If you’ve picked up a Ruger Precision Rimfire — or you’re thinking about it — you’ve already made a great choice. Out of the box, the RPR is one of the most competitive rimfire platforms available at its price point, and it’s become a staple in NRL22 base class competitions across Pennsylvania and the country. But like any factory rifle, there’s a gap between what it does out of the box and what it’s capable of with a little attention and the right upgrades.
At The Freedom Dispenser Company, we work on RPRs regularly — both for casual shooters looking to tighten up their groups and for NRL22 competitors here in the Mechanicsburg area who need every advantage they can get within base class rules. Here’s what we’ve learned about getting the most out of this platform.
Bedding The Barrel
One of the biggest things to consider with any precision rifle is that when you pull the trigger and that primer goes off, there are vibrations along the barrel that can have a negative impact on your accuracy. That’s why you see a lot of thick or carbon-fiber tensioned barrels in any level of precision shooting – either of these are ways to minimize those vibrations.
We offer a barrel bedding service as part of our NRL22 packages for the Ruger Precision Rimfire. Basically what this entails is disassembling the gun and applying a compound commonly used in fitting machining and aerospace parts to fill the small tolerance gaps between the barrel and the receiver. Once it cures, these two parts effectively become one and disturbances from vibrations are greatly reduced.
Start With Ammo — It Matters More Than You Think
Before you spend a dollar on swapping parts, do an ammo test. The single biggest accuracy variable in any rimfire rifle is ammunition, and the RPR is no exception. Two shooters with identical rifles can see dramatically different results depending on what they’re feeding it.
.22LR ammunition varies wildly in consistency from brand to brand and even lot to lot. What works exceptionally well in your friend’s RPR might be mediocre in yours. This is because rimfire chambers have slightly different dimensions from rifle to rifle, and some ammo simply fits and fires more consistently in a given chamber than others.
Common performers in the RPR include SK Rifle Match and RWS R50, but the only way to know what your specific rifle prefers is to test multiple loads at 50 and 100 yards under consistent conditions. We offer a 22LR match ammo testing service at Freedom Dispenser Co. specifically for this — we’ll run several loads through your rifle and give you hard data on what it shoots best before you buy in bulk. Not local? Reach out, we’ll ship you a sample pack containing some CCI Standard Velocity as a baseline, and a few different kinds of popular match-grade ammunition.
Trigger Work: The Upgrade With the Biggest Return
The factory RPR trigger is decent — better than many entry-level rimfire triggers — but it’s not match-grade. Most shooters notice a slightly gritty pull and more travel than ideal for precision shooting. For NRL22 competition especially, a clean, consistent trigger break makes a measurable difference in your ability to call your shots accurately.
Your options here are:
Trigger tuning — A gunsmith can polish the factory trigger components to smooth out the pull and reduce grit without replacing anything. This is the most affordable option and keeps you within factory spec. If you’re the DIY type, you could optionally pin back or entirely remove the blade safety on the trigger for a lighter trigger pull – most businesses won’t do this because of the liability involved in removing a safety device from a firearm, however I personally have utilized this to get a consistent 1.5 pound trigger pull.
Aftermarket trigger replacement — Brands like Timney and TriggerTech make drop-in triggers for the RPR that offer significantly crisper breaks and adjustable pull weights. These typically run between $150-$250 for the trigger itself plus installation, but the improvement in feel is immediately noticeable. Keep in mind here that an aftermarket trigger will bump you up into Open class.
Stock Fit and Cheek Weld
One of the RPR’s biggest advantages is its fully adjustable stock — length of pull and comb height are both adjustable from the factory. But having the adjustability and using it correctly are two different things.
A proper stock fit means your eye naturally aligns with your scope without straining your neck or shifting your head. If you’re consistently having to move your head to find a clean sight picture, your comb is too high or too low, and you’re introducing inconsistency into every shot.
Take the time to adjust the comb height and length of pull so that when you mount the rifle naturally with your eyes closed, you open them to a clear, centered scope picture. This sounds simple but most shooters skip it and it costs them both time and accuracy on match day.
Scope and Mounting: Don’t Shortchange This
The RPR comes with a 30 MOA Picatinny rail ready for your optic, but what you put on it and how you mount it matters enormously. A budget scope with inconsistent tracking will make even a perfectly tuned rifle look bad on paper.
For NRL22 base class, a quality mid-range scope in the 4-16x or 6-24x range will serve you well without breaking the bank. More important than magnification is tracking consistency — your turrets need to move exactly as advertised so you can make reliable adjustments between stages. Before you order a scope, check out the reticle – this is maybe the most important aspect of a precision scope. You want a PRS style reticle, often referred to as a “Christmas tree reticle.” This gives you finer markings for small adjustments to your holds and most often includes markings at each major hash mark for wind holds as well.
On the mounting side, use quality rings or a one-piece mount (I’ve found that with a 6-24×50, or a larger objective lens, you’ll want 1.25″ rings), torque everything to spec with a proper torque driver, and make sure your scope is level. A canted scope will cause your shots to walk left or right as you adjust elevation, which is a frustrating and invisible problem until you diagnose it.
Bolt and Action Maintenance
The RPR’s bolt is generally pretty smooth from the factory but benefits from periodic cleaning and light lubrication. Rimfire actions accumulate lead and carbon buildup faster than centerfire, and a dirty bolt face or chamber can cause inconsistent seating and misfires.
Clean the bolt face, chamber, and bore after every 200 rounds or so, and use a light application of a quality lubricant on the bolt body. Avoid over-lubricating — excess oil in a rimfire action attracts fouling and can cause light strikes on the rim of the cartridge.
The Bottom Line
You don’t need to spend a fortune to make your Ruger Precision Rimfire significantly more accurate. In order of priority, we recommend:
- Find your ammo first — test before you invest
- Look into bedding the barrel to the receiver
- Address the trigger — even a factory polish makes a difference
- Dial in your stock fit — free and often overlooked
- Invest in quality glass and mount it correctly
- Keep the action clean and properly lubricated
If you’re in the Mechanicsburg, Harrisburg, or Cumberland County area and want a professional eye on your RPR — whether that’s ammo testing, barrel bedding, or a full competition setup — we’d love to help. Reach out to The Freedom Dispenser Company or stop by to talk through what your rifle needs.