6.5 PRC Rifle build or buy 2026

[Bowhunter1740]

Looking for recommendations on a build or a factory 6.5 PRC rifle setup for mule deer hunting in mostly mountainous terrain. Goal is around 8 lbs with optics and without a can. I will be placing an ZG 6.5 can onto it.

Serious consideration has been given to seekins havak element hunter with great fit/finish. But also looking into tikka builds with rokstok/bastion, shorter barrels of 18-20”, and action lightening by UM/J&A/OMR. Obviously this forum loves Tikka’s and builds which are all welcome! Thanks for your time and advice!

 

[UnckleBob]

The Tikka 6.5PRC magazine extends quite a bit outside the bottom of the stock. I didn't like that at all. You might feel differently.

 

[low2497]

The Tikka 6.5PRC magazine extends quite a bit outside the bottom of the stock. I didn't like that at all. You might feel differently.

If you don’t like how far the 4rd 6.5 PRC protrudes, the 3rd LA Tikka magazine works great for 6.5 PRC

 

[Castle Rock]

Whatever you do avoid a Sauer

 

[gman82001]

If you don’t like how far the 4rd 6.5 PRC protrudes, the 3rd LA Tikka magazine works great for 6.5 PRC

They also make a metal mag 3rd I like it a lot. Factory tikka in a stockys stock just got it back from kampfeld had it cut to 21” and his flared shoulder added. Sits as it looks there at 8.84lb and the harvester evo is 13.3oz. So darn close to what you are wanting.

 

[J.B.]

I built a 6.5 prc on a pristine action last year. Couple of things I learned:

Aics mags that fit a 6.5 prc round are few, and mostly metal and heavy. No real flush 3 round mags available. Closest ive found is this https://mag3d.ca/product/aics-style-6-5-prc-magazine/ But it has limited coal. I plan on loading the 130 tmk this year, so should be fine.

Carbon barrels are actually kind of heavy. If weight is priority, get a light fluted steel barrel.

If you are planning to use a stock, get one that will work with the hawkins hunter bottom metal and dbm. By far the nicest option out there imo.

 

[Tdonat]

View attachment 1033022

I built a 6.5 prc on a pristine action last year. Couple of things I learned:

Aics mags that fit a 6.5 prc round are few, and mostly metal and heavy. No real flush 3 round mags available. Closest ive found is this https://mag3d.ca/product/aics-style-6-5-prc-magazine/ But it has limited coal. I plan on loading the 130 tmk this year, so should be fine.

Carbon barrels are actually kind of heavy. If weight is priority, get a light fluted steel barrel.

If you are planning to use a stock, get one that will work with the hawkins hunter bottom metal and dbm. By far the nicest option out there imo.

If you sand down the sides of a Hawkins hunter mag you can get it to fit in a hnt26, I been running that way for quite some time.
Feeds fantastic as well

 

[UnckleBob]

They also make a metal mag 3rd I like it a lot. Factory tikka in a stockys stock just got it back from kampfeld had it cut to 21” and his flared shoulder added. Sits as it looks there at 8.84lb and the harvester evo is 13.3oz. So darn close to what you are wanting.

Who makes a three-rounder? I never found one. I even tried trying to convert a 270 WSM to work with the 6.5PRC. I eventually sold the gun.

 

[Ryland]

Whatever you do avoid a Sauer

What’s bad with them?

 

[gman82001]

Who makes a three-rounder? I never found one. I even tried trying to convert a 270 WSM to work with the 6.5PRC. I eventually sold the gun.

Factory tikka/beretta

https://www.beretta.com/en-us/product/beretta-performance-magazine-for-tikka-short-action---3-rounds-BPP&DMT&DT3XMGSA3?srsltid=AfmBOorCXDiT6sdPnkLCzxf6ypv36w99GnkKxmMp7qf2ynrKFItyO6IP

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Whatever you do avoid a Sauer

What’s wrong with them?

 

[Smokinyotes]

The easy button is definitely a Tikka. You could spend 4 times the money and it may not shoot any better.

 

[J.B.]

If you sand down the sides of a Hawkins hunter mag you can get it to fit in a hnt26, I been running that way for quite some time.
Feeds fantastic as well

Oh thats slick, thanks!

 

[Dark timber]

My tikka 6.5prc cut to 22” and brake installed. Stockys VG, SWFA 3-9x42, SM rings, and HCA mag.

 

[Castle Rock]

What’s bad with them?

What’s wrong with them?

There is a design fault where they have no primary extraction, and very little camming power to seat a sticky case, and the 6.5 PRC is known for the chambers being too tight at the back end and the Sauer certainly is.
On top of that my chamber is really roughly finished.

The rifle is superbly accurate, but ejected rounds hit the windage turret and bounce back into the action causing jams unless the scope is mounted really high and magazine feeding isn’t that positive on the last round.
The stock is perfect for a factory rifle except for the shit recoil pad, how they made it so hard is beyond belief.

So much good but so much bad.

 

[benconfused]

Factory tikka/beretta

https://www.beretta.com/en-us/product/beretta-performance-magazine-for-tikka-short-action---3-rounds-BPP&DMT&DT3XMGSA3?srsltid=AfmBOorCXDiT6sdPnkLCzxf6ypv36w99GnkKxmMp7qf2ynrKFItyO6IP

Did not know they made these. Also see a bottom metal. Anyone tried that here?

 

[SloppyJ]

Hawkins hunter bottom metal is the answer. I use their 3rd SAUM/PRC mag on my 25 western and multiple others.

Looks as if they make a tikka option but the inlet is only on foundation stocks right now.

 

[TURNER208]

If you sand down the sides of a Hawkins hunter mag you can get it to fit in a hnt26, I been running that way for quite some time.
Feeds fantastic as well

What action did you use?

 

[grizz19]

I have a tikka in a Rostock. . Any guns I put together in the future will be the same combo. Wasn’t sure how I’d like the rokstock but after shooting it, and comparing it to other stocks, I’m sold.

 

[Idhunter777]

Looking for recommendations on a build or a factory 6.5 PRC rifle setup for mule deer hunting in mostly mountainous terrain. Goal is around 8 lbs with optics and without a can. I will be placing an ZG 6.5 can onto it.

Serious consideration has been given to seekins havak element hunter with great fit/finish. But also looking into tikka builds with rokstok/bastion, shorter barrels of 18-20”, and action lightening by UM/J&A/OMR. Obviously this forum loves Tikka’s and builds which are all welcome! Thanks for your time and advice!

I just went through this process. I was waffling between a tikka carbon fiber barreled action builder from JA outdoors with a black tooth stock, a weatherby 307 alpine ct (which is in a bastion but doesn’t have a 20” barrel option without going through the custom shop $$) and a fierce arms carbon rogue xp.

After holding the weatherby and the fierce at the expo I ordered a fierce. It’s a 6.5 prc with a 20” barrel and will have a trijicon credo 2.5-15 x42 on it with nf ul rings. It’s gonna come in around 7.5lbs I believe with a scope and gun.

Having some sort of guarantee on how it will shoot made me go with a manufacturer over putting one together myself.

I’ll send an update once I have got some range time with it!