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

[gtriple]

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.

Yours or Forms or my anecdotal evidence is all well and good.... but, simply put, the only "benchmark" out there to see what might be the better product are shooting competitions. If you've got a better comparison platform, please let me know.

Edit: and just to be clear, I respect what you and Form have to say a great deal. I'm sure McGowen makes a fine barrel. And I don't take everything from the Comp world at face value. But, unbiasedly, would you recommend to someone to take into account the opinion of a forumer (including myself) over what the professional shooters choose to use?

 

[Ryan Avery]

Yours or Forms or my anecdotal evidence is all well and good.... but, simply put, the only "benchmark" out there to see what might be the better product are shooting competitions. If you've got a better comparison platform, please let me know.

Edit: and just to be clear, I respect what you and Form have to say a great deal. I'm sure McGowen makes a fine barrel. And I don't take everything from the Comp world at face value. But, unbiasedly, would you recommend to someone to take into account the opinion of a forumer (including myself) over what the professional shooters choose to use?

People should test things for themselves when possible.

I could give Jon Pynch a Ruger American with American Eagle ammo and he's probably going to place in the top three. That doesn't mean the Ruger America is a top tier rifle....

 

[Jameshunts]

May have missed it, but curious what kind of muzzle velocity you expect/want out of your original post set up?

 

[Formidilosus]

But, unbiasedly, would you recommend to someone to take into account the opinion of a forumer (including myself) over what the professional shooters choose to use?

I would say it holds nearly no bearing due to the fact that lots/most aren’t paying for them themselves, and the competition itself doesn’t produce finite details to the resolution required to compare any decent barrel from a great one. Unless there is common information available that a specific barrel brand doesn’t shoot, what a tiny field in PRS matches are shooting doesn’t mean much. Shilen barrels aren’t thought of as great barrels in the PRS world, yet have historically and consistently been used to win in benchrest.

 

[wind gypsy]

Pynch used to shoot for proof, now he shoots benchmark IIRC. Pretty sure he won an NRL hunter match with a factory tikka this spring. So which is best, proof, benchmark, or Tikka?

I know proof sponsored a lot of shooters there for a while. Seems bartlein does too. Hard to know how many of the top guys actually pay for barrels. if proof, brux, bartlein, benchmark, krieger, etc want to give a guy free barrels it'd be awful hard to pay for a different brand.

Also, proof comp prefit barrels are pretty damn hard to beat for availability and value for the money when you can get a ready to go dasher comp contour prefit for low $500s.

 

[Ryan Avery]

Pynch used to shoot for proof, now he shoots benchmark IIRC. Pretty sure he won an NRL hunter match with a factory tikka this spring. So which is best, proof, benchmark, or Tikka?

I know proof sponsored a lot of shooters there for a while. Seems bartlein does too. Hard to know how many of the top guys actually pay for barrels. if proof, brux, bartlein, benchmark, krieger, etc want to give a guy free barrels it'd be awful hard to pay for a different brand.

Also, proof comp prefit barrels are pretty damn hard to beat for availability and value for the money when you can get a ready to go dasher comp contour prefit for low $500s.

With the sticker still on the Tikka

 

[ID_Matt]

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."

Nice talking to you over the weekend. I didn't see any proof certs or I would have tried to snag one!

To add to the thread, I think when put in a field position under stress, almost no one is going to be able to shoot the difference between a 1 MOA average barrel and a 0.5 MOA hammer of a barrel. I haven't seen anyone do a large sample test of several barrels from each brand, just the random comments on the interwebs saying such and such barrels suck cuz mine doesn't shoot 0.25 moa.

 

[LightFoot]

I'd like to build (or buy) a 7mm PRC. Rifle is for the singular purpose of elk hunting in the backcountry and will be backpacked in frequently. I hunt western big country but never anticipate to shoot over 600 yards.

I have plenty of time so have no concerns about lead times of components and am even open to waiting for a new rifle to release is that’s the best option.

Parameters:
Barrel: I’m set on a 20" Proof Research Barrel to allow for a Thunderbeast Ultra 7" attached to it (I just purchased the suppressor for 2024 possession)
Action: Remington 700 clone to allow for future ease into an HNT26 chassis if desired
Recoil: free recoil energy Weight: As light as possible without increasing recoil threshold

With looking at many different rifles, I love the Proof Research Elevation MTR rifle. However... it comes standard with a 24" barrel only and there is no 20" barrel option. The best idea I've figured is to buy this rifle and do a barrel swap with gunsmith and sell the stock barrel. I’ve also wondered if could modify stock barrel. I'm torn on the idea of modifying a brand new rifle altogether.

View attachment 565631

Is there a better way to get to a build as described with similar component like this more effectively or affordably? Any other advice worth considering?

I had one built like that for elk this year… we’ll see how it goes.

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[eoperator]

Carbon barrels are over-rated

^this

 

[LightFoot]

^this

Agreed… from someone who has a few.


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[DangerRanger]

With the sticker still on the Tikka

View attachment 567234

Mk5hd best scope confirmed

 

[Ryan Avery]

Mk5hd best scope confirmed

Just don’t drop it

 

[DangerRanger]

Just don’t drop it

Wins matches bro, it’s what the pros use

 

[cwpepper]

Reviewing all these options from the thread here’s where I’m landing based on all the great feedback. Please continue to share your thoughts as this has been extremely helpful. Note, with further researching 1) I’m not as sold on the 700 clone action and Tikka would be nice 2) I’m more sold on the hnt26 chassis immediately rather than waiting 3) A compromise of a 22” barrel is okay… would still like a 20” though.

Here is a comparison of buy/build options… missing anything? Better deals on components out there or alternatives?


BUILD option…

Action, bolt, trigger: Tikka TX3, $655
https://jaoutdoors.com/product/t3x-magnum-long-action-2/

Bolt Handle: Lumley titanium black with intermediate carbon fiber knob, $65

https://lumleyarms.us/titanium-bolt-handles/t3-t3x-superlite-bolt-handle

Barrel: Tikka Proof Research 22” $939
https://jaoutdoors.com/product/proof-research-tikka-carbon-fiber-pre-fit-barrels/

Chassis: HNT26 $1699

https://mdttac.com/hnt26-chassis-system/

Rail: $50?

Magazine: $80?

Labor: $500?

Estimated cost = $4000 before suppressor, scope, and scope rings.


VS BUY option…

Weatherby Model 207 Alpine, $2999
https://weatherby.com/store/model-307-alpine-mdt/

Estimated cost = $2999 before suppressor, scope and rings which would be same regardless of build.

Or of course the Proof Research Elevation MTR previously mentioned at $3800 but does not have a <24” barrel or the foldable chassis.

 

[TxLite]

Reviewing all these options from the thread here’s where I’m landing based on all the great feedback. Please continue to share your thoughts as this has been extremely helpful. Note, with further researching 1) I’m not as sold on the 700 clone action and Tikka would be nice 2) I’m more sold on the hnt26 chassis immediately rather than waiting 3) A compromise of a 22” barrel is okay… would still like a 20” though.

Here is a comparison of buy/build options… missing anything? Better deals on components out there or alternatives?


BUILD option…

Action, bolt, trigger: Tikka TX3, $655
https://jaoutdoors.com/product/t3x-magnum-long-action-2/

Bolt Handle: Lumley titanium black with intermediate carbon fiber knob, $65

https://lumleyarms.us/titanium-bolt-handles/t3-t3x-superlite-bolt-handle
Barrel: Tikka Proof Research 22” $939
https://jaoutdoors.com/product/proof-research-tikka-carbon-fiber-pre-fit-barrels/

Chassis: HNT26 $1699

https://mdttac.com/hnt26-chassis-system/
Rail: 50?
Magazine: 80?
Labor: 500?
Estimated cost = $4000 before suppressor, scope, and scope rings.


VS BUY option…

Weathering Model 207 Alpine, $2999
https://weatherby.com/store/model-307-alpine-mdt/
Estimated cost = $2999 before suppressor, scope and rings which would be same regardless of build.

Keep in mind that you might be able to find some deals on components. I was able to save an extra $150ish on a Proof prefit through Stocky’s by calling and asking if they had any deals going. They didn’t have any advertised, but they did give me a 15% off code. I was also able to catch a great sale on my Mesa stock and a complete Tikka rifle so I came in around $2,000 on my first Tikka build, including the ASR brake for my suppressor and the $100 labor fee for the gunsmith to pull the old barrel and thread on the prefit.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

The only MDT discount is black Friday.

 

[Kimber7man]

My build
Nanook LA $1400
Manners SL $725
TT Special $175
Hawkins Hunter DBM and mag $300
Bartlein #3 contour, 21" threaded 5/8x24 $350
Gunsmith chambered, threaded, bead blasted $500
All in without optics = $3,450
Weighs 7 lbs 2 oz with the TBAC CB installed.

 

[J&A Outdoors]

We just wrapped up this similar tikka build for a local.

20” 7 PRC running a TBAC Ultra 7.

These just flat out get it done.

 

[chrisdixon1]

We just wrapped up this similar tikka build for a local.

20” 7 PRC running a TBAC Ultra 7.

These just flat out get it done.
View attachment 567550

Any idea the weight on this build?

 

[amassi]

Reviewing all these options from the thread here’s where I’m landing based on all the great feedback. Please continue to share your thoughts as this has been extremely helpful. Note, with further researching 1) I’m not as sold on the 700 clone action and Tikka would be nice 2) I’m more sold on the hnt26 chassis immediately rather than waiting 3) A compromise of a 22” barrel is okay… would still like a 20” though.

Here is a comparison of buy/build options… missing anything? Better deals on components out there or alternatives?


BUILD option…

Action, bolt, trigger: Tikka TX3, $655
https://jaoutdoors.com/product/t3x-magnum-long-action-2/

Bolt Handle: Lumley titanium black with intermediate carbon fiber knob, $65

https://lumleyarms.us/titanium-bolt-handles/t3-t3x-superlite-bolt-handle

Barrel: Tikka Proof Research 22” $939
https://jaoutdoors.com/product/proof-research-tikka-carbon-fiber-pre-fit-barrels/

Chassis: HNT26 $1699

https://mdttac.com/hnt26-chassis-system/

Rail: $50?

Magazine: $80?

Labor: $500?

Estimated cost = $4000 before suppressor, scope, and scope rings.


VS BUY option…

Weatherby Model 207 Alpine, $2999
https://weatherby.com/store/model-307-alpine-mdt/

Estimated cost = $2999 before suppressor, scope and rings which would be same regardless of build.

Or of course the Proof Research Elevation MTR previously mentioned at $3800 but does not have a QUOTE]

The “labor” on the tikka is a barrel install and should run about $50-$100 max. All your doing is threading on a prefit and checking with go/no go gauge.


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