One Tough Gun: Don't Overlook Ruger's Precision Rifle

Kyle Mizokami

Security,

It's a budget saver!

Key point: It's a good rifle not only for experts but beginners too.

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.

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.