First Centrefire PRS purchase.

Biologist said:
Old thread, but as a newbie here I am reading everything I can to learn. I had similar questions as the OP about how to get into PRS with a very limited budget.

I was thinking about starting with the Tikka action I already have, as several folks have recommended. The action is currently on the factory Stainless Varmint model in .260 Rem. Its not suitable for PRS as-is because it only has the 5 round plastic mag, so it would need a new chassis or stock for capability for 10-rd AICS style mags. So I am saving money for that conversion.

I was thinking of chambering the new barrel in 6.5x47 Lapua, and when more funds became available, buying a 2nd barrel in 6x47 Lapua. As I understand (correct me if I am wrong), I can use the 6.5 dies to reload both cartridges by changing the neck sizing bushings?

I know swapping barrels back and forth would be a hassle, and two sets of go/no-go gauges are not cheap, which challenges the idea of one set of dies saving money.

I have read alot of good things about the 6 and 6.5 x47 L. It might even work for F-Class if I had nothing else? (But I hear the bigger high BC 7mm calibers are dominating F-Class these days).
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.260 is fine to start with.

I would drop it in a KRG Bravo chassis or MDT chassis as others suggest.

6.5x47L and 6x47L are great cartridges, nothing wrong with either. You may want to do some homework in regards to reamer specs if you do go 6x47L. That cartridge has developed an unfair reputation for being really "finicky", when in reality the issues stem from inadequate reamer specs.

Supposedly getting the factory barrels off of Tikkas can be difficult, they have a gorilla in their factory torquing their barrels. Once you get the factory one off, it's easy to swap out shouldered barrels, just requires a vice, action wrench and torque wrench.
 
I did a study of torque spec's from every barrel and action manufacturer I could find several years ago. Must have asked about 30-40 companies. The average worked out to 75 ft-lds. The range varied from 60 - 100 but the majority was 75#
 
Biologist said:
Hi Old303. I obtained all the tools shopping Canadian, online.

External action wrench: Wheeler action wrench #1 for Mauser/flat-bottomed receivers. I am hoping this will work on my Tikka action which has flats. Obtained online from that giant online evil store that shall not be named, only because at the time I could not find an external action wrench anywhere online from a Canadian gun store. (I will always shop first at Canadian gun stores, and pay more if necessary to support them). Its cheap and hoping I only need it once to crack the Finnish famous factory torque.

Barrel vice: Bought a Viper barrel vice from a Canadian store, (not on CGN's dealer list so not naming due to the forum rules). Its not a gunsmith grade with inserts, so I may have to make some inserts and use rosin, but it should work OK for my needs.

Internal (rear entry) Tikka action wrench: Purchased from same Canadian store, (not on CGN's dealer list so not naming it). Tikka specific. And they say it is made in Canada, so that's good. However soon after I purchased this immediately I had some regrets because I discovered the new modular action wrench system from Short Action Customs that recently came into being, and Go Big Tactical here sells this SAC system. I probably would have bought the SAC system from GBT, starting with the Tikka T3 head, if I had known it was coming.

Torque wrench: Purchased a DeWalt 100 ft pound torque wrench and socket for the action from local hardware store. From what I read the torque for action to barrel is supposed to be about 75 ft pounds.
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Okay, thank you. I avoid that piranha-infested river too! Looks like GBT will have most of the bits I need, though I believe I've also identified the other store you allude to on a brief spelunk about the web. Will have to make sure I have plenty of Kroil in the threads the first time, too. Annoying about the Wheeler wrench though; I may ask around locally and see if anyone's already got one.
 
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