Long range PRS build recommendation

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Zedshawnh

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Ok my long range gurus, I want to build long range PRS rifle chambered 6.5 CM with 26” (or possibly 24”) barrel for mostly shooting off the bench and possibly competition in the far future. I don’t hunt at all. this is my first build. I will probably use gunsmith to install the some of the items. I need it to be “tactical looking” like MDT ACC/ESS etc because I am boring like that.

What are some high, medium and ####ty tier brands for :

1. Barrel
2. Custom Action
3. Chassis/stock
4. Trigger pack
5. Muzzle brake
 
Not sure how the whole tariff situation has been affecting prices etc, so if you want to stick with non-US products (and mostly Canadian) these are some of the more popular choices out there:

1. Barrel- IBI, KS Arms (both offering pre-fit options that are excellent). I’ve shot both and they are great. These 2 are in Western Canada, if you’re out East I’m sure there are other barrel manufacturers out there that are great as well.

2. Action - KS Arms (has a nice 3 lug), Ultimatum Deadline (this is through IBI as well), Cadex, Zermatt arms. Defiance Machine are often seen as a top-tier action but will get pretty pricey. The idea of an interchangeable bolt head is getting more and more popular - gives you the flexibility to swap out calibers a little easier down the road (though most PRS stuff uses a 308 bolt face).

3. Chassis - A large number of rifles on the line are using MDT. But there’s also Masterpiece Arms (MPA), Foundation Stocks (both US Companies) that are pretty popular. MDT is probably the least expensive(?) and can be pretty easy to sell used down the road if you want to try out something different.

4. Trigger - Triggertech, Bix n Andy.

5. Muzzle Brake - Spearhead Machine, Insite Arms.

I didn’t really list bottom of the barrel stuff - but these are brands that I’ve tried and have all worked great. You didn’t mention price but I’ll break it down too.

1. Barrel - $900-$1100 for a prefit + about $150 for a gunsmith to install. Blanks are usually $500-700 plus $500-800 for gunsmith work (varies by smith).
2. Action - good ones start at around $1200-$1300. IMO anything at this price and above is usually great.
3. Chassis - could probably get a used one for $900 or less?
4. Trigger - A few hundred
5. Muzzle Brake - $150-$300
 
it’s also not uncommon for people to go the following route:
- Tikka action, prefit barrel, chassis of your liking, $8 Yo Dave trigger spring upgrade, brake of your choice. Probably save you $800-$1000 on your total build, especially if you can find a used Tikka or just the action separately.
 
One of the best ways to check out as many things as you can is to go to a PRS match. Ask people questions like what they are running and why they chose it. Ask if you can get behind someone’s rifle and see what you like the best. It would be rare that you find a PRS competitor that isn’t willing to talk your ear off about their setup.

I’ll be honest if you are physically able to shoot PRS, shooting off a bench gets boring REAL quick. I encourage everyone that’s interested to not wait to get in to PRS. If you have the basics figured out (your rifles dope out to distance) then you are ready to shoot a PRS match. These competitions are where we really get to help keep the shooting community alive. Depending on your location there are Centerfire matches in BC, AB, SK, MB. Not sure what’s going on East of there. Sign up for a match and treat it as a $250, 2 day course. You’ll learn a ton.
 
dentarm said:
Not sure how the whole tariff situation has been affecting prices etc, so if you want to stick with non-US products (and mostly Canadian) these are some of the more popular choices out there:

1. Barrel- IBI, KS Arms (both offering pre-fit options that are excellent). I’ve shot both and they are great. These 2 are in Western Canada, if you’re out East I’m sure there are other barrel manufacturers out there that are great as well.

2. Action - KS Arms (has a nice 3 lug), Ultimatum Deadline (this is through IBI as well), Cadex, Zermatt arms. Defiance Machine are often seen as a top-tier action but will get pretty pricey. The idea of an interchangeable bolt head is getting more and more popular - gives you the flexibility to swap out calibers a little easier down the road (though most PRS stuff uses a 308 bolt face).

3. Chassis - A large number of rifles on the line are using MDT. But there’s also Masterpiece Arms (MPA), Foundation Stocks (both US Companies) that are pretty popular. MDT is probably the least expensive(?) and can be pretty easy to sell used down the road if you want to try out something different.

4. Trigger - Triggertech, Bix n Andy.

5. Muzzle Brake - Spearhead Machine, Insite Arms.

I didn’t really list bottom of the barrel stuff - but these are brands that I’ve tried and have all worked great. You didn’t mention price but I’ll break it down too.

1. Barrel - $900-$1100 for a prefit + about $150 for a gunsmith to install. Blanks are usually $500-700 plus $500-800 for gunsmith work (varies by smith).
2. Action - good ones start at around $1200-$1300. IMO anything at this price and above is usually great.
3. Chassis - could probably get a used one for $900 or less?
4. Trigger - A few hundred
5. Muzzle Brake - $150-$300
Click to expand...

Thanks for the detailed recommendation!

Would you recommend 26” or 24” length? What’s your preference on Carbon vs steel barrel?
 
dentarm said:
it’s also not uncommon for people to go the following route:
- Tikka action, prefit barrel, chassis of your liking, $8 Yo Dave trigger spring upgrade, brake of your choice. Probably save you $800-$1000 on your total build, especially if you can find a used Tikka or just the action separately.
Click to expand...

I already have a tikka t3x tac a1 but in .308 with 20” barrel. I regret not getting the 24” and will probably go with IBI for new barrel.
 
dentarm said:
One of the best ways to check out as many things as you can is to go to a PRS match. Ask people questions like what they are running and why they chose it. Ask if you can get behind someone’s rifle and see what you like the best. It would be rare that you find a PRS competitor that isn’t willing to talk your ear off about their setup.

I’ll be honest if you are physically able to shoot PRS, shooting off a bench gets boring REAL quick. I encourage everyone that’s interested to not wait to get in to PRS. If you have the basics figured out (your rifles dope out to distance) then you are ready to shoot a PRS match. These competitions are where we really get to help keep the shooting community alive. Depending on your location there are Centerfire matches in BC, AB, SK, MB. Not sure what’s going on East of there. Sign up for a match and treat it as a $250, 2 day course. You’ll learn a ton.
Click to expand...

I thought my tikka t3x tac a1 was cool until I ran into some hardcore PRS guys at my range with their setup and all these other tools like chronographs, and I was like holy ####! That’s what lead me to research all these items now. I thought I was going to save some money due to gun ban but not the case anymore.

I really like the idea of attending a PRS event but I am not sure if there any in Ontario. I will check it out
 
Zedshawnh said:
I thought my tikka t3x tac a1 was cool until I ran into some hardcore PRS guys at my range with their setup and all these other tools like chronographs, and I was like holy ####! That’s what lead me to research all these items now. I thought I was going to save some money due to gun ban but not the case anymore.

I really like the idea of attending a PRS event but I am not sure if there any in Ontario. I will check it out
Click to expand...
FYI-ORA @ CFB Borden has them
 
Zedshawnh said:
Thanks for the detailed recommendation!

Would you recommend 26” or 24” length? What’s your preference on Carbon vs steel barrel?
Click to expand...
I’d go with a 26”. There’s some argument for a 28 or even 30” but maybe there’s diminishing returns there? For PRS steel is better than carbon. We really want heavy rifles and a steel, large diameter barrel is one way to get more weight. Carbon is better suited for disciplines like NRL Hunter where there are weight restrictions.

If you’ve already got a Tikka and you like it but tired of the 308, all you’d need is a new barrel and chassis (keep your old barrel so you can switch back in the future if you want). Won’t need a new trigger (just get a new trigger spring), and get some AICS mags with a new chassis. Tikka chassis’ come up periodically on the EE. Could probably do all that for $2k or under.

Someone told me once “I didn’t lose the match because of my Tikka action.” So don’t worry too much about chasing the ###iest most intimidating rifle out there. The nice thing about shooting sports is that MOST of our gear retains a pretty good value over time so if you want to upgrade in the future it’s pretty easy to do it financially if you start selling your old stuff.
 
boxhitch said:
this would get more attention in a Firearms related forum rather than in this Activities forum
Click to expand...
You can't entirely unlink firearm choice/setup from how you're going to use it. In this case, you want a rifle with a fairly forward centre of balance, at the barricade stop so it's easy to handle in a typical PRS situation as you're contorted trying to get a stable shot out from whatever weird position the stage requires. This leads to a choice of a heavy match barrel and a lightweight stock and maybe an enormous muzzle brake to add some mass way out there. Arca rail so you can quickly throw on a bipod or bag as needed, or rest directly on the rail and it's not going to snag going in or out of positions. Lots of feedback from shooting experience goes back into rifle setup.
 
I think your barrel length will also depend on the caliber you shoot. My 308 rig has a 24 inch barrel and my 6mm cr has a 26 inch barrel. They burn powder differently. I want the best burn possible with the shortest barrel to make it easier to move through barricades. Then you just add weights up front to adjust your balance.
 
Zedshawnh said:
Ok my long range gurus, I want to build long range PRS rifle chambered 6.5 CM with 26” (or possibly 24”) barrel for mostly shooting off the bench and possibly competition in the far future. I don’t hunt at all. this is my first build. I will probably use gunsmith to install the some of the items. I need it to be “tactical looking” like MDT ACC/ESS etc because I am boring like that.

What are some high, medium and ####ty tier brands for :

1. Barrel
2. Custom Action
3. Chassis/stock
4. Trigger pack
5. Muzzle brake
Click to expand...

Just a couple general comments... from someone who is still a beginner and just getting into centrefire PRS and shot a bunch of rimfire PRS.

1) Wouldn't chamber a custom PRS rifle in 6.5 CM right off the bat, sure it is fine and what I use, but the world of PRS is mostly dominated by 6mm cartridges and if I was chambering a custom barrel for PRS I would be researching 6 Dasher, 6 GT, etc... If you are set on 6.5CM, consider just getting a stock heavy barrel Tikka that you can rebarrel later on.

3) ACC is awesome, I have the G2 for rimfire. The ESS is not ideal for PRS as the ACCs give you the long, flat, arca forend with ability to add a ton of weight options for balance. If that is not tactical enough for you (fair enough), consider the new LSS G3 that allows you to purchase different forends and then you could have the best of both worlds.

One other point is do not stress too much over getting a sub .5 moa rifle... not that that would not be sweet. I just shoot a heavy barrel Howa and with a load developed for it the accuracy is fine for a beginner PRS rifle. Getting good environmentals for DOPE, good balance for positions, and a good load developed for the rifle have all been more important for my accuracy... oh... and practice reading wind.

Good luck!

Matt
 
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