Action questions - what am I feeling?

2 quick things:

-I wouldn't worry about the suitability of your action for potential PRS-type stuff as you'd just never run a 300NM for PRS (and depending on the match you might not be able to, it's just too much energy on the closer steel)

-Hit up Insite for your barrel as their "pet" contour for 300NM (and the one I have) is a hybrid of a MTU and heavy varmint.
 
rugbydave said:
2 quick things:

-I wouldn't worry about the suitability of your action for potential PRS-type stuff as you'd just never run a 300NM for PRS (and depending on the match you might not be able to, it's just too much energy on the closer steel)
Click to expand...

Wow, another subtle thing to know! Is 300WM acceptable is most PRS or should be .308win and less sort of thing?

Insite's modified heavy varmint is my close second pick for a tube. If I could have that with a 1.35" starting profile I'd be all over it. Is it necessary? Well, you know my thoughts...
 
Jaminous said:
Wow, another subtle thing to know! Is 300WM acceptable is most PRS or should be .308win and less sort of thing?

Insite's modified heavy varmint is my close second pick for a tube. If I could have that with a 1.35" starting profile I'd be all over it. Is it necessary? Well, you know my thoughts...
Click to expand...

If you want to shoot PRS, smaller cartridges are a lot more apt for that discipline.

The current sweet spot in PRS is 6mm. Think 6mm Creedmoor, XC, GT, BR/BRA/BRX, Dasher, etc. Some shoot 6.5mm's (Creedmoors, 6.5x47, etc.). Some shoot centerfire .22's (.223, .22BR, etc.). Very rarely do people shoot anything much larger than 6.5mm, though .308 is occasionally used in tactical class.

In PRS, you don't really get to use any of the ballistic advantages of something like a .300NM/WM, and all the downsides are magnified. Targets are usually 600 yards and in, making the ballistic advantage of these cartridges moot. The high recoil makes it very difficult to spot impacts and misses, especially from compromised positions (which most stages will be).

If you want to shoot PRS, build a rifle for that. Short action, preferably in 6/6.5mm.
 
Jaminous said:
Wow, another subtle thing to know! Is 300WM acceptable is most PRS or should be .308win and less sort of thing?

Insite's modified heavy varmint is my close second pick for a tube. If I could have that with a 1.35" starting profile I'd be all over it. Is it necessary? Well, you know my thoughts...
Click to expand...

The PRS rules state: "No larger than .30 cal, and no faster than 3200fps". There are also some leagues and ranges that don't allow magnums simply because it is hard on steel.

I suppose you could run a hot .30cal right against the speed limit, but it would be punishing to shoot a full weekend. You'll find most PRS shooters are shooting short action 6mm or 6.5mm nowadays. Lots of BR variants, Creeds, XC, and some x47 Lapua's.A huge part of PRS is the ability to spot your shots. That is a lot easier with a lighter recoiling caliber.
 
Interesting stuff all around. No doubt purpose built tools for each application would make good sense. Instead of using a sledge hammer to pound finishing nails....
 
Jaminous said:
Interesting stuff all around. No doubt purpose built tools for each application would make good sense. Instead of using a sledge hammer to pound finishing nails....
Click to expand...

IF you want a rifle for both PRS and to dabble in ELR then do the following:

Option 1 (cheapest, most limited): One rifle in 6.5 PRC.

Option 2 (slightly more $$$, a bit more versatile): One rifle, two barrels. One in 6mm of your choice, second in something like a 7 SAUM.

Option 3 (Most $$$, most versatile): Two rifles. One dedicated for ELR, one dedicated for PRS.
 
Re: 6.5 PRC

I contacted RFMA about suitable cartridges for their level 2 course, (wanting a balance between cost to shoot, recoil, and accurate enough for 1600m), and they suggested 6.5PRC as an option that many of their students use with success at 1600m.

I’m doing the 2 rifle thing. 6mm for PRS, and a LA rifle for long range.
 
Jaminous said:
Wow, another subtle thing to know! Is 300WM acceptable is most PRS or should be .308win and less sort of thing?

Insite's modified heavy varmint is my close second pick for a tube. If I could have that with a 1.35" starting profile I'd be all over it. Is it necessary? Well, you know my thoughts...
Click to expand...

As Clocked92 said, the PRS rules say nothing bigger than 30cal and nothing faster than 3200fps so technically you could even run a 300NM. Beyond the disadvantages others have already noted (harder to spot misses in compromised positions at closer ranges, increased recoil) and the cost (a 2-day match is upward of 200 rounds so you're looking at about 1/5th of your barrel life and the cost of ammo) but 30cal magnums are just really hard on the closer steel resulting in target failures (the 1 guy who started off shooting 300NM at CSC last year...) and many smaller/local/regional matches just don't allow magnums for that reason.
 
This all makes good sense. Competition is definitely not near a priority for me, so realistically speaking I don't mind reaching out with something much heavier. The trusty .308 could always be used to compete with just to learn the ropes of how matches go. Of course now that I understand it all more I can see how people get the itch to tick all the boxes off with appropriate builds. Dangerous road for the wallet...

On another note you'd hate to be that one guy that's shooting the obnoxious calibre that ruins the targets...
 
I built a 300 prc thinking I would shoot more long range. My local range is 800m but had another range close by that was out to 1600 m. At 800 my 224 valkyrie is just as consistent on steel, except hits are harder to see. At the longer range I can make hits to 1400 with my 6.5 so I find the 300 prc is not used much and burns way more powder. If you want a bigger cal 300 would be good with a switch barrel setup. Bonus is decent factory ammo is available. I am in edmonton.
 
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