Ever talk yourself OUT of a new rifle?

Boreal

WKR
Joined
Nov 11, 2013
Messages
360
Location
Anchorage, AK
I’m in a bind. I’ve got a new rifle feeling, and want to build o e up from a barreled action, doing the non-technical work myself. I’ve got a MarkV Back Country 2.0 steel barrel in 6.5 CM and. Mountain Ascent in 280AI that both shoot ragged holes at 100 with Hammer bullets. I’m in Alaska, mostly hunting caribou, Sitka blacktails, and Afognak elk. The CM is great for the bou and deer, the 280AI has three Afognak elk down. I’ve also got a Vanguard 300WM that just doesn’t fit me that I will be selling. I’m hoping/planning for a sheep and bou hunt in the western Brooks Range before the Ambler Road ruins it. So thought about a 7mmPRC off a Tikka action that I could put a suppressed 20” carbon barrel on for ease of carrying. But that’s also why I chose the BC 2.0 and Mountain Ascent. Thought about a 6.5 PRC, but with the 20” barrel it’s basically the Creedmoor with more recoil. 300 PRC? How much does that get me over the 280AI?

So here I am talking myself out of a new personalized rifle build. Clearly I need your help guys!


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I’m in a bind. I’ve got a new rifle feeling, and want to build o e up from a barreled action, doing the non-technical work myself. I’ve got a MarkV Back Country 2.0 steel barrel in 6.5 CM and. Mountain Ascent in 280AI that both shoot ragged holes at 100 with Hammer bullets. I’m in Alaska, mostly hunting caribou, Sitka blacktails, and Afognak elk. The CM is great for the bou and deer, the 280AI has three Afognak elk down. I’ve also got a Vanguard 300WM that just doesn’t fit me that I will be selling. I’m hoping/planning for a sheep and bou hunt in the western Brooks Range before the Ambler Road ruins it. So thought about a 7mmPRC off a Tikka action that I could put a suppressed 20” carbon barrel on for ease of carrying. But that’s also why I chose the BC 2.0 and Mountain Ascent. Thought about a 6.5 PRC, but with the 20” barrel it’s basically the Creedmoor with more recoil. 300 PRC? How much does that get me over the 280AI?

So here I am talking myself out of a new personalized rifle build. Clearly I need your help guys!

If I didn't i'd be buying/building a new rifle monthly.. Seems you already got what you need.
 
I love just having a few rifles I know well with cartridges that span power ranges e.g: 223, 270/6.5s/308, and 30-06. All I think I'll ever need for my hunting.
 
In my mind I can’t justify spending money on a bunch of rifles anymore. I have a 223 and 243 and it does everything I need.

Don’t get me wrong- I love finding “optimum” solutions to things but most of the time I have no need to change anything. But when the time comes to purchase I can’t commit
 
I’ve been putting off the New sexy fast 22 I “think” I need. Instead I am pushing that $ towards ammo so I can actually practice and improve with what I have. Be wearying of the man with one rifle. He likely knows how to use it.
 
Thought about a 6.5 PRC, but with the 20” barrel it’s basically the Creedmoor with more recoil.
My numbers with my rifles both with 22" barrels and factory ammo and this morning's shooting conditions (182' DA and 30⁰).

147 ELDM
6.5 Creedmoor mv @ 2599 fps & 1800 fps @ 690 yards
6.5 PRC mv @ 2830 fps & 1800 fps @ 870 yards

156 EOL
6.5 Creedmoor mv @ 2528 fps & 1800 fps @ 620 yards
6.5 PRC mv @ 2735 fps & 1800 fps @ 790 yards

Pretty poor atmospheric conditions and yet both rounds give terminal performance limits past 600 yards. Drop 2 more inches off the 6.5 PRC and I'm sure you're going to still be past 800 and 700 yards. I'm sure the 6.5 PRC would be even better with some handloaded ammo.

While I'm all for buying a new gun, what you already have (depending upon bullet choice) already overlaps a bunch of what the 6.5 PRC will do for you. I like the 6.5 PRC a lot and have 3 of them currently. When suppressed, I do not see much difference between the recoil from the PRC or Creedmoor in similar weight and length rifles. What I do see is 150+ yards of gained potential.

Jay
 
My numbers with my rifles both with 22" barrels and factory ammo and this morning's shooting conditions (182' DA and 30⁰).

147 ELDM
6.5 Creedmoor mv @ 2599 fps & 1800 fps @ 690 yards
6.5 PRC mv @ 2830 fps & 1800 fps @ 870 yards

156 EOL
6.5 Creedmoor mv @ 2528 fps & 1800 fps @ 620 yards
6.5 PRC mv @ 2735 fps & 1800 fps @ 790 yards

Pretty poor atmospheric conditions and yet both rounds give terminal performance limits past 600 yards. Drop 2 more inches off the 6.5 PRC and I'm sure you're going to still be past 800 and 700 yards. I'm sure the 6.5 PRC would be even better with some handloaded ammo.

While I'm all for buying a new gun, what you already have (depending upon bullet choice) already overlaps a bunch of what the 6.5 PRC will do for you. I like the 6.5 PRC a lot and have 3 of them currently. When suppressed, I do not see much difference between the recoil from the PRC or Creedmoor in similar weight and length rifles. What I do see is 150+ yards of gained potential.

Jay
To the point above, I got hot creedmoor velocities out of a much more compact package - so for me it was worth it. Factory eldms at 2735 - and hornady is notorious for having slow ammo. I never tried federal or Berger before my buddy bought the rifle.

It was truly a great option - and I wouldn’t hesitate to get another if something happened to my current set up. However - shooting it next to my 243, the recoil is more. It’s the outer limits for spotting my own shots in field positions inside of 300 yards or so.
 
I talked myself out of a rifle just reading this but sometimes a rifle on sale is too tough to resist...I now own 2 6.5prcs Browning and Tikka. The Browning has treated me well and does everything I want but a 24" barrel and suppressor swayed me to buy a Clearance Tikka and chop into 20"
 
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