Due my current employment I will be taking customers hunting in west Texas several weekends a year. I am looking to get a lightweight/comfortable rifle to take down aoudad, mule deer, possibly elk at 600yds max. I will run it suppressed. I've been looking into Christensen 6.8 westerns to 300-win mag due to weight and like what I've read. I am prepared to spend $4-5k with a good scope. Since the terrain we are on requires a bit of hiking I am trying to avoid hauling around a telephone pole while having a reliable rifle to make the shot. If anyone has thoughts or recommendations, please let me know.
Long Range Build Advice
- Thread starter DIRKCW
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I hunt that area yearly, you will enjoy it. My advice is to skip past the CA rifles, and look into a Seekins at that price point. Tikka would be another great option, and possibly Bergara. Put a NF NX8 on it and go hunt. A full custom is the other choice, but will put you over what said you would spend. There is nothing wrong with a 6.8 Western, they just dont have much traction, and would work fine. Look at 6.5 PRC, 7 PRC, or the older equivalents of them, they are more than capable.
Thank you sir! I am looking into the Seekins now.
Hikinghunter
Well-Known Member
ARC CDG Lightweight Action -$1300
Proof Prefit Carbon Barrel - $1100
If your budget is $5k, that leaves you $2600 for a good trigger, BM, mag, stock, and gunsmith time to put it together. You'll have a build that's much better than any factory gun, and can easily be re-barreled to a different caliber down the road. Just a thought.
I really wouldn't spend all that much on a factory gun. Their limitation is that they are put together quickly and without the same care as a custom. Nothing wrong with that, but a $1k tikka or savage gets you the same level of gunsmithing as a $3k Seekins or Bergara. The high-end factory guns have better features, but are not put together as precisely as a custom build, so I don't see the point in them. If you do go with a factory gun, one option would be a savage ultralight. It already has a proof barrel on it. Outstanding accuracy. The stock, trigger and action won't be as nice as a custom build, but the barrel is what determines accuracy, and proof barrels just rock.
My BIGGEST advice - use caution when buying or building a lightweight rifle in bigger calibers. As someone who owns several. The recoil from a 6lb 300WM makes it very difficult to keep the animal in your scope for follow-up. It also exponentially magnifies any minor errors in your shooting posture, so you'll need to practice positional shooting a LOT to build good habits. Lightweight barrels need more cool-down time between shots, which increases with bigger calibers. I'm not saying don't buy a lightweight cannon, just be prepared for some extra range time learning to shoot it. A 280AI or 6.5PRC will do what you're asking for, and will be more forgiving than a 300WM or 7PRC.
Proof Prefit Carbon Barrel - $1100
If your budget is $5k, that leaves you $2600 for a good trigger, BM, mag, stock, and gunsmith time to put it together. You'll have a build that's much better than any factory gun, and can easily be re-barreled to a different caliber down the road. Just a thought.
I really wouldn't spend all that much on a factory gun. Their limitation is that they are put together quickly and without the same care as a custom. Nothing wrong with that, but a $1k tikka or savage gets you the same level of gunsmithing as a $3k Seekins or Bergara. The high-end factory guns have better features, but are not put together as precisely as a custom build, so I don't see the point in them. If you do go with a factory gun, one option would be a savage ultralight. It already has a proof barrel on it. Outstanding accuracy. The stock, trigger and action won't be as nice as a custom build, but the barrel is what determines accuracy, and proof barrels just rock.
My BIGGEST advice - use caution when buying or building a lightweight rifle in bigger calibers. As someone who owns several. The recoil from a 6lb 300WM makes it very difficult to keep the animal in your scope for follow-up. It also exponentially magnifies any minor errors in your shooting posture, so you'll need to practice positional shooting a LOT to build good habits. Lightweight barrels need more cool-down time between shots, which increases with bigger calibers. I'm not saying don't buy a lightweight cannon, just be prepared for some extra range time learning to shoot it. A 280AI or 6.5PRC will do what you're asking for, and will be more forgiving than a 300WM or 7PRC.
Upsidedownjack
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Have had or still do own Rem, Win, and even a Bergara, some in the 300 WM some in the 270. Out of all of them the Bergara has been to most accurate out OFTHE Box! Am shooting the HMR-PRO 300 WM and found it to be a Real Shooter.
Buffalobwana
Well-Known Member
After shooting Seekins and Christensen, I prefer the CA Ridgeline FFT, but you won't go wrong either way. There is no wrong choice there.
I have killed a few Aoudad with everything from 6.5 Grendel to 6.5 PRC to 30-06. I have guided a bunch too and never saw one that got away from any round from 308 to 300 WM with a good shot.
The 7 PRC interests me, but, if Elk is truly on the list, 300 Win mag or 300 PRC is a solid choice.
I have killed a few Aoudad with everything from 6.5 Grendel to 6.5 PRC to 30-06. I have guided a bunch too and never saw one that got away from any round from 308 to 300 WM with a good shot.
The 7 PRC interests me, but, if Elk is truly on the list, 300 Win mag or 300 PRC is a solid choice.
Very true, and I was reminded of this yesterday. After hunting season all I have been shooting were heavy 6 mm comp rifles, it made me lazy. I had a new build for a customer that is a light 22" 7PRC, I was quickly aware my fundamental's were off when testing it. Its not bad recoil, but its just light enough to jump a little.
Kmccord
Well-Known Member
If elk are a possibility, then I would do a 7PRC. As for rifle, hmm, custom rifle I built a client a 7PRC with Leupold 3-18Mark5 HD scope that came in at 8.5lbs. it has a 25in Preferred Barrel Blank 750 Taperless. However, that combo was was over 5k, it shoots Hornady 175gr and 180gr factory ammo good.
john k
Well-Known Member
Welcome to the forum from the free Republic of Florida. Best of luck to you in deciding which rifle system would suit you best without any or very few regrets. You will receive a wealth of positive feedback from this forum based on experience, knowledge, personal preference, success, and failure. Enjoy the process and let us know which system you choose.
Seekins Havak Element in 6.5PRC: https://www.eurooptic.com/Seekins-P...1-1-8-Bbl-Desert-Shadow-Rifle-w-1-3rd-Ca.aspx
Maven 2.5-15X44 FFP MIL scope: https://mavenbuilt.com/collections/riflescopes/products/rs1-2-2-5-15x44-ffp?variant=42954112762027
Unknown Munitions rings: https://www.unknownmunitions.com/product/um-scope-rings/
That combo will cost you around $4000, a bit less if you are a vet and get the discount from Maven. Spend the other $1000 on ammo/components and shoot the hell out of it.
The reason I recommend the 6.5 PRC is that I am going to assume you are not a reloader, so the 6.5 PRC will give you plenty of factory options to choose from. It is more than capable of taking anything walking in W. TX, including elk, has a lot less recoil than a 300 mag or PRC, and ammo is going to be cheaper as well.
Maven 2.5-15X44 FFP MIL scope: https://mavenbuilt.com/collections/riflescopes/products/rs1-2-2-5-15x44-ffp?variant=42954112762027
Unknown Munitions rings: https://www.unknownmunitions.com/product/um-scope-rings/
That combo will cost you around $4000, a bit less if you are a vet and get the discount from Maven. Spend the other $1000 on ammo/components and shoot the hell out of it.
The reason I recommend the 6.5 PRC is that I am going to assume you are not a reloader, so the 6.5 PRC will give you plenty of factory options to choose from. It is more than capable of taking anything walking in W. TX, including elk, has a lot less recoil than a 300 mag or PRC, and ammo is going to be cheaper as well.
no elk in west texas or aoudad unless it's a fenced range
Hikinghunter
Well-Known Member
cabelas has a savage ultralight in 6.5prc on sale right now for $799. That's insane. The barrel alone is worth more than that. I've never seen one that wasn't 1/2MOA capable.
If I were you, I'd buy the ultralight, put a trijicon credo 3x15 on it, and walk away with only $1800 spent. You'll have a very lightweight, 1/2 moa capable setup that's also very durable. Spend the rest on ammo.
If I were you, I'd buy the ultralight, put a trijicon credo 3x15 on it, and walk away with only $1800 spent. You'll have a very lightweight, 1/2 moa capable setup that's also very durable. Spend the rest on ammo.
Joefrazell
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- Apr 29, 2017
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I'd be looking at 7mm cartridges or the 6.8 western would be good.
