Precision rifle shooting is all about repeatability. It doesn’t matter if you are banging steel at a thousand yards or punching holes through paper at a hundred; there’s no argument that gear matters. It can be confusing for someone searching for a new precision rifle as they search online and in their local gun shop, trying to decide what makes one better than the next in a sea of sales pitches and flashy catchphrases. Through them all, one I personally continue to see show up on the line at long-range courses I instruct is the Ruger Precision Rifle (RPR), and for good reason.

Originally released in 2015, the RPR recently received a facelift, with improvements being made to its design after taking note of important feedback being received from competitive shooters and other end users as to what could be done to take it the Ruger RPR Gen 2 to the next level.

Ruger RPR Gen 2

Upon arrival, this new iteration of the RPR had a look about it that said, “Hey, I’m here and ready to go; let’s get to work.” The model we received was chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor while also being available in the following chamberings: .308 WIN, 6mm GT, 338 Lapua Mag, 6.5 PRC, 6mm Creedmoor, .300 Win Mag, 300 PRC, and 6mm GT.

Starting at the back end, you’ll find an adjustable buttstock where you can get the fit just right when it comes to length-of-pull and height of the buttpad itself. No need to stretch that neck upwards either, as the cheek rest can be adjusted not only for height but horizontal positioning as well. One last thing to note on the back end of this rifle is its folding stock, allowing it to pack down nicely into almost any rifle case. This may seem irrelevant to some, but for competition shooters or others loading up their car full of gear for a weekend of shooting, anything to save space is a godsend.

The grip on the RPR felt nice and secure in the hand, both during testing and general handling of the gun. The included MOE K2-XL grip from Magpul is the same as the model they produce for AR/M4 builds, just slightly enlarged for the Creedmoor platform. The grip angle was more vertical on this grip, which allowed for an easy and natural trigger finger placement once on the gun.

Mapgul Equipped

Our testing conditions come range day were in the mid-50s, so high temperatures were a non-issue, but should you find yourself sweating it out during competition, you’ll surely come to appreciate the cleverly placed serrations and grip texture on the MOE K2-XL. As far as magazines are concerned, the RPR ships with two 10-round Magpul PMAGs but is also compatible with both AICS magazines as well as M110/SR-25/DPMS and Magpul-style mags. Competition shooters, or those who casually attempt to run similar drills at the range, will appreciate the contoured design on the front of the magazine well, allowing shooters to better support their gun when braced against a barricade of some sort.

Sitting atop the 15-inch free-float handguard is a 20-MOA Picatinny rail ready to accept your preferred optic, with additional M-LOK slots adorning the handguard should you wish to include additional accessories or bipod. Speaking of customization, the components that come standard on the RPR are all AR-compatible, so if you find yourself wanting to customize a certain feature or test out a new component at some point, you’ll be able to do so with ease.

Reaching the end of the RPR’s 24-inch heavy-contour barrel is a threaded muzzle topped off with a factory muzzle break, which you may choose to keep or replace with your preferred muzzle device. On range day, we opted to keep the factory muzzle brake on and found it to work quite well. We were able to call all of our own shots as the gun shot nice and flat and wasn’t jumping around after every shot.

The Ruger RPR Gen 2 is built for long-range shooting.

Rounds Downrange

Testing this rifle come range day couldn’t have been any nicer for this time of year, with temperatures in the mid-50s and an eerily unusual lack of wind, which I dare not comment about out loud because that’s one way to get a half-value 20-mph wind appear out of nowhere. If you know, you know. On the menu for testing purposes were Berger’s 130-grain Hybrid OTM Tactical, Doubletap’s 140-grain DT Longrange HPBT, and Black Hills’ 130-grain Dual Performance.

The gun cycled without issue, regardless of the rounds it was being fed. The 70-degree three-lug bolt is oversized and makes cycling very smooth, intuitive, and fuss-free… simply keep your head on the gun, sights on target, and your hand magically goes through the motions. The trigger operation was nice as well, with no creep and a crisp, clean break. While we kept the trigger pull weight the same as it was shipped from the factory, the included Ruger Marksman Trigger is adjustable anywhere from 2.25 pounds up to 5 pounds. When it was all said and done, the smallest average group size of the day went to Berger at 0.75 inches, with Black Hills and Doubletap following closely behind with average group sizes of .80 and 1.2 inches, respectively.

The Ruger Precision Rifle features an adjustable buttstock.

Saved Rounds

One of the things that I like most about this iteration of the RPR is its versatility. It’s not a dedicated race gun, safe queen, or go-to hunting rifle. It can do all three, and it can do them well. Whether you’re just getting into the world of precision rifle shooting or you’ve been around for years, you can’t beat what you get for the price. Run it just how it is out of the box, or customize it to your heart’s content… the Ruger Precision Rifle Gen 2 is ready for whatever you can throw at it.