Ruger Precision Rifle

[Rastoff]

I've been reading about these since they were announced about a year ago. They have been as rare as a blue unicorn though. A local store not only got some in, but had them listed for a few hundred under list price. So, I broke into the emergency gun fund and got one.

Today was the first time I got to shoot it. Here are the results:

The lower group was the first group with quality ammo; Federal Premium, Sierra Matchking, 168gn, 2650FPS. It is three shots. Then I tweaked the scope a little and fired the upper group. It is 7 shots. Drop the top-left most shot and the group size reduces to .788MOA.

Full disclosure, I actually took 15 shots at this target:

The enormous group you see at the bottom there was my first 5 shots. They were taken with PMC Bronze, 147gn cartridges. I don't remember how fast, but clearly the gun isn't happy with them. Of course, they served the purpose of fouling the barrel a little prior to getting serious.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with the gun. I will try some longer distance shots Monday.

Ruger Precision Rifle - .308Win

 

[huntsman22]

yeah. Let us know how it does at 1000.

 

[shell627]

My son has one in 6.5 creedmore.He shoots nice groups at 1000 yds.I can barely see 1000yds.

 

[bishopm14]

I picked up mine in 6.5 from the FFL Wednesday. Waiting on rings so I can stick its temporary scope on there and start shooting. Already got the TBAC brake/ suppressor mount on it to mate the Ultra 9 to. Looking forward to playing with the rifle and the cartridge. Measuring from the middle of the trigger face mine is consistently tripping at 1.5 lbs out of the box.

 

[Rastoff]

yeah. Let us know how it does at 1000.

Small moves. First I'll take it to 200 and 300. That's the limit of my local range. Then I'll head out to the desert to find much further distances. I know this spot...

This was 600 yards:

 

[loc n load]

Ruger precision

You have a good rifle. The first one of these I saw was last April during a police sniper school conducted by the state law enforcement academy ( I am part of their instructor cadre). We had 40 officers on the line and one of them had a Ruger precision rifle in 308. We took them back in 100 yd increments to 500 yds in a stiff cross wind, pouring rain ( of course) and the fellow shooting the Ruger turned in some very respectable groups, especially for a shooter who was just learning the ropes with his rifle, scope,come ups, shooting skill sets and wind holds, and was shooting in adverse conditions.
Another member of the cadre ( who is part of my weekly shooting group) was so impressed,he acquired one and has been shooting it every week since then, with me spotting for him.
I have also had quite a bit of trigger time on the rifle. We have shot several different loads ( Hornady, Federal, Blackhills & military in various bullet weights)through the rifle, as with all rifles, it likes some better than others.
So far, it really likes the M118 LR loading. The rifle consistently groups sub Moa and we have worked it out to 1000 yds. We consistently shoot ragged one hole groups at 100 and our best 1000 yd group to date was just over 1/2 moa at 1000 yds. The scope we are using is a Night Force SHV.
I am working another rifle school this week and a rep fromRuger is going to be there and bring several of their rifles, I hope to shoot one of their 6.5's, as that rifle / caliber confiq is in my future. Good shooting and enjoy your Ruger.

 

[vonn]

Interesting rifle. Thanks to all for the reports. Loc n load let us know what you think after your school exposure.

 

[loc n load]

Most certainly will do.

 

[Rastoff]

I'm a big fan of simplicity. Unless you're trying to screw someone up, simpler is always better. This rifle is simple, but complete. Everything you need and nothing you don't.

• It takes standard AR10 mags and comes with 2 PMAGS.
• It's bolt action. The bolt is removed by pressing on the bolt stop on the left side of the receiver.
• Only three places need lube; end of firing pin, bolt cams and some very light lube on the trigger mechanism.
• Comes with an adjustable stock. It is super easy to adjust with simple cam levers that are properly adjusted at the factory.
• Uses standard AR safety lever that can be switched to either side.
• Trigger adjustment tool is nested in the rear of the bolt along with a bolt disassembly tool. (I have not disassembled the bolt yet so, I'm not sure how easy/hard that is yet.)
• Uses standard AR grip. if you want to change it, there are hundreds on the market and not expensive.
• A short picatinny rail is included, but must be installed by user. Also, there is a regular sling stud. This allows you to use a picatinny mount bipod or one that attaches to a stud. There is also a keymod quick disconnect mount that can be placed anywhere on the forearm. There are three places for quick detach sling attachment on the stock and one that can be used when the stock is folded.

I'm absolutely blown away with the design of this gun. Someone was clearly thinking. Not only that, but they've brought it to market at a price substantially less than ANY other manufacturer of a similar gun with the same features.

As of right now, there is only one part I don't like. The rear bolt shroud is plastic. This is a part that should be aluminum or some other more substantial material. I'm sure the gun would function without it, but it's still a weak spot in an otherwise really well thought out firearm.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have been talking with several owners here in central Ohio. The 308's have not been doing near as well as the 6.5's. Most of the 6.5's are getting .25-.5 MOA out to 800 and .4 to 1 MOA at 1000 or a little further. The 308's are running 50% larger MOA groups. These are the experienced shooters, and most of them are using scopes that cost almost double what the gun costs.

I have several friends that compete with the Savage single shot bolt guns and usually turn in the best groups for the day. I shoot the Savage 10 BAS and 110 BA (338 Lapua). I don't think a magazine fed guns will ever be able to beat the single shots. I am glad to hear that the Ruger's accuracy is doing as good as it is.

When they first came out, Ruger claimed they lost money on every Precision Rifle they sold. They just wanted to knock Savage out of first place in the market. I see the price has risen, so they are probably making money now.

For ammo, I would like to recommend the Hornady TAP in 165 A-max. I had about 1800 rounds of the same lot (I set back 500 for a rainy day) that shot smaller than .1 MOA @ 100. Mostly, I switched to reloads with the 155 SMK Palma over 47 grains of Varget. After 1400 rounds of this I averaged .377 MOA from 235 to 1035 yards. I picked up 400 rounds of TAP 155 A-max but haven't got to the range with it yet. A one point I had about 2800 rounds of 168 grain Special Ball Lake City that shot in the .5-.8 MOA but that is pretty heard to find anymore, but it was very affordable! I believe it was a M-14 ammo, but shot great in bolt guns. (I set 500 rounds of this for a rainy day also).

I hope you get out to the desert and get some longer distance shooting in, now that things should cool down a little.

Ivan

ETA: checked my records on the Varget Loading, it is 47.0 grains. That is compressed. I don't think 49 can be crammed in a 308 case! Ivan

 

[zeke]

Have the 6.5 cm and 308 version. The 6.5 is noticeably more accurate, but the 308 is easily under 1 moa with loads it likes. The 308 improved after ditching that accessory rail for the bipod, and replacing it with harris adaptor. This made it much more secure.

Imo, the 308 is a little light for a precision rifle, but easy to move around.

The adjustable stock is excellent feature for those who have been chopping/adding on to stocks for fit. The threaded barrels are very nice to add an attachment onto.

 

[Rastoff]

I was able to get out this morning. It was a little windy, but not too bad; 5MPH-10MPH cross winds.

2 groups at 200 yards. I don't think the wind got over 5MPH for these:

1 group at 300 yards. The wind was worse for this one:

Because the wind was increasing, I gave it up for today. Not unhappy with these groups, but it could be better.

The one really bright spot was the elevation correction at 300 yards. I was right on elevation wise. I still have to figure out how to properly compensate for the wind though.

 

[chud333]

I've been reading about these since they were announced about a year ago. They have been as rare as a blue unicorn though. A local store not only got some in, but had them listed for a few hundred under list price. So, I broke into the emergency gun fund and got one.

Today was the first time I got to shoot it. Here are the results:

The lower group was the first group with quality ammo; Federal Premium, Sierra Matchking, 168gn, 2650FPS. It is three shots. Then I tweaked the scope a little and fired the upper group. It is 7 shots. Drop the top-left most shot and the group size reduces to .788MOA.

Full disclosure, I actually took 15 shots at this target:

The enormous group you see at the bottom there was my first 5 shots. They were taken with PMC Bronze, 147gn cartridges. I don't remember how fast, but clearly the gun isn't happy with them. Of course, they served the purpose of fouling the barrel a little prior to getting serious.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with the gun. I will try some longer distance shots Monday.

Ruger Precision Rifle - .308Win

I got a pre-64 Winchester Model 94 that will do that at 50
yards. Hope you didn't have to put too much money into that
sniper rig.
That ones got the tactical look down pat.


Chuck

 

[Rastoff]

I got a pre-64 Winchester Model 94 that will do that at 50 yards.

Yeah? I have a pre-64 (1920 actually) that will not. I'd love to see you put up a group like that with a 30-30. They're great guns and can be very accurate, just not in my hands.

The real test is to see what it will do at 200 and beyond.

 

[vonn]

Range makes all the difference in showing what a rifle /ammo /shooter combination is capable of. 300 yards will show you things.

 

[loc n load]

Ruger update

As per post #6, We had two Ruger rep's at the rifle school I worked this past week. They brought three rifles, a precision in308, a SR 762 and a scout 308. Nothing notable in their presentation, the normal pitch. I was hoping they would bring a 6.5, but no joy. We had 20 officers in the class and the shooting was at 100 yds for the demo, so I was a bystander, as I have trigger time on all three of the rifles they brought. It was nice they made the trek from Az. to make the presentation, but nothing new or noteworthy.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Looks like a very nice sniper/sharpshooter rifle, like other posters, I wish that I could still see well at that distance. Likewise, I still have a good golf swing, but cannot see where I hit the ball.

 

[vonn]

I am with you loc n load I like the stuff I have been hearing on the 6.5 but I don't have any hands on with it.

 

[Rastoff]

This morning I went out to test some hand loads with this new RPR. Here are my results at 200 yards:

Notice how the groups are OK, horrible, OK. These were three groups of three different loads. The only change was powder; 43.5gn, 44.5gn and 45.3gn. I just can't believe that a one grain change in powder could cause such a huge change in group size. I swear I didn't flinch.

What I did change was the scope. Because the first group was low/left, I adjusted the scope up 2 clicks and right 5 clicks. But I didn't make any change from the second to the third group.

This is driving me crazy. Maybe rifles are not for me?

 

[vonn]

Some of mine are finicky about what you feed them,you wouldn't think the groups came from the same rifle. When you find the one you will be glad you did the work.