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<\/p>\nAmong the most popular trends in the shooting sports world today is that of long-range shooting. There\u2019s also a ton of crossover between different genres of riflemen, as hunters look to extend their own maximum effective range on game by competing in PRS events, or simply to hone their marksmanship skills at extreme distance while enjoying a bit of friendly competition. For those who haven\u2019t given it a try, long-range shooting is both an art and science that\u2019s incredibly addicting.\u00a0Whether it\u2019s ranging targets, reading wind, calculating elevation adjustments, or working up proper leads for moving targets, it\u2019s far more than employing the WAG (wild ass guess) method of shooting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Hornady\u2019s long-range workhorse, the Precision Hunter in 162-grain ELD-X produced nice, tight groups in high winds, posting a best group of .56 inches.<\/p><\/div>\n
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Barnes\u2019 VOR-TX LR 139-grain LRX BT is specifically designed for long-range hunting. It was the fastest cartridge out of the muzzle, with average velocities of almost 3,300 fps. In the accuracy department, the load produced a best group of .95 inches and an average of 1.12 inches.<\/p><\/div>\n
As more and more people take an interest in going long, there\u2019s also been a much-appreciated push from manufacturers to provide everything from entry-level guns to custom-built Ferraris of the long-range game. While wildcatters and shooting enthusiasts have been tinkering their way to long-range perfection for many years, it\u2019s now easier than ever to get a distance-capable rifle setup without trading away your wife\u2019s SUV or holing away in the basement for the next decade.<\/p>\n
Seeking to bridge the gap between affordable and custom engineered, Gunwerks has introduced the RevX, a dealer-exclusive (Cabela\u2019s, Scheels, EuroOptic.com) long-range rifle that comes from the company\u2019s Cody, Wyoming, gun shop pre-topped with a Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x optic, G7 BR-2 rangefinder and matching elevation turret in yardage and \u00bc MOA adjustments, and custom Berger VLD loads that have been test fired before arriving at your local gun store. The rifle I reviewed was chambered in 7mm Rem. Mag., but it is also currently available in 6.5 Creedmoor, 28 Nosler, .300 Win. Mag., .300 RUM, .22-250, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC and 30 Nosler. As the folks at Gunwerks say, \u201c1,000 yards, out of the box.\u201d Not a bad deal if it proved true, especially with an MSRP of a very reasonable $3,995.<\/p>\n
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The RevX proved accurate at the shooting bench with either custom or factory loads. Top among the factory loads in performance was Hornady\u2019s Precision Hunter ELD-X loads.\u201d
07- \u201cThe RevX features a stainless bolt with three-lug design and one-piece bolt and handle.<\/p><\/div>\n
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Nightforce\u2019s NXS 5.5-22x scope makes easy work of shots out to 1,000 yards and comes with a G7 turret that is ballistically matched at the custom shop with G7 rangefinder and 168-grain Berger VLD loads.\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n
That sounds good, at least on paper, but I decided to put their lofty claim to the test. Instead of my usual procedure \u2014 checking zero at 100 yards, testing different loads, then slowly expanding my range on steel targets while working up a dope card specific to my preferred load and rifle \u2014 I headed to the 600-yard steel target and prepped for my first shot. I setup a backpack on a distant hillside and got into the prone position, ranging the target with my G7 rangefinder at just shy of 620 yards. I dialed to 620 on the G7 turret, settled on the rifle, and squeezed off the first round.<\/p>\n
The concussion of the rifle was followed a few short seconds later by the unmistakable wallop of bullet smacking steel. With one shot, I started to become a believer in the Gunwerks claim and concept. My confidence in the rifle would only grow with more accuracy testing and time afield.<\/p>\n
Behind the fancy 1,000-yard claim is a rifle built from the ground up to perform at long range. The first thing I typically notice, and what really stood out on the RevX, was the outstanding Trigger Tech trigger, adjustable from 1.5-4 pounds, which has next to no creep thanks to Frictionless Release Technology (FRT), breaks with incredible crispness and features patented TKR technology to minimize over travel. This also makes for a short, forceful reset that aids in follow up shooting. The trigger can be adjusted in 1-ounce increments, and because it does not rely on the friction of surfaces for break, it feels lighter than a standard friction-reliant trigger. The trigger build is incredibly rugged and lightweight, making it the perfect option for a hunting rifle that\u2019s bound to take abuse.<\/p>\n
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The RevX features a stainless bolt with three-lug design and one-piece bolt and handle.<\/p><\/div>\n
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The RevX features pre-fit flush cups for sling attachment, and the rifle also comes with a lightweight nylon sling for field carry.\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n
The action on the RevX is a custom design from the Gunwerks shop and is based on the Remington 700 footprint, while utilizing a Wyatt-length action which allows you to seat bullets farther out \u2014 something that\u2019s ideal for maximizing long-range precision. The bolt is a one-piece stainless design and is lightweight (overall rifle weight is just shy of 8 pounds). It\u2019s got a fluid motion for working the action, making follow-up shots with a retained cheek hold a thing of beauty. The bolt is field strippable and features three locking lugs with Borden bumps for solid lock up and bolt alignment. More than anything, the action is a thing of beauty, and I had exactly zero issues feeding any ammunition, whether it was the custom Berger VLD loads or factory loads from Hornady or Barnes.<\/p>\n
The fiberglass-composite stock is lightweight and well designed for a custom fit and feel. The front portion of the stock features an underside and recessed Picatinny rail for mounting bipods, and it utilizes pre-fit flush cups for sling attachment on the front and rear of the stock. The hand-painted stock also utilizes aluminum bedding blocks and a vertical grip, maximizing comfort for the shooter. Because the front of the stock is flat, not rounded, it makes prone shooting from a backpack in the field extremely easy.<\/p>\n
Perhaps one of the most important components on a long-range rifle is the barrel, and the RevX does not disappoint in this category, either. The Gunwerks crew chose a Shilen hand-lapped, match-grade barrel with a sporter standard contour, which is more than capable of producing consistent accuracy at long-range. The barrel obviously heats up quickly with a fast magnum like the 7mm, but the barrel can handle the heat and keep producing in the accuracy department, as performance testing clearly demonstrated.<\/p>\n
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For a factory load, Hornady\u2019s Precison Hunter 162-grain ELD-X has become a proven round for long-distance rifles.\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>No long-range rifle would be complete without a quality optic, which is where the Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x comes into play. The scope is more than capable of conquering the 1,000-yard barrier, with side parallax adjustment, a second focal (SF) plane reticle and external wind and elevation turret adjustments. While a SF reticle isn\u2019t ideal for PRS competition\u2014your reticle remains the same at every magnification, which means the markers are different at every magnification\u2014in my opinion, it\u2019s more than adequate when you\u2019re dialing to max magnification, something you can easily get away with when shots are 200 yards and farther. It also saves you in the cost department over a first focal plane scope.<\/p>\n The other feature I fell in love with on the scope was the G7 turret, which utilizes \u00bc MOA adjustments and yardage markers that are matched with the G7 rangefinder. This means instead of having to worry about bullet drop at any given distance and calculating your MOA adjustment, you simply range and dial.<\/p>\n The custom radial muzzle brake from Gunwerks helps dampen the recoil of a loaded up 7mm Rem. Mag., making it an enjoyable, relatively lightweight rifle to shoot, especially for a magnum.<\/p><\/div>\n The G7 BR-2 rangefinder is a little beefy, which makes deep wilderness hunting a bit more cumbersome, but it\u2019s well worth the extra weight, especially if you\u2019re hunting in pairs. It\u2019s definitely more accurate than your run-of-the-mill box store rangefinder, and when it comes to shots at 1,000 yards, the slightest change in distance makes a huge difference. The rangefinder also features windage estimates in 5 mph increments. You still have to read the wind, but once you have that, the G7 BR-2 will tell you what your wind adjustment is at that distance.<\/p>\n When it came to accuracy testing, I shot everything off of a Caldwell B.R. Pivot shooting bench with a Lead Sled and sandbags at 100 yards. Group sizes were measured with a digital caliper from four three-shot groups.<\/p>\n Not surprisingly, the 168-grain Berger VLD loads were the top performers, which is exactly what you\u2019d expect from handloads. Group sizes would have been smaller had there not been that shot, roughly one in five, with a more drastic spread in velocity (extreme was 21 fps, while the average was a minuscule 8.5 fps). The average group size was still an impressive .78 inches, with the best group of .31 inches\u2014one of the best groups I\u2019ve shot out of any rifle. It\u2019s obvious that the folks at Gunwerks know what they\u2019re doing with handloads, including the way they\u2019ve seated the VLDs as far out as possible (something aided by the Wyatt-length action).<\/p>\n The factory loads also shot reasonably well, especially when the wind picked up to an average of between 10-15 mph. The Precision Hunter loads from Hornady, with the 162-grain ELD-X bullet, produced the best group of .56 inches, very impressive, while the Barnes VOR-TX LR 139-grain LRX BT came in at .95 inches. The Barnes bullets averaged a velocity of 3,280 fps, whereas the other loads hovered around the 2,900-fps range.<\/p>\n Gunwerks sent the RevX with custom 168-grain Berger VLD loads that proved extremely accurate, with a best group of .31 inches. Average velocities hovered around 2,900 fps, with overall group sizes of less than .8 inches.<\/p><\/div>\n (Accuracy data collected from 100 yards at a Caldwell B.R. Pivot bench, using lead sled, at 6,200 ft. elevation, and taken from four three-shot groups. Velocity measured with ProChrono digital chronograph from Brownells based on five shots of each load. Winds averaged between 10-15 mph.) Gunwerks Custom Load Berger 168-gr. VLD<\/strong><\/p>\n Avg. Velocity: 2,932 fps<\/p>\n Extreme Spread: 21 fps<\/p>\n Standard Deviation: 8.5 fps<\/p>\n Avg. Group: .78 in.<\/p>\n Best Group: .31 in.<\/p>\n Hornady Precision Hunter 162-gr. ELD-X<\/strong><\/p>\n Avg. Velocity: 2,949 fps<\/p>\n Extreme Spread: 74 fps<\/p>\n Standard Deviation: 32 fps<\/p>\n Avg. Group: 1.17 in.<\/p>\n Best Group: .56 in.<\/p>\n Hornady American Whitetail 154-gr. InterLock SP<\/strong><\/p>\n Avg. Velocity: 3,001 fps<\/p>\n Extreme Spread: 29 fps<\/p>\n Standard Deviation: 17 fps<\/p>\n Avg. Group: 1.27 in.<\/p>\n Best Group: .95 in.<\/p>\n Barnes VOR-TX LR 139-gr. LRX BT<\/strong><\/p>\n Avg. Velocity: 3,280 fps<\/p>\n Extreme Spread: 21 fps<\/p>\n Standard Deviation: 14 fps<\/p>\n Avg. Group: 1.12 in.<\/p>\n Best Group: .95 in.<\/p>\n While it isn\u2019t the cheapest rifle on the market ($3,995), the Gunwerks RevX strikes a happy medium between custom-built rifle and something you can actually afford without selling one of your kidneys. It lives up to the Gunwerks claim that it\u2019s 1,000-yard capable out of the box, and it is as turnkey a distance rifle as you\u2019re likely to find in that price range. While some folks would rather tinker with their own loads, build their own dope cards and prefer a more DIY approach to the whole process, the RevX is perfect for the individual that wants long-range performance with a minimal investment of personal time. As time crunched as we all are in today\u2019s fast-paced world, that\u2019s a feature I can certainly get behind.<\/p>\n For more information about GunWerks, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Out](\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/11-gunwerks-400x267.jpg\" "\\"Out")
Range Data <\/strong><\/h2>\n
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PERFORMANCE<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n<\/em><\/p>\nParting Shots <\/strong><\/h2>\n