Putting together a PRC....

[LoonWulf]

Like the paint job, not usually a fan of that sort of thing. I enjoy following your builds. I’ve been passively looking for a savage action to try my hand at putting a rifle together, the pre fit barrels look pretty straight forward to install. Your really making me want to dive in. The idea of a bolt gun with multiple barrels is also very appealing to me. I know you have built one in the past. Did you post about thread about that build?
Thanks

Id suggest anyone whos interested try. If you can change a tire, you need about 100bucks worth of tools (that can be rented or borrowed usually) to do the job.

I did do a couple threads on the swap barrel American, they ran a little light on actual info at the end there tho....heres the links
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/another-bad-idea.867508/
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/shooting-the-ruger-american-switch-barrel.890075/

Essentially, and especially if your not concerned with field adaptability and changing bolt face sizing, you just pick a cartridge family and then keep adding barrels ad infinitum.

Doing the barrel swaps requires a barrel/action vice, and a barrel/action wrench of some sort, then a way to set headspace. The in the case of Party in a Box, I used shouldered barrels, or locked barrel nuts, because after reaming in the barrels simply have to screw them back in tight to return to the nominal headspace.
If going with nutted barrels, youll need to have your gauge/standard handy every time you swap barrels.

I

 

[LoonWulf]

I'm surprised there not faster but maybe after the barrel speeds up. Or a slower powder.

Might try RL-33, but its the only thing slower than Ret that I have on hand. Im also right at 100% fill, not gonna get a whole lot more powder in there. I could possibly pick up some FPS with RL-25 or 26, but those are impossible to get.

I might be able to get a bit more out of it with different/better cases. Im using Hornady, and both the reformed .375 and the factory .300PRC are running 94.5gr of water, QL is using 99 as in its projection. Dell wants to try Lapua, and its only about 1.75 per at a couple sites, so might grab some.

 

[troy fairweather]

Might try RL-33, but its the only thing slower than Ret that I have on hand. Im also right at 100% fill, not gonna get a whole lot more powder in there. I could possibly pick up some FPS with RL-25 or 26, but those are impossible to get.

I might be able to get a bit more out of it with different/better cases. Im using Hornady, and both the reformed .375 and the factory .300PRC are running 94.5gr of water, QL is using 99 as in its projection. Dell wants to try Lapua, and its only about 1.75 per at a couple sites, so might grab some.

The owner of a lgs I go to is a big 300 prc loader, next time I see him I'll ask what some loads he likes and what brass he uses.

 

[adcoch1]

Following along, a 300prc is in my future...

 

[LoonWulf]

Got some new goodies on hand or installed.....

Prefit limbsaver....from something else lol.

And an Arken Ep5 5-25x56

 

[Riomouse911]

Pushing a 200+ gr bullet with 78 gr of powder and up is no joke, that’s in 300 Weatherby country. I can see why the gun is recoiling back pretty fiercely.

hopefully the new pad/stock/brake bring your felt recoil down to a more tolerable level.

Stay safe.

 

[LoonWulf]

Pushing a 200+ gr bullet with 78 gr of powder and up is no joke, that’s in 300 Weatherby country. I can see why the gun is recoiling back pretty fiercely.

hopefully the new pad/stock/brake bring your felt recoil down to a more tolerable level.

Stay safe.

They should help noticeably, putting that EP5 on there will also add another pound of weight over the Burris If I remember correctly. Ill get on ordering the Pro-V here in a bit, and contact NWP about getting a brake turned, hopefully before dad gets around to shooting it, well have it all set up....Actually, In the mean time I might just grab a cheap sidevent ebay brake, those while ugly, work pretty bloody well and I like having one around. The Sako brake im using now is attractive, but not very effective.

 

[troy fairweather]

Ya think the ep5 is almost 40oz,i'm really wanting to try the epl4 30mm on the 6.5 prc, it's like 12oz lighter.

 

[LoonWulf]

Ya think the ep5 is almost 40oz,i'm really wanting to try the epl4 30mm on the 6.5 prc, it's like 12oz lighter.

Yeah, while not a "light weight" at 24oz the EpL looks like itll pack alot of nice into that weight.

I stuck the Ep5 on my 28Nosler last night, and ill be moving the SH4 to dads 300prc. The slightly smaller objective will play better if i have to move it way back over the rail.

 

[Tinker-S]

Its on the other mountain lol. The eruption on maunaloa has subsided, or whatever its called when it stops coming out of the vent. I just hit the 16mile marker range this morning tho, its not worth driving all the way up to the where we shoot distance for chrono work and initial testing.

I love the area!
I went there when the protest was a thing, and I could not drive up the road to the observatory, so I decided to continue on down the road to the Iron Man gathering!

 

[JFrank]

@LoonWulf
Cool a new build ! I just seen this..Don’t get to far ahead , my reading skills are slow , I want to start for page one..

 

[JFrank]

Great read so far, thx man..
I’ve heard that N570 and H4831sc will shoot pretty well also.

 

[LoonWulf]

Great read so far, thx man..
I’ve heard that N570 and H4831sc will shoot pretty well also.

The VVs are sometimes on the shelves here, and im keeping an eye out for 570 since its got a decent rep with the magnum guys.

I do actually have a bottle of 4831 i can try also..... I kind of forgotten about it....

 

[LoonWulf]

So something has been kinda scratching at the back of my brain, and I couldnt remember/figure out what it was till just a few mins ago when i was tearing down the PRC rounds that were heavy loaded.
Im almost 100% sure that Im using the exact same charge of Retumbo to get the basically same velocity as I did with my .300WM hawkeye and the 208s running single feed. That gun had a long throat, and i was loading them to 3.5-6 somewhere. The notebook i recorded the info in is long gone, as are the rifle and ammo otherwise id check them again.

What I DID do, is grab water capacities on full-length sized 300WM Nosler, and Winchester brass. The Nosler averages 94.3gr, and the Win brass is averaging 92. That only gives the PRC (using Hornady brass....I have some Hornady .300wm ill try find and check) a 3% advantage in capacity at most....Ill redo the numbers again, as those FEEL a little high to me, but id have to have a scale issue for that to be true.



Anyway.....If someone with a 1-10 twisted .300WM had a 3.7" magazine/action all the would really need to do is ream the throat to seat bullets in the 3.65 range, and order some 200-225gr vlds......Much heavier, and I think Id probably opt for the .30 Nosler case just to get a bit more capacity.

 

[troy fairweather]

Think you need a 30-378 in your life lol.

 

[LoonWulf]

Think you need a 30-378 in your life lol.

You find me an action that cant hold that monster (for cheap), and Ill build one.....I think a 30-338Lapua AI might be fun also....probably more practical too just because of common availability.

Hornady 300wm brass is holding 90.5gr of water to the top of the neck.

 

[LoonWulf]

Got it all together.
At 13.5lbs, well see how dad does with the recoil gonna try make some rounds tomorrow and go shoot it early Sunday.

 

[redneck2]

Think you need a 30-378 in your life lol.

A bazillion years ago I worked at the LGS when the 30-378 first came out. We had a guy that had a lot of money and no wife (that seems to go hand in hand). He got one for 1,000 yard shooting. He had to use a brake and double ear pro. He sold it after using up the barrel in under 1k rounds. On to the next toy

 

[LoonWulf]

A bazillion years ago I worked at the LGS when the 30-378 first came out. We had a guy that had a lot of money and no wife (that seems to go hand in hand). He got one for 1,000 yard shooting. He had to use a brake and double ear pro. He sold it after using up the barrel in under 1k rounds. On to the next toy

Probably get better barrel life than my 28 Nosler lol.....
Those super 30s are cool in concept......not really practical or even real useful imo.....but still cool.

 

[troy fairweather]

A bazillion years ago I worked at the LGS when the 30-378 first came out. We had a guy that had a lot of money and no wife (that seems to go hand in hand). He got one for 1,000 yard shooting. He had to use a brake and double ear pro. He sold it after using up the barrel in under 1k rounds. On to the next toy

There defiantly what I call one and done guns, seen it a lot when my dad worked at the gun shop. Guys had to have the magnum or new round and give up after one shot. That's how I go such a good deal on that 300 rum savage I had, and that's after the guy sent it to magnaport.

 

[troy fairweather]

Got it all together.
At 13.5lbs, well see how dad does with the recoil gonna try make some rounds tomorrow and go shoot it early Sunday.
View attachment 1142081 View attachment 1142082

Really like how this one came out looking, you could add some weight to the butt stock of you dad needs less recoil. I've got a mercury cylinder I'm saving for a big boomer some day.

 

[doubleh]

BUT my dad has been using my S20 for his longer-range rifle, and it's not really Ideal for that with its 1-9.5 twist....It also means that nothing is set up the way I want when I feel like taking it hunting. That seemed like plenty enough reason to go ahead with the build.

WE can always find a reason for another gun it seems.

I went ahead with the trade for a 22 TCM rifle I mentioned a while ago. Don't have a clue what I'll use it for except a range toy but it's something new to play with. The only out of pocket cost was a set of dies. I also got rid of a pistol I had grown to dislike because it was so ammo finicky and have a new interest now. It might even turn out to be a pretty good varmint rifle with about the same capabilities as a 22 Hornet.

 

[LoonWulf]

Really like how this one came out looking, you could add some weight to the butt stock of you dad needs less recoil. I've got a mercury cylinder I'm saving for a big boomer some day.

Thanks! Im pretty happy with it too actually.

The forend and 1/2 the butt stock are filled with bondo. I skim coated the forend with marine tex to hopefully hold it together and prevent chipping. The but im still deciding if adding more weight is worthwhile or not. Ive got the balance set about 3" infront of the magazine.
Before filling the thing it was only like 7 and 1/2 lb bare, and four of that was barrel lol.

Once im happy happy ill fill it with spray foam.

 

[LoonWulf]

WE can always find a reason for another gun it seems.

I went ahead with the trade for a 22 TCM rifle I mentioned a while ago. Don't have a clue what I'll use it for except a range toy but it's something new to play with. The only out of pocket cost was a set of dies. I also got rid of a pistol I had grown to dislike because it was so ammo finicky and have a new interest now. It might even turn out to be a pretty good varmint rifle with about the same capabilities as a 22 Hornet.

Yeah, Im good at convincing myself i need stuff i dont need.
I saw 6.5CM Christensen actions on Brownells and had to be talked off the ledge. I dont even WANT another 6.5 lol.
......but i have stocks, and triggers, and magazines, and, and, and....i like tinkering.....


The .22tcm would make a really cool little varmint round i think.
My buddy Dell wants to get an autoloader, and im still looking for a decent deal on one the the armscor bolts...again neither of us have any NEED.....but we wants it we does!
Mine is down the list after a Howa 6Arc

 

[WisBorn]

@LoonWulf we enjoy watching your projects come together. Thank you!

I really liked the switch barrel idea you did awhile back.
Maybe it's time to build a wildcat cartridge and rifle! 7mm-375 LoonWulf.
Just a thought