Ruger RPR project complete

[Jeff A]

I'm happy to have this complete. Load testing begins next week.


The rifle is a Gen I model with mods as follows:

· Criterion 26” Stainless barrel chambered in 6.5x47 Lapua using my own custom reamer from PTG.

· Refinished with Burnt Bronze Cerakote by D&B Custom Coatings in Napa, CA.

· Ruger Short Action handguard (From the Gen II model)

· Billet Aluminum Black Anodized Bolt Shroud from titaniumgunparts.com

· Magpul PRS® stock

· Magpul MIAD® Grip

· Ruger 0 MOA scope rail (Replacing the 20 MOA rail that came installed)

· Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50 Scope with EBR-1 Illuminated reticle

· Vortex Optics Bubble Level for 30mm scope tubes

· Burris XTR Signature Scope Rings with 5 MOA inserts installed

· Harris S-BRM 6"-9" Bipod with pivoting base

· Bipod Swivel Lock (MIM 747 "S" Lock)

· Primary Weapons Systems Keymod Bipod Adapter

UTG Pro 3.14" Picatinny rail section (For Delrin® bag slider for bench shooting)

Pictures below but exposure is poor:

 

[swd]

Looks great!

 

[Riesel]

Please be sure to share your progress on load development. I, for one, would be very interested.

 

[Jeff A]

Please be sure to share your progress on load development. I, for one, would be very interested.

I will. I'm looking forward to the process. This is my second 6.5x47 build. I built a heavy bolt gun on a Savage target action and it shoots well. The comparison will be interesting. Also, this is my first Criterion barrel. My previous after market barrels have been White Oak/Wilson, Krieger and Shilen.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Pictures below but exposure is poor??? Not from what I can see. Job WELL DONE!!

 

[Jeff A]

Pictures below but exposure is poor??? Not from what I can see. Job WELL DONE!!

Thank you Sir, from another NorCal guy.

 

[boltfluter]

Love the contrast of colors. Awesome looking rifle.

Paul

www.boltfluting.com

 

[mikeinct]

Man That rig is hot...Well Done Sir...Mike In Ct

 

[Jeff A]

Please be sure to share your progress on load development. I, for one, would be very interested.

I'm sorry that so much time has gone by but I do have some information. In the beginning it was apparent that this barrel needed some round through it to begin performing. I shot some loads initially using 123 gr Lapua Scenar's but this was not a great bullet for this rifle. I tried some Berger 130 gr Hybrids (#26195) and I quickly found that this bullet ahead of 39.2 gr of H4350 groups in the high 2's and the low 3's (5 shot groups). Velocity is running 2715-2720 fps on my Labradar. I'm looking forward to putting this load on paper at 300 yards but that hasn't happened yet as my local range only goes out to 100 yards. This load shoots equally as well on my Shilen barreled Savage and muzzle velocities are about 40 fps faster on the Shilen barrel. Barrel specs are the same and they were both chambered with the same reamer. Over 300 rounds on that barrel and only 100 on the RPR/Criterion.

 

[rotts4u]

IF you don't mind me being nosey can you tell us what you have in it money wise including the original rifle? I am curious if you think you saved any money as opposed to buying a custom action, barrel, chassis and building one from the ground up.

 

[rardoin]

IF you don't mind me being nosey can you tell us what you have in it money wise including the original rifle? I am curious if you think you saved any money as opposed to buying a custom action, barrel, chassis and building one from the ground up.

I have RPR and have modified it for competition. I replaced the handguard to a Seekins...about $250, the pistol grip to a Tubbs...about $50, the trigger group to a...uhh...don't laugh...JARD at about $250 (actually a decent trigger but the stock trigger can be modified to be almost as good IMO), a Magpul PRS butt...about $300 IIRC, and on the second pre-fit barrel- LRI at $625. So near $1500 in changes, plus the original cost of $1300 for a total investment of $2800. I must say it is a shooter but one can build a custom that can shoot with it for the same $. I was interested in competition and the RPR was a great rifle to start with to see if this was going to be my ball of wax before spending the big dollars. Certainly the stock rifle is good enough for that purpose and more IMO.

 

[FatBoy]

Curious why you went with the zero MOA base and that scope? What is the max distance you plan on shooting?

 

[Jeff A]

IF you don't mind me being nosey can you tell us what you have in it money wise including the original rifle? I am curious if you think you saved any money as opposed to buying a custom action, barrel, chassis and building one from the ground up.

Rifle was 1050.00
Barrel was 530.00
Handguard was 230.00 (but sold the other one for $100)
Grip 32.00
PRS Stock from my Varmint AR (I can move it back & forth)

I didn't go this was too save money. I didn't want to wait on any gunsmithing and down time. While waiting for the barrel I was shooting it as a .243.

 

[Jeff A]

Curious why you went with the zero MOA base and that scope? What is the max distance you plan on shooting?

My scope manufacturer said I was good to 800 yards without. My longest available range was 300 yards. I have since found out there is a range 4 hours away that I can shoot to 954 yards. I have Burris Signature rings and can cant the scope with them if needed, and I have.

 

[FatBoy]

The signature rings are nice. Not sure why you would have taken the 20 MOA base off if the scope zeros at 100 but that said, it's how you like it and it looks sharp. I think it'll serve you well.

 

[Jeff A]

The signature rings are nice. Not sure why you would have taken the 20 MOA base off if the scope zeros at 100 but that said, it's how you like it and it looks sharp. I think it'll serve you well.

Originally, I had a rail on top of the handguard and didn't like the look of the cant of a 20 MOA rail. I now have no rail and I can get by with a 5 MOA cant. It makes me happy!

 

[scsbronco]

Great looking rifle !

 

[MrBottleneck]

Very nice job.
I like the color contrasts.