I am about to take the PRC plunge ...

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Airborne Falcon

Airborne Falcon

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... now I must decide between 6.5 and 300.

I'm leaning 300.

Today I looked at a Savage Elite Precision but they wanted $2,300.00 for it so I decided to think about it a bit more. But heck, the more I look around at some of the other platforms from Wilson, Bergara, Ruger, Seekins, Browning, Howa, Christensen Arms, Fierce Firearms, GA Precision, Hill Country Rifles, Gunwerks, Barrett, etc., the more and more the Elite Precision looks more like deal.

I've always been a Savage fan.

I could go with the Long Range Hunter and be in the $1000 range or the plain jane Precision or HS Precision and be in the $1500 range but heck ... for the money, the EP might be the best buy.

The custom jobs are just ridiculously priced right now.

I am going to hunt with the rifle but also punch paper against an old buddy of mine down in Hilton Head who is trying to beat me on the 500-1000 meter lines for the first time in his life. Lately he's gotten serious with his custom Wilson but he's got the money to burn on a $6.5k rifle and $4.4k glass.

I need somerhing more budget sensible.

Anyone have any experience with any of the PRC offerings these days?
 
Apparently, PRC = Precision Rifle Cartridge ... for those (like me) who had no idea what a "PRC" is. ;)

Here is a blurb from Hornady:
The 300 PRC is an intelligently crafted 21st century magnum cartridge specifically designed to take advantage of long, heavy for caliber bullets capable of delivering the highest levels of accuracy and aerodynamic performance.
Click to expand...
 
Mea culpa, I apologize.

Yes, Precision Rifle Cartridge. 6.5 PRC is surpassing the Creedmoor these days and 300 PRC is supposed to be the mathematical end-all be-all in 30 cal market for both long range precision and long range hunting.

Supposedly, 300 PRC is about to be adopted as the new squad marksman round for all the infantry line units which would replace the venerable 308. Not sure if they've decided on a platform.
 
All things considered, a bigger bullet is a better one.:)
The 300 PRC has a much larger capacity to drive it with, too.

But that doesn’t say much about budget mindedness. Larger, more aerodynamic bullets cost more per round. Larger cases eat more powder, and burn steel faster with that powder. Magnum actions cost more.

I wouldn’t necessarily place the Savage among the Seekins, Christiansen, or GAP. So I don’t know how to classify the deal aspect.

But, you said you wanted to keep winning, right?:D
There is a place in the performance/value spectrum somewhere out there. I would choose which ever came with a Bartlein barrel…:thumbup:
 
Demi-human said:
All things considered, a bigger bullet is a better one.:)
The 300 PRC has a much larger capacity to drive it with, too.

But that doesn’t say much about budget mindedness. Larger, more aerodynamic bullets cost more per round. Larger cases eat more powder, and burn steel faster with that powder. Magnum actions cost more.

I wouldn’t necessarily place the Savage among the Seekins, Christiansen, or GAP. So I don’t know how to classify the deal aspect.

But, you said you wanted to keep winning, right?:D
There is a place in the performance/value spectrum somewhere out there. I would choose which ever came with a Bartlein barrel…:thumbup:
Click to expand...

I actually held the Christiansen Traverse (26" barrel) at the same shop today (Sportsman's Warehouse) where I found the Savage Elite Precision and the Ruger Precision and a couple more in 300 PRC.

I'd compare the look and feel of the Christiansen ($2,500) to the Savage Precision ($1,500) but the Elite Precision ($2,300) just held better than either imho. It has quite a few better stock amenities for the money ... of course none of that matters if it doesn't shoot but Savage guarantees it to-be sub .5 MOA out of the box. I can go $2,500 with taxes because I am going to spend probably $3k on the Schmidt & Bender PMII 5-25x56 H2CMR ... I've been saving for this rig for a year and even sold an old mint 1980 Troy Bilt Pony Tiller with the Kohler engine to help me get there ... and a horse. Meanest horse I've ever owned. I am too old to ride that horse anymore and all he ever cared about were the mares. Now he's in a pasture full of the things.

Still, I can't go ten grand on this set-up. I may punch paper with it against the SRT boys down at the SRS once or twice a year and my buddy down in Hilton Head a few times a year and some of my buddies up at Bragg a few times a year ... then I'll eventually leave it to my Son. He's a champion stock bench shooter in his own right. I just wanna see if I can still get it done on the 1000 meter line.

If I could find something with a Bartlein barrel, bedded, great trigger, balanced just right ... I'd sure consider it. This Savage though, this thing is pretty nice. It's not like any of my old Savages.
 
For a budget friendly off the shelf rifle, the folks who shoot in these competitions at my club speak highly of the Ruger precision. All of my long range rifles are more "vintage" in comparison to the newest latest/greatest most shooters are using nowadays, like my M24 or Larue OBR (both 308). For a cartridge, I would pick a good PROVEN one with "staying power"- meaning something that has been around for a while and isn't going anywhere. How many times has the latest/greatest new caliber fizzled out in both popularity and availability? Also, I don't put a whole lot of stock in what the military's new "go-to" is supposedly going to be. More often than not, these things don't pan out in my experience- regardless of what the article in recoil magazine says. Even if it does, that doesn't necessarily mean that ammunition and reloading components for said round will be available or affordable for those of us who actually have to buy our own stuff (people who aren't in the mil, or sponsored and compete in a shirt festooned with patches from their sponsors)- especially in this current environment where it is difficult and expensive to get a box of 243 or 30-30 just to kill a deer with. Just some things to think about.
 
Are you hunting elk or moose at 500yds+?
Do you want to shoot at a mile and beyond?

mid no to both, skip the 300PRC, look at the 6.5PRC

it will be more enjoyable to shoot, like a mild 308 win load vs. a heavy magnum of the 300 and is perfectly capable of killing anything in North America, bullet selection and placement matter, and I might now hunt grizzlies at close range with it….but beyond that it’s gtg

check out a Seekins precision, they are back ordered but fit the hunter/target window https://seekinsprecision.com/rifles-new/havak-bolt-rifles/havak-bravo.html

if you are sold on the prc and nothing else, keep shopping around,

If you just want to win at 1000 yds and in, you don’t need a prc https://www.americanrifle.com/shop/product/nucleus-gen2-rifle-1200?category=26

this rifle will be a hammer in a great chassis, the 6.5cm is perfectly capable of hunting the east coast at any reasonable hunting range (500yds and in) and is a pleasure at the range


I recommend you lay out a budget, consider what type of hunting and how important weight is to you. Glass is also very important (but you don’t need to spend $3k on it either)

If GA precision is on the menu, call them, or short action customs, or long rifles inc, or mile high shooting academy, talk to a real good smith and figure out some options and have it your way (if you can go custom, build a dream rifle)

In todays world, if you are willing to spend about $3k you can have An amazing rifle that is flexible as can be. Chassis are as easy as two bolts. Barrels can be as easy as a couple of wrenches,
 
Legionnaire said:
Bergara Premier HMR Pro
Click to expand...
My dad shoots one of those in rhe CM, also veey happy.

I have a few Christensens, including a mesa long range in 28 Nosler, and when i get into the 300prc (since I have the dies you know I'm going to get it gun for em eventually) I'll probably be going with another Mesa long range..... Or when I fry the barrel on this 28 maybe I'll switch it to 300...

Ill have to look at that savage it sounds interesting
 
Airborne Falcon said:
... now I must decide between 6.5 and 300.

I'm leaning 300.

Today I looked at a Savage Elite Precision but they wanted $2,300.00 for it so I decided to think about it a bit more. But heck, the more I look around at some of the other platforms from Wilson, Bergara, Ruger, Seekins, Browning, Howa, Christensen Arms, Fierce Firearms, GA Precision, Hill Country Rifles, Gunwerks, Barrett, etc., the more and more the Elite Precision looks more like deal.

I've always been a Savage fan.

I could go with the Long Range Hunter and be in the $1000 range or the plain jane Precision or HS Precision and be in the $1500 range but heck ... for the money, the EP might be the best buy.

The custom jobs are just ridiculously priced right now.

I am going to hunt with the rifle but also punch paper against an old buddy of mine down in Hilton Head who is trying to beat me on the 500-1000 meter lines for the first time in his life. Lately he's gotten serious with his custom Wilson but he's got the money to burn on a $6.5k rifle and $4.4k glass.

I need somerhing more budget sensible.

Anyone have any experience with any of the PRC offerings these days?
Click to expand...



Well did you end up buying a rifle yet?
 
Just throwing something out. The better 6.5 bullets have a BC just under .700 with a 153 gr bullet. The best 30 caliber bullets have a BC of just over .700 with a 230 gr bullet. Assuming they leave the muzzle at the same speed you'll get virtually the same trajectory and wind deflection. Unless you NEED a 230 gr bullet for hunting really large game the 6.5 makes a lot of sense.

I've not researched this at all so those speeds may not be realistic. But I know that a 140 gr bullet fired from a 6.5 CM at around 2700 fps is good for well over 1000 yards.
 
I like 6.5 for the velocity. But already have my bases covered. I would go with the 6.5 and 130 gr. Accubonds for hunting deer.
Based on the RCM, I think if I were goimg 30 cal I would just get the parent. But I am not into heavy long bullets or shooting beyond 400 yds.
 
horsemen61 said:
Well did you end up buying a rifle yet?
Click to expand...

I have not. This thread got me to thinking and considering other rifles, both calibers more indepthly (sic) and then I had to go to an unexpected funeral in Alabama and then off to south Florida for Thanksgiving .... got home late today.

Just catching-up with this thread and now there are even more options I need to look into. This will be my last major expensive rifle investment. I gotta do this right.
 
I’m picking up a 300 PRC on Friday. I traded into a Browning Hell’s Canyon Long Range McMillan. I really wanted a 300 Win Mag as I’m already pretty well-stocked on ammo, but this was too good of a trade to pass up. A buddy of mine bought the same rifle last week and although it is more of a long range hunting rifle than a true precision rifle, it was providing 1/4-1/2 MOA 3 shot groups out to 600 yards. That’s plenty good enough for what I’m going to do with it.
 
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