Help me rebuild my retired PRS rifle into something more useful.

[Undrgrndprdcts]

So I'm not really shooting much PRS anymore, aside from maybe the occasional once yearly local 1 day match. I do shoot KYL matches about a half dozen times a year, and those go out to ~1300 yards. Possibly a once yearly NRL hunter match now that they are doing them closer to me. As far as hunting rifles go, I already have an 18" 6.5 creedmoor with bartlien barrel that is 9.5lb and shoots 130s at ~2700, with a maven rs1.2. Also a cheap ruger american predator 308 18" with trijicon credo 3-9 that is like 8.5 lb for my closer hunting. I'm thinking about rebuilding the Origin PRS rifle into something with like a 22" 6.5 creedmoor with say a 3b (maybe slightly heavier, light or medium palma) and putting it into the new manners folding pack hunter stock. Depending on scope this should end up between 11-12lbs. Goal here is to maximize the effective range of 6.5cm for hunting, and still be good for my match usage. Would like to stay away from 6mm, as I really don't prefer several things about them, especially 6cm. That's what my current burnt barrel is. Only other thing I was thinking is converting to magnum bolt face and doing a 6.5 prc, but I really don't want to do that for any reason, other than the fps for hunting. What do you guys think?

 

[eric1115]

Have you considered 25CM? Extends max range vs 6.5CM, reduced recoil. Obviously factory ammo is much easier with 6.5, but there are good factory options for 25.

Why no 6mm?

Why no 6mm?

 

[Undrgrndprdcts]

Have you considered 25CM? Extends max range vs 6.5CM, reduced recoil. Obviously factory ammo is much easier with 6.5, but there are good factory options for 25.

Why no 6mm?

Why no 6mm?

Chasing consistency through round count in the 6cm is not particularly fun, I won't build another. Also I, as well as lots of others, have figured out it's noticeably harder to spot misses with the 6's. I reload btw.

 

[eric1115]

Gotcha, I wouldn't think a hotter 6mm would be a good high volume gun either. My .243AI is a hoot, but I definitely prefer to put more rounds through the 6mmARC. I've considered a 6GT or Dasher or maybe XC as an in-between one-gun option to split the difference on barrel life/consistency and MV (though from about 150 to current 800 I've had good consistency so far in my AI).

What are you hoping to achieve for max terminal range?

 

[Undrgrndprdcts]

What are you hoping to achieve for max terminal range?

Looking to go from approximately 650 to 750-800ish depending on elevation of course.

 

[Wrench]

I built pretty much what you are describing and it is my favorite. I have a lot of fancy iron collecting dust right now. I chambered mine in 6xc but am building a sister in 260ai for my son.

 

[207North]

I just built a 260AI that closely matches what you are talking about doing.

There was a post here about inexpensive christenson arms carbon barrels, so a purchase was made.

Working on Fireforming brass at the moment.



Sight in group. First shot was low off paper. A couple scope adjustments were made in this group. Shot standing with a gamechanger off the post.


First 5 shot group.

Hoping to get 2800+ with 143s and a 20” Barrel.

 

[Macintosh]

Same. I built a reasonable prs rifle several yrs ago when there was a good local match series. That has more or less dried up so I dont shoot it much. I have a hunting rifle build in mind and I think Im going to do a “rebuild” using my prs gun rather than get a new action. Not certain yet, its just hard to justify having a relatively expensive rifle sitting there unused, and buying another new action at the same time. If it was irreplaceable it’d maybe be different. But it isnt.

 

[Wrench]

I just built a 260AI that closely matches what you are talking about doing.

There was a post here about inexpensive christenson arms carbon barrels, so a purchase was made.

Working on Fireforming brass at the moment.


View attachment 998877View attachment 998878
Sight in group. First shot was low off paper. A couple scope adjustments were made in this group. Shot standing with a gamechanger off the post.

View attachment 998879
First 5 shot group.

Hoping to get 2800+ with 143s and a 20” Barrel.

I'm glad you chimed in.....because I bought some of that very barrel too....and it'll be a 260ai.

 

[207North]

I'm glad you chimed in.....because I bought some of that very barrel too....and it'll be a 260ai.

It OP doesn’t mind ill post a couple loads after it breaks in some. Might help a few guys out with maximizing standard bolt face, aics short action mag 6.5 cartridges.

 

[Undrgrndprdcts]

Let's see a picture of your rifle Wrench.

 

[Undrgrndprdcts]

Man kind of dead in here. Need some more sway in what direction to go. What weight are you guys ending up at? Heaviest steel barrel profile? Thinking 3b most likely. Still stuck on caliber too. How easy is 260ai to get into? No issues on standard short action? Aics? Please help lol. I need to order a barrel.

 

[207North]

Man kind of dead in here. Need some more sway in what direction to go. What weight are you guys ending up at? Heaviest steel barrel profile? Thinking 3b most likely. Still stuck on caliber too. How easy is 260ai to get into? No issues on standard short action? Aics? Please help lol. I need to order a barrel.

Shot again today.

8 lbs 10oz as pictured with 20” carbon. Add about 1lb for a 17” steel 3b contour or the next size up, cannot remember what the exact contour was.

260 AI is great if you have a pile of .260 once fired brass laying around, and is about as long as possible to feed out of an aics. They feed better out of the mdt 3 round polymer mags.

My velocity with 20” carbon and 143 eld-x was 2773 sd 2.0 with 43.5 H4350. 2813 sd 3.8 with 44.0 H4350. Hit pressure after and stopped. After 5 rounds the barrel started opening up and needed to cool down.

 

[Lawnboi]

What would a 22” 6.5cm accomplish that your 18” dosnt?

If you’re only shooting a few matches I’d assume you don’t care about power factor or classes.

In that case, if I were in your shoes I would build a lighter dasher (not fussy 6mm) or a heavier 300wsm. I’d also make sure I have a good suppressor to put on them.

260ai is just going to do what your creed already does for the most part.

 

[Wright406]

I went with a shorty 6GT for fun. Great barrel life and bullet selections. It won’t be for much other than practice and deer sized game and below but with only a 16.5” barrel and a can, it should be fun.

The benefit to for the GT is not only factory ammo but if reloading, it’s a small amount of ingredients needed in regards to powder vs. the creedmoor family cartridges.

 

[Undrgrndprdcts]

What would a 22” 6.5cm accomplish that your 18” dosnt?

If you’re only shooting a few matches I’d assume you don’t care about power factor or classes.

In that case, if I were in your shoes I would build a lighter dasher (not fussy 6mm) or a heavier 300wsm. I’d also make sure I have a good suppressor to put on them.

260ai is just going to do what your creed already does for the most part.

Additional terminal range.

I already have a 300wsm and suppressors.

 

[Castle Rock]

Man kind of dead in here. Need some more sway in what direction to go. What weight are you guys ending up at? Heaviest steel barrel profile? Thinking 3b most likely. Still stuck on caliber too. How easy is 260ai to get into? No issues on standard short action? Aics? Please help lol. I need to order a barrel.

I have a 260 AI on a short action and wouldn’t do that again, a medium or long will allow you to optimize it,
The Creed is the easy button if you’re set on a 6.5, but I would do a GT in your situation.

 

[nm.otter]

It sounds like the existing barrel might be 6.5 Creedmoor? Whatever the case (and depending on the barrel profile) it might be possible to trim, set back, and rechamber it.

 

[Undrgrndprdcts]

It sounds like the existing barrel might be 6.5 Creedmoor? Whatever the case (and depending on the barrel profile) it might be possible to trim, set back, and rechamber it.

It's 6 creedmoor. No it's toast.

 

[nm.otter]

So not just the throat, but the entire length of the bore? That's interesting.