I owned one RPR in .308 and two in 6.5. I even fully modded one of the 6.5 with every part possible to help improve it. New Barrel, Timney, LRI bolt, new fore end etc.. they’re great guns for the money like everyone said. But you have to know what you want from from your time on the range, your goals and what your weakest link to accomplishing them is. That rifle will take you 98% of the way but it’s that last 2% that you have decide what it’s worth to you and for many it’s fine to stay at 98%, but for countless others they want that last 2% and it just won’t happen with an off the shelf rifle. Can Tiger Woods shoot under par with a set of Big 5 clubs off the shelf, sure but I guarantee he ain’t winning a match with them. Just the way it is. Custom is custom for a reason and it’s totally cool that it’s not for everyone, it’s nothing to be ashamed of and certainly no reason for people to bash anyone over. On any given day somebody on my line with an RPR could best someone with a $5,000 custom but it’s rare with all other things being equal.
Someone comes to my line with an RPR we say welcome and have fun!! But if they ask for opinions we ask what they want to accomplish. We don’t put down Ruger or any other similar platforms, we just educate the differences and let people make their decisions. There’s things it can do and things it can’t. Either way we help them be the best shooters they can be and the rest is up to them. In my experience people with off the shelf platforms understand they don’t have custom rigs and I don’t see any reason to exacerbate the divide by making them feel bad for some reason. In the end any trigger time is better than no trigger time so buy something and start practicing.