For anyone using this review to base their decision, I would recommend personally handling one at the very least. It is a good review, but chalked full of pretty personal opinions. It's not for everyone I agree, but I like it 10 times more than my rem 700 with tac21 chassis. That rifle was the mother of all pains to disassemble, and the sps would rust inside the chassis no matter how much oil was applied before installing. The RPR aftermarket mods are not one bit necessary in my opinion (even the hand guard on mine is OK. But the options are there and I love to customize so I'll likely change some parts out. The rifle is a great and comfortable long range shooter out of the box, with the ability to custom fit as you want. What's not to like about that?
To the RPR owners would you buy it again ?
- Thread starter Canadiankeeper
- Start date
This ^^^
I have AR's that cost more to start and I've changed out way more parts on them than my RPR, the plastic shroud mine never gave me any trouble and likely wouldn't have under normal use but I swapped it out just because, put on a nice TI one with a billet machined bolt tool that screws in the end of it, mostly cool factor. The hand grip, I've never owned anything with a AR style grip that I liked from the factory including the one that came with a MOE grip, I like something with a rubber texture to it, have a box of spare AR parts so put a enhanced grip on mine that was just sitting there, after that only add on stuff.
I own lots of stuff that reviews have called junk and mine is just fine, I also have bought stuff on recommendations that was crap and a waste of money couldn't unload it fast enough. Not everyone is going to like the gun and maybe there will be just too much that has to be changed about it to make it worth while, but on the other hand maybe stuff that bothered other people will be fine to you, never know until you try it.
I've see lots with their nose in the air over the Mossberg MVP LC too, most I doubt have ever even handled one, yet I'm likely going to pick one up in .223 this winter for coyotes, have a extra piece of glass and rings waiting.
CanadianKeeper,
thanks for the honest and balanced review. I have not bought myself a rifle in a few years and I was mulling over the Ruger in 243 before reading your review.
I thought it would be good to try something new. I think if I do buy now it will be a Savage 12 LRP. Kinda boring as I already have a couple of Savage actions in HSP stocks. But I guess I know what I like.
cheers.
x2 guys, all ways handle a gun and try to check it out for yourself... This is a very personal and opinionated write up. Things I don't like, you may find it acceptable.
Thanks for all the input. Glad I can help out the community a little.
Beware! RPR is a "gateway" rifle, it will lead you to wanting the $$hard $tuff
Don't do it! You buy one to see what the fuss is about, bam! now you drop 2 or 3 bills on a "decent" bipod.
Get it in some obscure odd ball calibre 6.5Creedmoor, then....Redding Competition dies, brass, match primers (never "needed" those before, now what about bushings for your sizing dies, never even bothered looking into what bushing dies were.....
now the scope you thought cost too much before is not good enough, so you got to get Euro glass or a 3G + Vortex....
and then you come to your senses and realize that stuffs all too good for your RPR and you start looking into Accuracy International rifles.
Word to the wise.... don't do it!!!!
Stop before it's too late, while you still have some money.
Don't do it! You buy one to see what the fuss is about, bam! now you drop 2 or 3 bills on a "decent" bipod.
Get it in some obscure odd ball calibre 6.5Creedmoor, then....Redding Competition dies, brass, match primers (never "needed" those before, now what about bushings for your sizing dies, never even bothered looking into what bushing dies were.....
now the scope you thought cost too much before is not good enough, so you got to get Euro glass or a 3G + Vortex....
and then you come to your senses and realize that stuffs all too good for your RPR and you start looking into Accuracy International rifles.
Word to the wise.... don't do it!!!!
Stop before it's too late, while you still have some money.
- Location
- Calgary Ab
You should have warned me 5 weeks ago..
And WOW I have checked out the Euro glass
And WOW I have checked out the Euro glass
It's a good rifle. I don't know where you can get more rifle for the $1,500 or $1,600 range. AI or pmags. It takes the m305 mags too? The trigger is no Calvin elite or Jewell, but it is light. The stock can be a pita but once it's set, it holds. I haven't broke mine though, so maybe if or when I do, I'll get a prs stock.
I have thought about upgrading mine. But what's the point? If you're going to upgrade it, why not just pony up for an AI, Insite, PGW, and so on.
Savages are good. My first precision rifle was the hs precision savage, but after skim bedding and bottom metal, I was close to or over the $1,500 mark, and that was when the dollar was pretty good.
Oh, and Lee collect dies are amazing. I don't know if they make 6.5 creedmoor, but they are just as good as reading comp dies. I have both redding and Lee. One set of redding, but all other sets are Lee.
I have thought about upgrading mine. But what's the point? If you're going to upgrade it, why not just pony up for an AI, Insite, PGW, and so on.
Savages are good. My first precision rifle was the hs precision savage, but after skim bedding and bottom metal, I was close to or over the $1,500 mark, and that was when the dollar was pretty good.
Oh, and Lee collect dies are amazing. I don't know if they make 6.5 creedmoor, but they are just as good as reading comp dies. I have both redding and Lee. One set of redding, but all other sets are Lee.
Couldnt agree more. A precision rifle and factory ammo regardless of quality don't belong in the same sentence. I wonder what they're expectations where?" I bought gmm, why isn't it clover leafing?"
I was in a store today, checked one out. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. The guy at the counter handed me the rifle, I checked it out. When he took it back, I thought I saw something move on the gun. I asked "wtf was that?" he said "what?" I then asked him to hold the rifle, I reached over and tapped the mag. it was so sloppy, it was sort of dangling there.
Then there comes the accuracy question. I saw threads about "yeah I ve got one" but then when it came time to see the groups, I wasn't sure if this was the shooters' error, or a true representation of the rifles' accuracy.
When I saw the promos from Ruger, everything was in one hole. When I saw some pics posted after people took their rifles to the range; it wasn't the same as the promos.
So which is it? are these rifles dead nuts accurate out of the box? or do they require new barrels and triggers? ( among other things)
Then there comes the accuracy question. I saw threads about "yeah I ve got one" but then when it came time to see the groups, I wasn't sure if this was the shooters' error, or a true representation of the rifles' accuracy.
When I saw the promos from Ruger, everything was in one hole. When I saw some pics posted after people took their rifles to the range; it wasn't the same as the promos.
So which is it? are these rifles dead nuts accurate out of the box? or do they require new barrels and triggers? ( among other things)
Mine shot great, with factory hunting ammo. I didn't take a picture, but it was a half inch. It's like any other factory rifle, some shoot, some don't. I bought from Cabela's. Before I bought it, I asked if I can return it if it doesn't shoot precisely. It is a "precision" rifle, so it ought to shoot. They said they would because if it didn't shoot there was probably something wrong with the barrel.
The trigger doesn't need an upgrade. If you want a Timney or a Jewell, I'd go with a rem 700 or footprint.
And I think mag slop is a good thing. If it's too tight, then add a bit of dirt and whatnot, and it's tough getting the mag in. If it bothers you, the cheap fix is a bit of hockey sock tape around the mag where it contacts the mag well. That snugs the mag up and makes it quiet.
One thing that is annoying about the rpr is the noise the bolt makes as it slides through the receiver. It's not a big thing. The guy that sold it to me said it would go away if the plastic bolt shroud was sanded. I bought an lri shroud, and the noise is still there. Not a big deal when shooting it as the sound of the shot drowns it out, lol
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I've shot touching groups with mine in .308 at 200 with hornady 155 steel match ammo, I don't reload and don't care to start, I have a 24" gong on the way to me and will stretch it out with some hornady 178 superformance match ammo once it gets here, I only have a goal of 1000yards target shoting for mine, and if I can ring steel at that distance with any kind of consistency I'll be more than happy with my setup.
As for the rattle mag, thank the sheeple of Canada for that one, the gun is suppose to come with Pmags but they are too dangerous for us to have in 10 round, so yeah I hate the steel mags too, mine feed fine but loading them compared to Pmags sucks, but again not the way Ruger intended it.
As for the rattle mag, thank the sheeple of Canada for that one, the gun is suppose to come with Pmags but they are too dangerous for us to have in 10 round, so yeah I hate the steel mags too, mine feed fine but loading them compared to Pmags sucks, but again not the way Ruger intended it.
I think that's where the rub lies. Depending on mods, you may end up spending more on "improving" it than you would just buying a better rig in the first place. BTDT. Depends on the mods of course, but something to be cognizant of
I am enjoying my RPR in 243. For the price my logic was shoot it for the year, then replace the barrel for match grade and should be good to go.
I just didn't have the money to drop on a nice mcmillan, nice action, and a match grade barrel right off the hop. This way I'm in the precision game for well under $2k.
I would buy this rifle again.
I just didn't have the money to drop on a nice mcmillan, nice action, and a match grade barrel right off the hop. This way I'm in the precision game for well under $2k.
I would buy this rifle again.
They are amazing in another platform, can't imagine they'd have issues here.
Very smooth loading and very smooth when running the bolt. Polymer is a wonderful thing when they are made like the PMAG.
I think that's where the rub lies. Depending on mods, you may end up spending more on "improving" it than you would just buying a better rig in the first place. BTDT. Depends on the mods of course, but something to be cognizant of
True true, I hear you.
I don't have a RPR yet, but I'm looking at an enhanced in 6.5 Creedmoor. Honestly, I can buy an enhanced for $1650 plus tax. I've thought about building a full custom, or just rebarreling and truing my 700 but I'd be into those for double what I can buy a RPR for.
A full custom is like $6000
Truing, rebarreling, + Manners stock for my 700 = $2500 minimum
RPR = $1650
To me the math makes sense to go with an RPR and then maybe someday transfer the scope and everything to a custom, or just upgrade the RPR.
A full custom is like $6000
Truing, rebarreling, + Manners stock for my 700 = $2500 minimum
RPR = $1650
To me the math makes sense to go with an RPR and then maybe someday transfer the scope and everything to a custom, or just upgrade the RPR.
