Tikka 6.5 PRC Build Input Wanted

[nn76858]

Hey guys first off I want to say thanks to the entire rokslide community, Ive learned a ton on here over the last several years.

I live in the east and make several western trips a year. Whitetails elk and mule deer. I have a tikka t3x .300 wm set up for out west. I have a nighforce shv 4-14x40 in mils on um rings. Gun has performed well for me but thinking of going with a lighter recoil option. Was contemplating on taking the action of my .300 and building a 6.5prc for an all around western gun. Ive been drinking the koolaid and plan on ordering a rokstok(maybe 2 for a .223 trainer). This will be a hunting gun so moderate on weight and barrel length. Several questions......i saw a take off 6.5 prc barrel here on the classifieds. If im doing the build would you save some money and go with a factory barrel or suggest an aftermarket barrel. If you went aftermarket which route would you go. The gun will be far more capable than I am. I would like to maintain the velocity to kill something at 650. Ive never killed anything past 475 but im spending a lot more time practicing now and am beginning to get a reloading set up put together. If i want to maintain good velocity out to 650 what length would you cut your barrel to? I will be shooting supressed. I have a .30 cal harvester evo but have contemplated looking into a overbarrel um supressor on this build......I know a lot of this stuff has been covered in other threads Ive read a lot and am beginning to get a little paralysis by analysis. Any input would help. And for those who have built a 6.5prc which bullet have you had best results with? Was looking at starting with a 147 eldm or 156 berger.......any input is greatly appreciated thank you guys!

 

[hereinaz]

Skip the 6.5, get a 6mm PRC or 6 UM and drink all the flavors of Rokslide Koolaids! The new TMK coming out should be a great addition to the 115 Berger and 115 DTAC.

If you want to stick with 6.5, watch for a takeoff barrel. Thet is a great choice. And, you probably won’t see the difference within the limitations you face. They will typically shoot very good. I will eventually have some of the new threaded barrels. I think I have a new unthreaded barrel right now.

I stock and also special order Preferred Barrel Tikka Prefits and will install them. I have a group buy for $487 right now on the 6 mm stuff.

 

[TheViking]

6.5 PRC is the easy button, there are a few barrels in the classified section right now, like you said.

Chop it to 20” and you’ll be good to 600, easily.

As @hereinaz said above, the 6 UM is a sweet cartridge as well. A little more pricey components wise, but works off a magnum bolt face as well.

Either way, you can’t go wrong! Depends if you want the easy button, or you want to fiddle with the 6 UM.

 

[elkguide]

6.5PRC is a great answer.

 

[nn76858]

Thanks guys for the replies.....any more intel is greatly appreciated!

 

[DangerRanger]

I would start with a factory take off from here, if you decide to go after market later you’ll probably be able to sell it for what you bought it for

I did that and it shoots great and I haven’t thought much more about fancy barrels

My comp gun has a bartlein on it and the tikka barrels shoot great and only give up a tiny bit if anything to the 9x more expensive barrel

 

[MThuntr]

Easy button is 6.5 PRC factory barrel as long as it's not been shot too many times. It could easily be chopped and/or threaded if you want. Ammo readily available and reloading is pretty simple with brass and dies basically everywhere.

Fun button would be a 6PRC or 6UM. 6prc can use 6.5prc dies with a correct bushing. My apprehension with 6UM is the brass and die cost. Probably worth getting 2 barrels when you choose these options.

Im taking the 6.5prc barrel off my Tikka for the 6NSI barrel. I have a plethora of 108s BUT my give my 106s TAP supply a try since they're a touch longer than 108s. If they don't cooperate then I'll it for the 115s.

 

[N2TRKYS]

Just buy a new Tikka t3x lite stainless, if 6.5 PRC is what you want. If you’re gonna cut the barrel short, just go with the 6.5 Creedmoor. Heck, a 20” barreled 7-08 would be a good choice.

 

[DisplacedHusky]

I was in a similar boat. I ended up building a 6.5PRC. They did not offer a factory T3X option at the time. Here is the thread with the advice I received and the evolution of my thought process. If you want the cliff notes version, you can skip to the end to see my build.

Thread 'Dilemma: Semi custom Tikka build on budget vs. 7PRC factory rifle. UPDATED: Decision Made and Build Complete'

Sep 30, 2023

I have been soaking up Rokslide knowledge for a while but I’m not much of a poster. I now have a dilemma I need advice about. So, I finally created an account in order to seek counsel from the Rokslide Forum knowledge collective.
There have been similar threads about a similar dilemmas but mine differs a little in limited price and platform. I am primarily a bow hunter but took a mule deer a few years ago with a rifle and envision doing more. I am a “one rifle” guy and would like to upgrade my one rifle to extended my effective range. Here are my parameters;

a) I have decided on...

• DisplacedHusky
• Replies: 89
• Forum: Firearms

• 

 

[Ballcap]

I had a Winchester pre 64 rifle in 7wsm that would never print a good group. Put a Bartlein barrel on chambered in 6.5prc and couldn’t be happier. Shoots hornady 147 eldm factory ammo under 1/2 inch. I’ve got 156 burgers but haven’t had time to try them yet. Any barrel you get will only be as good as the smith that fits it to your action. If I was trying to humanely kill animals, especially elk, at 650, I wouldn’t skimp on accuracy and I would use the heaviest for caliber, highest bc bullet I could get. I’d try to burn out one barrel practicing too. Paper targets don’t move.

 

[nn76858]

I was in a similar boat. I ended up building a 6.5PRC. They did not offer a factory T3X option at the time. Here is the thread with the advice I received and the evolution of my thought process. If you want the cliff notes version, you can skip to the end to see my build.

Thread 'Dilemma: Semi custom Tikka build on budget vs. 7PRC factory rifle. UPDATED: Decision Made and Build Complete'

Sep 30, 2023

I have been soaking up Rokslide knowledge for a while but I’m not much of a poster. I now have a dilemma I need advice about. So, I finally created an account in order to seek counsel from the Rokslide Forum knowledge collective.
There have been similar threads about a similar dilemmas but mine differs a little in limited price and platform. I am primarily a bow hunter but took a mule deer a few years ago with a rifle and envision doing more. I am a “one rifle” guy and would like to upgrade my one rifle to extended my effective range. Here are my parameters;

a) I have decided on...

• DisplacedHusky
• Replies: 89
• Forum: Firearms

• 

Thanks looks like a great gun and very close to the route im heading....

 

[khuber84]

Go with a 7.5tw (preferred) or 7.75tw if possible. Will aide in stability at short barrel mv with the heavies or if you decide to use monos. Higher bullet rpm usually translates to a bit better terminal performance as well.