PRS Rifle Recommendations?
- Thread starter rightsided
- Start date
Aprilia Man
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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- Canadian "WET" Coast (Raincouver)
These guys ?
https://www.bergara.online/us/rifles/premier/hmr-pro-rifle/
https://www.tikka.fi/en-us/rifles/tikka-t3x/t3x-tact-a1
https://www.wolverinesupplies.com/P...ree-Floated-5-R-Barrel-Magpul-PRS-Gen-3-Stock
https://www.savagearms.com/content?p=firearms&a=product_summary&s=57555
https://www.springfield-armory.com/model-2020-series-rifles/
https://www.bergara.online/us/rifles/premier/hmr-pro-rifle/
https://www.tikka.fi/en-us/rifles/tikka-t3x/t3x-tact-a1
https://www.wolverinesupplies.com/P...ree-Floated-5-R-Barrel-Magpul-PRS-Gen-3-Stock
https://www.savagearms.com/content?p=firearms&a=product_summary&s=57555
https://www.springfield-armory.com/model-2020-series-rifles/
I think the lowest price, best value rifle that can be described as PRS-style, is the Savage 110 Elite Precision, and those run about $2300. Then add $1100k for the lowest end optic that fits the bill with mounting solution.
A Ruger Precision Rifle is pretty good, too, at around the $1800 range.
A Ruger Precision Rifle is pretty good, too, at around the $1800 range.
Regardless of what type of shooting that you would like to get into, I always suggest going to a local match and finding out what people are shooting and what equipment is required. I have seen lots of people piss away good money for something that was not suitable for the type of shooting they wanted to do.
Interesting take and quite typical of North American approach, ie money on the firearm first, optic second.
Personally, if I had a limited budget, I'd be more inclined to spend more money on the optic than the rifle. However, given that the OP is new to firearms, it may be daunting to know what one likes in an optic (or rifle) anyway.
If you're new and on a limited budget then rimfire PRS should be where to start. Either look at CRPS production class (which holds you to around a $1000 budget) or maybe go for a Ruger Precision Rimfire that has all the features of the high-end rifles and is a good spot to figure out what you like. The fundamentals of rifle shooting are the same at 100 metres with a rimfire as at half a kilometre or beyond with a centrefire, and far less hiking to change targets. And .22LR is a whole lot cheaper! You need to send a lot of ammo downrange as you're learning to shoot well.
As compared to the European approach of spending $3k CAD on a scope with capped turrets and simple duplex reticle, yes I advocate for the solution I described. I've used the $1000 Athlon scope in a PRS match, it did everything I needed it to.
I'd like to get some advice as well... rather than starting a new thread, I'm hoping to piggy-back on this one 
I'm also looking for a precision rifle... at or around $2K is fine with a tactical chassis. I have a lot of .223 so I think that will be where I start. Ideally something that takes AR mags. Prefer something light weight, but not a top priority.
I'll likely get a .308 later. Are there any platforms that allow barrel/bolt swaps besides Desert Tech?
I'm also looking for a precision rifle... at or around $2K is fine with a tactical chassis. I have a lot of .223 so I think that will be where I start. Ideally something that takes AR mags. Prefer something light weight, but not a top priority.
I'll likely get a .308 later. Are there any platforms that allow barrel/bolt swaps besides Desert Tech?
Forget the AR magazine requirement and use a MDT chassis. AICS compatible magazines in .223 and .308 will fit and work with the same receiver. The .223 magazines also allow use of VLD bullets seated out.
For an economy project, you could probably get away with a Remington 783 action, two boltheads, two barrels, the chassis and magazines for the two calibers. A good scope would work for either caliber.
For an economy project, you could probably get away with a Remington 783 action, two boltheads, two barrels, the chassis and magazines for the two calibers. A good scope would work for either caliber.
I'd like to get some advice as well... rather than starting a new thread, I'm hoping to piggy-back on this one
I'm also looking for a precision rifle... at or around $2K is fine with a tactical chassis. I have a lot of .223 so I think that will be where I start. Ideally something that takes AR mags. Prefer something light weight, but not a top priority.
I'll likely get a .308 later. Are there any platforms that allow barrel/bolt swaps besides Desert Tech?
You can swap barrels on any rifle. Know how to change a lightbulb? The concept is the same on a shouldered barrel rifle. Every rifle is a "switch barrel" rifle.
It just requires some simple tools. Torque wrench, barrel vice and action wrench. Likewise you can get different bolts for different bolt faces, and some companies allow you to just change out the bolt face on your bolt (Bighorn/Zermatt, ARC).
A great economical route is to get a used Tikka and build it up as you go. Lots of accessories and support for the Tikka platform (unlike the Rem 783), and the quality of Tikka is great. Put it in a KRG Bravo chassis, shoot the OEM barrel out and then upgrade to a custom barrel. A Tikka will easily grow and evolve with you.
The rifle is only a piece of an effective PRS system. Do you want some “cool” stuff, or to actually shoot a lot? Do you reload already? It’s like buying a boat without motors, electronics, a trailer, and no fuel cost calculations. It’s depressing when you add up the whole cost to get to regular trigger time, unless you do the math in the beginning. I bought a humble boat, and ran the hell out of it. Got me on the water. I wanted to shoot PRS like you, but same budget. $1K in I had a Savage Mk2 with optics shooting 22 at 300+. Lots of ranges around that are a long poke with a 22.
I don't think anyone has advocating something like putting a high end Swarovski hunting scope for a PRS rig. However, whether or not it applies to you, it is rather common that many opt to spend lots of money on the rifle build (be it a chassis PRS rig, hunting or super tactical AR platform) and then spend marginal amounts on optics. The Athlon Ares BTR is indeed a solid performing budget option.
A previous poster provided some sound advice in my opinion:
With the above in mind and if given a limited budget (whatever that means), I would spend a larger portion of the money on optics (preferably something that has sufficient parallax adjustment for closer ranges for .22LR and extending out for future centrefire PRS) so that the scope could be transferrable to a future rig once the solid shooting foundation is built in rimfire.
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Good point. Can you elaborate on the Tikka in a KRG Bravo chassis? Do you mean buy the barrel and bolt from Tikka and put it in the KRG chassis? Why not buy the entire kit from Tikka?
I mostly want some "cool" stuff.
The OEM stocks on Tikka's aren't that great. It's a bit of a weak point for the system. KRG makes a Tikka inlet in their Bravo and other chassis.
I recommend the Bravo because it has a very good feature set for the price. It's a great budget chassis.
783 is so inexpensive that it might be better to eventually buy a complete rifle for each caliber, ditch factory stock, get one chassis to start, and mags as required. 6.5CM and 308 use same mags. Swap barreled actions as needed, or grab a second chassis when MDT has their next Black Friday sale. Mags and LSS chassis usually go 40% off or so.
The main issue as I see it with Rem783 and PRS is that the aftermarket support is very limited. If you get serious about PRS style shooting, at some point you are going to have to abandon that rifle platform to go with something that has much more aftermarket support and thus, accessories. The Rem783 has limited opportunity and potential to grow and evolve with you, the shooter, in PRS style shooting disciplines.
