New From Ruger: The Ruger Precision Rifle

1. I saw that mag release in their video, since I have both AICS and Magpul mags..thought it was a really nice feature.

2. I’d buy one.

   • Needs more barrel. I’d like a .308 with at least a 26 inch barrel, maybe even 27 or 28. The 308 can really sing at long ranges with heavy, high BC bullets, loaded with slow burning powders. But it takes a longer barrel to get those bullets up in velocity. You an get a 168 or 175 grain bullet in the 2800 fps range without real high pressures if you have a long tube to accelerate the bullet over.

     • Powder and charge please!?

       • Varget, starting at 42-43 grains. The max is (I think) 46. the trick is to load the bullet for a longer OAL so the bullet starts in the rifling when the bolt locks. This is a common benchrest technique. I’ve actually seen some of the hotter (44-45 grain) Varget loads out of a Savage bench rest gun with a 30 inch barrel break 2850 fps. Amazing accuracy out to 1,000 yds, I’d rather shoot this at 600 yds than some of the overbore magnums. Less recoil and cheaper to reload.

3. Meh. Either it’s too good to be true or it will take years before I can actually get one.

   • It’s Ruger, not Kel Tec

     • Probably a reference to what will undoubtedly be a fairly high price tag and his low budget on guns.

     • He may be referring to the fact that if it’s a hot seller it’ll be like hen’s teeth for a while.

       • Yep. By the time you can get one, someone will be selling something like it cheaper. Unless it’s a dud. Nice concept on paper.

       • Yeah. Like the Ruger 1911s. When Ruger comes out with something really popular demand tends to outstrip supply for the first couple of years.

   • Yeah I kinda doubt it will be a scenario where they’re allocated way into the future. They hit distributors last week and will be arriving at retailers nation-wide this coming week. From the sounds of it, Ruger made a lot ahead of the announcement. Additionally, Ruger is apparently adding a whole mess of new CNC machines that will be operational within a month-ish and is going to noticeably bump capacity.

4. Wow. Really nice package overall.

   • Sounds very good on paper, can’t wait for the review.

5. I’ve been impressed by Ruger for some time. They just keep making stuff I’ve gotta have like the 10/22 takedown. I want one of these in 6.5 Creedmoor, but a 7mm mag or 7mm WSM would also be very cool. I’m curious how good accuracy will be with a decent hammer-forged chromoly barrel. 416R would probably have driven costs up.

   • “I’m curious how good accuracy will be with a decent hammer-forged chromoly barrel. 416R would probably have driven costs up.”

     Well, their web page has at the top:

     “1,600 yards. Enough Said.”
     – Mike Fifer, CEO

     I’ll be *very* interested in this if it lives up to the hype.

     Pair it with that ultra-consistent ammo they reviewed a while back on TTAG and this may be a turn-key tack driver.

     For those without the time or patience to work up hand loads.

     • Ah. Just saw that from the link. 1600 yards is quite a stretch for .308, .243, or 6.5 Creedmoor. That sounds pretty optimistic to me. My apologies to John Smith – didn’t check that the link advertised this at 1600 yards. That’s Lapua / Cheytac / Barrett territory.

   • I would have been much more impressed if this line of rifles were semi-auto rather than bolt-action.

     I am not interested in spending $1400 on a bolt-action “precision” rifle. I would much rather spend that much money on an accurate semi-auto rifle.

     • Then be prepared to spend substantially more for the same level of accuracy.

6. I will believe it when I see ,remember the XGI. How long did Ruger stroke the world with that one

   • That was 30 years ago.

     Ruger’s new stuff tends to hit the stores now almost before the ink on the press release is dry.

   • They have already shown up on gunbroker

7. Super awesome more companies offering 6.5 creedmoor from factory. This is honestly the first time I’ve ever found myself wanting anything Ruger.

8. My first thought when I saw this and the price is: “F-ing sold.” Assuming it doesn’t go completely wrong, I’m getting one as soon as I can find one in 6.5.

9. Well, as soon as I can save the money for this and I see several full reviews, it’s getting added to the collection.

10. Two hitting our doorstep on Tuesday! The locals are excited as well.

11. Why so heavy a trigger? Why does one need a gunsmith to change barrels (think Savage)? Why only a 20 MOA rail if extreme long range is the purpose?

    Short action and right hand only?

    Precisely which of those cartridges is doing something at 1600 yards? (All are subsonic well before 1600.)

    It’s a darned good start though.

    • 2.25 pounds is a heavy trigger?

      If you want supersonic at 1600 yards, the .338 Lapua is more what you are looking for. These are advertised as accurate 100-1000 yard rifles. A rail with a cant exceeding 20 MOA might not even have enough elevation adjustment to zero at 100 yards.

      • You’re obviously not a long-range shooter. Yes, 2.whatever is a heavy trigger, and 20 MOA isn’t nearly enough to reach 1600 yards with those cartridges (easily). Ruger called it a 1600 yard rifle– right there on their page. I did not.

        No short-action cartridge is good for that.

        • Entry level long range gun, sir. Probably marketed at intermediate shooters and long range enthusiasts. Not F class. Not 1600 yards, 100-1000 yards. You’re obviously not familiar with creating a product for a specific market segment. See how that works?

          If you know of a sub 2 pound trigger sub MOA 1600 yard gun that comes with a 30-50 MOA Mil-STD 1913 rail chassis gun with a street price of a grand or less I’m all ears.

        • My mistake. Didn’t realize that Ruger advertised this as “1600 yards…”. If they made a McMillian / LR1000 / Accuracy International – esque gun at this price point, well, I’m sure they didn’t.

          My “cheapo” long range gun is a Savage 110 BA .338 Lapua.

        • @Accur81

          Yea that’s not cheap.

      • Timney makes triggers that go down to 8 ounces or so that a lot of the long range shooters use. Way to light for hunting though. Ruger is probably reluctant to put a lighter trigger for liability reasons. If someone goes out and puts a half pound trigger on their rifle and they hurt themselves or someone else it’s their own damn fault, but if the gun comes that way it’s Ruger’s fault for making a ‘dangerous’ gun. The Timney I put on the Recall Remy is 2.5# and that’s as light as I’d want, but then my range only goes out to 200 yards. Still, probably good enough for a long range starter rifle.

        • From the disassembly video, the whole trigger assembly in this rifle is one pull-out. The main housing for the trigger appears to be a die-cast metal (it looks like a zinc-based alloy), with pins and springs contained inside the stout casting. It is not a Rem700-compatible trigger from the looks of it.

        • ‘It is not a Rem700-compatible trigger from the looks of it.’

          Well that’s a relief.

    • Why so heavy a trigger?

      Lawyers and COGS reduction.

      Why does one need a gunsmith to change barrels (think Savage)?

      Their website says that it can be changed by a “competent gunsmith with AR-style wrenches.” If this follows, then they’re using an AR-style barrel extension and it is held into the upper by a castellated nut. In other words, if it really is an AR-style barrel, if you want to change the barrel, you’ll need a wrench for the castellated nut, a go gage and possibly some shims. You won’t need a lathe and an action vise/barrel wrench.

      Why only a 20 MOA rail if extreme long range is the purpose?

      The rail is held on by four 8-40 screws. I’m sure you could put on a 50 MOA rail if you wished.

      • Yep you can change the barrel on a Savage using the nut but if you’re REALLY serious about accuracy You’ll have a gunsmith mount it sans nut. Savage’s bolt face technology really shines when done this way. I would do the same with this rifle. Brux 1/13 twist 26-28 to shoot the Berger .308 155 full bores around 3K or better.

    • “The Ruger Marksman Adjustable™ trigger provides a crisp let-off and is externally adjustable with a pull weight range of 2.25 to 5.0 pounds”

      Down to a half pound trigger.

12. Hmmm looks potentially very cool. Will be curious to see how reliable that magwell/release actually is, as well as it’s accuracy. But at that price point, it doesn’t have to be a 4k .25 MOA shooter really. I am reservedly excited. Looking forward to the review.

13. Ok, I know little of the 6.5 Creedmoor. Someone want to give some details?

    • It’s basically a .308 Winchester necked down to accept aerodynamic 6.5 caliber bullets. It works from a short action, and has a long range trajectory similar to the .300 Win Mag with less ammo cost and recoil. A very accurate round to 1000 yards plus. However, the short length limits velocity and case capacity with heavier bullets. The 6.5-284 does better in that regard, but burns out barrels fast.

      http://m.hornady.com/store/6.5-Creedmoor

      • The 6.5×284 is a handloader’s cartridge, too. In order to bring it to its potential it needs a C.O.L. that won’t fit a short action magazine. And will only fit an over length throat.

    • There are several 6.5mm rifle cartridges with similar, .308-sorta-kinda sized cases in the market.

      The granddaddy of them all is the .260 Rem, which is nothing more than a necked-down .308. Sadly, it never reached full potential, because of poor quality brass and not enough setback on the shoulder for long bullets in a standard short-action magazine.

      Then came the 6.5×47 Lapua. Now there was brass of very high quality, and a shoulder pushed back for more leeway for longer bullets. You give up some case capacity over the .260, which means you give up, oh, 150+ fps at the muzzle unless you’re really cranking your pressures up there. But that wasn’t necessary in Lapua’s engineering mindset on this cartridge – it was designed for a 300 meter competition course, and at 300 meters, the 6.5×47 has more than enough results.

      Then came the 6.5 Creedmoor, which has the shoulder still pushed pretty far back to allow for the use of very long, VLD pills loaded properly in the case, and still allow them to feed through a standard short-action magazine (eg, .308 mag). The 6.5 Creedmoor has a case capacity more similar to the .260 Rem than the 6.5×47, tho, and you can probably get most of what you’d lose in a 6.5×47 back in the 6.5 Creedmoor.

      If you were to go with either 6.5×47 or 6.5 Creedmoor in a rifle, you’d be a long way on the road towards serious long(er) distance shooting with light recoil, excellent bullet selection and good brass availability.

      • Thank you Sir.
        Add to that, Nosler has a new 142 grain bullet that makes some of the others look lazy, BC wise..
        I’m still trying to buy some.

        http://www.nosler.com/accubond-long-range-bullet/

      • DG,

        Thanks! I always appreciate the time you take to actually give an answer rather than a mere reply.

        You’ve given me one more question, though. Is the primary use for the class of round, then, primarily competition? I.e. What is its value in hunting or defense or sniping?

        Thanks again.

        • While the 6.5×47 and 6.5 Creedmoor were developed specifically for target competition at longer ranges, the 6.5mm class of bullets in the 130+ grain weights are certainly viable hunting rounds under, oh, 500 to 600 meters on pronghorn, whitetail, mulies, etc. If your preference is for one rifle that would be used for hunting and target practice, and you wanted more “oomph” in the terminal ballistics, then I’d recommend a 7mm08, because you can obtain heavier bullets and more choices of hunting bullets in 7mm. There is no shortage of target/competition bullets for the 7mm space, so with some attention to the quality of your brass and loadings, you can make a 7mm08 rifle throw down long range groups as well.

          If you’re seeking a true, optimized rifle for target work without having to hunt with the rifle, then the 6.5’s give you excellent target performance without recoil fatigue and with less powder expense.

          On elk, the 6.5’s might be iffy at longer ranges, simply due to the lack of energy. At 200 meters and under, a marksman who places his shot well on an elk should find it sufficient. The Europeans have been taking large game with the 6.5×55 for decades with efficacy.

          For semi-dangerous and dangerous game (eg, moose, bears, etc), the round is just too light.

          For sniping? Never been there, never done that. You could look at it like this: It would be much better than the .223/5.56. It would shoot flatter than the .308/7.62. At ranges out to 600 meters, I’m sure the 6.5’s would perform well enough vs. other .30-cal-and-under rifles.

          Basically, think of the 6.5’s as a .243 with better Bc’s, heavier bullets, and with the 6.5×47 and 6.5 Creedmoor, you finallly have very good quality brass in comparison to the rough common brass available in the .260 Rem or .243 Win. Therefore you can spend less time on brass prep and more time shooting…

          • Thanks for the run down. As to the last, I threw sniping in just because. Figured get most of the uses for a mid to higher caliber round, since a lot of people here have takes about the .308 as a sniper round.

14. I get their emails and when I saw the subject line I expected it to be just a black m77. Boy was I wrong.

    Surprised by the msrp too

15. Ruger makes some fine rifles, and this one looks like a great addition to the line. To me, it looks more well-designed than the Savage BAS series. If I didn’t already have a couple of precision .308 rifles, this would be a great candidate for another bolt action.

16. If they come out with this in magnum calibers I will buy one. Cool idea though. Tempted to pick up the 6.5 for an entry level competition rifle.

    • I thought the same thing. It would be on my list in 7mm magnum or .338WM.

      I fell in love with the .338WM when Berger released their 250gr hybrid round. A custom blue printed 700 in this caliber capable of shooting loads at the tip top of safe has become my go-to long range gun. Got rid of my .338LM because I had no use for it anymore.

      • A 7mm mag or similar and I’d be reaching for my credit card, too.

17. Very reasonably priced. ‘Course then, there’s optics, at least for a complete rig. But then, there always is. Still …

    And I guess Ruger finally got tired of getting ragged on about the cost of their rifle mags. At least they listened. Them saying “NOW STFU ABOUT IT!!” 😀

18. Holy tooth fairy batman.
    This, just as I’ve finished my shopping list, where to order what.
    I was, yes, WAS, going to order an XLR chassis and new barrel for a very competent .308 I have.
    I’m thinking it’ll stay a .308 and I’ll order up one of these in 6.5
    Creedmoor.
    This is fantastic!

19. Newb Question: If the rifle accepts PMAGS, great, but does that mean 6.5 CM will load into/feed from a PMAG? Or are the .243/6.5 buyers getting AICS or some other mags. I mean, I know (I think) that 6.5 originates from a .308 case.

    • I think .243 and 6.5 should both feed fine from a .308 magazine.

      I suppose it would be similar to 5.56 and 300 AAC using the same mag. Or .40 S&W and .357 Sig.

      • Thanks. I was imagining that- but I have a vivid imagination!

20. Yabba Dabba Doo , um um good , yeowellsa yeowellsa , nice and nasty , LIKE

21. Only thing it doesn’t have that I would want is a threaded barrel but a trip to the gunsmith solves that. Take my money!!!

    • The video review from another website I looked at showed them unscrewing a thread protector and they screwed a suppressor right in. I imagine that’s stock.

    • MEDIUM CONTOUR (.75” AT THE MUZZLE) BARREL features 5/8”-24 threads. Thread protector installed.

    • Yeah if you click on the lead photo to expand it, there’s clearly a thread protector on the muzzle. They all come threaded…

      • Is threaded pretty much standard on new Ruger rifles nowadays?

        Meaning after Ruger did that re-tooling a while back.

22. I just wish my Gunsite Scout had that mag system. Damn those are pricey mags.

    It looks like Ruger, after years of catching sh*t for one-off, incompatible and expensive mags, finally listened.

    • Gsr’s will take the AICS mags. You can pick up the magpul variation for 40 bucks.

23. Waiting for bench accuracy report…if sub MOA, I am buying one. Only wish Sig 3000 would come back….that thing was factory 0.5 (and better) MOA for the same price as this Ruger.

    • The quotes all over the marketing material allude to 1/2 MOA. Looks like Tyler is the lucky winner of “who reviews it for TTAG” so we’ll have to wait and see what kind of groups he turns in 🙂

      • Is RF planning to invest in a high quality long-range scope for testing guns like these?

        • Bushnell hasn’t asked for this back after I told them I wanted to make it our defacto LR scope for testing.

          http://dev.thetruthaboutguns.com/2015/05/tyler-kee/gear-review-bushnell-elite-tactical-dmr-3-5-21x-50mm/

      • Some weeks later I’ve seen some threads about these rifles at ARFCOM.

        At least with the specific rifles and the specific shooters and the specific ammo and the specific optics involved, they do not seem to be half MOA rifles, at least not when we are shooting five or ten round groups–they frequently shoot under half MOA for three round groups but the three round groups are VERY inconsistent and not always under half MOA, even with rounds from the same box of ammo. They do seem to be very solid and consistent 3/4 to 1 MOA rifles if we’re talking about 5-10 shot groups with known good quality match ammo (Black Hills/FGMM).

        The spec sheet is impressive and the design shows great cleverness. Maybe better barrels and/or more load development is needed to bring the reality into line with the hype.

    • The 6.5 Creedmoor version is reportedly sub-MOA with three different loads tested by American Rifleman. Average group with Hornady 140-grain A-Max was .67 inches:

      http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2015/7/17/ruger-precision-rifle/

24. Please please please make a left handed model in 6.5. We know Ruger has LH M77 actions so it should be an assembly change and som machining in the chassis.

    • It’s not an M77 action, it’s based on the Ruger American Rifle action.

25. Oh..,.and offer 22″ 1:11.25 barrel, please Ruger please.

26. The only thing I need now is $1400 and 160 acres of open land with a big hill in one corner.

27. Does their term “1600 yards” mean it can consistently hit a 1-meter gong?

28. I’d like one in 308. Probably will have to wait at least a year to find one though.
    Had the same problem with Ruger’s 1911. Had to wait 2 years for stock to catch up. :/

29. I’ll wait for Tyler’s review before making a final decision — but this rifle could be awesome.

30. If it can deliver real half-MOA accuracy, it might be an off-the-shelf game changer for 600 to 1000 yard matches.

    My only beef is the hammer forged barrel. If it actually does the job, great. But I’ve seen enough claims of accuracy out of hammer forged barrels that don’t maintain their zero or grouping as the barrel heats up to buy into the assertion without proof.

    • They are pretty accurate on the Sako TRGs, but those come in at a significantly higher price point. I’m sure you are not the only one wondering about the barrel / overall accuracy.

31. It says that the barrel can be changed using AR style wrenches. That leads me to believe that it most likely has an AR type barrel nut. You could probably use any barrel and caliber for a 308 style AR. Want a big bore Raptor 45? get a new barrel. Sign me up!

32. I just read a review, sub moa at 700 yards with the 6.5, got an add from local store, due in next week $999. Darn I am in my 10 day wait for a savage model 10, 308 I pick It up tuesday may be and expensive trip to the gun store.

33. One in 243 selling on Gunbroker with less than 2 days for900 -308 at 1250 with 3 and a half days left…so there you go.

34. I’ve loved my ruger handguns, so I’m eager to give this a try, but damn that’s pricey

35. For what this is, it is actually surprisingly cheap.

36. I just hope they allow them in australia well at least Queensland , just bought a scout in.308 but would love one of these as well

37. I am intrigued by the .308 but it looks rather heavy to me–almost ten pounds unloaded–to carry around in the field.

    As the rifle appears to use an AR style tube to mount the buttstock, perhaps some weight could be saved there by going with a buttstock like the old Magpul CTR or the Ace Ultralight. The barrel contour is very heavy, but I do not want to forego the accuracy benefits. Perhaps the barrel could be fluted, or perhaps it could be cut down to 18 1/2″ or thereabouts and rethreaded–that might take the weight down by seven or eight ounces all by itself. The handguard Ruger has chosen to ship looks like a Samson and in freefloat handguards those are already about as light as we’re going to get without going to exotic materials like carbon fiber.

    I’m still not seeing this rifle coming much below nine pounds, though, and without even sights.

    I know, I know. It’s not a hunting rifle. It’s not a “tactical” rifle. It’s a benchrest rifle for entry-level F class shooters. At ten pounds empty, without even a scope…

38. I realize I’m a Johnny-come-lately and haven’t read all the posts but this looks like it could be a very accurate rifle at long range. I was actually looking at the 243 version. Most 243’s come with a 22″ barrel now a days with a 1/10 twist which is fine if your varmint hunting with the thing as it should shoot up to 80 gn or so bullets just fine. But if you want to shoot long range at deer you want a 100 gn or so bullet and normally a 1/10 barrel won’t do it, you need a faster twist and best with a longer barrel to bump up velocity. This rifle with it’s 1/7.7 Twist and 26″ barrel gives you exactly that. The nice thing about a 243 is the natural high BC of the bullet and the efficiency of the bullet. It’s not a powder hog and a 100 gn 243 bullet has a higher BC than a 180 gn 30 cal bullet. Having much less diameter than a 30 cal let’s it buck the wind well also.

39. I wish they would bring out one in 223 with a 7 twist 22 inch barrel, to go with my AR15.

40. Well from what I see here it’s a great start. Would like to see some other calibers offered but maybe in the future. And as far as a short action not being good at long range well that person hasn’t shot very often. I have friends shooting both .308 and 6.5 creedmore out to a mile consistently on a 18 inch gong so can be done with very good results… I do prefer 338 myself but that’s just me but I’m not opposed to the short actions in fact I’ll most likely get the 6.5 have been looking at that round for awhile.. so go ruger keep up the great work…

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