The Ruger Predator is the same action and barrel, although the RPR usually has a slightly longer barrel depending on the cartridge, and can be had for under $400 is you look around. It is the same rifle, with a more traditional stock. You can purchase an aftermarket chassis stocks for it later if you really want one and end up with a better rifle, at less cost.
I may have let myself share this sentiment in the past, but I’ve realized this really isn’t true.
The Ruger American Rifle (of which the Predator is a model) does share a bolt with the Precision rifle, but everything else about the action is different. The receiver body is considerably different, intended to be integrated into the Precision chassis, the trigger is very different, and the barrel afixment is very different. And the two model lines do not use the same barrels. So while they share the same bolt, and the barrels and actions are made by the same manufacturer, these two are distinct actions, which have considerable design differences.
I don’t think it’s necessarily accurate to say putting an American Predator into an aftermarket chassis in the future would yield a better rifle either, nor do I think it’s really feasible for less cost. For example, the MDT LSS available for the American isn’t as good of chassis as the Ruger (owning both), and costs a couple hundred MORE than buying a Precision rifle by the time you buy the rifle, chassis, stock, and grip. Pick up an RAP for $400, an MDT/Brownells chassis for $400, a Magpul PRS for $250, and a basic A2 grip for $15 - street prices, you’re into a chassis RAP for $1100ish, whereas street prices on RPR’s typically cruise $700-900. And of course, the RPR chassis is a multimag platform, while these inexpensive aftermarket chassis’ are not, and every inch of a factory RPR has full Ruger backing, while a converted RAP would not. Saying the two would be the same is like saying a blueprinted Rem 700 in an AI chassis is the same as an AI rifle - it just isn’t true. I’d consider it an extreme waste of money to ramp up a Ruger American in this way - better rifles for the same price are available on the shelf.
And of course, that’s EXTRA time, effort, and money being spent changing one rifle just to be the same as another rifle left the factory.
None of that is meant to say the Ruger Precision Rifle is a great rifle while the American Predator is junk, but rather to give a little perspective to counter largely false and wholly speculative statements. Yes, both can hit targets at long distances - so can any 3/4-1moa factory rifle chambered in any cartridge pushing a .5+ BC bullet between 2700-3200fps...
I did that exact thing three times with two Remington receivers, a Badger receiver, three Krieger barrels, two 1.5 AICS and one 2.0 AICS. Eventually I saw the light and bought three AI rifles, sold the Remingtons/Badger and have never looked back!
