Covid put an end to my plans for a March predator hunt, but not my plans to give H-S Precision’s Heavy Tactical Precision Rifle a try. The description on the H-S Precision site states, “Our Precision Rifle version of the HTR is designed and manufactured for long range steel competitions such as the NRL and PRS disciplines,” and this rifle is built for precision.
Once again because the original intent was as a predator rifle, I tested a HTR-PR that’s chambered in .223 Remington. H-S offers the HTR in dozens different chamberings depending on your particular intent and shooting discipline.
One thing you notice the second you pick up the HTR-PR is that the ‘H’ is quite accurate. The rifle weighs 11.2 lbs. without optics. As mentioned above, this is designed to be a competition rifle, not a hunting gun. But I am a hunter, so that is the way I tend to think whenever I pick up a rifle.
Unlike their new carbon fiber model, this is not a rifle I could see myself lugging around for a day of temporary-stand hunting. Given its accuracy, though, I could, however, easily imagine using it if I was setting up a permanent stand at, say, a prairie dog shoot.
The action on the HTR is the standard H-S Precision Pro-Series.
Three shooters all noticed and commented on how incredibly smooth this action worked through hundreds of rounds of ammunition fired.
The bolt comes equipped with a three-position, wing safety.
Available magazine capacities are four, five and 10 rounds, with the 10-round magazine sent with this rifle. I have to mention that I had some difficulty loading rounds into the magazine. I did not have this trouble with the magazine sent with the carbon fiber model (that was a five-round magazine).
The reason for the difficulty is that the H-S Precision magazines are all center feed/center stack. The small diameter of the .223 round makes it difficult to load the cartridges due to the small gap of the feed lips. This design actually ensures proper function and reliable feeding, albeit making loading the mags more difficult than with a standard AR-type magazine.
The trigger is manufactured in-house by H-S Precision and is…crisp, to say the least. I couldn’t tell any difference between the H-S trigger and any of the excellent Timney triggers I have been using regularly.
This rifle was equipped with an H-S Precision fluted arrel, and H-S Precision’s radial brake.
The H-S Precision fully-adjustable composite stock is just that, almost infinitely adjustable. It provides easy LOP and comb adjustments and can be made to fit just about any shooter in any firing position. There’s also full-length aluminum bedding block, contributing to the consistently accurate results I was able to get out of this gun.
H-S Precision gives you the option of customizing the rifle with a variety of Cerakote finishes and stock colors.
I tested the rifle using a Kahles K624i 6-24×56 scope, mounted using a Talley 20 MOA Rail.
Accuracy testing the HTR
Given the aborted varmint shoot that I had scheduled, I tested the HTR-PR with two types of .223 Remington ammunition, Hornady’s Varmint Express (55 grain V-Max) and their Hornady Superperformance Varmint (53 grain V-Max). My LabRadar recorded the former as having a muzzle velocity of 3125 fps and the latter 3385 fps out of the 24-inch barrel (26″ and 28″ barrels are also available).
I took the H-S Precision HTR-PR to the Elbert County Gun Club and shot it at a range of distances.
Overall, the accuracy I wrung out of the rifle with these two commercial rounds was excellent. All groups were comfortably sub-MOA (some sub-0.5 MOA) at all distances, with both loads. The only anomalous result was the group size at 400 yards, again with the Hornady Varmint Express (55 grain V-Max). I’m chalking that up to shooter error.
A second range session took place at a range located on my friend Ron Differ’s property. All three of us consistently and easily achieved sub-MOA groups at all distances shot. The YouTube video captured with a Longshot LR-3 Target Camera shows a three-shot series fired at the 350-yard target.
Once again, Hornady Varmint Express (55 grain V-Max) cartridges were used in that one. The group was fired in a rapid sequence, and yet was sub-MOA.
This second range session helped confirm the inherent accuracy of the H-S Precision HTR-PR – Precision Rifle across shooters, ammunition types and venues with a good grade of standard commercial varmint ammunition. That’s to say nothing of what can be achieved shooting something like ELD Match or similar rounds, to say nothing of brewing up your own custom loads tested and accurized for this rifle.
Again, this is a heavy precision rifle designed for competition or fixed position varmint hunting. And while not at all inexpensive, the HTR-PR is designed and finished for exceptional accuracy and that’s exactly what it produces.
Specifications: H-S Precision Heavy Tactical Precision Rifle
Caliber: .223 Remington (just about any caliber is available)
Action Type: H-S Precision Pro-Series
Capacity: 10 round (sent with rifle, also available in 4, and 5 round boxes)
Overall Length: 46” ( with stock adjusted to a standard of 13 ½ lop)
Barrel: H-S Precision Cut fluted barrel
Barrel Length: 24” plus brake (26” overall)
Muzzle Brake: H-S Precision radial brake
Weight: 11.2 lbs (without optic)
Stock: H-S Precision fully adjustable tactical stock
Trigger: H-S Precision
MSRP: $3,999 (without riflescope or options)
Ratings (out of five stars):
Style and appearance * * *
I apologize to those of you who read my rifle reviews for being repetitious, but I still like wood stocks and blued-metal parts. So the HTR-PR doesn’t really appeal to my eye. But, I know I’m in the minority. The look of this gun matches up well with its purpose – it’s a competition rifle.
Reliability * * * * *
Like the Carbon PLC reviewed previously, the H-S’s Pro Series bolt action is smooth as silk and functioned without a hitch through hundreds of rounds of ammunition. It’s hard to imagine a better performing action.
Accuracy * * * * *
The bar graph and the video speak for themselves. Sub 1/2 MOA at 100, 200 and 400 yards and sub-MOA at all distances up to 400 yards and beyond, with two commercial ammunition types, indicates the inherent accuracy of the HTR Precision Rifle. The accuracy was outstanding.
Overall * * * * 1/2
We had a blast shooting the H-S Precision Heavy Tactical Precision Rifle. This is almost always the case when handling a firearm that’s as well made, beautifully finished and accurate as this one. The fully-adjustable stock allowed a great fit for virtually any shooter. This is not an inexpensive rifle by any means, but its attributes and performance make it worth the expenditure for the serious competitive shooter.
Mike Arnold writes for a number of outlets; links to other articles can be found here.
[Video and photos courtesy of Frances and Mike Arnold.]