Buy or Build- Sheep Edition

[OXN939]

Headed up to AK full time soonish and want to put together a dedicated sheep/ goat mountain rifle setup. Basic idea is a 20" 6.5 PRC that can do 500 consistently with 124 grain Hammer hunters, probably wearing a Credo 2.5-15.

Tempted to go full custom, but tough to envision a scenario where there'd be a noticeable difference between that and the newer semi customs a la Bergara Crest, Seekins Element etc at almost half the price.

So, for guys who have one or both of the above- happy you did what you did? Wish you'd gone a different route? Stop being a tryhard and spend the money and resources on training with my trusty 7mm-08 instead? Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[TaperPin]

I don’t know if it’s considered a full custom, but a custom barrel is always money well spent. They save time and energy working up loads, you feel better with a more accurate rifle and even if it’s a placebo effect, makes you a better shot. Practice gives better feedback with an accurate gun - there’s no wondering if a flier was the rifle, you, or the wind.

I giggle like a school girl shooting varmints with a big game rifle more accurate than most varmint rigs.

There’s nothing wrong with a 7mm-08, even getting a second rifle in the same cartridge. Every year someone here is about to go on an important hunt and their primary rifle develops the yips at the last minute. A second good rifle ready to go is always money well spent.

The 6.5 PRC is the modern 270 so it’s hard to fault either as a sheep rifle.

 

[PNWGATOR]

MRC Marshall is the answer.

 

[199p]

Will go good man,
Its hard to outshoot a standard tikka or sako barrel in the field

Get the standard fluted barrel superlite and a carbon stock and your away laughing

 

[OXN939]

tikka or sako

Know what's wild, I'd never had a Tikka so I listened to everyone here and picked one up last year. Thing's headspace is off from the factory- bolt barely closes on 3 of 4 kinds of factory ammo I tried leaving deep ejector marks when I load them without firing. Sent it back to "Tikka" (Beretta) and they said "Works fine for us. Your problem."

So yeah Tikka a no go

MRC Marshall is the answer.

That does look interesting. I gotta be honest I've read a few threads on the rokstock and would have to handle one in person before sinking several grand into it

 

[handwerk]

I would handle some of your factory top contenders and see how they shoulder/feel to you.
Personally I enjoy the process of getting a donor rifle and then picking the chambering/stock/barrel I want.

 

[z987k]

Headed up to AK full time soonish and want to put together a dedicated sheep/ goat mountain rifle setup. Basic idea is a 20" 6.5 PRC that can do 500 consistently with 124 grain Hammer hunters, probably wearing a Credo 2.5-15.

Tempted to go full custom, but tough to envision a scenario where there'd be a noticeable difference between that and the newer semi customs a la Bergara Crest, Seekins Element etc at almost half the price.

So, for guys who have one or both of the above- happy you did what you did? Wish you'd gone a different route? Stop being a tryhard and spend the money and resources on training with my trusty 7mm-08 instead? Thanks in advance for any input!

My sheep/goat rifle has a pierce titanium action, a 20in 22cm barrel and an echelon stock. Right at 5.5lbs scoped and suppressed.
It started as a 270(balistic twin to 6.5prc) but theres no need for that much on either of these animals, so why deal with all the recoil on such a light gun?

If youre not going to get something really light just run what you already have.

 

[OXN939]

why deal with all the recoil on such a light gun?

I shoot copper and all the smaller bore offerings I've looked into get pretty unimpressive past 350ish. Strong possibility this becomes another "best option is to stick with the rifles I already own" thread

 

[6.5x284]

My sheep/goat rifle has a pierce titanium action, a 20in 22cm barrel and an echelon stock. Right at 5.5lbs scoped and suppressed.
It started as a 270(balistic twin to 6.5prc) but theres no need for that much on either of these animals, so why deal with all the recoil on such a light gun?

If youre not going to get something really light just run what you already have.

This is very similar to my sheep rifle. Ti action, 20” barrel, echelon stock but in 6SST. Love that thing! I have the little NF 2.5-10 and it’s been bombproof.


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[Decker9]

Depending how deep the pockets are, these Apline’s are works of art. All Canadian, so the price looks better in usd funds. I don’t believe he lists a 6.5 prc, but I’m sure it’s easy enough for him to do.

Alpine Riflecraft

STARTING AT 4.5LBS, THERE IS NO QUESTION, THE ZENITH IS THE LIGHTEST CARBON-BARRELED BOLT ACTION HUNTING RIFLE AVAILABLE TODAY

alpineriflecraft.ca

 

[OXN939]

This is very similar to my sheep rifle. Ti action, 20” barrel, echelon stock but in 6SST. Love that thing! I have the little NF 2.5-10 and it’s been bombproof.


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Yall got me thinking about the 6s again. Really the only two projectiles that would keep the velocity for expansion at 500 would be the 93 grain McGuire copper rose or 88 grain Hammer. Should be able to get the 93 to 3200 MV in 6 CM withourlt redlining it, right?

 

[huntnful]

Yall got me thinking about the 6s again. Really the only two projectiles that would keep the velocity for expansion at 500 would be the 93 grain McGuire copper rose or 88 grain Hammer. Should be able to get the 93 to 3200 MV in 6 CM withourlt redlining it, right?

Why so set on monos? They handicap the shit out of the small calibers, in wound channels and ballistics.

 

[lelliott8]

Know what's wild, I'd never had a Tikka so I listened to everyone here and picked one up last year. Thing's headspace is off from the factory- bolt barely closes on 3 of 4 kinds of factory ammo I tried leaving deep ejector marks when I load them without firing. Sent it back to "Tikka" (Beretta) and they said "Works fine for us. Your problem."

So yeah Tikka a no go

Put a new barrel on that action and have custom level accuracy and fix a gun that you dont like?


Probably shoot your 7mm-08 and spend the money elsewhere

 

[grfox92]

Know what's wild, I'd never had a Tikka so I listened to everyone here and picked one up last year. Thing's headspace is off from the factory- bolt barely closes on 3 of 4 kinds of factory ammo I tried leaving deep ejector marks when I load them without firing. Sent it back to "Tikka" (Beretta) and they said "Works fine for us. Your problem."

So yeah Tikka a no go



That does look interesting. I gotta be honest I've read a few threads on the rokstock and would have to handle one in person before sinking several grand into it

That's interesting because as far as I know, Tikka tests and fires all of their rifles before they leave the factory.

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[wind gypsy]

Man, i'd sure be hard pressed to want a bergara and I'm not sold on seekins elements being reliable either. Seems that AL receiver is prone to more issues. The PHs aren't light.

In that realm, the weatherby 307 Alpine ST (with steel barrel) appeals as much as anything. Still pretty light. Dont have to play BSF carbon barrel lottery.

I like the direction of MRC stuff but also seems like they've got bugs to work out still.

 

[wind gypsy]

That's interesting because as far as I know, Tikka tests and fires all of their rifles before they leave the factory.

They very well could function fine with factory ammo on the smaller side of saami dimensions but not with others.

 

[OXN939]

Why so set on monos? They handicap the shit out of the small calibers, in wound channels and ballistics.

Lead allergy

They very well could function fine with factory ammo on the smaller side of saami dimensions but not with others.

Brass from the rifle before I ever shot it. Bolt won't even close on anything once fired. They alleged it worked for them though.



In the process of going down the 6mm rabbit hole though after revisiting the 93 gr. copper rose idea. Looks like that'd still be doing better than 2100 at 500 yards with higher end 6 CM speeds. Which, if I do that, might as well go full custom...

 

[handwerk]

My 6CM shooting the 95 LRX will carry 2000 FPS well past 500 yards, that should do for most folks.

 

[OXN939]

My 6CM shooting the 95 LRX will carry 2000 FPS well past 500 yards, that should do for most folks.

Truly did not know there were any more than a few factory 6 CM offerings. Off to see how Springfield Waypoints are these days...

 

[z987k]

Lead allergy

I'm shooting the 79gr DRT from the 22CM. Plenty fast through 500y.
They have a 6mm bullet but the BC is poor, though it might be good enough.

Apex makes a 89gr 6mm with a g7 of .241. That gets you about 2350fps at 500y.
They also make a 134gr 7mm with a g7 of .257. Out of a 7-08, you're probably 2200fps at 500y.

If you're going to shoot copper, I really prefer to keep the bore size up.
The only viable non-lead small bore bullets(IMO) are the DRT.

If your 7-08 isn't a tank of a rifle, it's probably the best option.