In the January 2016 issue we published a test of bolt-action rifles chambered for 6.5 Creedmoor, including a Howa Austrian Brown Cerakote, a Savage Arms Model 12 LRP, and a Ruger Precision Rifle. All three rifles were impressive, but since then Ruger has released an Enhanced version, so we thought we’d better get one and see if the new features were worth the extra $200.

The model number for the (original) 6.5CM Ruger Precision Rifle previously tested was 18005. The Enhanced version is number 18008. Both rifles utilize a 24-inch-long medium-contour cold-hammer-forged barrel with a 1:8 twist. It is attached to an adaptation of the Ruger American action fed by a 10-round removable box magazine. The fully adjustable butt stock was the same, and so was the adjustable trigger. Our earlier test gun came trigger-pull weight adjusted to 2.6 pounds, with variation measured to be 1.4 ounces. Despite the owner’s manual claiming that the adjustable range was 2.25 pounds to 5.0 pounds, our Enhanced rifle arrived with a 2-pound trigger with variation of only about 0.8 ounces. We left the pull weight as set for fear of losing the overall feel of the trigger that we thought was clearly articulated.

Ruger Precision Rifle 18008 6.5 Creedmoor, $1599

GUN TESTS GRADE: A

This is another solid effort by Ruger. They took an already good gun and made it a touch better. The add-ons work great, but you may want to accessorize it yourself.

The 18008 (Enhanced) rifle weighed about 0.1 pound more, even though the Samson Evolution Key Mod handguard was replaced by Ruger’s trimmer RPR Short-Action handguard, which also does away with the integrated top rail. We guess that whatever weight the 18008 gives up in top rail it gets back plus a little more by adding Ruger’s proprietary Hybrid Muzzle Brake plus Ruger’s Billet Aluminum Bolt Shroud, which replaced the plastic shroud.

On our second range day with the 18008, we discovered several other RPR shooters, each with aftermarket upgrades of their own applied to the original-issue rifle. The addition of a muzzle brake was common, so were aftermarket bolt shrouds and handguards. To compare the difference in cost between the suggested retail price of an RPR Enhanced with common upgrades purchased aftermarket, we visited the RPR Pro Shop at LongRiflesinc.com. We found a bolt shroud for $60 and a muzzle brake for $180. Brownells offered handguards starting at $175, so the enhanced model did offer a discount. But how did it shoot compared to the original model 18005?

For recording accuracy data, we were able to fire two of the three rounds used in our earlier test. They were Hornady’s 120-grain A-Max and the Hornady 129-grain SST. Hornady’s 143-grain ELD-X Precision Hunter rounds were fired in place of the 140-grain A-Max ammunition we shot in the first test. After a careful break-in consisting of 50 rounds, we mounted a Steiner 5-25x56mm Military Scope with Horus Reticle and recorded the groups fired from the 100-yard bench at American Shooting Centers. Called bad shots were counted. Firing the 120-grain and 129-grain resulted in widest groups of 0.93 and 0.95 inches respectively. We still managed to record average groups measuring less than 0.75 inches across because the smallest groups for the 120s measured 0.60 inches and the SST rounds delivered a 0.57-inch-wide group. The 143-grain rounds showed the most consistency, with groups measuring between 0.45 inches and 0.6 inches.

Range Data

One of the reasons why 6.5 Creedmoor is becoming popular is its relatively flat trajectory. Moving to the 200-yard line, we decided to shoot from the prone position. Required adjustment in elevation was only 0.4 mil, which was miniscule in our view, especially when the Steiner was ready to offer multiple revolutions of the dial. We put away our Caldwell Dead Shot bag and mounted an Atlas bipod up front and attached an AccuShot monopod to the Picatinny rail integrated with the buttstock. Firing 5-shot groups, we averaged 1.4 inches shooting the 120-grain ammunition, but our best group was actually less than 1.1 inches across. The 129-grain SST rounds averaged 1.5 inches, and the 143-grain ELD-X ammunition produced an average of about 1.25 inches. What was also impressive was the consistency in terms of velocity. The 120-grain rounds ranged from 2801 to 2824 fps, but the 129-grain SST rounds and the 143-grain rounds each registered pairs of identical velocity readings.

Our Team Said: After the maker has had time to review its initial work, Ruger likely thought, “We think we can do this a little bit better.” The change from a plastic to an aluminum bolt shroud was a no-brainer. The muzzle brake was not as loud as others and definitely helped keep the rifle from moving upward or torqueing away from point of aim. A comparison on the accuracy chart shows the Enhanced wins out. Maybe not by a lot, but we think more accurate results were easier to achieve. If you should miss the Picatinny top rail, one can still be attached. We used the Keymod system to experiment with adding weight to the rifle, but hog hunters might like to add lights, etc. Several shooters are attaching barricade lugs for the new action shooting series for precision rifles that the RPR seems to be fertilizing by making it affordable. To answer the question as to which rifle is a better buy, it’s probably a question of how much you want to modify the rifle. Costwise, the Enhanced certainly has a leg up versus aftermarket costs, and there’s always something to be said for buying a second-generation product.

Written and photographed by Roger Eckstine, using evaluations from Gun Tests team testers.