medal performed the best, as expected, as it’s designed for long-range accuracy. This ammunition uses Gold Medal primers, Gold Medal brass, and an Open Tipped Match bullet for a high ballistic coefficient design. If you plan on competing with the Ruger Precision Rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor, I recommend this ammunition.
The Federal Fusion and Remington Core-Lokt both shot solid groups at 100 yards and were accurate enough for me to use them for hunting. The Core-Lokt specifically uses a controlled expansion bullet. The tapered copper jacket is locked to a solid lead core and delivers massive expansion on impact. Hunters have been using the Remington Core-Lokt brand since 1939, and the 140-grain Pointed Soft Point Core Lokt is perfect for big game hunting.
Final Thoughts
I’m excited to see Ruger’s progress in the Precision Rifle and the new calibers. I love companies that listen to shooters and use that feedback to make beneficial improvements to guns. I have to say I would run this rifle straight out of the box to a competition without any modifications needed. It’s the total package!
Check out the Ruger Precision Rifle’s Rotten Gun Review here.
Ruger Precision Rifle Specifications
- Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor
- Action: Bolt Action
- Capacity: 10
- Barrel Length: 24 inches
- Twist: 1:8 RH
- Thread Pattern: 5/8″-24
- Weight: 12.5 pounds
- Height: 7.50 inches
- Trigger: Ruger Marksman Adjustable
- Overall Length: 47.25 inches
- Length of Pull: 12 inches – 15.50 inches
- MSRP: $2209.00
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