{"id":91445,"date":"2021-04-08T07:00:13","date_gmt":"2021-04-08T13:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/?p=91445"},"modified":"2026-01-21T14:29:03","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T20:29:03","slug":"review-winchester-xpr-long-range-sr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/review-winchester-xpr-long-range-sr\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Winchester XPR Long Range SR"},"content":{"rendered":"

Long-range shooting has become a popular pastime for a wide range of gun owners. It\u2019s enjoyed by everyone from hunters to competition shooters to people with access to 1,000-yard ranges (and beyond). If you\u2019re new to the world of long-range you might be wondering where to begin when selecting a firearm. If you\u2019re a seasoned shooter you might be looking for a new rifle for variety or to sharpen your skills. Meet the Winchester XPR Renegade Long Range SR in 6.5 Creedmoor, a rifle well worth considering to start or expand your long-range collection.<\/p>\n

6.5 Creedmoor<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Before getting into the specifications of the rifle itself let\u2019s take a brief look at the 6.5 Creedmoor. The cartridge was introduced by Hornady<\/a> in 2007 at the behest of Dennis Demille of Creedmoor Sports. Demille asked Hornady\u2019s chief ballistician, David Emary, for help creating a superior long-range rifle round. Emary requested Demille give him a list of what he wanted from the cartridge, resulting in a laundry list of details such as needing higher ballistic coefficients, flatter trajectory, and something that produced less wear on barrels.<\/p>\n

Characteristics of the 6.5 Creedmoor<\/a> include that it is indeed a flatter shooter than cartridges like the 308 Winchester<\/a>. It utilizes a smaller amount of powder, meaning guns chambered in it do have a longer barrel life. It\u2019s loaded with .264-inch bullets in lighter weights for versatility and an overall stellar performance. Those longer bullets stabilize well in 1-in-8 twist rate rifling which matters because it means a higher ballistic coefficient.<\/p>\n

This is also a cartridge made for short-action rifles, meaning it can cycle more quickly than long-action rifles and said rifles can be built a little lighter-weight and with greater maneuverability. It\u2019s also good for long-range on paper or steel as well as for hunting various game. But perhaps best of all is the fact it\u2019s a factory load that delivers fantastic performance out of the box without requiring handloading (although handloading can certainly hone those cartridges with laser-like precision).<\/p>\n

\"Winchester
6.5 Creedmoor is a popular long-range cartridge but it’s also good for hunting. (Photo: Kat Ainsworth Stevens)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Is this cartridge the end-all, be-all of the long range world?<\/h3>\n

No, it is not. A lot of gun owners jumped on the 6.5 Creedmoor bandwagon and continue to hold on and while there is nothing wrong with that there are a lot of other capable cartridges available. What the 6.5 Creedmoor does is fulfill a specific niche while offering shooters from different parts of the gun world off-the-shelf precision. Whether or not you worship at the altar of the 6.5 Creedmoor is entirely up to you, just try to be realistic about what it can and cannot do.<\/p>\n

Winchester XPR Rifle Specifications<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Winchester XPR Long Range SR is a short action, bolt-action rifle. This review rifle is chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor but Winchester also offers it in 243 Winchester, 7mm-08 Remington, 6.5 PRC, and 6.8 Western, among others. It has an overall length of 42 inches and an empty weight of 8 pounds, 8 ounces. The steel, button-rifled, free-floated barrel is 22 inches long and has a 1-in-8 twist rate. It has a Sporter contour with a matte black Perma-Cote finish and 5\/8-24 threaded muzzle (it ships with a thread protector, not a brake).<\/p>\n

Stock<\/h3>\n

Winchester used a quality stock on this rifle both from an aesthetic and ergonomic perspective. It\u2019s a composite, textured Grayboe Renegade long-range stock that\u2019s durable and designed for comfort and performance.<\/p>\n

\"Winchester
The rifle has a composite Grayboe stock with recoil pads that can be adjusted to fit the shooter. (Photo: Kat Ainsworth Stevens)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An upright-profile pistol grip and undercut buttstock deliver a well-balanced platform that\u2019s excellent for bench shooting and also firing offhand or from a rest while hunting. The drop at the comb is 0.75-inches drop at the heel is also 0.75 inches. Length of pull is 13.25 inches. There are two 0.25-inch length-of-pull spacers installed on the stock with a third spacer included in case you need it.<\/p>\n

Trigger<\/h3>\n

An MOA trigger system comes standard in these guns and performs as promised without take-up, creep, or overtravel. Yes, your trigger matters in a long-range rifle. Even seemingly minute differences make a difference when you\u2019re making 1000-yard shots.<\/p>\n

\"Winchester
Average trigger pull weight of Winchester’s MOA trigger measured 3 pounds, 7 ounces. (Photo: Kat Ainsworth Stevens)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An MOA trigger system comes standard in the Winchester XPR Renegade and performs as promised without take-up, creep, or overtravel. Yes, your trigger matters in a long-range rifle. Even seemingly minute differences make a difference when you\u2019re making 1000-yard shots.<\/p>\n

More Features<\/h3>\n
\"Winchester
The bolt on the rifle has straight fluting for weight reduction and an oversized knob. (Photo: Kat Ainsworth Stevens)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The receiver of the Winchester XPR Renegade Long Range SR is machined from steel bar stock and through-hardened, a rapid quenching process that increases durability and strength. A two-position thumb safety and cocking indicator are used for tactile and visual reassurances the rifle is on safe. Other features include an enlarged bolt knob for easier manipulations, straight fluting on the bolt for weight reduction, and a detachable, single-stack box magazine.<\/p>\n

Range Time<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Put simply, this is an awesome rifle (yes, gun writers can say \u201cawesome\u201d). It fit me well and performed beautifully right out of the box. For the purposes of this review, a trio of ammunition was used: Federal Premium 6.5 Creedmoor 130 grain Berger OTM, Hornady Precision Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor 143 grain ELD-X, and Winchester Deer Season 6.5 Creedmoor 125 grain XP Polymer Tipped.<\/p>\n

\"Hornady
Hornady Precision Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor 143 grain ELD-X. (Photo: Hornady)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Shooting from the bench at a distance of 100 yards the average five-shot group measured 1.3-inches. All three ammo loads were capable of producing sub-MOA groups, though. It\u2019s common practice to test long-range rifles with three-shot groups rather than five so that was done as well. The average three-shot group using the aforementioned ammunition measured 1.0 inches with the best three-shot group coming from Hornady Precision Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor 103 grain ELD-X at .67-inches.<\/p>\n

This is an accurate, precise rifle and certainly one that can be referred to as a sub-MOA gun.<\/h3>\n

Of course, you can run this rifle at 1000 yards on steel with no problem as well. Long-range precision takes some practice and an understanding of the drift and drop of the ammunition being used but it\u2019s likely easier than you might think. Although your own abilities matter a good-quality scope is extremely important<\/a> to getting precise results as well. Check out the Riton X7 Conquer 3-24×56. Riton\u2019s glass has come a long way recently and their entire optics line is worth considering.<\/p>\n

\"Riton
There are a lot of options for optics out there so choose the one that fits your needs for your rifle. (Photo: Kat Ainsworth Stevens)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Winchester XPR Renegade Long Range SR Specs<\/span><\/h2>\n