i have a tikka roughtech 308. contemplating a 7 prc. ADVICE PLEASE.

[elknut420]

Hi ALL,

Looking for some advice on a lightweight 7 PRC for elk hunting in Wyoming. any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[Ben RT]

You're in good company if you're wanting more and "better" stuff! Most of us will chase "better" until we're broke or dead. Nothing really wrong with what you already have, but I'd generally consider it an old-school "all around" cartridge good for elk at less than 400 yards with the right bullet (others will say different, I'm sure). I'd consider a 7PRC to be a 1000+ yard elk gun (I'd be the limiting factor making it a 800yd rifle). I will say that 7PRC will have substantially more recoil than .308 ...and that might affect your accuracy (and effective range). I think, for me, I'd rather carry and shoot a lightweight 308 for the majority of my hunting (but then why not just carry a .223!?!?). If I intend to shoot across a canyon then I'll definitely take a heavier 7PRC.

If you try to rebarrel your current rifle, you'll also need a magnum bolt. Might as well just buy another rifle already chambered in 7PRC. Then you'll likely want a lighter round for practice, so you'll by a T3X in 223. Then you'll consider taking your 223 hunting, but probably decide 6.5 Creedmoor is better so you'll rebarrel your 308 to that. In the end you'll have 3 rifles.

 

[207North]

You're in good company if you're wanting more and "better" stuff! Most of us will chase "better" until we're broke or dead. Nothing really wrong with what you already have, but I'd generally consider it an old-school "all around" cartridge good for elk at less than 400 yards with the right bullet (others will say different, I'm sure). I'd consider a 7PRC to be a 1000+ yard elk gun (I'd be the limiting factor making it a 800yd rifle). I will say that 7PRC will have substantially more recoil than .308 ...and that might affect your accuracy (and effective range). I think, for me, I'd rather carry and shoot a lightweight 308 for the majority of my hunting (but then why not just carry a .223!?!?). If I intend to shoot across a canyon then I'll definitely take a heavier 7PRC.

If you try to rebarrel your current rifle, you'll also need a magnum bolt. Might as well just buy another rifle already chambered in 7PRC. Then you'll likely want a lighter round for practice, so you'll by a T3X in 223. Then you'll consider taking your 223 hunting, but probably decide 6.5 Creedmoor is better so you'll rebarrel your 308 to that. In the end you'll have 3 rifles.

This man speaks the truth.

 

[swavescatter]

Keep the 308, or even consider a move to 243 or 6.5 Creed. I built a semi-custom lightweight 7PRC Tikka and much prefer my lighter calibers. Deadly out past 800 yds with most of them and I have no business shooting at game that far...

 

[HandgunHTR]

While I am never one to try to talk someone out of buying another firearm, I do have to ask; What is the reason you think you need something "better" for hunting elk?

Is the the current configuration of your current 308? Do you want to start shooting farther? Do you like the 7mm bullet selection more than the 30 caliber bullet selection? Those are just some of the variables that are decent reasons for choosing a different cartridge. If your reason is because you think you will be getting more killing power (or any other buzzword associated with such) then you are barking up an imaginary tree.

Use a good bullet and keep impact speed between 1800-2000 fps and you will be just fine. You can determine your impact speed with a good chronograph (if you don't have one get one or borrow one) and any of the myriad of ballistic calculators available online. Just a basic calc using my own 165 grain 308 round as an example shows that it is still above 1900 fps at 500 at my elevation (900 feet), so I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be a 600 yard round at typical WY elk elevations.

Now to get to your actual post looking for advice. The biggest thing I have to offer is that larger cartridges and lighter rifles are diametrically opposed when it comes to shootability. Being able to shoot them well takes a lot of practice and larger cartridges means more $ spent on ammo (regardless of whether you reload or not). Also, when I say practice, I don't mean 5-10 shots once in a while. I mean actual repetition, which when you have a light rifle chambered in a large cartridge means recoil and muzzle blast. I know we have some superhumans on this forum whom are not bothered by such trivial things, but for most people those things add up, so in order to get the reps in, you have to do small sessions very often which is more trips to the range than most would like. If you have the ability to step outside your door and fire off 5-10 rounds every day, great! Go for it! If not, then you have to be honest with yourself and understand that you may not be as good with that rifle as you are with your current one. If you are OK with that, then go for it. Just don't fall into the trap and convince yourself that because you are using a bigger cartridge you can now just magically shoot farther with the same accuracy as you could with your other rifles and that because you are using a bigger bullet going faster, it will magically make up for poor shot placement. Neither of those are true.