5k budget for scope and rifle

[Shawn_Guinn]

I’m suffering from paralysis by analysis. My primary goal is to spend around 5k out the door the
Things I know I want already. 7 prc and I really like the idea of a chassis system and I want my total package to weight 8.5 or less. It will primarily be a mule deer hunting rifle but I will on occasion utilize it for cow/ spike elk hunts. I’m an archery shooting and elk hunting nerd but I do hunt deer with my tikka t3x 6.5 bleed more. I’m not unfamiliar with killing and shooting it but want something with some more punch and let’s face it cooler. I’ve kinda talked myself in a fierce Mtn reaper but man I read a lot of bad press about fierce though . What other options should or even could I look for within that budget?

 

[Brianb3]

I have a 300 prc proof glacier ti w a mark 5 3-18 mOA im looking to get a bout that. Great rifle. Doesn’t get used much anymore


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[Brandon.miller.4]

Since you're asking for opinions I'll give mine. I'd pull all the stops, do a full tikka build in 7prc with a bonded area 419 rail, UM premier rings, NF ATACR 4-16X42, in your flavor of stock or chassis. Having been down both roads I've personally landed on manners lrh or mcmillan elr. Oh, and you better have it suppressed.

 

[Legend]

I think the seekins element with the Maven 1.2 svope would be a great setup.

You should do LOTS of searching and reading reviews on Fierce before you buy one. My favorite was the one where they forgot to put rifling in the barrel.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

I think the seekins element with the Maven 1.2 svope would be a great setup.

You should do LOTS of searching and reading reviews on Fierce before you buy one. My favorite was the one where they forgot to put rifling in the barrel.

I think 2 smoothbores have been found in the wild.

Op, I'd upgrade the glass, stock, and suppress your 6.5.

 

[HuntHarder]

I did a tikka in an XLR MG 4.0 carbon folder, C6 barrel with NX8 2.5-20x50. Gunwerks bipod. Not sure on weight, but I would say one of the lighter chassis setups you can go with.

 

[Shawn_Guinn]

So I’m not familiar with building up guns is it something I take to a gunsmith or is it simply building by numbers ie x stock is made for y actions z barrels can be made for y actions ect ect. can figure out a reasonable amount of stuff once I know what I’m Looking at.

 

[Eric_F]

I think the seekins element with the Maven 1.2 svope would be a great setup.

You should do LOTS of searching and reading reviews on Fierce before you buy one. My favorite was the one where they forgot to put rifling in the barrel.

If you're set on a chassis, I'd go with a MDT HNT26 ($1500), a ARC Nucleus or Zermatt TL3, and pick your custom barrel (Bartlein, Benchmark, etc), another ~$1860 or so for $3200 total. Add one of many very good <$2k scopes and you'd have an incredible rifle.

The Seekins would be great as well and would leave more budget for a top end scope. This is in the classifieds.

 

[SloppyJ]

TL3 or Origin (due to availablity of deals on prefits and cost), proof or PVA .750 taperless prefit, stock/chassis of your choice, trigger tech special, Hawkins Hunter bottom metal, AICS mags for practice and Hawkins Hunter DBM for hunting, top it with a 4x32 NX8 and call it a day.

I have 3 of these setups now, 2 short action and 1 long action. The beauty of it is that you can spend $125 for a different bolt head and pick up another prefit and you have a completely new rifle. That's what sold me on my building a long and a short action. Then I got tired of swapping barrels around on my short action and just bought another. They also make a medium length action but unless you know exactly what you want, I'd shy away due to the lack of parts and stocks compared to the other two.

Look for a lot of these parts used in the classifieds and save some money for brass and dies. One of my best barrels I picked up here and it's a PVA.

The flip side is to buy another Tikka, throw a scope on it like the Maven, put it in a chassis and spend the rest on ammo.

 

[handwerk]

I would buy a model 70 donor action, order a barrel and stock to fit your needs and top it with a NXS 2.5-10x42.
You should be just a little over 8 lbs. and have a great do all rifle.

 

[SloppyJ]

I would buy a model 70 donor action, order a barrel and stock to fit your needs and top it with a NXS 2.5-10x42.
You should be just a little over 8 lbs. and have a great do all rifle.

That's an unconventional but good recommendation. Only thing on that is that a gunsmith is required for every barrel for the extractor cut. You can get a CRF style action with the Zermatts and still take advantage of prefits FYI.

I'm liquidating some older/shittier rifles to try and find a pre64 left hand action to do just what you described. Nothing like a good m70 IMO.

 

[waspocrew]

TL3 or Origin (due to availablity of deals on prefits and cost), proof or PVA .750 taperless prefit, stock/chassis of your choice, trigger tech special, Hawkins Hunter bottom metal, AICS mags for practice and Hawkins Hunter DBM for hunting, top it with a 4x32 NX8 and call it a day.

I have 3 of these setups now, 2 short action and 1 long action. The beauty of it is that you can spend $125 for a different bolt head and pick up another prefit and you have a completely new rifle. That's what sold me on my building a long and a short action. Then I got tired of swapping barrels around on my short action and just bought another. They also make a medium length action but unless you know exactly what you want, I'd shy away due to the lack of parts and stocks compared to the other two.

Look for a lot of these parts used in the classifieds and save some money for brass and dies. One of my best barrels I picked up here and it's a PVA.

The flip side is to buy another Tikka, throw a scope on it like the Maven, put it in a chassis and spend the rest on ammo.

This ^^^.

There are a lot of great custom actions out there, but Zermatt makes it easy with swapping bolt faces. I have 2 TL3 short actions and they've been awesome. Tons of prefits as well.

Front range precision has good prices on both the actions and barrels (usually add to cart to see a discount).

 

[Shawn_Guinn]

I looked at the Seekins element hunter new for this year I think that’s right in my wheelhouse. Plus it’s manufactured right here in my state. Thanks for the recommendations. For me it’s a bit overwhelming trying to build one out maybe down the road lol. I can pre order the new seekins from a local shop that also gives me something other than a box store to deal with. I’m gonna wait until after the shot show just in case there’s something new I have not seen yet.

 

[The Fat Coyote]

Nightforce or Mavin scope!

Rifle with whats left over

 

[Skerhunter]

If you are spending $5k I would much rather pay a gun smith to do everything than buy a semi custom factory rifle.

You can get a very nice barreled action put together for $2k or less. That leaves your $1500 for chassis and $1500 for a scope. The process of building one is very easy and you get exactly what your want.

 

[180ls1]

I looked at the Seekins element hunter new for this year I think that’s right in my wheelhouse. Plus it’s manufactured right here in my state. Thanks for the recommendations. For me it’s a bit overwhelming trying to build one out maybe down the road lol. I can pre order the new seekins from a local shop that also gives me something other than a box store to deal with. I’m gonna wait until after the shot show just in case there’s something new I have not seen yet.

I think that is what you should do. Down the road you can jump on the custom or semi-custom train but that rifle will easily do everything you want.

 

[SuperDUECE22]

Buy this, sell the rokstock and then purchase your chassis

WTS - Custom Tikka 7 PRC Rokstok, Bartlein, Maven RS1.2 complete ready to hunt

I have for sale a complete, ready to hunt 7mm PRC with the following specs. Tikka T3x LA, mag BF, RH Nitrided receiver and bolt Bartlein #13 Carbon barrel 1-8 twist, 20” finished length, 5/8x24 threads Rokstok, 4 color cerakote, ARCA/pic rail UM Tikka Low rings SRS Ti Pro 4 self time muzzle...

rokslide.com

 

[Sundodger]

Budget option:
-Buy a brand new tikka T3 in 7mm PRC (should be available shortly)
-KRG Echo stock

Then you can spend a ton on glass or save it for tags.

My Tikka t3 SL in 308 is 8.4lbs in a KRG echo with sport match rings, and 20oz scope.

 

[TxLite]

This is the route I went, caught some sales and saved some money here and there. Shoots great. Shouldn’t be any cost increase to go to a long action.

 

[SloppyJ]

I looked at the Seekins element hunter new for this year I think that’s right in my wheelhouse. Plus it’s manufactured right here in my state. Thanks for the recommendations. For me it’s a bit overwhelming trying to build one out maybe down the road lol. I can pre order the new seekins from a local shop that also gives me something other than a box store to deal with. I’m gonna wait until after the shot show just in case there’s something new I have not seen yet.

Honestly, if you're a bit put off by "building" one, the seekins is probably the next best thing. They make it easy to swap barrels but I dont believe you'll get the swappable bolt face from a modularity aspect.

However, don't be scared to put one together. If you're comfortable with tools at all, it's about as simple as it can get.