Definately don't cheap out on optics especially as stated here that you can get good quality optics for alot cheaper than they used to be. I shot my first match with a SFP nightforce and while I managed a 3rd place finish I quickly made the switch to a FFP optic and haven't looked back.
Budget PRS Builds
- Thread starter kthomas
- Start date
Definately don't cheap out on optics especially as stated here that you can get good quality optics for alot cheaper than they used to be. I shot my first match with a SFP nightforce and while I managed a 3rd place finish I quickly made the switch to a FFP optic and haven't looked back.
My comp rifle next year will be based on a LH M700 Varmint barrelled action that I got on clearance from Barton's bolted into either a MPA or MDT ESS. A DMRII mounted in XTR Sigs, on a elcheapo 20 MOA rail. Should be ready to go for slightly over $3000.00.
(Oops, Timney CE will push it closer to $3500.00)
(Oops, Timney CE will push it closer to $3500.00)
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Would you mind elaborating on the FFP? I understand the difference between the SFP and FFP as they zoom. As I am shopping for gear my thought process is this..
While shooting a long range match or practice, is the magnification not going to be at max throughout the match? If yes, then doesn't that make a SFP and FFP on an even playing field? Doesn't the FFP truly become advantageous while using different zoom levels? What am I missing?
Thanks, im enjoying these threads.
You will rarely use max zoom on your scope. Most shooters will stick between 12-16x power. There may be the odd stage where it is advantageous to be right at the top of your zoom range (24-27x per say), but that is rare.
One of the main reasons is that each stage is comprised of multiple target engagements (a combination of multiple targets and/or multiple shots on a single target with position changes). The quicker that you can acquire the target, the more time you have to get stabile and act on the fundamentals to ensure a hit. A larger FOV (field of view) will allow to acquire a target quicker than a smaller FOV.
A large FOV also helps spots your shots. If you have a bad wind call, or the wind changed on you and you miss the target by say 0.2 mils, you need to be able to see that miss and make the proper correction to your hold to ensure an impact on the target on the next shot. Not only does it help with misses, it helps on impacts as well. If you are shooting a KYL rack for example (where the targets get subsequently smaller and smaller), you need to see where you are impacting on the large targets so that you can adjust and hit the smaller targets. Sometimes you may be lucky and one of the first ones to shoot a stage and you just need to see where paint has been removed. Other times, you will have to see how the steel is reacting to the bullet impact (which way it swings/turns/twists first).
Even on the longer targets (1,000+ yards out) will you rarely need to use max power (I'm assuming the standard 5-25, 6-24, 4.5-27 type scope when I say this). I still stick to 12-16x power on the 1,000+ yard stages. Heck, when I was doing an ELR course this year with my 6.5, where we were commonly shooting past a mile, I was shooting 12-16x power or less.
So yes, you will be working throughout the zoom range of your scope for this discipline of shooting. And rarely, will you be right near or at your max end.
My first match using a SFP scope I ran 11x the whole match and had to keep it in mind that everything in my reticle was doubled, when you get in between the power ranges shooting fast and making corrections it gets tough to always remember
Jordan Smith
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, AB
Bang on.
As to the budget build- my PRS rifle this year was a 700 SPS in .243 that I bought originally for $525 on sale at WSS. I had Henry Rempel re-crown it and ream it to AI chamber specs. Bought a McMillan A5 for $525. Timney CE trigger for $250. Picked up a used PTG Stealth for $100. Bought a Kampfeld bolt knob for $25 and installed it myself. So for $1,525 all in, I have a very serviceable PRS rifle. Add a 40 MOA rail, Burris XTR Sig rings, a Harris bipod, 2-round holder, and a DMRII with Burris scope level, and the entire rig with accessories cost me about $3,325 ready to go. The barrel is cooked, so it’ll come back next season as a 6.5 Creed with a brake installed, but other than that it’s not going to change much between this season and next. In its hay day, the barrel certainly didn’t keep me from making hits, with groups consistently ranging from 0.3-0.6 MOA for 5 shots.
I WILL be adding a Game Changer to my arsenal of support bags, though...
Forgot to mention, I sold the factory stock for $75, the trigger for $50, and the BM for $50, so my total cost ended up being $1,350 into the rifle, and $3,150 into the whole setup.
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Bang on.
As to the budget build- my PRS rifle this year was a 700 SPS in .243 that I bought originally for $525 on sale at WSS. I had Henry Rempel re-crown it and ream it to AI chamber specs. Bought a McMillan A5 for $525. Timney CE trigger for $250. Picked up a used PTG Stealth for $100. Bought a Kampfeld bolt knob for $25 and installed it myself. So for $1,525 all in, I have a very serviceable PRS rifle. Add a 40 MOA rail, Burris XTR Sig rings, a Harris bipod, 2-round holder, and a DMRII with Burris scope level, and the entire rig with accessories cost me about $3,325 ready to go. The barrel is cooked, so it’ll come back next season as a 6.5 Creed with a brake installed, but other than that it’s not going to change much between this season and next. In its hay day, the barrel certainly didn’t keep me from making hits, with groups consistently ranging from 0.3-0.6 MOA for 5 shots.
I WILL be adding a Game Changer to my arsenal of support bags, though...
Forgot to mention, I sold the factory stock for $75, the trigger for $50, and the BM for $50, so my total cost ended up being $1,350 into the rifle, and $3,150 into the whole setup.
And while Jordan only has the bipod on for looks his factory barrel shot very well for him all season finishing in the top 10 most matches and always giving me a run for my money! For a budget PRS rifle it's a damn good shooter
From what I've seen, the most common barrel lengths fall between 24-26". I currently have a hawkhill marksman contour 26" barrel, but my next barrel is going to be a 24" MTU.
I went from a 26" MTU to a 25" heavy Palma and am going back to MTU probably 25"
You are better off muzzle heavy because your gun will balance well ahead of the mag well and that gives you some fore-aft room to play with.
Balance too far back (lightish barrel) and you will be crowding up against the mag to balance the gun on a barricade, tripod or whatever.
You are better off muzzle heavy because your gun will balance well ahead of the mag well and that gives you some fore-aft room to play with.
Balance too far back (lightish barrel) and you will be crowding up against the mag to balance the gun on a barricade, tripod or whatever.
Jordan Smith
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, AB
26", but the next will be 24" plus brake.
On the Precision Blog website they have a "What the pros use" section where they go into detail on what the top 100 ranked PRS shooters use in terms of barrels, actions, bullets, etc. A lot of good material to go over for anyone competing or looking to compete.
I started last year with a 20" Rem 700 AAC-SD in .308. Bedded it in a Boyd's stock with a Stiller DBM. Served me well for a half season and the finale of our PNW league shooting down in the States. Other than the ballistic disadvantage of sloooooow MVs from a 20" barrel, it was fine. Dropped it into an MDT chassis after the season and then ended up getting a used Rem 700 action with a .223 and .308 bolt. Got a 26" Benchmark med palma in .308 spun up for it (to shoot in Limited division), the lug pinned on and dropped it in an MDT ESS. Total cost for the action, barrel, brake, smithing was about $1500-$1600 or so. Got a great deal on a Trigger Tech trigger as well. It's got just shy of 2000 rounds on it now since April or so and 2 PRS matches, 4 RTC matches and maybe 1/2 dozen NWPRL matches and Got Your Six. The old 20" is going off to get some work and a new 6mm Creed barrel spun up now. Anyways, the point is, you can get into PRS on the cheap. There's always the urge to throw money at it and try to "buy" improvements/points but the reality is there is no substitute for practice and knowing your rig/having rock solid dope. Lotsa rounds down range, mostly of awkward barricades and under the clock and you'll improve no matter what rig you're running. You'll also get a better idea of what works for you.
Great info for a new PRS shooter here! Thanks to all the experienced shooters for all the words of wisdom, I am trying to soak it all in! I have never shot a PRS match, I was an RO at last months match at Meaford so I got to see a lot of cool gear and tried to really pay attention to what the experienced shooters were using. I am currently building a rifle to try some of this shooting, I picked up a used Tikka CTR that will be rebarrelled by Insite to a 6XC with their Heathen brake, it will go into a McMillan A3 and I will top it with a Vortex Razor--either a Gen II or the new AMG I just picked up. Not exactly a budget build, but certainly less than going full custom with a Stiller or a Defiance action.
That will be a great rig, Insite builds some excellent rifles! My current rifle (former GAP rifle) was re-barreled by Insite, it's deadly accurate. You are definitely on the right track.
Although I didn't shoot Meaford this year, I appreciate you volunteering to RO the match! That's what really keeps these sports going, the volunteers who spend their free time to put together these matches and make sure that they run smoothly.
Enjoy the new rig, and welcome to the sport!
Anything from 24-26" will serve the purpose very well, on my 6xc's I use 26" barrels, and I have a 6.5saum with a 25" barrel that works very well too, gonna try a 6mm something in a 24" barrel soon just haven't fully decide on caliber yet.
Don't know that I will ever shoot PRS. But speaking of economy rifles, I have a Remington 700 on which I installed a 26" Shilen #5 .243 barrel, 1-8 twist. Harrell Precision brake on. Accurate, very pleasant to shoot. Set up in a MagPul, MDT or maybe a Boys At-One stock (all moderately priced), with a detachable magazine system, and topped with a good scope, it would be an excellent entry level rifle.
