RPR in .223 any good?

[Deathrawt]

I am thinking about getting a RPR and am wondering how the 223 version is compared to the others for accuracy?
My thinking is that the smaller lighter recoil of the 223 coupled with the heavyish RPR it should be a tack driver
Or is the 308 a better choice? I already reload 308 for other rifles so Maybe that's the better choice for me?

 

[adamg]

It's a tough question to answer. Yes, I would say it is good, and as good as an RPR in any other caliber.

Personally I don't think recoil should be the reason to choose the 223. I went with 223 because I already load 223, I only shoot up to 300m, and it is the cheapest caliber to shoot.

 

[laker415]

I enjoy shooting my 223. I don't have an rpr but it is a heavy barrel target gun. Cheap bullets, low powder charges so your $$ goes further. It has its limitations but is a joy to shoot plenty of rounds in one sitting. Barrel takes a while to heat up too. I have had mine out to 500 yards and it performed well enough for me.

 

[6MT]

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[CZ_Silhouetter]

I have only put 60 rounds through RPR in .223 and it averaged .815" (4 -5 shot groups) at 200 yards with Nosler 77gr match ammo. I haven't got to try out any hand loads yet but if it is any thing like my RPR in 6.5 Creedmoor there should be a little more to squeeze out. I bought mine to do more practice with as it is much cheaper to reload then 6.5 Creedmoor and most on my practice is on a 400 yard range.

 

[Forest1488]

.223 is a decent target choice. I've had mine out to 800m. Very accurate with 80gr VLD's. Just make sure your barrel has the right twist for your choice of bullets. (If you are going to hand load.) Very easy shooting. Inexpensive to load for. Long brass life. Great selection of loading components.

But..... you can do so much better than an RPR. Just my opinion.

Would love to hear your opinion on other options. I have an RPR in 243 and am happy with it but I want something different for a target 223. Thanks.

 

[ntm]

Do not buy a rpr in 223 right now.
The bolt needs to be bushed right from the factory, they are cratering primers and piercing primers at relatively low loads.
Ruger is aware of the problem and is ignoring it.

 

[warrenb]

Is this issue just with the 223?

 

[Bad Bob]

Do not buy a rpr in 223 right now.
The bolt needs to be bushed right from the factory, they are cratering primers and piercing primers at relatively low loads.
Ruger is aware of the problem and is ignoring it.

.223 Rem. one of the best / Ruger - one of the worst ( probably the worst)

 

[6MT]

....

 

[adamg]

Do not buy a rpr in 223 right now.
The bolt needs to be bushed right from the factory, they are cratering primers and piercing primers at relatively low loads.
Ruger is aware of the problem and is ignoring it.

ntm, if you hear of a solution, please post.

 

[CZ_Silhouetter]

ntm, if you hear of a solution, please post.

Do not buy a rpr in 223 right now.
The bolt needs to be bushed right from the factory, they are cratering primers and piercing primers at relatively low loads.
Ruger is aware of the problem and is ignoring it.

Have you seen this problem in Canada?

I thought Ruger had fixed it after that first batch in the US as I was concerned when i ordered mine but the rifle I have has proper bolt to pin clearance. I just got my rifle in November though.

 

[ntm]

Is this issue just with the 223?

Yes

 

[ntm]

.223 Rem. one of the best / Ruger - one of the worst ( probably the worst)

Actually Remington was notorious for this as well at one time.
Hence why there are lots of people around that can do a firing pin bushing.
That's the current cure, bushing retrofit, for the rpr 556.
Ruger is being a bunch of dicks and simply shortening the pins on guns that are returned for this issue. It mitigates the signs of the problem, but can lead to inconsistent ignition of the primers. Bigger sd on velocity, and still doesn't 100% fix the problem.

I think it'd be a great rifle if they'd fix the firing pin/bolt, and put a longer throat in it.
A full custom build in 223 is the exact same price as a full custom build in a higher performing cartridge.
If you've got the money to do two or more customs, carry on, but if I could only do one custom, I'd not waste my time with a 223.

Personally, I'd looked at picking up a rpr 223 to extend barrel life on my 6mm insite/surgeon build.
But after running the numbers and seeing the train wreck ruger qc has created there, it makes way more sense for me to roll that rifle/glass money into more barrels and reloading components for the 6mm.

 

[adamg]

Have you seen this problem in Canada?

I thought Ruger had fixed it after that first batch in the US as I was concerned when i ordered mine but the rifle I have has proper bolt to pin clearance. I just got my rifle in November though.

My rpr223 was a pre-order for I think the first shipment into Canada this summer. It's hard to say if it has a "problem" or my cratered and pierced primers are just a natural, inevitable consequence of working up a load hotter and hotter until something forces me to stop. How do I tell, measurement-wise, if I have a problem?

And yes, the short throat is my biggest complaint right now. More so than the two hang-fire ignitions and primer cratering.

 

[ntm]

My rpr223 was a pre-order for I think the first shipment into Canada this summer. It's hard to say if it has a "problem" or my cratered and pierced primers are just a natural, inevitable consequence of working up a load hotter and hotter until something forces me to stop. How do I tell, measurement-wise, if I have a problem?

And yes, the short throat is my biggest complaint right now. More so than the two hang-fire ignitions and primer cratering.

It's happening to everyone with one.
Are you seeing flattened edges to the primer and ejector marks ?
What's your load that's cratering, I can feed it into quickload to give you an idea of chamber pressure.

 

[Deathrawt]

Thanks for all the info guys!
I will have to do some thinking on this one, maybe just get the 308 rpr or look into other options. Didn't know the 223 version had issues
The RPR is attractive due to its price point as I don't need a super expensive precision rifle to start out with.
A few places have them on sale right now which is why I was looking at them

 

[ntm]

Thanks for all the info guys!
I will have to do some thinking on this one, maybe just get the 308 rpr or look into other options. Didn't know the 223 version had issues
The RPR is attractive due to its price point as I don't need a super expensive precision rifle to start out with.
A few places have them on sale right now which is why I was looking at them

If you already load 308, that'd be the natural choice.
But if you don't mind buying new dies and components, the new 6mm creedmoor is a huge step up from 308 in terms of recoil and ballistics. The 6.5 version falls somewhere in the middle.

 

[adamg]

It's happening to everyone with one.
Are you seeing flattened edges to the primer and ejector marks ?
What's your load that's cratering, I can feed it into quickload to give you an idea of chamber pressure.

80gr ELDM
2.390" OAL
IVI brass (probably on the lowest end of case capacity spectrum - they weigh about 98grains)
CCI#400 SRP

Edges of primers are totally flat, maybe even expanded to fill out the primer pocket chamfer.
I don't see any ejector or extractor marks.
Bolt opened easily.

The farthest I pushed before shutting it down:
23.7gr Varget - heavily compressed
22.3gr H4895 - 1/5 pierced primer
Anyone reading this, don't try this load. Work up to your own personal max.

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I would love to throat ream my barrel to be able to load these out to around 2.570". That should bring pressures down and get me more velocity. But the tool looks to be $200, and the barrel is supposedly nitrided so it might be impervious to the reamer. Don't think I'll be able to get it done.

 

[Pr589]

Those are quite light loads with which to get primer piercings. On my 223 I've gotten up to 25.1 grains of 4895 and 24.5 grains of Varget with 80 gn Bergers before I saw any pressure signs. What primers are you using? CCI is known for being softer than most.