Retiring my Savage M99 .243 .... whats next?

[Bluesky]

Hi everyone! Want to start out by saying I am and will always be grateful for RS and the immense wisdom/laughs/shenanigans that comes from it.

As the title says. I have decided to retire my old, very trusty, savage model 99 in .243. It's one for the memories as I remember exactly how many lawns I had to mow each summer to pay for it. It had a nikon prostaff 3x9 BDC on top and it flat out killed!

I've always been a simple hunter and made do with what I had. I mostly archery hunt elk and then used the .243 for everything else. I've lived in AK and am moving back to Valdez this summer. I have a Ruger M77 guide in .338wm for the bigs.

I have become enamored, straight googly eyed, for the 6.5 PRC. It seems to be exactly what I need especially out to 500+. However, due to where I've been stationed in the past 6 yrs, I have not seen what ammo looks like on the shelves recently, especially in Valdez. And I don't reload...yet...

For hunting everything under Elk (wouldn't hesitate to use the PRC tho)... is it reasonable to say I could find factory 6.5PRC ammo out on any shelf? Or am I stuck having to get re-excited about the tried and true .308, 270,7mm,30‐06,.....etc

Forgive me, I know similar questions are posted... any advice would be appreciated! TIA for everything!

budget: rifle <1000 and scope <800

 

[MT-nuffgun]

I am probably going to sound redundant but whatever. With your rifle budget you can’t go wrong with a tikka t3x lite or superlite. The 6.5 PRC does start to separate itself from the 6.5 creedmoor at 500 yards and beyond. I am starting to see more ammo on the shelves for the 6.5 PRC and I think it is only going to become more popular as time goes on. If you were happy with the .243 you could do some research into the newer 6mm creedmoor, which gives similar velocities with high b.c. Bullets. Another good long range load is the .270 win with the 145 eld-x which is very close to 6.5 PRC velocity and descent B.c. Numbers. A lot of good options out there in the mid caliber lineup these days.

 

[Unckebob]

Hi everyone! Want to start out by saying I am and will always be grateful for RS and the immense wisdom/laughs/shenanigans that comes from it.

As the title says. I have decided to retire my old, very trusty, savage model 99 in .243. It's one for the memories as I remember exactly how many lawns I had to mow each summer to pay for it. It had a nikon prostaff 3x9 BDC on top and it flat out killed!

I've always been a simple hunter and made do with what I had. I mostly archery hunt elk and then used the .243 for everything else. I've lived in AK and am moving back to Valdez this summer. I have a Ruger M77 guide in .338wm for the bigs.

I have become enamored, straight googly eyed, for the 6.5 PRC. It seems to be exactly what I need especially out to 500+. However, due to where I've been stationed in the past 6 yrs, I have not seen what ammo looks like on the shelves recently, especially in Valdez. And I don't reload...yet...

For hunting everything under Elk (wouldn't hesitate to use the PRC tho)... is it reasonable to say I could find factory 6.5PRC ammo out on any shelf? Or am I stuck having to get re-excited about the tried and true .308, 270,7mm,30‐06,.....etc

Forgive me, I know similar questions are posted... any advice would be appreciated! TIA for everything!

budget: rifle <1000 and scope <800

It is my understanding that getting supplies of pretty much anything can be a challenge in Alaska. I would want to use a cartridge Alaskans use and will be regularly on the shelves.

 

[SDHNTR]

You selling that 99?

 

[Bluesky]

I am probably going to sound redundant but whatever. With your rifle budget you can’t go wrong with a tikka t3x lite or superlite. The 6.5 PRC does start to separate itself from the 6.5 creedmoor at 500 yards and beyond. I am starting to see more ammo on the shelves for the 6.5 PRC and I think it is only going to become more popular as time goes on. If you were happy with the .243 you could do some research into the newer 6mm creedmoor, which gives similar velocities with high b.c. Bullets. Another good long range load is the .270 win with the 145 eld-x which is very close to 6.5 PRC velocity and descent B.c. Numbers. A lot of good options out there in the mid caliber lineup these days.

I have good faith in the .243 on muleys and white tail. Something inside is telling me I will want just a bit more for a caribou or goat at any range. I've thought about the 6mm, but the same ammo availability question comes up. Honestly, if it were not for all the hype and love for the PRC, I'd probably have a "do it all" .308.

 

[Bluesky]

You selling that 99?

Sorry, it's getting a real nice tune up and then saved for some lucky grandson someday. I'm sentimental like that.

 

[SwiftShot]

PRC ammo is easy to find now.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

I wouldn’t even consider 6.5 PRC until ammo is more prevalent and from companies other than Hornady because my experience with their ammo overall is not positive.

6.5 Creedmoor will do what you want it to do and ammo is everywhere. Since the panic has died out every time I’ve walked into any Walmart they’ve had Winchester deer season and federal gold medal on the shelf. Go to a sporting goods store and they usually have at least a half dozen different choices.

 

[JFK]

A 270 with a sleek bullet is everything that a 6.5 prc is out to 600ish yards. Plus you can find ammo everywhere.

I was at the range a couple months back and was shooting next to a guy who had a new 6.5 prc. It was his first time shooting it even though he’d owned it for months because he wasn’t able to find ammo locally. We were both shooting to 600, and I was dialing less elevation with my 270 and we were holding the same wind. New and shiny isn’t always better.

 

[Unckebob]

A 270 with a sleek bullet is everything that a 6.5 prc is out to 600ish yards. Plus you can find ammo everywhere.

I was at the range a couple months back and was shooting next to a guy who had a new 6.5 prc. It was his first time shooting it even though he’d owned it for months because he wasn’t able to find ammo locally. We were both shooting to 600, and I was dialing less elevation with my 270 and we were holding the same wind. New and shiny isn’t always better.

At normal hunting distances, there is no reason to "need" a 6.5 PRC vs a 270.

https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/rifle/6.5-prc-143-gr-eld-x-precision-hunter#!/

270 Win 145 gr ELD-X® Precision Hunter® - Hornady Manufacturing, Inc

...

www.hornady.com

 

[wapitibob]

PRC ammo is all over the internet; 3 pages worth on ammoseek.

 

[SwiftShot]

I wouldn’t even consider 6.5 PRC until ammo is more prevalent and from companies other than Hornady because my experience with their ammo overall is not positive.

6.5 Creedmoor will do what you want it to do and ammo is everywhere. Since the panic has died out every time I’ve walked into any Walmart they’ve had Winchester deer season and federal gold medal on the shelf. Go to a sporting goods store and they usually have at least a half dozen different choices.

At local shops here, Hornady, Norma and Federal all on the shelf. I could have walked out with 10 boxes of each. Norma was pricey.

Creedmoor ammo is cheaper but the difference is the same between 308 and 30-06. 200 to 300 fps.

 

[Bluesky]

At local shops here, Hornady, Norma and Federal all on the shelf. I could have walked out with 10 boxes of each. Norma was pricey.

Creedmoor ammo is cheaper but the difference is the same between 308 and 30-06. 200 to 300 fps.

That's helpful! May I ask where "here" is? I haven't done tons of looking but many online places don't ship to Alaska.

 

[SwiftShot]

That's helpful! May I ask where "here" is? I haven't done tons of looking but many online places don't ship to Alaska.

Washington state, Sportmans Warehouse, Scheels also has a ton.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

At local shops here, Hornady, Norma and Federal all on the shelf. I could have walked out with 10 boxes of each. Norma was pricey.

Creedmoor ammo is cheaper but the difference is the same between 308 and 30-06. 200 to 300 fps.

Cool but where you are isn't everywhere. In my travels I've seen a few boxes of Hornady in a cabelas exactly once.

Every little gun shop and walmart I've gone into in the last year or better has had a variety of 6.5 Creedmoor and 308.

 

[MarlinsDad]

I was stationed at JBER for 3yrs and the sportsman’s in wasilla or anchorage usually had any ammo I needed. Even had some semi exotic stuff that stayed on the shelf. I didn’t spend much time in Valdez so I can’t help with places to buy there. I bought a 6.5prc a couple years ago and love it, ammo isn’t quite as prevalent as the 100yr old rounds just yet but will get there eventually. I’ve killed a few deer with it slinging 143eldx bullet for my area it’s more than enough gun but doesn’t beat on you.
If your happy with the performance of the 243 and already have a big gun for large or nasty critters. Ruger American predator rifle would be a good choice and allow for a really nice scope. I owned one in 243 and it shot very well for a $500 gun traded it off as I already have two other rifles in 243. The stock is a definite cheap feeling but perfectly serviceable.
The Tikka rifles are also very nice for their price I’ve shot a few but never owned one. They’re now being barreled with 1:8twist and will be about perfect for any 6mm bullet you want to shoot.

 

[S-3 ranch]

I would trust a .270 to have ammunition way over a PRC , with a better selection also
a 6.5-284 Norma and 264 WM would be my 6.5 choice

 

[SwiftShot]

Cool but where you are isn't everywhere. In my travels I've seen a few boxes of Hornady in a cabelas exactly once.

Every little gun shop and walmart I've gone into in the last year or better has had a variety of 6.5 Creedmoor and 308.

Walmart, is not the store to buy ammo. Every mom and pop has it here no problem. Cabelas has it on their website. Midway USA had it this morning, sorry your corner gas station doesnt have it but to say it is not available is silly. Yes Creedmoor is everywhere but they are not the same in terms of power and ballistics.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Walmart, is not the store to buy ammo. Every mom and pop has it here no problem. Cabelas has it on their website. Midway USA had it this morning, sorry your corner gas station doesnt have it but to say it is not available is silly. Yes Creedmoor is everywhere but they are not the same in terms of power and ballistics.

I’ve been in a dozens and dozens of gun stores in VA, NC, GA, and FL including some large ones and also academy and sportsman’s and the ONLY place I have ever seen 6.5 PRC ammo is in the Cabelas in Gainesville, VA. I’m not talking about Walmart and gas stations for finding PRC ammo. But keep believing it’s everywhere because you’ve found it at a couple places in your area.

It’s not readily available regardless of what you want to believe.

 

[Bluesky]

I've seen some positive reviews and high praise regarding the newish CVA Cascade. That comes in 6.5 PRC. Could be a likely contender!