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

[cwpepper]

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 <23.15lbs consistent of a 7mm rem mag non-suppressed, non-braked in classic wood stock.
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.



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?

 

[deadwolf]

You won’t be chopping that barrel on the MTR, but your plan to swap is solid. That’s if someone out there is looking for 24” Origin prefit.

I own an Elevation MTR and it is hands down one of the best production rifles available. Spending more on a custom gets you EXACTLY what you want but for almost twice as much money. My two cents.


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[cwpepper]

You won’t be chopping that barrel on the MTR, but your plan to swap is solid. That’s if someone out there is looking for 24” Origin prefit.

I own an Elevation MTR and it is hands down one of the best production rifles available. Spending more on a custom gets you EXACTLY what you want but for almost twice as much money. My two cents.


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Thank you Deadwolf. Sound advice. While Proof hasn’t announced anything… I gotta hope they are considering a shorter barrel offering with rifles trending to suppressor-ready. I’m gonna wait out the end of the year and see if I’m just lucky enough that Proof offers a the 7mm PRC in a 22” or 20” model. If that happens I’m much more likely to pull the trigger.

 

[johnsd16]

Action $1200-$1600
Barrel $600-$700
Trigger $150-$300
Bottom metal $200-$300
Stock/chassis $500-$1200 (say $700)

Maybe I’m off as I built last from scratch in 2020. It looks like the PR rifle is $3800. For components you’d be $2650-$4100 so at the low end you have $1k for assembly, chambering/threading and have exactly the specs you want. I don’t think it would cost $1k depending on the builder. I guess I’d build before I bought a $3800 rifle and started taking it apart, buying more stuff and paying a gunsmith. I’ve done the redo rodeo (see my 338 parts in the classifieds) it gets expensive quick.

 

[gtriple]

I absolutely would not buy a new Proof just to swap the barrel and eventually swap out the stock. That's just 1 step forward and 2 steps backwards... twice.

If you can spend the money, go ahead and jump into a custom action. The BAT Vesper is what my future custom build will be.

Or... for a whole lot less money..... Just Buy A Tikka.

 

[WRO]

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 <23.15lbs consistent of a 7mm rem mag non-suppressed, non-braked in classic wood stock.
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?

https://thunderbeastarms.com/products/ultra-7

You're going to want a 22" barrel per the Thunder beasts recommendations.

 

[gtriple]

https://thunderbeastarms.com/products/ultra-7

You're going to want a 22" barrel per the Thunder beasts recommendations.

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

Direct from TBAC

 

[cwpepper]

Side question: How much worst would ya’ll say the Savage Mountain Hunter is than the Proof Elevation MTR? I ask cause Savage appears to offer the 7mm PRC in a shorter barrel than proof with a 22” barrel, and it’s $2000 whole rifle. I could essentially throw in a HNT26 chassis on a Savage and have a 7mm prc with chassis and the 22” proof barrel for the same price as the proof without the chassis. I’d much rather go 20” barrel but something to ponder.

 

[gtriple]

Side question: How much worst would ya’ll say the Savage Mountain Hunter is than the Proof Elevation MTR? I ask cause Savage appears to offer the 7mm PRC in a shorter barrel than proof with a 22” barrel, and it’s $2000 whole rifle. I could essentially throw in a HNT26 chassis on a Savage and have a 7mm prc with chassis and the 22” proof barrel for the same price as the proof without the chassis.

Eh, you are getting an average (at best) trigger and a mediocre action IMO.

Tikka action $700 (although I often find them for sub 600)
Proof barrel $950
HNT26 $1500
$3150

What is your realistic budget?

 

[madcalfe]

why don't you just call proof if you want to order the MTR and ask for a 20" barrel?
Id imagine they would be able to accommodate you since they do custom barrel lengths on the glacier TI

 

[cwpepper]

Eh, you are getting an average (at best) trigger and a mediocre action IMO.

Tikka action $700 (although I often find them for sub 600)
Proof barrel $950
HNT26 $1500
$3150

Eh, you are getting an average (at best) trigger and a mediocre action IMO.

Tikka action $700 (although I often find them for sub 600)
Proof barrel $950
HNT26 $1500
$3150

What is your realistic budget?

$6000 with suppressor and optic. But for purposes of others out there probably also considering a similar build maybe $5000 aggressively.

 

[cwpepper]

why don't you just call proof if you want to order the MTR and ask for a 20" barrel?
Id imagine they would be able to accommodate you since they do custom barrel lengths on the glacier TI

 

[cwpepper]

I’ve reached out and they don’t make custom lengths in the Elevation lines.

 

[gtriple]

$6000 with suppressor and optic. But for purposes of safety others out there probably also considering a similar build maybe $5000 aggressively.

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.

 

[Time2fish]

I’m no expert, but I have a couple tikkas with proof barrels. Proof has a 7prc carbon barrel in 22” that is in stock. Mesa has altitude stocks on sale right now. You find a tikka action, have your smith spin and test, slap the TBAC cb mount on and you will be shooting in 2 weeks.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

That new Weatherby 307 alpine is in a HNT26 chassis, 22" 1:8"twist fluted steel barrel 5/8×24 muzzle, and has a trigger tech. Msrp is 2999.99

Carbon barrels are overrated

 

[gtriple]

That new Weatherby 307 alpine is in a HNT26 chassis, 22" 1:8"twist fluted steel barrel 5/8×24 muzzle, and has a trigger tech. Msrp is 2999.99

Carbon barrels are overrated

This is a very good option.

 

[Procision Arms]

Lots of interesting options out there, but at that price point, I would agree with a lot of other posters that buying components and having a gunsmith put it together, to get exactly what you want.

Just back of the envelope numbers-

Proof barrel $800
HNT26 $1500-1700
Pierce receiver $1000
Trigger tech $250
Chamber/thread $350

You’re looking at $3900 to have the exact gun built that you want. You’ll obviously have some other component cost and what not, but that gets you into a custom-level built rifle with your selected components, at basically the MSRP of the Proof rifle.

 

[cwpepper]

That new Weatherby 307 alpine is in a HNT26 chassis, 22" 1:8"twist fluted steel barrel 5/8×24 muzzle, and has a trigger tech. Msrp is 2999.99

Carbon barrels are overrated

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.

 

[Deadnoise]

Just curious on why so short on barrel length for a 300 prc, i believe youd be losing quite a bit of velocity going that short