Newbie PRS/NRL - so many decisions to make

[TJGTA]

Hi all, new PAL (less than a year old). Love the community and how open it is.

I think i have finally found the particular specialization in the firearms community that id like to explore - PRS/NRL style.

I currently own tikka lite t3x, and a bcl mrx both in 223. And since i got my pal i have gone through buying and selling 5-6 guns just to figure out what i enjoy.

Need help with deciding if i can use the tikka t3x lite with a good FFP scope or should i bite the bullet and sell both tikka and BCL and buy a .22 or .223 precision rifle?

I understand i need to buy a good scope to enjoy this. So i want to keep the rifle cost under 900. I have access to range upto 300 meters.

Any suggestions on what to buy or if you think i can get away with my tikka lite with a good scope to learn precision?

 

[TylerCJ]

With just starting out a .223 would be a good option. Cheaper ammunition and minimal recoil. This will allow you to learn the fundamentals of marksmanship and help you figure out what gear you will actually need for the sport. Like mentioned the community is great and most people I compete with (myself included) would lend you everything they have and possibly even their rifle. So it’ll make it very easy for you to create a list of needs / wants for your personal gear growth

Only Issue arises if you ever want to compete for score in NRL. You need to make “power factor” and anything under a .25 cal just can’t make the cut. So my recommendation would be if you do go down the road of selling both rifles to fund a new one spring for the 6.5 Creedmoor. This will help you be able to possible grow in the platform. Plus you can use it for both disciplines (PRS/NRL). The other issue is what usually makes a fantastic NRL hunter rig doesn’t make the best PRS race gun.

 

[TJGTA]

With just starting out a .223 would be a good option. Cheaper ammunition and minimal recoil. This will allow you to learn the fundamentals of marksmanship and help you figure out what gear you will actually need for the sport. Like mentioned the community is great and most people I compete with (myself included) would lend you everything they have and possibly even their rifle. So it’ll make it very easy for you to create a list of needs / wants for your personal gear growth

Only Issue arises if you ever want to compete for score in NRL. You need to make “power factor” and anything under a .25 cal just can’t make the cut. So my recommendation would be if you do go down the road of selling both rifles to fund a new one spring for the 6.5 Creedmoor. This will help you be able to possible grow in the platform. Plus you can use it for both disciplines (PRS/NRL). The other issue is what usually makes a fantastic NRL hunter rig doesn’t make the best PRS race gun.

Thanks man. And whats with the idea of heavy barrels? I notice my t3x lite would heat up after some rounds. Should i be looking into a heavier barrel option if i were to buy a 6.5 creedmoor? I am thinking of buying a used one and selling the two i have.

Also what scope would you recommend for someone starting out? First focal plane is what i am thinking i need to upgrade to as the one i have on my .223 is a second focal plane.

 

[TylerCJ]

I would recommend a heavier barrel if possible.

For example in PRS I run a 1” thick barrel and some guys even go to a truck axle sized 1.2” barrel to add weight and balance. In NRL I run an international barrels aka. IBI barrels carbon tac (Carbon MTU profile) for a thicker yet light weight option. You’ll be running anywhere between 8 - 12 rounds a stage so they can heat up fast and you wanna keep everything consistent.

For an optic it really depends on your budget. A FFP with a mil reticle I find to be a must for precision PRS and NRL Hunter matches now a days.

 

[rugbydave]

Trying to build one rifle to suit both PRS and NRL Hunter is a bit of a challenge, especially on a budget. This is mostly because if you want to make weight for NRL Hunter, you need to be sub-16lbs while most PRS specific rifles are well over 20lbs (mine are closer to 25lbs). It can be done with something like an M24/M40 contour 6.5 creed barrelled action that you swap into a heavy/weighted chassis for PRS and into a carbon stock for NRL Hunter (and also swap optics around) but we're talking far above your budget here.

My suggestion would be to put together a more general use precision rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor that isn't optimized for either but that will get you started. Something like a Tikka CTR, Rem 700 barrelled action, Bergara B14 Barrelled action and then drop it in an MDT XRS. Top it with the best light-ish FFP optic you can afford, something like a Vortex Razor LHT 4.5-22, Leupold Mk5, NF NX8, basically something in the low to high 20oz weight range. What this will give you is a very capable precision rifle that is relatively budget conscious that you could shoot both disciplines with, for PRS add the internal and/or external weights to the XRS and strip them for NRL Hunter. You'll be close to making weight for Open-heavy in Hunter (even if you can't, shooting in Skills division for your first match or 2 is a good call) and should squeak under 16lbs depending on bipod choice. This will allow you to get experience in both styles of shooting and determine what you want to change for each and how much you want to invest...

 

[TJGTA]

I would recommend a heavier barrel if possible.

For example in PRS I run a 1” thick barrel and some guys even go to a truck axle sized 1.2” barrel to add weight and balance. In NRL I run an international barrels aka. IBI barrels carbon tac (Carbon MTU profile) for a thicker yet light weight option. You’ll be running anywhere between 8 - 12 rounds a stage so they can heat up fast and you wanna keep everything consistent.

For an optic it really depends on your budget. A FFP with a mil reticle I find to be a must for precision PRS and NRL Hunter matches now a days.

Thanks! I will look into this type of build. FFP sounds like a must so will go that route. Nice pics by the way

 

[TJGTA]

Trying to build one rifle to suit both PRS and NRL Hunter is a bit of a challenge, especially on a budget. This is mostly because if you want to make weight for NRL Hunter, you need to be sub-16lbs while most PRS specific rifles are well over 20lbs (mine are closer to 25lbs). It can be done with something like an M24/M40 contour 6.5 creed barrelled action that you swap into a heavy/weighted chassis for PRS and into a carbon stock for NRL Hunter (and also swap optics around) but we're talking far above your budget here.

My suggestion would be to put together a more general use precision rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor that isn't optimized for either but that will get you started. Something like a Tikka CTR, Rem 700 barrelled action, Bergara B14 Barrelled action and then drop it in an MDT XRS. Top it with the best light-ish FFP optic you can afford, something like a Vortex Razor LHT 4.5-22, Leupold Mk5, NF NX8, basically something in the low to high 20oz weight range. What this will give you is a very capable precision rifle that is relatively budget conscious that you could shoot both disciplines with, for PRS add the internal and/or external weights to the XRS and strip them for NRL Hunter. You'll be close to making weight for Open-heavy in Hunter (even if you can't, shooting in Skills division for your first match or 2 is a good call) and should squeak under 16lbs depending on bipod choice. This will allow you to get experience in both styles of shooting and determine what you want to change for each and how much you want to invest...

Thanks! I guess i assumed both NRL and PRS could be the same gun. You are right i think i need a generic gun as i am not even sure which sport i will like more and more importantly is convenient for me based on my location. Appreciate the scope recommendations. It seems like getting the right scope is equally or more important than the gun.

 

[.308ACADIAN]

Great advice so far, you could get a chassis system that could make weight for nrl hunter and add weights (MDT internal and external mlok) for prs, you will be making compromises. Nothing wrong with Tikka but a lightweight barrel does not do well with extended strings of fire. If you are on a budget there are many options for optics. Good luck and by all means just sign up for a match and try what you have or contact a local match director and tell them your new and very likely they will help pair you up with someone that can get you in the right direction.

 

[rugbydave]

Thanks! I guess i assumed both NRL and PRS could be the same gun. You are right i think i need a generic gun as i am not even sure which sport i will like more and more importantly is convenient for me based on my location. Appreciate the scope recommendations. It seems like getting the right scope is equally or more important than the gun.

I mean, you could use the same gun for both. PRS allows you to use any rifle that is .30cal and below and sub-3200fps and NRL Hunter (if you want to shoot outside skills division) requires a power factor of 380,100 (basically a 140 going 2715 or so) unless you shoot factory ammo (then the PF is waived) and a rifle weight sub-16lbs. You could basically buy any factory 6.5 Creedmoor and shoot both formats,and actually, if you run an un-modified factory rifle you can shoot in Production for NRL Hunter. Lotsa ways to get in without spending a fortune. Best thing you can do is actually shoot a few matches with whatever setup you get/put together before really worrying about the minutiae of the perfect setup. I'm not sure where you're located but in BC we almost always have loaner rifles available for new shooters to try out.

 

[tiriaq]

Where are you going to be shooting PRS?

 

[TJGTA]

Where are you going to be shooting PRS?

I have no idea. I live in GTA and I came to realize this place is not shooting friendly, well at least the licensed type, and i am unsure how often and how far I can even travel to shoot matches. Thats why I may stick to building a 223 w/ a good scope for now and spend time learning fundamentals and then see what's possible.

 

[Bustercluck]

I haven’t shot nrl hunter, but it seems like a pile more gear to get into it. Range finder/binos/dope calcultor or something all in one. I’d like to give it a go, but I don’t have a suitable rifle that makes grade other than my hunting rifle which is pretty light.

You could shoot a match with what you have and see how it goes. You’d need an extra magazine or two and a couple of sand bags. You’re not going to place your first match anyways so you might as well show up and get your feet wet. You won’t be holding anybody up as it’s a timed event. If you decide to commit to the tikka you could buy a chassis for your 223 sporter and then put a match barrel on it later on. I’m not super familiar with tikka triggers but I think you can replace it or put a cheap spring in to make it lighter. You’ll learn alot shooting 223 and if you decide down the road to go up to something bigger than you’ll know exactly what you want. Watch the ee for a cheap chassis and go from there. The sporter barrel definitely isn’t ideal, but it’ll work until you get better. There’s lots of cheap ffp scopes under $1000 on the market too.

Personally I’ve committed to rem700 compatible stuff because I already had a bunch of things kicking around, but there’s guys around doing well with a tikka.

 

[TJGTA]

I haven’t shot nrl hunter, but it seems like a pile more gear to get into it. Range finder/binos/dope calcultor or something all in one. I’d like to give it a go, but I don’t have a suitable rifle that makes grade other than my hunting rifle which is pretty light.

You could shoot a match with what you have and see how it goes. You’d need an extra magazine or two and a couple of sand bags. You’re not going to place your first match anyways so you might as well show up and get your feet wet. You won’t be holding anybody up as it’s a timed event. If you decide to commit to the tikka you could buy a chassis for your 223 sporter and then put a match barrel on it later on. I’m not super familiar with tikka triggers but I think you can replace it or put a cheap spring in to make it lighter. You’ll learn alot shooting 223 and if you decide down the road to go up to something bigger than you’ll know exactly what you want. Watch the ee for a cheap chassis and go from there. The sporter barrel definitely isn’t ideal, but it’ll work until you get better. There’s lots of cheap ffp scopes under $1000 on the market too.

Personally I’ve committed to rem700 compatible stuff because I already had a bunch of things kicking around, but there’s guys around doing well with a tikka.

Ok i wonder if i can change the barrel of my existing tikka t3x lite to a heavier one? Is that generally possible? If so i wont have to take a loss on the t3x lite, i will buy a chassis and scope and work on fundamentals.

 

[TJGTA]

Ok i wonder if i can change the barrel of my existing tikka t3x lite to a heavier one? Is that generally possible? If so i wont have to take a loss on the t3x lite, i will buy a chassis and scope and work on fundamentals.

So just called a gunstore and they said i am better of buying a new 223 instead of changing barrels on existing t3x lite.

 

[Bustercluck]

So just called a gunstore and they said i am better of buying a new 223 instead of changing barrels on existing t3x lite.

I’m sure they’d be happy to sell you a new gun instead of getting a barrel put on somewhere else. A new barrel won’t fit the profile of your hunter stock, but it’ll fit most chassis. You should get out to a match and work on fundamentals. It will all come together as you start realizing what you need to advance. A new barrel should be around $1200 installed.

 

[TJGTA]

I’m sure they’d be happy to sell you a new gun instead of getting a barrel put on somewhere else. A new barrel won’t fit the profile of your hunter stock, but it’ll fit most chassis. You should get out to a match and work on fundamentals. It will all come together as you start realizing what you need to advance. A new barrel should be around $1200 installed.

Never ask a barber if you need a haircut good point.

 

[Bustercluck]

Work on hitting 6” plates at 300metres(you might have to start with a 12” plate or bigger) from different positions and see where you get. If you can stretch out further somewhere its windy would help too. Work on managing recoil from awkward spots and you’ll realize really quickly why a weighted chassis helps so much.

 

[tiriaq]

I don't know if the ORA is running introductory days over the summer. If they are, that would be a way to get out onto a range, and see what folks are shooting. They shoot at Base Borden.
The reason I asked about where you might shoot PRS is because PRS shooting convenient to the GTA might be hard to find.
The general thought is that a T3 is of sufficient quality to justify rebarreling. You might be able to find a prefit, which would reduce gunsmithing costs dramatically. Hard to beat a MDT chassis for a range rifle.

 

[jparent]

So just called a gunstore and they said i am better of buying a new 223 instead of changing barrels on existing t3x lite.

They aren't wrong. A good barrel and proper install will probably set you back $1000 at least, and the wait and lead time likely a year unless you can find something off the shelf.... As mentioned, thicker contour won't fit your stock, so now you might as well buy a Tikka CTR in 6.5 creed for $1550. If your budget is around the $1000 mark for a rifle, the easy button could be an older used Tikka Varmint. Lots of Savage rifles on the EE for less as well. Though they shoot, they aren't a Tikka. Add an Arken optic for $500 and you are off to the races.

 

[TJGTA]

They aren't wrong. A good barrel and proper install will probably set you back $1000 at least, and the wait and lead time likely a year unless you can find something off the shelf.... As mentioned, thicker contour won't fit your stock, so now you might as well buy a Tikka CTR in 6.5 creed for $1550. If your budget is around the $1000 mark for a rifle, the easy button could be an older used Tikka Varmint. Lots of Savage rifles on the EE for less as well. Though they shoot, they aren't a Tikka. Add an Arken optic for $500 and you are off to the races.

Yeah wondering if a HOWA would be a decent replacement after i sell my tikka and bcl mrx ... may be more affordable in 223 with a good ffp scope. And then a chassis eventually