Ruger Precision Rifle: High End, Almost AR
I was not expected Ruger to announce the new Ruger Precision Rifle. They have jumped from strengthening their bolt-action line up on the low-end, with the Ruger American, all the way to the high-end tactical / long range market with this new rifle.
The first word that sprung to mind when I saw this rifle was “SEXY”. I love the angular design of the upper receiver, the lower receiver and the magazine well. Beyond the good looks, it is packed full of genuinely innovative features.
It is built on the Ruger American action. I was never a fan of the old Ruger Hawkeye action, so I am pleased they did not build it on that action. The barrel is a medium contoured Cold Hammer Forged 4140 Chrome-Moly barrel with 5R rifling. The barrel comes threaded. The upper receiver is CNC machined from steel and the lower from aluminium. Like an AR-15, the upper transmits all the recoil force direct to the stock and does not put any strain on the lower.
The new Ruger stock is adjustable in length of pull and comb height. It is foldable for transport and disassembly. If you don’t like the stock, the upper receiver is compatible with any AR-15 stock. Continuing the AR-compatibility theme, the barrel can be changed using AR-15 wrenches and the rifle is supplied with a Samson Evolution Keymod Rail. The pistol grip is also AR-15 compatible.
The trigger is adjustable externally and the adjustment tool is stored in the bolt shroud, which I think it pretty nifty. The trigger can be adjusted from 2.25 to 5.0 lbs. My only criticism of this rifle is that the lower end of the adjustment range could be a little lower.
One of the most innovative new features is the magazine well. It accepts both AI magazines (which latch on the side) and M110/DPMS/SR25/Magpul magazines which latch behind. I have criticized Ruger before for inventing magazines and making us pay far too much for them but in this rifle they give us more magazine choice than any bolt action rifle that has come before it. The rifle is supplied with two 10-round Magpul PMAG magazines.
The rifle is available in .308 Win. (20″ barrel), 6.5mm Creedmoor (24″ barrel) and .243 Winchester (26″ barrel). This means the tactical shooters, the practical rifle competitors and the varminters are all covered. The weight ranges from 9.6 lbs for the .308 Win. version to 11 lbs for the long barreled .243 Win.
The price for all three models is $1,399. The only question is … when can I get it in FDE?
I founded TFB in 2007 and over 10 years worked tirelessly, with the help of my team, to build it up into the largest gun blog online. I retired as Editor in Chief in 2017. During my decade at TFB I was fortunate to work with the most amazing talented writers and genuinely good people!
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Put money down 2 weeks ago on the next 6.5 that gets to Norton's.
Bought one in 243. Really nice for the price. I get sub moa with reloads, 3/4 to 1 moa with various hunting ammo. Bolt runs inside empty buffer tube. Trigger light but gritty at first, one breaking in nicely. This thing is like 10-22 of its class, you can replace barrels, stock and for end, takes 3 diff mags that I have for other rifles. I ave some very expensive rifles that are incrementally better, but this is one ill hump to fiel and precision matches.