Ruger AR-556 MPR 5.56 NATO
Model: 8514
Ruger AR-556 MPR 5.56 NATO
Model: 8514
Full Specifications
Threaded 1/2"-28 barrel: compare 5.56 / .223 suppressor prices.
About This Firearm
The Ruger AR-556 MPR is a rifle-length-gas semi-automatic AR-15 in 5.56 NATO built for range and precision work. Ruger no longer makes it, so it is a used buy. Its trigger is Ruger's Elite 452 two-stage at 4.5 lbs, with a full-strength hammer spring and a lightweight hammer for a faster lock time.
One 30-round Magpul PMAG came with it. The stock collapses to set length of pull, out to 14.4 inches, and the free-float handguard has M-LOK slots at 3, 6 and 9 o'clock with more on the angled faces near the muzzle. No sights are fitted. Ruger credits the long gas system with smoother operation and less felt recoil, and the muzzle is threaded 1/2-28 under a radial-port brake.
If you're cross-shopping, a Ruger AR-556 is out of production as well, 0.30 lbs lighter on a 16.1-inch barrel with a carbine gas system, a plastic handguard and iron sights fitted. A Sig Sauer M400 Tread V2 has an MSRP of $1,099.99, is still in production and also has a two-stage trigger, plus the ambidextrous safety the MPR does not have. Buying an MPR used, the brake is a Ruger part, so check it is still on the muzzle.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- The barrel is cold hammer forged 4140 chrome moly with a black nitride finish, on Type III hard-coat anodized 7075-T6 receivers.
- The two-stage trigger takes up the slack on the first stage and breaks at a defined wall.
- Length of pull adjusts at the stock, so 14.4 inches is the longest of several settings.
- No sights of any kind, so a scope and rings have to be budgeted alongside the rifle.
- The safety is single-sided, so running it from the weak shoulder means buying an ambidextrous selector.
- The gas block is pinned at the rifle-length position, so suppressed shooting cannot be tuned down at the block.
Category Rankings
How the Ruger AR-556 MPR 5.56 NATO ranks among full-size 5.56 NATO rifles.
Compatible Ammunition
Find the best prices on compatible 5.56 NATO ammunition.
Shop 5.56 NATO Ammo →Ballistics Calculator
Calculate trajectory, drop, and energy for 5.56 NATO ammunition.
5.56 NATO Ballistics →Alternatives to Consider
Similar full-size 5.56 NATO rifles ranked by similarity.
| NAME | BEST PRICE |
|---|---|
|
Palmetto State Armory PA-15 5.56 NATO
Palmetto State Armory
|
— |
|
Springfield Armory SAINT 5.56 NATO
Springfield Armory
|
$881.99 |
|
Anderson AM-15 5.56 NATO
Anderson
|
— |
|
FN 15 Guardian 5.56 NATO
FN America
|
— |
|
Aero Precision M4E1 5.56 NATO
Aero Precision
|
— |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does MPR stand for?
Multi-Purpose Rifle. Ruger used the name for the version with a free-float M-LOK handguard, a longer barrel on a rifle-length gas system and the Elite 452 trigger.
Can the handguard be replaced?
It has to be another free-float rail with its own barrel nut. There is no delta ring or front cap on this barrel, so a drop-in carbine handguard will not fit.
What magazines does it take?
Any AR-15 magazine. A Magpul PMAG came with the rifle.
