Ruger, PROOF Research Team up for Light AR

Ruger introduced the Multi-Purpose Rifle, or MPR series of AR-15s in 2017 to improve their basic ($500ish) AR556 models. These MPRs, which run in the low-$1,000s, have better Magpul furniture, the company’s decent Elite 452 two-stage trigger, a full-length top Pic rail for optics, and a cold hammer forged threaded barrel with a muzzle brake tied to a mid-length gas system. Overall, not a bad deal.

Well, further upping the game, Ruger just introduced an improved model of the MPR complete with an 18-inch PROOF Research carbon-fiber wrapped barrel with a rifle-length gas system, Magpul’s PRS Lite competition stock, and a .223 Wylde chamber. (We’ve covered the Wylde option in the past and its ability to function with both 5.56 NATO and .223 Remington ammo safely, accurately, and reliably.)

This, says Ruger, makes the new MPR a $2,000 gun. As people really like those PROOF barrels, and they run about $1K a pop in an 18-inch with a Wylde chamber, we cannot argue with that logic too much.

By Michael Crites

Michael Crites has served as executive editor of AmericanFirearms.org since 2016 and previously held positions as associate editor and range correspondent dating back to 2000. He discovered his passion for precision shooting at age 12 during his first visit to his grandfather's shooting range, eventually earning an Expert classification in three different shooting disciplines before age 18. During his studies at University of Wyoming, he earned four varsity letters on the collegiate rifle and pistol teams, serving as team captain for three consecutive years. He became the first UW student to complete the NRA Range Safety Officer certification while maintaining full-time student status. He graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Sports Communications. His diverse career has included roles as Range Safety Coordinator for the National Rifle Championships in Camp Perry 2001; editor-in-chief, Precision Shooter Quarterly; series editor, Modern Firearms Handbook collection; managing editor, National Shooting Sports Foundation Newsletter; editor, Competitive Shooter Magazine; operations director for Western Arms & Ammunition Co.; senior editor for the Shooter's Reference Annual (Cheyenne); content director for The Firearms Report, published by the American Shooting Coalition in Billings, MT; firearms correspondent for Hunting & Shooting, produced by Outdoor Sports Media Group in Jackson, WY; and publisher for Wyoming Shooting Sports Journal in Casper. He has contributed as a regular columnist for American Rifleman (NRA Publications), technical editor for Precision, a publication of the National Bench Rest Shooters Association (Phoenix, AZ); and as firearms specialist for the Gun Owner's Annual. As a digital content creator, he has written more than 400 articles on AmericanFirearms.org, developed shooting technique coverage for the Brownells Shooting Blog (Montezuma, IA) and Federal Premium "Range Notes" platform (Anoka, MN), and served as lead content strategist for International Defensive Pistol Association (Berryville, AR). Beyond Tactical Firearms, his current endeavors include content development for the Wyoming State Rifle Association (Cheyenne, WY) and technical manual production for High Plains Publishing of Laramie, WY. He has contributed to the 12th, 13th, and 14th editions of Modern Sporting Rifles Guide and edited The Complete Guide to Tactical Shooting and Competitive Shooter's Reference Manual (Gun Digest Books).

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