Ruger Precision 6.5

You can buy 3 Ruger Predators in 6.5 for the price of the Precision Rifle. The action and barrel are the same. People who have shot both report no difference in accuracy.



I have the Predator and wouldn't pay extra for the stock on the Precision rifle. Especially now that the Predator will take 3, 5, and 10 round AI magazines, for about $400 street price.

https://ruger.com/products/americanRiflePredator/specSheets/26973.html

As a hunting round the 6.5 CM will kill any animal your 7 mag will kill, and at the same ranges. The 7 mag will shoot somewhat flatter, but with today's scopes and range finders it isn't that hard to calculate drops. And the 6.5 CM does it with around 40 gr powder and 12 ft lbs recoil compared to 65-70 gr powder and 25 ft lbs recoil from the 7 mag.

I am kind of in the same boat as the OP. Want a precision rifle but I can only shoot out to 400 yards. I decided to just wring put all the precision I can from a couple of rifles I already have for now. Maybe get a chassis rifle later.

If you are only shooting to 300yds, I guess the answer is 'no, you don't really need another rifle.' The time and money needed to work up a rifle to shoot 1000yds...? A 1.5hr drive to find a suitable range is nothing.

I got one of the first (if not the first) 6.5 RPRs in South GA and was so proud of it. My wife and I have slightly embarrassed a few high dollar rifles at the range, but that’s only on steel. I haven’t really shot for groups because it is so much fun to shoot steel. Our local range only goes out to 500 yards, and with the 10x SWFA scope it currently wears, that’s about as far as I can take it with my eyesight.
I love the rifle to pieces, but if I were to do it again, I would probably get a Ruger American Predator like jmr40 suggested and put a Nightforce or Vortex Razor on top of it. If I ever felt like I had outgrown the rifle, I would be able to transfer that glass to another rifle. I would also be able to use the rifle for more than just the range if I chose to. As it stands now, the RPR is a little on the heavy side for me to tote around much, I’m not shooting Precision Rifle matches.

The RPR is made expressly for shooting PRS style matches, hence the weight, stock style and mag setup. For that purpose, there is no comparison between the Predator and the RPR, the RPR is superior in every way.

Several folks drive over 1.5 hrs to come up to our local 1,000+ yd match from CO, so I don't see that as much of a barrier if you're interested enough in shooting long range to put in all the other work required. Incidentally, the RPR is one of the more common cheap rifles at our shoots, along with the Bergara HMR. With good glass on those two or something like the Savage Stealth, you can be on a fairly even footing with other shooters no matter what rifles they are shooting. The same could not be said of a basic RAR or Predator, they are good budget hunting rifles, but obviously are not, and are not meant to be in the same class as the RPR for long range target or PRS style shooting. So it depends on what you want, and what you will be doing with the rifle, but I wouldn't let price be your only driver if you're wanting to shoot longer ranges

As others have said - if you need a chassis, then the RPR is cheaper than buying a Predator and changing the stock to a proper stock or chassis. Boyd’s laminates need not apply - it’s just a stock. AI mags in a Predator don’t make it a competition ready rifle.

In the RPR, you’re buying an American with adaptability. Some folks need that, some don’t. Some folks think an entry level competition rifle for under $1000 is a steal (and they’re right), some folks don’t want or need to compete.

Time out...the Predator is also available with AI mags from the factory. You can buy a chassis roughly equivalent to the RPR’s for $400. That’s $800 for a rifle configurable as a long-range or hunting rig. By my calculations that leaves a few hundred, maybe $300, for whatever you like.

The only $400 chassis’s I’m aware of don’t actually include the stock or pistol grip, so a guy gets a couple hundred bucks more into it to actually have a serviceable/complete chassis. Whether you believe in Mlok or not, there aren’t many of those low cost chassis with full forward rails either. (KRG isn’t making the Bravo or Whiskey for RAP’s, it is legitimately $450 though - more of a stock than a chassis, and not nearly as versatile as the RPR forend). The XLR doesn’t have a stock or grip for $450, the MDT LSS doesn’t have a stock or grip for $400... maybe there is a $400 all in chassis out there, but it’s not common. Most will run $650-1000, or considerably more when you get all in.

And a guy can get an RPR for $900-1000, not the $1200+ MSRP. So by the time a guy buys a $400 RAP, $450 chassis, $200-300 receiver extension and stock, $10-80 pistol grip...

I went through the exact same exercise when Cabela’s had the Savage 12’s for $269 after rebate. Even getting the rifle for so cheap and chasing sales and blem pricing on the chassis and stock, I barely beat the price of the BA Stealth getting my “clone” put together - with shipping, I was break even. Chassis’s just aren’t as cheap as guys might think.

Fair enough, I missed the fine print on that in my haste, but adding a LuthAR stock for $125 and an $35 Ergo to the MDT makes for a $960 package. I’ve seen (Bud’s) at $968 for the RPR which means you’re still $8 ahead with a second hunting stock. Now a PRS would tip the scales a bit but again, I cannot picture the Precision being fielded unless prairie dogs are in town.

I’m not meaning to imply the RPR isn’t a sound choice for punching paper in an all-in-one package, only that there are other ways to skin that cat with a Ruger. Not sure how well the Magpul would handle bench duty as it isn’t nearly as adjustable but it comes in at $300 for a much nicer stock than the standard Predator.

$8 ate up in shipping isn’t a difference - gotta buy the receiver extension too...

If a guy needs an adaptable chassis, then buying one makes as much sense as building one - funny how professional marketing and accounting managers figure that out...

For paper punching on the bench, the RPR is largely a terrible choice. Most guys don’t understand how to use a rifle like the RPR, so they assume it’s a bench gun. Check out Taliv’s current post about his Impact rifle, and the RRS it sits on. An ACRA rail under an RPR is an incredibly versatile field rifle, at a very low relative budget.

Varminterror said:

$8 ate up in shipping isn’t a difference - gotta buy the receiver extension too...

Click to expand...

You also wind up short an extended bolt handle, a muzzle brake, the convenient AR-esque safety position, the ability to run a variety of different mag types, and a folding/locking stock.... All of which come standard on the RPR. Again, if you want to get to an adjustable entry level rifle for PRS type shooting, there is no reason to start with a Predator VS an RPR, the ability to take AICS mags does not automatically make the Predator a good tool for that job.

Sorry but the Predator won't replace the RPR. In addition to the aforementioned advantages, the RPR's barrel is also user-replaceable. As far as I know the RPR is a heavier profile and 2" longer.

Skylerbone said:

Time out...the Predator is also available with AI mags from the factory. You can buy a chassis roughly equivalent to the RPR’s for $400. That’s $800 for a rifle configurable as a long-range or hunting rig. By my calculations that leaves a few hundred, maybe $300, for whatever you like.

Click to expand...

I think this IS a valid point.

As is THIS

Varminterror said:

$8 ate up in shipping isn’t a difference - gotta buy the receiver extension too...

If a guy needs an adaptable chassis, then buying one makes as much sense as building one - funny how professional marketing and accounting managers figure that out...

For paper punching on the bench, the RPR is largely a terrible choice. Most guys don’t understand how to use a rifle like the RPR, so they assume it’s a bench gun. Check out Taliv’s current post about his Impact rifle, and the RRS it sits on. An ACRA rail under an RPR is an incredibly versatile field rifle, at a very low relative budget.

Click to expand...

The Pred, and the other Americans are solid, accurate, field adaptable rifles. They are also very affordable. Hunting, there's and American for that, If you want to shoot long range, they will work for that too, bench gun? stocks are awful, but they can do that well enough.
There are user swapable barrels for the americans, but they also usually replace the barrel nuts i think.

The RPR is at its heart a very good entry level competition rifle, for a specific game set, with the little niceties already taken care of (other guys already listed them, and they go beyond just the basic stock)....also at a VERY affordable price point.
Personally having only used one for a few hours shooting targets a 100yds or so, I found it much more adaptable and nicer to use for different shooters than my RAM.
So while i have little use for a PRS comp gun, I would be interested in one of these just for the easy adaptability, at least at the 8-900 dollar sales prices i see from time to time.

Is the OP running PRS? If so, my comment would change a little bit. I don't, and feel like my choice to purchase the RPR far exceeded my needs and use.

If Charlie is usually shooting at 300 yards and occasionally driving that 1 1/2 hours to get any further, then a less expensive rifle might be alright. A piece of paper doesn't understand the use or price tag of a rifle.

I don't think there should be much debate whether the RPR and RAP are made for different purposes.