Ruger Precision .308

[Padobranac]

Looking to get into some precision rifle shooting and reloading as a beginner.

For the rifle I was thinking the Ruger Precision Rifle in .308. Gen 2 or Gen 3, currently the Gen 2 can be had for around $1500 and the Gen 3 for 1700-1800. The differences between the two seem minor.

I was thinking .308 as the barrel life will be longer, and in the future if I really get into it more than just a monthly shoot type thing I can swap out the barrel for a 6.5 Creedmore.

Anyone have any thoughts on this rifle? It's just about within my budget though I'll probably wait to see if they go on sale again, I'm not in a crazy rush to get going right away.

Thanks,

 

[Sniffer]

I have a gen 2 RPR in 6.5 CM

When I was buying I looked at / handled the RPR & Savage Stealth and considered either in 6.5CM or 308.

Very different guns, the RPR is ARish and is heavy, more of a bench gun, the Stealth is lighter and could be used for hunting I imagine. In the end I got smoking deal on a RPR in 6.5CM first so thats the direction I went. My buddy bought the Stealth in 6.5CM. We shoot together occasionally and have pushed out to ~800. Both do the same job equally well I'd say.

I reload and have groups at 200M that come out at 1/4 MOA, I made 10 hits in a row on a 12" x 12" gong last week, the rifle is capable when I do my part of course.....

Like I said earlier the RPR is very modular and uses some AR parts, mine is stock apart from the buttstock and the pistol grip.

I have no experience with 308 but its a proven round and I hear good things. I can say that 6.5CM is crazy capable. Regarding barrel life, I have heard that the 308 is good for ~5000 rounds whereas the 6.5 CM is good for ~3000 rounds. If thats true the 308 has an edge there for sure. Just keep in mind though that your biggest cost will always be ammo and in the grand scheme of things a barrel is not a lot of cash. From what I understand reloading costs are the same for 6.5CM and 308.

Making hit after hit feels pretty good for sure......

 

[Hollow Point]

I have a gen 1 RPR in .308 and love it. I chose the 308 due to ammo availability. when I bought it, 6.5 creedmoor ammo was still hard to get here. I don't reload yet so factory match ammo was needed. the rifle is capable of better accuracy than i can fully make use of and with the right loads good out to 1000 meters. If I were to buy one today I would probably get a 6.5. I think the benefits of reduced recoil and slightly better long range ballistics will be of more benefit to someone starting out in lr shooting than an extra few thousand round. 3000 rounds is still a lot of shooting and you can get good pre-fit barrels for less than $600.00.

 

[b_w.]

Go 6.5 from the get go. Ammo cost are the same and you will be assembling used brass that can eventually be reloaded. Is 6.5 more capable, sure...marginally, but you wont be held back by 308 either. I have a RPR in 308 and it is very capable. I would honestly suggest looking for a used Tikka or find one on sale and drop it in a KRG Bravo or MDT chassis. The Ruger is very accurate but the action is like sandpaper compared to a Tikka and the Tikka trigger is light years better. Cost wise should not be too far apart for a CTR and Bravo chassis.