The precision rifle market is one of the fastest-growing segments of the firearms world. With the boom in PRS competitions and a fascination with super-long-range shooting, what was once the realm of “gun nerds” has gained a huge following. But it’s not uncommon for high-end guns in this arena to come with $5,000 price tags.
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Our List of Long Range Rifles
Thankfully, several manufacturers are now offering long range rifles that offer plenty of features without going too far into or beyond the $2,000 range. These guns are well within the reach of most shooters.
Every shooter is different, and this list of long range rifles offers a wide spectrum of choices. Let’s take a closer look at a few of the best that have more recent come to market.
BadRock South Fork
The BadRock South Fork is a visually stunning rifle with either a black or “huckleberry” aluminum chassis. The buttstock is fully adjustable for length of pull and cheek height, and left- and right-handed actions are available. This is great news for all the southpaws out there. The receiver is made from pre-hardened, aircraft-certified stainless steel and features a cone-nosed, controlled-feed extractor made by Defiance Machine as well as a TriggerTech trigger. The match-grade stainless steel barrel is threaded for a brake or suppressor, and BadRock currently offers the gun in .223 Remington, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Winchester, 6.5 PRC, .300 Winchester Magnum and .300 PRC.
MSRP: $1,995-$2,145; (badrockrifles.com)
Bergara Ridgeback
Bergara has long been known as the gold standard in barrels, and its complete rifles are worthy of that heritage. The new Ridgeback builds on that reputation with a medium-Palma barrel, a hand-laid fiberglass stock and a two-lug action with a separate floating bolt head for proper alignment. It also features a cone-shaped bolt nose and a spring-loaded sliding plate extractor. The two-position safety is part of the trigger assembly, which is a TriggerTech unit with Bergara’s Frictionless Release Technology. This allows you to unload the rifle while the gun is still on safe.
MSRP: $2,000; (bergarausa.com)
Browning X-Bolt Max Long Range
This rifle includes all of the DNA Browning is known for, but most notable is the new composite Max stock, which has an adjustable comb as well as a comfortable, more vertical pistol grip to optimize your trigger reach. The length of pull is adjustable via spacers, and Browning includes three sling swivel studs. Browning drills and taps the X-Bolt receiver for optics, and Browning includes an extended bolt handle. The hand-chambered, fluted, 26-inch, stainless steel barrel has 5/8×24-tpi threading, and a removable muzzle brake is included as well as a thread protector.
MSRP: $1,270-$1,330; (browning.com)
Christensen Arms MPR
Serious shooters should take a look at the Christensen Arms Modern Precision Rifle (MPR). This gun is feature-rich and includes a free-floating, hand-lapped, carbon-fiber- wrapped 416R stainless steel barrel as well as V-Block bedding to deliver pinpoint accuracy. It also has a removable, adjustable side baffle brake and 5/8×24 threaded muzzle for easy customization. The MPR also has a match-grade flat trigger, a 20-MOA top rail for optics and a nitride-treated, twin-lug, spiral-fluted bolt. The dual ejector is compatible with magnum calibers. All of this comes in a 7075-T6 aluminum chassis with a folding and fully adjustable buttstock.
MSRP: $2,295-$2,395; (christensenarms.com)
Daniel Defense Delta 5
Daniel Defense has taken the modularity of the AR platform and integrated it into a one-of-a-kind bolt-action rifle. From an interchangeable, cold-hammer-forged barrel to a user-configurable stock, the Delta 5 features out-of-the-box customization that would normally require professional gunsmithing. The action houses a three-lug bolt with a 60-degree throw and a floating bolt head. The single-stage Timney Elite Hunter trigger can be set between 1.5 and 4 pounds. Daniel Defense also includes a two-position safety, as well as a 20-MOA top rail. The carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer stock is adjustable for length of pull and buttpad height for a custom fit.
MSRP: $2,199; (danieldefense.com)
Howa Oryx
This rife pairs a Modular Driven Technologies (MDT) chassis with the Howa Model 1500 action to balance precision with affordability. The full-length chassis is highly customizable, as users can adjust the length of pull and comb height. More features include a two-lug bolt with an integrated recoil lug, a free-floating barrel and a two-stage Howa Activated Controlled Trigger (HACT) with a clean break set between 2.5 and 3 pounds. The rifle also accepts AICS-style magazines, and Howa includes a sub-MOA accuracy guarantee.
MSRP: $1,059-$1,099; (legacysports.com)
Mossberg MVP LR Thunder Ranch
The MVP LR Thunder Ranch is a long-range tack driver that will serve any shooter well. The benchrest-style stock gives you a rock-solid shooting platform, and your favorite high-powered optic will lock easily onto the Picatinny top rail. It also accepts LR-308/SR-25 and M1A/M14 magazines. The adjustable Lightning Bolt Action (LBA) trigger allows you to fine-tune the rifle to your shooting style, and Mossberg includes a rubberized adjustable cheekrest. More features include a fluted, 20-inch medium bull barrel, an oversized bolt handle and a Kuiu Camo finish.
MSRP: $974; (mossberg.com)
Rise Armament 1121XR
The only AR-platform rifle on this list, the 1121XR offers the accuracy of a bolt action with the speed and recoil control of a semi-auto. Available in .308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor with a 20- or -22-inch barrel made of 416R stainless steel, respectively, each model has a number of features to suit today’s demanding shooters, including billet-crafted 7075-T6 receivers, a black-nitrided bolt carrier group and an ambidextrous safety. The star of the show is Rise’s own RA-535 Advanced Performance Trigger, which is a single-stage unit with a 3.5-pound pull, a crisp release, no overtravel and a short reset. Finally, the 15-inch handguard accepts M-LOK accessories, and Rise includes the RA-701 compensator for fast follow-up shots.
MSRP: $2,499; (risearmament.com)
Ruger Hawkeye Long-Range Target
This rifle is an instant classic thanks to its stock, which has a two-way-adjustable cheekpiece, a soft rubber recoil pad, QD sling-mounting points and a flush-mounted lower M-LOK rail. The free-floating, cold-hammer-forged, 4140 chrome-moly steel barrel sports 5R rifling, tight dimensions and a Ruger Precision Rifle hybrid muzzle brake to reduce recoil while minimizing noise and blast. More features include a two-stage adjustable trigger, a three-position safety and a 20-MOA top rail.
MSRP: $1,279Â (ruger.com)
Ruger Precision Rifle
While the Ruger Precision Rifle has been popular for a number of years now, the company recently unveiled a new version in .300 PRC with a 30-MOA top rail as well as a heavy cold-hammer-forged barrel manufactured from 4140 chrome-moly steel with 5R rifling for optimal ballistics. Out front you’ll find a tunable muzzle break to reduce recoil and muzzle rise. The 18-inch handguard features M-LOK slots and a bottom dovetail for RRA SOAR and similar QD accessories. The “lower” features an ambidextrous safety and a trigger that is adjustable from 2.25 to 5 pounds externally. Ruger also includes two 5-round AICS-style mags.
MSRP: $2,099Â (ruger.com)
Seekins Precision Havak Bravo
The new Havak Bravo features a match-grade barrel with 5R rifling and a light-tactical contour as well as a KRG Bravo chassis, making it a great option for PRS-style matches with production divisions. The Havak action has a matte Armor-Blak finish and features a full-diameter bolt with four locking lugs and a 90-degree throw. The bolt lugs, when locked in battery, are oriented at 3 and 9 o’clock—not the typical 12 and 6 o’clock positioning; this allows more room for a generous feed ramp. The rifle also features a 20-MOA top rail, accepts AICS-style magazines and utilizes a Timney 510 trigger set at 3 and 3.5 pounds.
MSRP: $2,099Â (seekinsprecision.com)
Steyr Pro THB
The Steyr Pro THB is available in .308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor. The former comes with either a 16-, 20- or 26-inch barrel while the latter sports a 25-inch barrel. Users can also choose between standard and long-rail configurations. The synthetic stock resists rough handling, and users can adjust the length of pull via spacers. Like Steyr’s other high-performance rifles, the Pro THB features the Safe Bolt System (SBS), a unique “2+1” safety function that offers three settings operated by a wheel on the tang of the stock. The magazine can also be loaded into two different positions, one of which allows you to load individual rounds through the ejection port if needed.
MSRP: $1,490-$1,885; (steyr-arms.com)
This story is from the 2019 Precision edition of Ballistic Magazine. Grab a digital or physical copy over at OutdoorGroupStore.com.
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