Ruger RPR Hangin With AI ????

[bigjake83]

Hello everyone new RPR owner/shooter here....

I have a few Custom $3500+ Bolt rifles but I just couldn't resist giving the RPR a Go after what I saw last month.. I watched as two seasoned shooters, one with a broke in but bone stock GEN 2 6.5 CM with hand loads, go head to head with a new AI AX with hand loads..... Both rifles shot .5 MOA or Less !! Out to 1000yrds, at this point they had a bit of a crowd gathering and someone told them to switch rifles and see if it was shooter err with the new AI... Nope after making some Comfort adjustment both shooters repeated identical groupings with each other's rifles... Have we all been waisting our money on over priced Custom builds??? I usually go Balls Out on the rifle and cheap out with the Scopes (ie) Vortex PST or Bushnell's. This time I Flip The Script and topped the RPR off with a MINOX ZP5.

Besides the mindset of the RPR being a Starter PRS Rifle, I love the Idea I can do all Gun Smith work at home with tools I already own.

I have recently purchased a Ruger RPR Gen 2 from the guys at CS tactical and I have been doing a lot of reading in the RPR thread but I'm still on page 13. I have a few questions right now because I would like to submit an order for some ammo and parts.

Just to clear up some things first, yes I will be reloading but for now I'll just stock up on fire formed brass and conduct barrel break in.

(1) what store bought ammo is shooting the best overall with the new GEN 2 6.5 Creedmoor ???

(2) have most the kinks been worked out now that Rugers not rushing these rifles..( crooked barrels/ Muzzle Brakes, shitty barrel work)

(3) with the OEM Barrel would a few treatments of JB Bore past be a good idea??

(4) what's the verdict on the new
147ELDs??

(5) with all my Precision rifles I use the Redding Competition Neck Sizing Die kit, I'm assuming thats what everyone else is using??

I'm putting an order in soon for the 130 Hybrids and 140s but I really want to see what the new 147 can do past 1000.

Once I start reloading I'll be using Lapua Small primer brass with CCI BR4 Primers and H4350.


I'm going to give the OEM Barrel and stock a chance before replacing. But I did already call up Timney and ordered a RPR to my specs. 1st Stage 8oz - 2nd stage 13oz

Any other recommendations would be appreciated... Thanks in Advance

Jake

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

Thats interesting as I know more than a few guys that bought RPR's an sold them, as they could not get them to shoot as good as all the shooting world hype would have you believe. Yes these boy could shoot, as they were not new to the game at all.

 

[bigjake83]

Thats interesting as I know more than a few guys that bought RPR's an sold them, as they could not get them to shoot as good as all the shooting world hype would have you believe. Yes these boy could shoot, as they were not new to the game at all.

I assuming you're talking about in original configuration, because I know for a fact the drop in barrels some of these companies make really turn them into a tac driver... I actually put away my bolt rifles and have only been shooting Semi's only for the past few years, and I think due to the fact the RPR is very AR Like, it kinda rekindled my love for bolt rifles again...

Honestly if I get consistent 3/8 MOA with Handloads, even if I have to spend another $495 for a Krieger pre-fit bringing the total cost of the RPR to $1500, I'm gonna sell my Custom Jobs and invest in better Glass. We all saw the Video of LL shooting the Howa and it was clearly 1/2 MOA!! I just don't think there is really any reason to be spending 5-6K on a rifle anymore.

 

[Badfinger]

Another Chevy V.S. Cadillac..........yeah, they'll both go 120 mph then what

 

[mark5pt56]

Rosanne Barr or Jennifer Lopez, both would give the same ending, who would you rather see and hold?

Hah! If you can afford the AI, get it, it's a great rifle. The Ruger will get the job done all kidding aside.

 

[OH58DViper]

This point of view reminds me of all the kids with cars that resemble electric shavers, that modded their car to be fast and wanted to race me in my new Viper. You can make anything fast, you can mod a school bus to run 11s for what my car costs. At the end of the day you’re still driving a school bus.....Bringing it back to guns, you can make any action out there shoot as well as an AI for the price of an actual AI, or for substantialy less in many cases. If that is what you’re into follow your heart. I get pleasure from whipping my $13k dick out of my pelican case (AXMC Setup) and stroking it like it owes me money. So to answer your first unnumbered question, No, we have not been waisting our money on high priced customs. Notice I say high priced and not “overpriced.” Just my $.02

I’ll answer your questions and the caveat with a custom rifle comment. Again, just my opinion.

1.) I am headed to the range tomorrow with a man from work who brought over his RPR for me to help set up. I believe he has 2 or 3 different factory offerings for Ammo and a 5-25 PST on top. I’ll let you know if his rig likes any of them, I’m also bringing some generic handloads with 140 Berger and 4350 to try out. In a highend custom some guys like PVA even have a specific reamer for Prime factory Ammo vs Hornady, just another benefit of buying custom if you’re using factory offerings.

2.) I would think you answered this question in the first paragraph. Of course this is just one example and could be an anomaly, it’s a crap shoot with factory guns.......excluding AI of course ha. Again, not a concern in a highend custom....

3.) The thought of running an abrasive compound made me cringe. Another benefit of highend customs, you don’t get thoughts like these infiltrating your mind.

4.) I would check the RPR sticky and see if there is a write up on the 147’s. With a highend custom you can have it cut for a specific bullet as I’m sure you know. That helps take the guess work out of it, yet another benefit of a custom.

5.) I use FLS bushing dies as do most people I shoot with. Lots of articles on the benefits of different die setups, if they yield good results for you, who cares what anyone else uses or thinks..

So you’re planning on stocking up on factory (most likely Hornady) once fired brass for your chamber then switching to Lapua SRP 6.5 brass? Seems like an exercise in futility and a waste of money to me, why not just reload from the beginning? That way you get to “break in” your barrel while having the brass fit perfectly to your chamber. I don’t subscribe to “break in” procedures in most of my customs. I run a patch after a few rounds and see what my barrel tells me. 90 percent of the time it tells me to keep shooting and not waste my time cleaning it. Just another benefit of a custom barrel that’s not riddled with tool marks and imperfections.

You will notice your question are generally moot for a highend custom, how much is piece of mind worth to you? I hope it shoots well and doesn’t send you chasing your tail if it doesn’t perform. I will be honest and tell you I considered buying one, but for the price of one with a trigger, aftermarket barrel, better brake, etc... you can buy an MPA chassis build for around $2500, and to choose a RPR over an MPA would be foolish in my opinion.

 

[lennyo3034]

I would be hesitant to go with lapua SRP brass. I don't think the RPR firing pin size is conducive to it. I've had great luck with Norma brass

FWIW, my RPR outshoots my custom Bighorn any day. Both barrels spun up by the same smith. And the Bighorn shoots pretty damn well.

 

[padom]

I have seen the RPR's hit or miss, some shoot some dont. Im talking about the factory barrel. Was at the range with a buddy just last week helping him dial his brand new RPR in. Got him handloading Hornady brass with 140 ELD's and H4350 and hes shooting sub 0.5moa with those handloads.

Just use the Hornady brass, there is nothing wrong with it. And if the rifle doesnt shoot, then you know you can just pull that barrel and slap a Kreiger on there and you know that will shoot.

 

[Tree]

I will give my two cents from take it for what it is....... my opinion I am also fairly new to long range shooting . I own both a savage 10FP-SR in an MPA chassis as well as an AIAE MK111 I picked up used. Both will hold .5 groups if I do my part. The AI is built significantly better. Action is smoother, throw angle is better, and in about 10 minutes I can swap barrels even on th AE model. It also fits me better. Though I am not a fan of an AR style setup (and yes I shoot ARs as well) I have 3 different barrels for the AE so I basically have three different rifles if I choose but the exact same setup for consistency. But that's just my two cents.

 

[steve123]

I'm one of those kind of persons that likes a nice custom rifle vs a bunch of regular rifles. In fact that's been a mantra of sorts over the years, sell 2-3 standard (whatever)s and buy one nice one. Though my old AR shoots so well I never upgraded to a high dollar model but it's one of the few semi's that was both accurate and reliable.

I sold my old go-to custom to a close friend, then the RPR's came out. He got kinda miffed and said man I could have got one of those RPR's for less. I laughed at him and shook my head then went on to explain all the differences and what it costs to have those mods done at a GS and why those things were superior. Besides it's highly unlikely a stock RPR is going to keep up with that custom in the accuracy department.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

Honestly if I get consistent 3/8 MOA with Handloads

Interesting that you think 3/8's close equals the same at far. Is it an indicator, sometimes, but not always.

 

[Lowlight]

All Mine Shoot and have shot out of the box

I was one of the first to touch them, they even tested out the prototype here in CO with me, and the very first day, very first groups, they shot

The Rugers work, period, if you cannot get them to shoot, you're an idiot, worst I have seen is you take them apart, put them back together and they work. Sure they could have a bad barrel here and there, but those are pretty few and far between.

Up in Alaska there are more RPRs than anywhere else i have seen and all of them in my classes, (We have majority of RPRs in class) and they are a easy bet to work

Hype does not do this

Ya that is 5 shots,

I took a discontinued 556 to a local match shooting factory Prime Ammo which was only going 2510fps and top 10 it, coming in 9th without even really trying

I love the RPR and continue to shoot the RPR and the aftermarket barrels rock

Don't listen to the BS, My friend said, it's the same guys that say the 6.5CM is a fad

 

[Xander3Zero]

If they made a left hand RPR I'd pick one up for sure.

 

[Lowlight]

They won't, the Ruger CEO is a Lefty and wants a lefty too and specifically said, they lose money because Lefties don't buy.

Everytime the try it, you guys let them down, nobody to blame for the lack of left-handed rifles but lefties themselves

 

[jackinfl]

NOT to hijack, but why was the 556 discontinued?

 

[Badfinger]

They never really caught on, didn't hit the sale projection.

 

[Lowlight]

They told me at Shot they made too many and poor sales as noted above

I thought tgey were gonba make it a Valkyrie but nope, shelved

 

[bigjake83]

This point of view reminds me of all the kids with cars that resemble electric shavers, that modded their car to be fast and wanted to race me in my new Viper. You can make anything fast, you can mod a school bus to run 11s for what my car costs. At the end of the day you’re still driving a school bus.....Bringing it back to guns, you can make any action out there shoot as well as an AI for the price of an actual AI, or for substantialy less in many cases. If that is what you’re into follow your heart. I get pleasure from whipping my $13k dick out of my pelican case (AXMC Setup) and stroking it like it owes me money. So to answer your first unnumbered question, No, we have not been waisting our money on high priced customs. Notice I say high priced and not “overpriced.” Just my $.02

I’ll answer your questions and the caveat with a custom rifle comment. Again, just my opinion.

1.) I am headed to the range tomorrow with a man from work who brought over his RPR for me to help set up. I believe he has 2 or 3 different factory offerings for Ammo and a 5-25 PST on top. I’ll let you know if his rig likes any of them, I’m also bringing some generic handloads with 140 Berger and 4350 to try out. In a highend custom some guys like PVA even have a specific reamer for Prime factory Ammo vs Hornady, just another benefit of buying custom if you’re using factory offerings.

2.) I would think you answered this question in the first paragraph. Of course this is just one example and could be an anomaly, it’s a crap shoot with factory guns.......excluding AI of course ha. Again, not a concern in a highend custom....

3.) The thought of running an abrasive compound made me cringe. Another benefit of highend customs, you don’t get thoughts like these infiltrating your mind.

4.) I would check the RPR sticky and see if there is a write up on the 147’s. With a highend custom you can have it cut for a specific bullet as I’m sure you know. That helps take the guess work out of it, yet another benefit of a custom.

5.) I use FLS bushing dies as do most people I shoot with. Lots of articles on the benefits of different die setups, if they yield good results for you, who cares what anyone else uses or thinks..

So you’re planning on stocking up on factory (most likely Hornady) once fired brass for your chamber then switching to Lapua SRP 6.5 brass? Seems like an exercise in futility and a waste of money to me, why not just reload from the beginning? That way you get to “break in” your barrel while having the brass fit perfectly to your chamber. I don’t subscribe to “break in” procedures in most of my customs. I run a patch after a few rounds and see what my barrel tells me. 90 percent of the time it tells me to keep shooting and not waste my time cleaning it. Just another benefit of a custom barrel that’s not riddled with tool marks and imperfections.

You will notice your question are generally moot for a highend custom, how much is piece of mind worth to you? I hope it shoots well and doesn’t send you chasing your tail if it doesn’t perform. I will be honest and tell you I considered buying one, but for the price of one with a trigger, aftermarket barrel, better brake, etc... you can buy an MPA chassis build for around $2500, and to choose a RPR over an MPA would be foolish in my opinion.

This point of view reminds me of all the kids with cars that resemble electric shavers, that modded their car to be fast and wanted to race me in my new Viper. You can make anything fast, you can mod a school bus to run 11s for what my car costs. At the end of the day you’re still driving a school bus.....Bringing it back to guns, you can make any action out there shoot as well as an AI for the price of an actual AI, or for substantialy less in many cases. If that is what you’re into follow your heart. I get pleasure from whipping my $13k dick out of my pelican case (AXMC Setup) and stroking it like it owes me money. So to answer your first unnumbered question, No, we have not been waisting our money on high priced customs. Notice I say high priced and not “overpriced.” Just my $.02

I’ll answer your questions and the caveat with a custom rifle comment. Again, just my opinion.

1.) I am headed to the range tomorrow with a man from work who brought over his RPR for me to help set up. I believe he has 2 or 3 different factory offerings for Ammo and a 5-25 PST on top. I’ll let you know if his rig likes any of them, I’m also bringing some generic handloads with 140 Berger and 4350 to try out. In a highend custom some guys like PVA even have a specific reamer for Prime factory Ammo vs Hornady, just another benefit of buying custom if you’re using factory offerings.

2.) I would think you answered this question in the first paragraph. Of course this is just one example and could be an anomaly, it’s a crap shoot with factory guns.......excluding AI of course ha. Again, not a concern in a highend custom....

3.) The thought of running an abrasive compound made me cringe. Another benefit of highend customs, you don’t get thoughts like these infiltrating your mind.

4.) I would check the RPR sticky and see if there is a write up on the 147’s. With a highend custom you can have it cut for a specific bullet as I’m sure you know. That helps take the guess work out of it, yet another benefit of a custom.

5.) I use FLS bushing dies as do most people I shoot with. Lots of articles on the benefits of different die setups, if they yield good results for you, who cares what anyone else uses or thinks..

So you’re planning on stocking up on factory (most likely Hornady) once fired brass for your chamber then switching to Lapua SRP 6.5 brass? Seems like an exercise in futility and a waste of money to me, why not just reload from the beginning? That way you get to “break in” your barrel while having the brass fit perfectly to your chamber. I don’t subscribe to “break in” procedures in most of my customs. I run a patch after a few rounds and see what my barrel tells me. 90 percent of the time it tells me to keep shooting and not waste my time cleaning it. Just another benefit of a custom barrel that’s not riddled with tool marks and imperfections.

You will notice your question are generally moot for a highend custom, how much is piece of mind worth to you? I hope it shoots well and doesn’t send you chasing your tail if it doesn’t perform. I will be honest and tell you I considered buying one, but for the price of one with a trigger, aftermarket barrel, better brake, etc... you can buy an MPA chassis build for around $2500, and to choose a RPR over an MPA would be foolish in my opinion.

I guess you missed the first part of my post I have several custom Rifle including this same AI 13K Big Dick you have... Yes my thoughts are all over the place, but it's because I actually witness the RPR do everything my AI does... It's a bit crude compared to the AI obviously, but fuck it!! If it works.. If the RPR holds it own, I'll sell all my non Magnum rifles and top them off with the best glass.

 

[bigjake83]

Interesting that you think 3/8's close equals the same at far. Is it an indicator, sometimes, but not always.

Of course I'm talking about the rifle holding 3/8 out to a G, not just at a 100.

 

[mercracing]

One point I don’t think has been touched is AI’s just run. Wet, dry, sandy, muddy, hot, cold, who cares. Mine just runs period. No trigger problems. No issues with the bolt. I can’t comment on how a RPR runs in various poor conditions so hopefully someone chimes in.

 

[lte82]

Everytime the try it, you guys let them down, nobody to blame for the lack of left-handed rifles but lefties themselves

Ai, Surgeon, DTA, MPA/Curtis, plus all the custom options... We have more choices now than we ever have. But I agree, lefties need to buy left hand guns if we want even more to pick from.

 

[bigjake83]

One point I don’t think has been touched is AI’s just run. Wet, dry, sandy, muddy, hot, cold, who cares. Mine just runs period. No trigger problems. No issues with the bolt. I can’t comment on how a RPR runs in various poor conditions so hopefully someone chimes in.

I own a AI as well, and the reason I even told that story was to TROLL some of the other AI owners... The difference is that even though I own a AI AX and spent the same money, my Ego is Modest enough to admit that a $1000 rifle can almost do the same as one several thousand dollars more.

I was absolutely blown away when I saw what the RPR can do... If I hadn't witnessed it for myself I would have the same attitude.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

There's more to rifle performance than shooting groups. If that's all that matters than a $250 stevens with a Criterion barrel is equal to an AI.

I've had a dozen AI's and over a half dozen RPR's. Currently have two of each. My AI's have all be sub half minute guns with most capable of cutting single ragged holes. Only one of my RPR's was sub half minute with the factory barrel but the others were still sub 3/4 minute which is plenty acceptable for a $1000 rifle.

It isn't all about group clusters though, an AI will stay running through just about anything. Failures with them are few and far between. They're built far more robust than an RPR all around. It's not even comparable.

RPR's are good rifles though and for $1000 I don't think you can do better. IMO the best thing you can do though is swap the barrel out though, then you'll have a laser.

 

[brianf]

First and foremost it's the Indian not the arrow.
Second (being a AI guy over the years) we all forget that you don't need the hottest wiz bang action to shoot well.
Take a action true it up, get a match barrel, put it together strait with no stress and you shoot in the .3's...it's that simple.
Everyone forgets that blueprinted r700 actions were shooting into the record books long before most guys on this site were born.
Tac ops isn't that old but my sierra outshoots my trg and my ai's (I'm talking 308).
And I might get flamed for this but I also have a tactical rifles 308 (donner action from my pss in a aics it was 500 bucks cheaper, when they first started not towards then end when they became a shit show), that has printed more than it's share of 1/4" 5 shot groups with pics to prove.

Just trying to say there is no magic, tight tolerances...high quality parts = accuracy and repeatability.
rifkes are like every other machine on the planet, a box of parts that some spec'd out and put together.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

Of course I'm talking about the rifle holding 3/8 out to a G, not just at a 100.

Where are you shooting that you can hold 3/8 moa all the way to a grand? I'll be in S/E Idaho this summer an would love to watch that.

 

[Rate_of_Twist]

NOT to hijack, but why was the 556 discontinued?

No idea, but REALLY tempted to just buy one at the $799 price I've seen!

 

[bigjake83]

Where are you shooting that you can hold 3/8 moa all the way to a grand? I'll be in S/E Idaho this summer an would love to watch that.

Are you asking me out on a date ...you're such a flirt

 

[scudzuki]

My buddy got a 1st Gen RPR in .308.
Didn't shoot worth a damn with the original barrel.
I spun up a replacement 24" barrel in 6.5 CM from a K&P blank.
He's only had it out once but it was laying down 3/4" 5 shot groups at 100 yards with Hornady factory ammo from shot 1.

 

[tsu45]

Timney will tweak their RPR trigger to a customer’s specific specs?

 

[Langford]

I love custom/high end setups, but how can I bitch about a $900 rifle that can stack 5 shots together in a 1" group at 515 yards with factory ammo?

 

[TheOE800]

I liked my RPR while I had it. Capable rifle and plenty accurate. I still sold it and bought an AI. Was there a tangible benefit? Maybe not, but I really like my AI and it’s plenty accurate. The Ruger is a great rifle to get into this scene at a low cost, no one will argue that.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

Are you asking me out on a date ...you're such a flirt

No, but I'm supposed to be there this summer so I'd like to see for my own eyes. The matches I shoot, are moa matches an no one to date has ever shot moa or better. A perfect score would be 200 an the highest ever shot was a 195 with a 223. Now a 6.5 laser like yours that shoots 3/8's moa at distance should have no issue with that course? Many a top shooter from all over this rock has shot the match but no one has cleaned it yet. Even the school for boys an the guys from Bragg have shot the course, but no joy to date. Just think you could be the first.

 

[bigjake83]

No, but I'm supposed to be there this summer so I'd like to see for my own eyes. The matches I shoot, are moa matches an no one to date has ever shot moa or better. A perfect score would be 200 an the highest ever shot was a 195 with a 223. Now a 6.5 laser like yours that shoots 3/8's moa at distance should have no issue with that course? Many a top shooter from all over this rock has shot the match but no one has cleaned it yet. Even the school for boys an the guys from Bragg have shot the course, but no joy to date. Just think you could be the first.

I think you have seriously taken what I wrote out of context, you and I both know I was talking about consistent accuracy as in, you may be able to shoot 3/8 1/2" at 100yards doesn't mean the rifle can maintain that out to 1000, and with every day atmospheric doing all that they can to ruin your day. Anyway to the point id be happy to accommodate your soon to be butthurt ego, I shoot at a private 1500 yard range, if you wish me to compete you can pay the fees..

I don't really know what's so hard to believe here, I've walked every precision rifle i own in 50yrd intervals out to, and past 1000yrds And kept them around 1/2 MOA or Less, that's how I get my dope ... Does it happen every time...fuck no!!!!

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

I think you have seriously taken what I wrote out of context, you and I both know I was talking about consistent accuracy as in, you may be able to shoot 3/8 1/2" at 100yards doesn't mean the rifle can maintain that out to 1000, and with every day atmospheric doing all that they can to ruin your day.

Seen lots of claims made, last match in Feb a grand master IBS shooter showed up with his 1/8th minute all day every day stick. To say he did not fair well, is an understatement. W/O wind flags or sighters, 100yds holes mean nothing at long.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

I don't really know what's so hard to believe here, I've walked every precision rifle i own in 50yrd intervals out to, and past 1000yrds And kept them around 1/2 MOA or Less, that's how I get my dope ... Does it happen every time...fuck no!!!!

Of course I'm talking about the rifle holding 3/8 out to a G, not just at a 100.

So which is it? Is it a 3/8MOA rifle to 1K or is it 1/2MOA or less sometimes?

Personally I think you're exaggerating a bit with this rifles capabilities unless you somehow got a factory freak. I've had a bunch of them and only one shot close to what you're claiming with the factory barrel. Most were in the 3/4moa range... Which is still great for a $1000 gun, but you're trying to tout your new toy as something it's not by painting the picture that it's equal to what's probably the most rugged field grade sniper rifles ever produced.

 

[bigjake83]

So which is it? Is it a 3/8MOA rifle to 1K or is it 1/2MOA or less sometimes?

Personally I think you're exaggerating a bit with this rifles capabilities unless you somehow got a factory freak. I've had a bunch of them and only one shot close to what you're claiming with the factory barrel. Most were in the 3/4moa range... Which is still great for a $1000 gun, but you're trying to tout your new toy as something it's not by painting the picture that it's equal to what's probably the most rugged field grade sniper rifles ever produced.

You should go and properly re-read this thread from the beginning, before you go and even make a bigger ass of yourself.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

You should go and properly re-read this thread from the beginning, before you go and even make a bigger ass of yourself.

I did read the thread. You're insinuating that a $1000 rifle that you don't seem to have even taken delivery of yet is on the level of a $4000-$8000+ line of rifles based on watching two shooters with the two different rifles, one sample of each shoot some groups at distance.

Myself and others that own or have owned both have come here and told you that they're not.

Another member is confusing laying 3-5 rounds on target with laying 20 on target cutting 10's or X's every shot in a benchrest relay.

So what am I missing?

 

[mark5pt56]

Having cycled through some AI's and having a couple Rugers, they are not even close. A started out with a 700 5R in a chassis, kept upgrading when funds allowed, AEII, AEIII and now on the AT. The Ruger is a decent rifle for what it is, not taking that away but it never was intended to be in the AI class of guns.

 

[Steelhead]

They told me at Shot they made too many and poor sales as noted above

I thought tgey were gonba make it a Valkyrie but nope, shelved

Dang, I was seriously hoping for a Valkyrie version! I even wrote to Ruger asking if they were going to make it, but they just gave me the standard "we don't talk about upcoming projects" reply.

LL, what bullet/load do you find works best in the .223 version?

 

[Ric O'shay]

Just the fact that we are having a conversation about a Ruger, that you can buy at your local Fleet Farm store, shoot out of the box and compete in the custom rifle spectrum is quite remarkable. Well done by them, to say nothing of bringing a lot of new folks into LR and ELR which is good for the present and future of shooting sports.

 

[Bender]

Guys.......

Who gives a crap what gun you shoot. You have a $13k setup that you like to pull out and stroke? So you can peacock around the line? Good for you..... you have an AI and don’t tell anyone and just shoot it? Good for you. Your RPR shoots really fuggin good? And it pisses off the AI Guy? Good for you.....

I would rather have the $12k in my 401k than stroke it at the range. I love AI, yes I could buy one, but I shoot the RPR because that’s what I want. So your AI runs better in the sand and dust? Good for you. You want a cookie?

Buy all the guns

Shoot all the guns

Us guys that shoot anything laugh and rolleyes at the dick waving fan boys. But please carry on, it makes for good entertainment.

 

[Steelhead]

Whatever happened to the RPR model that is supposed to shoot 1 mile, that they were advertising last year? Everyone thought it would be chambered in 6.5 PRC, but I've never seen one.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Us guys that shoot anything laugh and rolleyes at the dick waving fan boys. But please carry on, it makes for good entertainment.

Considering another RPR was just delivered for me and my RPR to AI ratio is now 3:2, I don't see how I can be considered a fanboy.

That said, I know what the rifles are and aren't because I own and shoot both. I've been running AI's for over 10 years and RPR's since they came out, I had my first delivered to my dealer the day after they were released and had an optic mounted and doing load development that afternoon. What a RPR isn't is an AI or a well spec'd and built custom simply because you can make one group as well which is what this thread has indicated. If thats the case then that means a Stevens with a barrel screwed on it for a $500-$600 total investment is as good too.

I've had buttstock components on almost all of my RPR's fail, that's why they get magpul PRS stocks. I've seen two folding hinges fail, a trigger fail and a bolt fail at the lugs (not from hot ammo). I can identify several parts that wouldn't hold up to excessive use and I'm not talking about jumping out of helicopters. The quality level just simply is not there. You aren't going to buy a RPR and go through 10 barrels and 20K+ rounds on the action and components like you can an AI with nothing more than possibly replacing a worn ejector, extractor, firing pin, or spring. It just isn't going to happen.

I'm not saying RPR's are pieces of shit, they're not. They're phenomenal rifles when you're not trying to compare it to something that's not in the same league. They're a budget friendly entry level gun and they're great at that, IMO they're the best at that of all the options that fall into the category. If you truly believe an RPR is on the same level as an AI you should thank your drug dealer because he's selling you some good shit.

You can make a Honda Civic go fast down a 1/4 mile, but if you go to an event like import vs domestic you'll see 2-3x as many bargain bin imports towed off the line because they shit their pants at the green vs imports and domestic better built for the task. A $2 harbor freight ratchet will turn a socket so does that mean it's comparable to the top brands? No, because as soon as you start using it a lot it's going to break and it's not going to work as well as the good stuff until it breaks. See my point?

Anything can fail and products in which quality is cut (and it has to be to offer a rifle with those features for that price) are going to fail first 99% of the time. It's a matter of fact. If it wasn't and quality didn't matter then nobody would buy the top tier rifles, optics, or anything else. They'd have more cheaper options and more ammo.

An RPR is a great option for someone looking to get into competition shooting and it's what I'd buy for that purpose just to try to sport even though I can easily afford the high end stuff. It's a great option as a backup gun without having a major investment. It's a great option for just another rifle to shoot. It's a great option for a casual shooter that won't shoot thousands upon thousands of rounds a year. That's what it is.

 

[Bender]

I don’t disagree with any of that post. I would love an AI, but as you stated, the RPR is more for a casual shooter. That’s me to a T. I never said the RPR is as good as AI. I have much larger money holes, Jeep, boat, travels, three kids at home. If it floats, has wheels, goes boom or has boobs, I’m interested.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

I don’t disagree with any of that post. I would love an AI, but as you stated, the RPR is more for a casual shooter. That’s me to a T. I never said the RPR is as good as AI. I have much larger money holes, Jeep, boat, travels, three kids at home. If it floats, has wheels, goes boom or has boobs, I’m interested.

Exactly and there's nothing wrong with that. There's just some people who can't accept the fact that there's better stuff than what they bought and need to convince themselves something entry level (no matter how great or bad) is on the same level as the top tiers, skipping over middle tier stuff completely. If something works for your application or it's flaws are acceptable (for the individual user), it works and there's nothing wrong with that.

This is no different than years ago when PRS style comp shooting wasn't a thing and the only matches were Hide Cup, ASC, and a handful of sniper competitions which usually only LE/mil snipers could attend. Back then there were really no custom actions outside of the BR stuff so the customs were all built on Remington 700's, the predominant top tier factory rifles were AI AW's and TRG's and outside of those there were very few options most of which didn't make it to the states at all... Then there was Savage. The Savage rifles are to that period of long range shooting what the RPR is to the current discipline, although the RPR is much higher on the scale and far more reliable than the Savages were. Everybody and their brother with a Savage wouldn't shut up about how their $400 10FP was as good as anything else and there was no better. Nothing wrong with something outside of top tier working for someone but this foolish train of thought just gets stupid. I don't think it's as bad with the RPR's but it's definitely still present. Absolute brand/product loyalty is narrow minded and absolutely retarded regardless of what end of the spectrum it's on.

 

[bigjake83]

So what am I missing?

bigjake83 said:
I own a AI as well, and the reason I even told that story was to troll some of the other AI owners...

 

[TheOE800]

bigjake83 said:
I own a AI as well, and the reason I even told that story was to troll some of the other AI owners...

Listen here pal, my AI big dick swinging is so much bigger than yours I paid more than retail! Beat that!



/sarc

 

[bigjake83]

Look RedNeck..

The purpose of this thread was just to say that I was literally Blown Away, pun intended by the accuracy of the RPR and in no way shape or form did I ever claimed that they can hold up to the rigors that an AI can. As I stated above I own both, but for myself and many others we are just punching paper or bangin steal, and it really made me take a hard look at what I'm spending my money on..

Untill I witnessed what I did, I had the same stance as you do about my AI, and I would have took the bait just as you have if someone else posted what I did.

 

[my human host]

The RPR is a hell of a rifle for the money. This is coming from one of the guys unlucky enough to get one of the early 243's with a shit tube.

Don't have the first clue how it compares to an AI as I don't own one.

I swapped out the gen 1 handguard on mine for a simple free float tube I made myself and deleted the dumbass flange on the barrel with a custom crush washer between the nuts. Shoots like a motherfucker with a Brux chambered in 6.5 Creed for short money. I have zero issues with the stock trigger, but opinions differ.

 

[Badfinger]

Well, I'm glad we got that done! (Group Hug) What's next anybody want to do scopes?

I'll start "My scope bigger than yours".........