Tikka 300WM/7PRC build advice

jables

FNG
Joined
Jul 30, 2023
Messages
9
Location
Colorado, Western Slope
I am a newish hunter and have been soaking up information from all of the fine helpful folks. I would appreciate some advice before I jump in with both feet:

Purpose: Colorado Elk Hunting
I want to buy a Tikka 7PRC but they don't make one yet. So my goal (and please correct me if I'm screwing something up) is to buy a Tikka T3X Lite in 300 win mag and put a Vortex Razor LHT 4.5-22x50 scope on it for this (and probably next) year. I will also have my gunsmith thread it for a muzzle brake

After this hunting season I will rebarrel it to 7 PRC with a 20" Preferred barrel blanks (carbon fiber?) barrel, keeping the Vortex Razor LHT 4.5-22x50 and putting it into an aftermarket stock.

Buying the rifle and having it threaded will be $900 before taxes.

Ammo:
Nosler 190gr Accubond LR Trophy Grade 300 win mag ammo

My questions:
-22" or 24" Tikka barrel?
-Am I being a moron? (probably lol)
-Has Tikka said anything about a 7 PRC?
-What muzzle brake would y'all suggest for one/two seasons? One gunsmith suggested a 5/8x24 with a Area 419 muzzle brake

Much appreciated!
 
Last edited:

Wapiti1

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Sep 18, 2017
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3,625
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Indiana
My official advice is to look really hard at a 6.5 PRC Tikka Lite Roughtech, and swap to a Nightforce or Trijicon scope and just accept they are heavy. The Vortex is nice, but their track record for long lasting gear is not so nice.

Otherwise, to get to a 7mm PRC, you have a decent plan. That said, I think the 6.5 PRC will handle any critter you will want to slay.

Jeremy
 
Joined
Aug 2, 2021
Messages
718
My advice is you are setting yourself up with too much rifle. I’m assuming newish hunter also means newish shooter. A 300wm or 7prc is hard recoiling and will never allow you to learn good marksmanship. A 6.5 cm is plenty for elk and will be much more reasonably shooting.
 

LightFoot

WKR
Joined
Feb 21, 2016
Messages
1,415
Location
Texas
I am a newish hunter and have been soaking up information from all of the fine helpful folks. I would appreciate some advice before I jump in with both feet:

Purpose: Colorado Elk Hunting
I want to buy a Tikka 7PRC but they don't make one yet. So my goal (and please correct me if I'm screwing something up) is to buy a Tikka T3X Lite in 300 win mag and put a Vortex Razor LHT 4.5-22x50 scope on it for this (and probably next) year. I will also have my gunsmith thread it for a muzzle brake

After this hunting season I will rebarrel it to 7 PRC with a 20" Preferred barrel blanks (carbon fiber?) barrel, keeping the Vortex Razor LHT 4.5-22x50 and putting it into an aftermarket stock.

Buying the rifle and having it threaded will be $900 before taxes.

Ammo:
Nosler 190gr Accubond LR Trophy Grade 300 win mag ammo

My questions:
-22" or 24" Tikka barrel?
-Am I being a moron? (probably lol)
-Has Tikka said anything about a 7 PRC?
-What muzzle brake would y'all suggest for one/two seasons? One gunsmith suggested a 5/8x24 with a Area 419 muzzle brake

Much appreciated!

You’re overthinking. Get one of the threaded and cerakoted Tikkas in 7mm Rem Mag or 300 Win. Use UM tikka rings. Get a self-timing side port brake (like APA lil bastard. Go hunting.

When you are not a “newish hunter” you can rebarrel to 7PRC or stick with what you have. At that time, you won’t want or need our advice.

And don’t get hung up on one factory load. Let the rifle tell you what to shoot. Lots of great factory load options.


>>>——JAKE——>
 
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LightFoot

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Feb 21, 2016
Messages
1,415
Location
Texas
Also see this: Let's See Your Semi-Custom Tikka Builds


>>>——JAKE——>
 
Joined
May 28, 2013
Messages
1,577
Location
Littleton, CO
You can now get the Tikka T3X Lite Stainless $879 or Blued $749 in 6.5prc in the USA. Before the only option was the roughtech or ember models which are $1400+.

Buy from Unknown Munitions and you can have them cut and thread before shipping. Buy a Ti Pro brake while you are at it.


6.5prc with 147gr ELD-M bullets is all you need.
 
OP
J

jables

FNG
Joined
Jul 30, 2023
Messages
9
Location
Colorado, Western Slope
I do appreciate all the advice and will research and consider everything. Truth be told tho I decided against 6.5 PRC in favor of a touch more oomph to bag game at distance for where and what we hunt in Colorado.

My advice is you are setting yourself up with too much rifle. I’m assuming newish hunter also means newish shooter. A 300wm or 7prc is hard recoiling and will never allow you to learn good marksmanship. A 6.5 cm is plenty for elk and will be much more reasonably shooting.
I've been shooting for 20+ years, just recently got into hunting after being very fortunate and getting into a good group. None of my rifles are hunting oriented for the beatdowns that we hike in Colorado. I want to buy once cry once with my hunting rifle setup while also not spending the $5700 everybody else has into their rig. My heart is set on 7PRC and my budget has me considering the Tikka/Vortex route
 
Last edited:

Gadjet

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Dec 16, 2018
Messages
286
Buy a Tikka of your choice from UM. Have them pull the barrel and chamber an ACE barrel in 7PRC. Have them cut and thread it to 20 inches. Forget the muzzle break and put a suppressor on it.
Done!
 

eric1115

WKR
Joined
Jun 26, 2018
Messages
745
Why 7PRC?

What do you see as your max range on game?

Do you hand load, or do you need factory ammo availability?

What other rifles do you have to practice with, and how many practice (focused precision) rounds do you shoot per year?
 
OP
J

jables

FNG
Joined
Jul 30, 2023
Messages
9
Location
Colorado, Western Slope
Why 7PRC?
Not sure why the 7PRC caliber hiccup on this particular forum, but all the reasons that have already been beaten to death: accurate, good barrel life, great for hunting western big game. I want to invest in a cartridge that has ability to reach the target accurately with sufficient energy to kill the game we hunt in western Colorado, at the distances we expect to hunt.

Ultimately I've chosen 7PRC and that isn't where my questions lie.

What do you see as your max range on game?

600yds

Do you hand load, or do you need factory ammo availability?
Hand load with people already set up to reload 7PRC

With the help of other forums I've come down to:
Tikka T3X Lite in 300WM, 24" barrel
Area 419 Hellfire Match
Vortex scope
This will be a better than average rifle at a decent price

Next year or the year after, put on a a 7PRC Preferred barrel blanks barrel on with an MDT chassis

When I win the lottery or axe my other hobbies I'll have UM custom build me a rifle, until then see you on the mountain
 
Last edited:

BAKPAKR

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May 10, 2018
Messages
1,545
Location
Appalachia
Not sure why the 7PRC caliber hiccup on this particular forum, but all the reasons that have already been beaten to death: accurate, good barrel life, great for hunting western big game. I want to invest in a cartridge that has ability to reach the target accurately with sufficient energy to kill the game we hunt in western Colorado, at the distances we expect to hunt.

Ultimately I've chosen 7PRC and that isn't where my questions lie.



600yds


Hand load with people already set up to reload 7PRC

With the help of other forums I've come down to:
Tikka T3X Lite in 300WM, 24" barrel
Area 419 Hellfire Match
Vortex scope
This will be a better than average rifle at a decent price

Next year or the year after, put on a a 7PRC Preferred barrel blanks barrel on with an MDT chassis

When I win the lottery or axe my other hobbies I'll have UM custom build me a rifle, until then see you on the mountain
What thread size are you expecting at 24” on a T3X Lite? They are kind of skinny at that length.
 

Mojave

WKR
Joined
Jun 13, 2019
Messages
2,063
You should get a Savage ultralight with the proof. Weighs 5 pounds, will kick the hell out of you.

They come in 7mm PRC.
 

The Guide

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Joined
Aug 20, 2023
Messages
607
Location
Montana
Not sure why the 7PRC caliber hiccup on this particular forum, but all the reasons that have already been beaten to death: accurate, good barrel life, great for hunting western big game. I want to invest in a cartridge that has ability to reach the target accurately with sufficient energy to kill the game we hunt in western Colorado, at the distances we expect to hunt.

Ultimately I've chosen 7PRC and that isn't where my questions lie.



600yds


Hand load with people already set up to reload 7PRC

With the help of other forums I've come down to:
Tikka T3X Lite in 300WM, 24" barrel
Area 419 Hellfire Match
Vortex scope
This will be a better than average rifle at a decent price

Next year or the year after, put on a a 7PRC Preferred barrel blanks barrel on with an MDT chassis

When I win the lottery or axe my other hobbies I'll have UM custom build me a rifle, until then see you on the mountain
It isn't that anybody is anti 7mm PRC but we do see value for using the right tool for the job. My own person 7 PRC Tikka is for use on elk sized game past 750 yards. I only have a couple places I plan to use it. If I'm sub 800 yards I'm using a 6.5 PRC with a 156 Berger. If I know I'll be sub 600 yards I'm carrying a lightweight 6mm (6CM or 243 with heavy bullets) or my set and forget 300WM Tikka just because it is so easy to carry. That given, it sounds like you have a pretty good plan going forward. I put my 7PRC in an Oryx chassis and that seems to work pretty well for the price.

Jay
 

AkRyan

WKR
Joined
Jan 15, 2021
Messages
683
I think your on the right path other than starting with the 300wm. Is this just for ammo availability or ballistics? If your friend hunt and reload for 7mm I would get a 7mag and start playing. You can ream the 7mag to a prc or swap barrels and you won't have 300wm beass/ammo left over.
 
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