7mm PRC Build with a 20" Barrel - Elk Rifle for 2024 - Advice?

[cwpepper]

7mm prc. I’m willing to give up a little velocity for weight/length as I frequently backpack and ultimately my hope is to get this into a foldable Hnt26 chassis strapped to my back. I’d like a 20” but 22” would be okay too.

 

[cwpepper]

Hmmmm... going from most important to least important...

Thunder Beast Ultra 7 Direct Thread from JAOutdoors - $1030 + $200 donation to the gov't
Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x42 - $1400 on the used market
Tikka action + bolt + trigger - $600
XLR Tikka long action chassis from JAOutdoors - $1403
Proof research prefit barrel - $950 from evolved ballistics
Unknown Munitions low 30mm rings - $105
Nightforce scope caps - $60
Magazine from XLR - $76
Lumley titanium bolt handle - $89

$5913 total for the last rifle you'll ever need.

Another option is a Christensen Ridgeline FFT in 7prc. 22" barrel, Triggertech trigger, Rem 700 inlet. Every now and then you'll get a lemon from them, but most of them are shooters. And then you can upgrade it over time. Buy a chassis for it, rings, suppressor, and scope... then if you want to swap it out for a custom action later you can without losing what you've invested.

This is great write-up. Would be nice to get into a Tikka action in this process. I also previously looked at the ridgeline fft, but just didn’t like the overall feel of that rifle. Has a lot of the things I’m looking for but it wasn’t quite the right feel in the hand.

 

[Deadnoise]

sorry i meant 7prc but we been talking about 300's all morning so i had that in my head

 

[WRO]

"For both gen 2 Ultra-5 and Ultra-7, minimum barrel length will be 16'' with 7PRC, and 22" with 300PRC."

Direct from TBAC

If you end up running N570 or another slow burning powder, you're going to end up with a lot of powder build up.

Do what you want, but just be cogniscent of that.

 

[30338]

If you are located anywhere that you could handle a Seekins Element or PH2, you may want to do that first. Seem like very solid rifles and close to what you are looking for.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

Had not seen this. This is the exact rifle I want in 7mm PRC but it is steel barrel and not the proof carbon. Hmmmmmm… great option.

Proof carbon barrel isn't even in my top 5 choices for a barrel.

Benchmark, Bartlein, PVA Osprey carbon, Carbon 6, any other brand but proof.

Carbon barrels are overrated

 

[gtriple]

Proof carbon barrel isn't even in my top 5 choices for a barrel.

Benchmark, Bartlein, PVA Osprey carbon, Carbon 6, any other brand but proof.

Carbon barrels are overrated

Based on what the pros use, they'd disagree. Proof is one of the top barrel manufacturers for pro shooters. Much better than Carbon6, who uses McGowen blanks, which are never used by pro shooters.

 

[gtriple]

If you end up running N570 or another slow burning powder, you're going to end up with a lot of powder build up.

Do what you want, but just be cogniscent of that.

I'm just stating what TBAC said based on the pressure their cans are rated for.

 

[Roosterstraw]

Based on what the pros use, they'd disagree. Proof is one of the top barrel manufacturers for pro shooters. Much better than Carbon6, who uses McGowen blanks, which are never used by pro shooters.

I can shoot consistent 1/2” moa groups out of my carbon 6 with a savage action. I’m by no means an expert either. I think they are good barrels personally.

 

[gtriple]

I can shoot consistent 1/2” moa groups out of my carbon 6 with a savage action. I’m by no means an expert either. I think they are good barrels personally.

And in my experience with the  one I have, it is similar. But I'm just basing it on the guys at the top of the sport do not use McGowen barrels. But I think Proof barrels are top 2 or 3 (behind Bartlein).

 

[IrkedCitizen]

Based on what the pros use, they'd disagree. Proof is one of the top barrel manufacturers for pro shooters. Much better than Carbon6, who uses McGowen blanks, which are never used by pro shooters.

I was giving my opinion. I'm not a pro shooter. I'm a hunter. Most pro shooters are using steel barrels to save cost and for the extra weight.

@Ryan Avery @Broz Carbon barrel opinions?

 

[gtriple]

I was giving my opinion. I'm not a pro shooter. I'm a hunter. Most pro shooters are using steel barrels to save cost and for the extra weight.

@Ryan Avery @Broz Carbon barrel opinions?

Not comparing steel to carbon. I'm saying that your top 5 is not reflective of what professionals would choose. Proof makes an excellent barrel.

 

[madcalfe]

Not comparing steel to carbon. I'm saying that your top 5 is not reflective of what professionals would choose. Proof makes an excellent barrel.

the "what do the pros use" write up on PRB is about the steel proof barrels not carbon.
I'm sure @Ryan Avery will say Christensen Arms carbon barrels are at the top as he's stated it a few times.
I run a proof and happy with mine its a little picky at times though

 

[Ryan Avery]

I stay out of these debates because they are a waste of time.

But I was at an NRL Hunter match this past weekend. I saw a lot of people using Vortex scopes and Proof barrels. But I also saw many Vortex and Proof certs on the prize tables. I didn't see any carbonsix or CA certs on the table. So maybe some of the numbers are skewed on "What the pros use."

 

[backyardbandit]

Just to stir the pot I'll say buy another over the barrel suppressor that will shave a couple inches off for you.
I'll be toting the exact proof rifle you posted with a regular can once it comes in.

 

[gtriple]

the "what do the pros use" write up on PRB is about the steel proof barrels not carbon.
I'm sure @Ryan Avery will say Christensen Arms carbon barrels are at the top as he's stated it a few times.
I run a proof and happy with mine its a little picky at times though

Again, not arguing carbon vs steel. I'm stating that the Proof steel barrels are clearly superior to the McGowen steel barrels that Carbon6 uses. Therefore, the carbon versions should be better as well since the base steel is better.

Is it all marketing hype? Who knows. But the evidence currently suggests not. If McGowens/Carbon6 were more accurate than a Proof, then they would certainly show up more often than they currently are.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

It's also monkey see monkey do... it's not my circus. I stand by my opinion.

 

[gtriple]

It's also monkey see monkey do... it's not my circus. I stand by my opinion.

True. I certainly wouldn't buy a Vortex based on those articles.

 

[Formidilosus]

Is it all marketing hype? Who knows. But the evidence currently suggests not. If McGowens/Carbon6 were more accurate than a Proof, then they would certainly show up more often than they currently are.

None of it is evidence based. Anyone that shoots matches regularly knows that if someone used a McGowen to place well or win in PRS, the next year people left and right would be shooting McGowen. Even if that winning barrel was a hand picked wringer, people would be switching in droves. Let McGowen start sponsoring shooters, and even more would show up.

It isn’t that one barrel brand is better than another- in general they are all pretty good. It’s that when dudes are winning overall at NRL Hunter matches with production Bergara barrels- it’s isn’t the barrels that are making the difference.

 

[Ryan Avery]

Again, not arguing carbon vs steel. I'm stating that the Proof steel barrels are clearly superior to the McGowen steel barrels that Carbon6 uses. Therefore, the carbon versions should be better as well since the base steel is better.

Is it all marketing hype? Who knows. But the evidence currently suggests not. If McGowens/Carbon6 were more accurate than a Proof, then they would certainly show up more often than they currently are.

Really! How do you know this about Proof vs. CarbonSix?

There's a lot of smoke and mirrors in the Comp world. I wouldn't gauge all of my opinions off to them.

It's funny; Tanya and I shot with Jon Pynch and Matt Alwine this weekend at a match, two of the best Comp shooters in the world, IMO. They both commented on how well my little Whaley Precision built rifle with a McGowen barrel shot with factory sig ammo that I bought/zeroed and chronograph the day before the match.

CarbonSix and McGowen(steel) barrels have shot lights out for me. Just don't ask them for a Pre-fit. I have had mixed reviews with PROOF barrels. CA would be a more significant player if they sold barrels as a component, but they can't keep up with rifle demands, and their factory chambering QC seems to be hit or miss as well.