Custom Rifle Journey/Review *Pic Heavy*

[camp_86]

New 6.5-7PRC. Going to shoot 140 hybrids or 140 ELDM’s hopefully. Waiting on a few components before it goes to the range.

Curious why the 140 ELDM instead of 147?

 

[huntnful]

Curious why the 140 ELDM instead of 147?

I was just looking to keep the speeds up in the short barrel. And only planned to hunt aoudad and maybe deer out to moderate ranges with it, so I didn't need the deeper wound and higher BC of the 147.

It shot the 140's at 3100fps with H1000. Then I got bored and crunched the numbers on the 156 berger, and it looked good in comparison at 3000fps so I ordered a bunch of those to test out as well.

 

[Harvey_NW]

I was just looking to keep the speeds up in the short barrel. And only planned to hunt aoudad and maybe deer out to moderate ranges with it, so I didn't need the deeper wound and higher BC of the 147.

Sometimes the 147's provide too deep of a wound, as in no fragmentation and bury into the dirt after going through the chest cavity of a mature elk, lol. Small sample but the couple animals I've hit with the 143's have been wrecked.

 

[huntnful]

Sometimes the 147's provide too deep of a wound, as in no fragmentation and bury into the dirt after going through the chest cavity of a mature elk, lol. Small sample but the couple animals I've hit with the 143's have been wrecked.

I think most bullets have that issue at some point with enough people hunting with it. But I've seen enough 147 kills to not hesitate to hunt with them. I also killed 5 bucks with 143 and it performed as advertised every time. I just have a fetish with bergers and ELDM's for some reason haha. Even though the X's seem like great killing bullets in all calibers as well.

 

[firefinder25]

I'm currently looking to have my first custom rifle built. Ideally it would be a little on the lighter side, ( I'm getting older ) But would still like to get a couple back Pack hunts in. I'm looking at possibly a 7PRC. I do appreciate quality components, and I would appreciate a nice shooting gun. I appreciate all the information, I'm trying to digest it all, and make the right decision.
Any other opinions on Gun Smiths / Builders would be appreciated.

 

[NSI]

I'm currently looking to have my first custom rifle built. Ideally it would be a little on the lighter side, ( I'm getting older ) But would still like to get a couple back Pack hunts in. I'm looking at possibly a 7PRC. I do appreciate quality components, and I would appreciate a nice shooting gun. I appreciate all the information, I'm trying to digest it all, and make the right decision.
Any other opinions on Gun Smiths / Builders would be appreciated.

Most important input for us is the maximum range at which you plan to take game.

-J

 

[huntnful]

I'm currently looking to have my first custom rifle built. Ideally it would be a little on the lighter side, ( I'm getting older ) But would still like to get a couple back Pack hunts in. I'm looking at possibly a 7PRC. I do appreciate quality components, and I would appreciate a nice shooting gun. I appreciate all the information, I'm trying to digest it all, and make the right decision.
Any other opinions on Gun Smiths / Builders would be appreciated.

If you know of a good builder that’s local, that’s always a great choice!

If you’re doing a 7PRC I’d recommend it being 9lbs as a “lightweight” build for that level of recoil.

My most current 6.5-7PRC build is exactly 9.5lbs. And with a 22” barrel it feels very nice and compact to carry and shoot.



I do think a 7PRC with a 180gr. bullet at 2800fps is sweet if you’re after a 7mm.

 

[huntnful]

Most important input for us is the maximum range at which you plan to take game.

-J

I agree. But I also understand that some people just want what they want, and that’s okay too.

Someone can have a 200 yard max range and want a 7 PRC and I’d be like “yep, that’ll work” haha.

 

[NSI]

I agree. But I also understand that some people just want what they want, and that’s okay too.

Someone can have a 200 yard max range and want a 7 PRC and I’d be like “yep, that’ll work” haha.

I'm working on detaching myself from other people's outcomes. . It's a process. You are, of course, correct.

-J

 

[huntnful]

I'm working on detaching myself from other people's outcomes. . It's a process. You are, of course, correct.

-J

Oh I absolutely understand what you’re saying! It’s actually pretty tough to do, especially with something that you’ve invested a lot of time and effort to understand and test.

But the reality is that people of all statures have been stacking up animals with a wide variety of cartridges/calibers/bullets for over 100 years. It’s not that hard, and you don’t have to have the absolute most dialed and bare minimum recoil system/cartridge/bullet for your exact scenario in order to make it happen. It way easier than we make it seem sometimes lol.

Basically just spend adequate time behind your gun and you’ll probably be totally fine regardless of what you choose honestly.

 

[huntnful]

Killed an aoudad with the 6.5-7 PRC and 22” proof barrel at 513 yards. Barrel shot plenty good to kill any animal at any reasonable distance.



Decided I wanted a longer barrel though. And I didn’t mind an extra pound on the rifle. So set up another 6.5-7PRC on a 25” spiral fluted Kreiger 1-8 twist.



After trying carbon barrels again, they’re honestly fine. I’ll probably utilize them in the future at some point if I want to lighten a gun up for any reason. They shoot plenty good.

 

[DisplacedHusky]

@huntnful - I see you hunt with some heavier rifles. What is your preferred method for packing/carrying your rifle if you are going to be putting in some miles in steep, broken terrain?

 

[huntnful]

@huntnful - I see you hunt with some heavier rifles. What is your preferred method for packing/carrying your rifle if you are going to be putting in some miles in steep, broken terrain?

If it’s during season, and during daylight hours, I just carry it with a sling on my shoulder.

If I’m packing in before season, making a big morning hike in the dark, packing out an animal, or hiking back to camp after shooting light, I carry it like this.

 

[huntnful]

New 6.5-7 PRC is looking real solid right out of the gate. Two sub 1/2 MOA 5 shot groups with 156 Berger’s and a mild charge of H1000.

 

[huntnful]

Back to a steel barrel for the 7-300 NMI as well. Carbon was fine, but nothing special. Don’t foresee another one in my future for a while again. Steel barrel is hammering right out of the gate.

 

[Quandary]

You're not a suppressor guy? What barrel maker did you use for this one?

 

[huntnful]

You're not a suppressor guy? What barrel maker did you use for this one?

Live in California

This one is a 1-8.5 twist kreiger in Rem Varmint.

 

[Harvey_NW]

Live in California

DOJ has recently declared cans as arms covered under 2A and said bans are unconstitutional so hopefully the SCOTUS rules correctly in the IL suppressor ban case and that shit goes by the wayside!

 

[huntnful]

DOJ has recently declared cans as arms covered under 2A and said bans are unconstitutional so hopefully the SCOTUS rules correctly in the IL suppressor ban case and that shit goes by the wayside!

If that happens, I will literally be poor and have to revamp with 19 new barrels & cartridge designs to perfectly pair with the 8 supressors I buy

 

[Harvey_NW]

If that happens, I will literally be poor and have to revamp with 19 new barrels & cartridge designs to perfectly pair with the 8 supressors I buy

We'll be sure to give your family time and space as you navigate through the transition!