When you think of long-range shooting matches, it’s highly likely that a firing line full of bolt-action rifles comes to mind. They’ve long been the standard for precision shooting at great distances, but there is an alternative: the AR.
Given the semi-auto platform's wild popularity the world over, it should come as no surprise that there are a number of AR-pattern rifles on the market that can rival the performance of even the best bolt guns.
So without further ado, here are 10 solid long range machines of the AR variety with a range of features and prices.
A good barrel and trigger play a big part in accurate shooting at long distances. Mossberg knows this, and so they outfitted the MMR Pro rifles with a free-floating 18" AISI 416 stainless steel barrel that comes with SilencerCo's 3-port muzzlebrake and a suppressor-ready ASR mount.
The JM Pro Drop-in Match Trigger, so named for legendary shooter Jerry Miculek, features a crisp, creep-free break right at four pounds and has user-adjustable overtravel.
The rifle is available in .224 Valkyrie, which has proven to be quite the contender when it comes to long range caliber choices. That caliber allows use of standard AR-15 magazines, but they’ll only hold 28 rounds instead of 30.
Mossberg MMR Pro MSRP: $1,393.
Chambered in the tried-and-true .308 Winchester, the P308 EDGE SPR uses a new type of handguard that reduced the width by 20%, which makes it feel more like the smaller AR-15 than the larger AR-10 that it is. This makes it a good choice for shooters of smaller stature or just those with smaller hands.
Make no mistake, though: this gun is tough as nails and has all the features you could want in a long-range rifle.
The EDGE SPR uses POF-USA’s E2 Extraction Technology, which allows for pressure assistance with extraction, thereby taking on some of the work normally done by the extractor. This can help improve extraction quality and longevity.
Equipped with an oversized heat sink barrel nut that allows 17 times more heat dissipation than the standard AR, you won’t have to worry about your barrel overheating and having an impact on your shot groups.
Another nice feature is their EFP trigger, which stands for “enhanced finger placement,” because POF-USA knows that inconsistent and/or incorrect finger placement can have an adverse effect on your shots. Their four-pound trigger’s design helps ensure consistency with each shot.
POF-USA P308 EDGE SPR MSRP: $1,999.99 in black and $2,069.99 in Burnt Bronze.
The MSR-10 PRECISION is a little different than the first couple guns we've looked at. This rifle from Savage Arms is a side-charger instead of the more traditional AR charging handle placement to the rear.
It also has a TangoDown Battlegrip Flip Grip, which can convert from a traditional 24-degree angle pistol grip to a completely vertical position, which many long distance shooters prefer.
Built for precision shooting, it has a 22.5” heavy profile stainless steel barrel with 5R button rifling housed in an 18.5” Arca free-floating handguard. A Magpul PRS stock, which allows for an adjustable length of pull and cheek piece height, rounds out the package for optimum user customization. At its price point, its a solid choice.
Savage MSR-10 Precision MSRP: of $2,499.99.
The PSC-19 from JP Rifles is the brand-new side-charger in their lineup that they say is the best of both worlds: a lighter weight large-frame rifle designed specifically for long-range shooting.
Available in a variety of calibers and lengths, the PSC-19 has a JP Supermatch barrel with button rifling that has been “Thermo-Fit” to the receiver.
There is a variety of available buttstocks, too. Choose from Hogue Overmolded, Magpul MOE, Magpul CTR, LUTH-AR "Skullaton", or Mission First Tactical BATTLELINK.
The trigger is also an exclusive to JP and it is available in weights between 3.5 and 4.5 pounds.
JP Rifles PSC-19 MSRP: $3,499 for the base model, but there are lots of options to choose from.
Chambered in 7.62 NATO, this rifle from LWRC International uses a patented short-stroke gas piston system, a "Monoforge" upper receiver, and Magpul furniture.
The 20” stainless steel barrel has a heavy profile and is fitted with a four-port muzzle brake and button rifling. There’s also a 20-position tunable gas block for optimum performance regardless of the specific rounds you’re shooting.
One really nice standard feature is that it ships with the highly-respected Geissele SSA-E 2-Stage Precision Trigger. That’s usually an aftermarket upgrade, but not with LWRCI! The oversize trigger guard and fully ambidextrous controls ensure that you can reach everything you need, regardless of how you shoot, even with gloves on.
The REPR MKII is available in black, brown, FDE, and OD green.
LWRCI REPR MKII MSRP: $4,150
The 6.5 Creedmoor with its flat trajectories and velocity retention at distance has become insanely popular for long range shooting, and Aero Precision offers their M5E1 rifles in that caliber as well as the classic .308 Winchester.
The rifle is available with barrels up to 22” in length, with a free-floating handguard that is an integral part of the upper receiver. This affords the gun better performance and accuracy because there’s one less moving part. The handguards can be had in M-LOK, KeyMod, or Quad Rail.
At the muzzle is a standard A2 birdcage flash hider and at the other end of the gun is a Magpul PRS buttstock, the versatility of which we went over above in the Savage MSR 10 section. The rifle is available in your choice of black or tan.
Aero Precision M5E1 MSRP: starting at $1,794.99.
The original BULL from DPMS was an award-winning bench rest rifle in its own right. The new GII BULL offers the same stellar performance and accuracy, but in a setup that is 20% lighter. Even so, the rifle still weighs in at a rock solid 10 pounds.
Outfitted with a 24” stainless steel bull barrel with a target crown, the rifle has a fixed A2 buttstock and an aluminum free-floating handguard. The railed upper and gas block are ready to receive the optic(s) of your choice.
DPMS GII BULL MSRP: $1,299.
The model name of this rifle from Windham is quite a mouthful - R20FFTM-308 - but luckily, the gun itself is straightforward.
A 20” fluted and chrome lined barrel is attached to an anodized forged aluminum receiver. The barrel is housed in a Magpul MOE handguard. The fixed buttstock is also of the Magpul MOE design.
Like the GII BULL above, the railed upper and gas block on the R20FFTM-308 are ready to receive the optic(s) of your choice.
Windham Weaponry offers a lifetime transferable warranty on this and all of their rifles.
Windham Weaponry R20FFTM-308 MSRP: $1,667.
As with all rifles that say “Barrett” on the receiver, the company’s reputation precedes itself.
According to their website, the REC10 rifles are "the result of years of extensive engineering and exhaustive testing. Every component of the REC10 is specifically designed to guarantee the reliability, durability, and accuracy customers expect from the Barrett name; no corners cut, no detail overlooked."
That kind of says it all, but just in case you’d like some particulars, the REC10 is available in black or FDE, has a 16” barrel with a 1:10 twist housed in a fully railed, free-floating aluminum handguard, and has a gas system designed to be used with a wide variety of .308 Winchester and 7.62 NATO loads.
MSRP for this Barrett beauty is $2,995.
Gray Ghost Precision (GGP) says that the MKII series of rifles are a product of "specific requests from soldiers operating in Afghanistan. … [as well as] evaluations by Special Forces marksmanship instructors, competition shooters and hardcore hunters."
That’s quite a diverse group of users to try to please, but GGP came out with a rifle that does a pretty good job of it.
The 16” match grade barrel features a special GGP muzzle brake with a 15” M-LOK handguard. The upper and lower receivers are both made from 7075-T651 billet, and the rifle weighs 8.3 pounds.
All of the rifle’s furniture is from Magpul and the trigger is a CMC Flat Faced Single Stage set at 3.5 pounds.
It can be had in a variety of color combinations if you reach out to them directly.
Grey Ghost Precision Heavy MKII MSRP: $2,500.
With guns ranging from $1,299 on the low end to $4,150 on the high end, there’s a long range AR for any budget on this list. No matter how much you spend on the gun, be sure to get some high quality ammo to run in it, and a few kinds so you can learn what it likes best! Even the most expensive guns can fail to produce the desired long-range results if the ammo isn’t up to the task.
