Regular readers will remember that I headed out to Wyoming to go meet up with the Gunwerks crew to attend their Long Range University. Part of the schooling means using only Gunwerks guns and gear for the range portion of class. While I’m sure this translates to sales for the Gunwerks team, the idea behind it is pretty simple: getting a mixed bag of students to reliably hit what they’re aiming at out to 900+ yards works best when you remove as many variables as possible. So what makes the Gunwerks guns so goshdarn good? Make the jump to find out . . .
I’ll get this right out there and say that if I had seven large to spend on a long-range rig, the Gunwerks LR-1000 system would be the ticket. Prior to going to LRU, my longest one shot hit was at a touch over 200 yards on an axis doe in early 2011. I did some shooting at steel at 500 yards last year as well, but it took me about six shots to get on target and I still zinged some high, low, left, and right. With the Gunwerks LR-1000 system, I recorded first shot hits at 400, 750, 880, and 950 yards. That alone says a tremendous amount for the system.
That type of accuracy and consistency is due to a blend of a lot of different factors but the most important (and obvious) is the precision machining and fitment that goes into every gun. Every part is hand-fitted, gauged, then double and triple checked before being taken to the range and test fired. It doesn’t matter whether its hot, cold, dirty, or clean, the Gunwerks LR-1000 put bullets very close together in the same place with boring regularity.
Any shooter worth their salt knows that the Achilles heel of a good shooting system is its optics system and Gunwerks delivers in spectacular fashion with the Nightforce 5.5-22 X 50. As Aaron mentioned in our interview, Gunwerks picked Nightforce due to the rigorous testing and quality control procedures that NF uses during the manufacturing process.
Gunwerks customers spend a lot of money to have a turnkey solution that works under any circumstances. I found the NXS based Gunwerks scope to be simply amazing. Controls were easy to use, intuitive and crisp. The optics were extremely clear and seemed to be unaffected by mirage under our test conditions which saw temps in the low 80’s and skies devoid of clouds.
The Gunwerks scope has two big selling features over the regular NXS scope. The first is the G7 reticle, which uncluttered and allows up to 10 MOA in wind hold. Additionally, at half power (11x), you can use the quick holdover marks on the vertical crosshair as a BDC reticle.
The second big feature is the custom ballistic turret that Gunwerks manufactures for the G7 scope. Given temperature, bullet BC, bullet type, muzzle velocity and altitude, Gunwerks can cut a custom turret that will allow you to dial your range directly on the scope. Operating outside of the stated conditions? Incorporate the G7-BR2 Rangefinder, load your ballistic data, and let the rangefinder give you the elevation correction and wind hold. That’s very cool, easy to use integration of products from the Gunwerks crew.
Part of the range portion at LRU included cranking up and down on the vertical adjustment and returning to zero. Of the ten or so guns used by the students during class, I observed zero failures over the duration of the two-day class. I’ll go ahead and hazard a guess that the G7 Nightforce has no problems holding and returning to zero.
I think that last part is what impressed me the most about the LR-1000 system. These class guns have thousands of rounds through them. They get bounced around, fiddled with and handled by lazy writers and still manage to make even the most mediocre shooter look like a pro. Normally, we’re hesitant to review a gun or scope without putting it through a real torture test. But my guess is that all the classes before me have done a good job of putting the LR-1000 system through the wringer. This is an absolutely reliable, robust shooting system that is built to put bullets on target in any condition all the time.
Specifications: Gunwerks LR-1000 System
- Overall Length: 44.5 inches
- Barrel Length: 24 inches
- Overall Weight: 7.9 lbs (Stainless Steel Action)
- Standard Trigger Pull: 2.5 lbs
- Calibers
- 6XC
- 6.5-284 Norma
- 7mm Rem Mag
- 7mm LRM (tested)
- 300 Win Mag
- 300 RUM
- MSRP: $6995
Ratings (out of five stars)
Accuracy: * * * * *
Accuracy was simply astounding. Gunwerks’ tagline is “1000 yards out of the box” and I found that to be 100% accurate. This system is stunning cold, hot, dirty, or clean.
Ergonomics * * * * *
Don’t let the pictures fool you. This is not your daddy’s Remington 700. The LR-1000 is a very comfortable piece of equipment to wield in the field. The stock has a wonderful finish, the bolt is easy to reach, and the stock comb is perfectly placed to give a good cheek weld while looking through that beautiful piece of glass.
Reliability * * * * *
My classmates and I found the LR-1000 system to be completely reliable during two days of range use. I have no reason to suspect that reliability would ever been an issue with this system.
Overall Rating * * * * *
These are the easiest five stars I’ve ever given. From fit and finish to the apparent thought that went into construction, this is a rifle that’s meant for the serious long range shooter and will provide a lifetime of accurate, reliable service. $7000 is a lot of money, but you get what you pay for – 1000 yards out of the box.