{"id":1667,"date":"2025-05-17T01:09:47","date_gmt":"2025-05-17T01:09:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/?p=1667"},"modified":"2025-05-17T01:09:48","modified_gmt":"2025-05-17T01:09:48","slug":"gunwerks-nexus-rifle-review-systemized-shooting-solution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/?p=1667","title":{"rendered":"Gunwerks Nexus Rifle Review: Systemized Shooting Solution"},"content":{"rendered":"
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We hit the range with the Gunwerks Nexus rifle along with its accoutrements to see how much Gunwerks\u2019 system simplifies making hits at distance.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re interested in shooting at long range, particularly as it relates to hunting, there\u2019s hardly any doubt you\u2019ve heard of Gunwerks. Gunwerks gained their initial fame through their acclaimed Long Range Pursuit<\/em> television show. Founded by Aaron Davidson in Otto, Wyoming, Gunwerks\u2019 45,000-square-foot headquarters that\u2019s built around a 100-yard shooting range is now located in Cody, Wyoming. Though generally thought of as a rifle manufacturer, you could better describe Gunwerks as a full-service, long-range shooting syndicate. Gunwerks can provide you with all the gear you need to go the distance.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been writing about rifles, professionally, for more than a quarter century, but somewhat embarrassingly, during all those years I\u2019ve never shot a Gunwerks rifle. Not too long ago, my friend Neal Emery, who previously worked at Hornady, went to Gunwerks, and we were finally able to change that.<\/p>\n

To give me an idea of what Gunwerks rifles and the company is all about, Emery sent me one of their Nexus rifles to review. The Nexus is the flagship rifle from Gunwerks, and not only did Emery loan me a rifle, but he also provided some of the other gear Gunwerks is becoming known for and that some shooters might be overlooking.<\/p>\n

\"Gunwerks<\/figure>\n

The Nexus<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Gunwerks Nexus Specs<\/strong>
Length:<\/strong> 41.5 Inches
Weight:<\/strong> 6 Pounds, 14 Ounces
Barrel:<\/strong> 20 (tested) or 24 Inches
Action:<\/strong> Gunwerks NXT
Trigger:<\/strong> Trigger Tech Primary trigger
Capacity:<\/strong> 3+1
Finish:<\/strong> Hard anodized black or FDE
Stock:<\/strong> Carbon fiber with leather accents and an ARCA and Picatinny rail
Chambering Options:<\/strong> 6.5 PRC (tested), 7mm PRC, 300 PRC, and 28 Nosler
MSRP:<\/strong> $6,475 (base price)
Website:<\/strong> gunwerks.com<\/a><\/p>\n

This rifle is unique in several ways. For years and even to this day, many precision rifle manufacturers build their guns on a Remington 700 action or Remington 700 clone. Gunwerks builds the Nexus rifle on a proprietary aluminum action that allows you to switch the barrel to change between cartridges. Gunwerks makes this possible by using barrels with an extension similar to what\u2019s used on an AR-15 or the Q Fix rifle. The forward section of the action is split and held together by three screws. You simply loosen those screws, slide out the old barrel and slide in the new one. Also, to accommodate different cartridges with different rim diameters, you can change the bolt head and even the bolt handle.<\/p>\n

But there are many other unique features with the Nexus rifle.<\/p>\n

\"nexus\"nexus
Gunwerks smartly machines the Picatinny scope bases into the aluminum action of the Nexus rifle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Instead of drilling the action for scope mounts, Gunwerks machines Picatinny rail sections into the action, and this eliminates a connection and potential failure point for optics mounting. Gunwerks has also engineered a bolt-shroud mounted, three-position safety that locks the bolt in the rear position and allows for safe unloading in the middle position.<\/p>\n

\"Gunwerks\"Gunwerks
The grip on the stock of the Nexus rifle is near vertical and is wrapped in hand stitched leather for comfort and to help maintain a secure grip.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Then, there\u2019s the stock, which is carbon-fiber that has very unusual hand-stitched leather accents at the grip and comb locations for handling comfort. The bottom metal is also unusual because it extends from the grip all the way down the forend. There\u2019s a short section of Picatinny rail at the end and a full length ARCA rail behind that for bipod and tripod attachment.<\/p>\n

\"full\"full
For those who appreciate maximum interface options with bipods and tripods, the Nexus rifle has a full-length ARCA rail and a short Picatinny rail on its stock.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But the ingenuity and uniqueness does not end there. Gunwerks designed an aluminum, flush-fitting, three-round, detachable magazine box that allows for easy top loading while it\u2019s in the rifle. With the carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel, you have the option of 20 or 24 inches, and it comes with a threaded muzzle and a muzzle break with a timing nut. The stock is outfitted with numerous quick-detach sling swivel mounts at the front and rear. And a user-adjustable, Trigger Tech Primary trigger is standard.<\/p>\n

\"gunwerks\"gunwerks
The detachable magazine on the Nexus rifle is well made and you can easily top load it when it\u2019s in the rifle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When you order the rifle, you first select your cartridge, and the options include the 6.5, 7mm, and .300 PRC, and .28 Nosler. Next, you choose either a black or flat dark earth chassis color, select your barrel length of 20 or 24 inches and set your length of pull at either 13, 13.5 or 14 inches. You can also specify the riflescope you want included with your rifle, and that\u2019s where things can get a bit technical.<\/p>\n

Not only will Gunwerks mount and zero one of seven riflescopes from Revic, Leupold and Kahles, and they\u2019ll also provide you with a long-range data package ($1,275). This includes a Gunwerks long-range ammo loaded with a Berger bullet and a ballistic turret for your riflescope that matches that load. But this is all tuned to the elevation and temperature you want. In fact, you can even order an additional data package ($595) for ammo loaded with a lead-free bullet that also includes another ballistic turret.<\/p>\n

Shooting Results<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Gunwerks had chambered the test rifle Neal loaned me in 6.5 PRC, and they outfitted it with the Revic Acura RS25i riflescope. It also came with a data package for a 140-grain Berger bullet Gunwerks load that had a muzzle velocity of 2,972 fps. Ordered, this rifle, optic and data package would have cost $9,945. That\u2019s a hell of a lot of money for a rifle\/scope\/ammo combination, so I expected great things on the range.<\/p>\n

And great things are what I got.<\/p>\n

\"6\"6
At $140 for a box of 20, the Gunwerks 6.5 PRC 140-grain VLD ammunition is expensive, but it shoots with laser precision.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I installed a Silencer Central Banish Backcountry suppressor and set up at the bench with the Gunwerks factory ammo and two other loads. The first five-shot group I fired with the Gunwerks ammunition measured 0.89 inch, and I fired all five shots\u2014as I normally do when I precision test a rifle\u2014in less than 60 seconds. After two more five-shot groups, the average group size for that load was 0.88 inch. I then fired three, five-shot groups with the other two factory loads, and the average for all nine, five-shot groups fired was only 0.92 inch.<\/p>\n

Shooting Results<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
LOAD<\/strong><\/td>\nVEL<\/strong><\/td>\nSD<\/strong><\/td>\nENG<\/strong><\/td>\nPRECISION<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gunwerks 140-grain Berger VLD Hunting<\/td>\n2,972<\/td>\n12.2<\/td>\n2,746<\/td>\n0.88<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Federal 140-grain Fusion Tipped<\/td>\n2,996<\/td>\n16.7<\/td>\n2,790<\/td>\n0.96<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hornady 143-grain Precision Hunter ELD-X<\/td>\n2,937<\/td>\n22.1<\/td>\n2,681<\/td>\n0.92<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>
NOTES: Reported muzzle velocity (VEL), standard velocity deviation (SD) and muzzle energy (ENG) were established by firing 10 shots over a Caldwell G2 chronograph with the screens placed 10 feet from the muzzle. Reported precision for each load represents the average of three, five-shot groups fired at 100 yards from a sandbag rest. A Silencer Central Banish Backcountry suppressor and a Revic Acura RS25i 5-25x50mm riflescope set at maximum magnification were used for all precision testing. Temperature: 62 degrees F, humidity: 32 percent, pressure: 29.87 in-Hg and elevation: 2,200 feet.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To evaluate the data package, I shot the rifle out to 450 yards with 8-inch steel plates as targets. I corrected for trajectory by dialing to the correct distance with the Gunwerks supplied custom turret on the Revic riflescope. I never missed.<\/p>\n

\"Gunwerks\"Gunwerks
The Gunwerks\u2019 system, which encompasses the rifle, scope, rangefinder, bipod and ammo, is all about simplifying hits at distance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I cannot rate the Gunwerks rifle as anything but outstanding: It performed flawlessly in every way. However, it is not the rifle for everyone. Clearly, the cost alone is a bit staggering. But aside from price, this is not what I would consider a general-purpose hunting rifle. By itself, the rifle weighs 6.875 pounds. That\u2019s not bad, but if you add in the Revic scope, which weighs 2.4 pounds, the weight jumps to more than 9 pounds. I did all the shooting from Gunwerks wonderfully engineered, quick-release 12.3-ounce Elevate Bipod 2.0 ($395), which upped rifle weight beyond 10 pounds.<\/p>\n

\"Gunwerks\"Gunwerks
The quick-attach feature of the Gunwerks Elevate Bipod 2.0 is great for field applications.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is a long-range precision rifle configured for hunting, and, within the context of that description, it is phenomenal. But, most importantly, you must look at the Nexus, as well as the other rifles from Gunwerks, as not just a rifle but as a shooting system.<\/p>\n

Not Just A Rifle<\/strong><\/h2>\n

You could just purchase the Nexus rifle at its base price of $6,475 and add your own riflescope and any other accessories you might desire, and then shoot factory ammunition or your own handloads. But the base premise of the Gunwerks concept is to let them put the complete package together for you.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe vast majority of our customers want a full system, which is what we are known for,\u201d Emery said. \u201cThey want a rifle that\u2019s scoped, sighted in and comes with a scope turret cut for the ammunition we offer. While some shooters love to geek out about what scope to buy, which mounts to use and enjoy working up a load, there\u2019s a ton of folks who just don\u2019t have or can\u2019t take the time for all that. They just want a system ready to go with all the best parts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"revic\"revic
Though at 38 ounces the Revic Acura RS25i 5-25\u00d750 riflescope is heavy, it is ideally adapted for long-range work.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In that venue, Gunwerks is unique and singular, and it\u2019s a very practical approach. And while at first blush it might seem extremely expensive, in the real world, it\u2019s not altogether financially impractical. I\u2019ve known several who embarked on the long-range hunting rifle journey and spent more on rifles, optics, range finders and ammunition that did not deliver the results they wanted than it would have cost them to let Gunwerks just do it all for them from the start. My results shooting the Nexus at distance is a perfect example of how the Gunwerks system comes together to make it easy.<\/p>\n

If you use the Revic range-finding binoculars from Gunwerks ($2,695), you create a profile in the Revic Optics app and upload it to the binoculars. When you enter the custom turret data, the app knows your bullet, muzzle velocity, etc., and it also knows your custom turret has been cut for the environmental conditions you\u2019re hunting in. The cool part is that the range-finding binoculars can compensate for changes for those conditions and tell you exactly where to dial to get your hit.<\/p>\n

\"revic\"revic
You can optimize your Gunwerks system with the Revic Acura BLR10b Ballistic Rangefinding 10x42mm Binocular.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Collectively, a fully kitted Gunwerks rifle and system are perfectly tuned to eliminate all your excuses for missing. Well, except for plain old piss-poor shooting, and, surprisingly, Gunwerks can help with that too.<\/p>\n

Gunwerks\u2019 Long Range University offers training to help you make quick, ethical, one-shot kills in the field. Not only will their courses teach you to interface with all the Gunwerks\u2019 products, but the training will also help you learn when you should not<\/em> take the shot, and for ethical hunting that is just as important as having the right gear, knowing how to use it and knowing how to take the shot.<\/p>\n

If I were to summarize the Nexus rifle in as few words as possible, I think I\u2019d have to quote Warren Buffet, \u201cPrice is what you pay. Value is what you get.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, if left to my own hillbilly upbringing, vocabulary and logic, I say: If you want to live at long range, stop drinking stupidly expensive boutique coffee and spring for the Gunwerks\u2019 system and training. Encourage your kids to study enough to fund their higher education with scholarships.<\/p>\n

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Pros<\/strong><\/h3>\n