Hunting rifle

[NJRaised]

Help spend my money….

I will be heading out west this year for hunting season. I’m planning on one gun for anything (I live in NJ, we can’t rifle hunt here, so I have no big game rifles).

I want one rifle that can’t handle just about anything (brown/black bear, elk, goats, deer).


I would like to build on a custom action. I want to be on the lighter end. I don’t want my shoulder dislocated every shot.

I’m leaning towards a 7PRC and a Vortex LHT Razor (not sure on magnification)

For them seasoned hunters, please give me some guidance .

 

[kthomas]

6.5 PRC can take down pretty much any North American game.

How much money do you want to spend?

 

[diverdon]

I love my Vortex. But, you're watching weight? Perhaps look at a Swarovski.

Action/barrel/stock depend on budget.

 

[NJRaised]

I don’t want to go nuts on budget, but I also appreciate a nice rifle and don’t like junk.

I’m thinking I’d like to spend about $2500 max on the rifle and $1500 max on glass.

I usually go vortex razor bc of the LE pricing I get.

 

[kthomas]

- Bighorn Origin Action ($900)
- Proof Carbon pre-fit in 6.5 PRC ($1049)
- KRG Bravo ($350)
- Trigger of your choice (~$200)

Puts you right at ~$2500. Weight is approximately ~8 lbs (with 22" proof barrel) before scope and accessories.

 

[Krob95]

If you’re going custom hunting rifle, on the low end, expect to pay probably 2500 bare bones. My build was 2950. Manners LRH, Hawkins Hunter DBM pillar bedded with their flush mag, carbon six prefit in 6.5PRC, zermatt origin action, Triggertech special. That's it.

 

[NJRaised]

I have a origin short action build already, love it.

I was leaning towards another origin, cf prefit, krg bravo.

So many good calibers to choose from now.

I’m drawn to 7PRC

 

[kthomas]

I have a origin short action build already, love it.

I was leaning towards another origin, cf prefit, krg bravo.

So many good calibers to choose from now.

I’m drawn to 7PRC

You can certainly do a 7 PRC, but component price goes up $200 to do so, FYI (between Origin and KRG Bravo).

 

[7mm-08 Freak]

A nice handy sized 7mm-08 (20" bbl) will kill anything in North America at reasonable hunting distances.

 

[Taylorbok]

FFS there is so many people wanting 7PRC. do some searching
Only Place to get 7PRC brass right now is RCC 6$ each. go hard.

 

[kthomas]

FFS there is so many people wanting 7PRC. do some searching
Only Place to get 7PRC brass right now is RCC 6$ each. go hard.

It's a new cartridge and I'm sure there's going to be a lot of commercial support, just like the other PRC's.

 

[Taylorbok]

It's a new cartridge and I'm sure there's going to be a lot of commercial support, just like the other PRC's.

yes there will be but for right now, this hunting season that OP is talking about that's it.
and all these people posting talking about building rifles in it right now that's the only option, or leave it in the safe until components become available.

 

[KYAggie]

You stated you might use it on bears, both brown and black, so that alone for me rules out anything below 7mm and would personally push me to a 30 cal. 300 PRC would be great, as long as you understand you would need a muzzle brake to keep recoil reasonable since you are not a seasoned rifle shooter. You would need the same with the 7PRC and 28 Nosler, so you might as well step up to the 300. The 7mm’s are wonderful flat shooting guns, but if the rifles are basically the same weight/barrel length/muzzle brake, and brown bears are on the list, you might as well get a 300. Sure, you can kill a bear with the perfect placed 6.5 shot, but the same could be said for a 308 and a whole host of other rounds I would never recommend hunting bear with.

Whatever you buy, shoot it a lot and become proficient and comfortable with it so you can confidently place your shots. Having a long range accurate rifle does not make you a ethical long range hunter; only practice in field shooting positions will do that.

 

[Supersubes]

Help spend my money….

I will be heading out west this year for hunting season. I’m planning on one gun for anything (I live in NJ, we can’t rifle hunt here, so I have no big game rifles).

I want one rifle that can’t handle just about anything (brown/black bear, elk, goats, deer).


I would like to build on a custom action. I want to be on the lighter end. I don’t want my shoulder dislocated every shot.

I’m leaning towards a 7PRC and a Vortex LHT Razor (not sure on magnification)

For them seasoned hunters, please give me some guidance .

What species, and where are you hunting this year?

 

[Lightning8]

I went to NM and WY this year with two different groups of hunters. My best observation is rifle, cartridge, projectile, etc. are meaningless unless you have the basic shooting skills and you then practice and confirm zero, etc. I saw multiple unfilled tags by hunters who had not touched any kind of rifle since the previous season.

 

[7mm-08 Freak]

I went to NM and WY this year with two different groups of hunters. My best observation is rifle, cartridge, projectile, etc. are meaningless unless you have the basic shooting skills and you then practice and confirm zero, etc. I saw multiple unfilled tags by hunters who had not touched any kind of rifle since the previous season.

If I had the money to spend on an high end hunt you can bet your ass I'd be shooting MONTHS before we left for the hunt. Such a waste...

 

[kthomas]

yes there will be but for right now, this hunting season that OP is talking about that's it.
and all these people posting talking about building rifles in it right now that's the only option, or leave it in the safe until components become available.

That's a fair point.

I guess I glossed over that, I didn't think anyone would be building a rifle they intended to hunt with this year with only two months left.

 

[KYAggie]

I went to NM and WY this year with two different groups of hunters. My best observation is rifle, cartridge, projectile, etc. are meaningless unless you have the basic shooting skills and you then practice and confirm zero, etc. I saw multiple unfilled tags by hunters who had not touched any kind of rifle since the previous season.

This is the absolute truth. I went to Texas a few weeks ago to hunt a 3000 acre ranch for scimitar oryx. I went to the range multiple times with my 300 win mag and practiced in multiple field like shooting positions out to 400 yards; which was as far as I felt ethical shooting wise at the moment in the field. I bagged a Oryx at 100 yards and a Axis doe at 70 yards. Both one shot and down.

Two other guys showed up at the lodge the day before I left; both from komyfornia. One guy took his bolt out of his gun and couldn’t get it back in. After the two of them gave up, they asked me. I looked it over carefully, showed him that his bolt had decocked somehow when he removed it, I showed him how to fix it, and he was back in business. The second guy took one shot at a Japanese Sitka and fortunately put it down with that one shot because the bolt broke off his rifle when he tried to chamber another round. He said something about the bolt being kind of stiff, but he was sure he had cleaned the last time he shot it over a year ago……insert eye roll! Good grief, this is pathetic, but sadly likely the norm these days.

Practice, practice, practice! You can’t make up for a lack of practice no matter how G-wiz your rifle/scope combo is.

 

[NJRaised]

Let me rephrase…. We can’t rifle hunt in nj, I don’t have any “hunting rifles”. Please don’t confuse this with me not shooting or being out of practice.

This hunt will be fall of 2023, so there’s a lot of time left, but I want the rifle complete well before I leave.

On the menu for next year will be mule deer, black bear, ibex, and fingers crossed a elk tag. Brown bear is a maybe for a couple years after, but I don’t want to have to build another rifle for that.

 

[davsco]

tikka t3x lite. replace barrel with proof carbon prefit 300wm or wsm. replace stock with mesa precision altitude stock. add on an area419 hellfire brake, makes it a pussycat (albeit very loud, wear elec muffs).

or, just a stock tikka. i believe they make some now that come threaded for a brake (i'm a lefty so didn't have that option when i got my two).

 

[davsco]

I saw multiple unfilled tags by hunters who had not touched any kind of rifle since the previous season.

damn all that time and money, wasted, by not being able to hit/kill an animal, what a total shame.

at altitude, buck fever, crappy shooting position, definitely need to practice shooting and get solid dope for your gun.

 

[SeekingNorth]

308 Win
Tikka T3x Lite SS
Upgrade stock if you like... Or
McMillan Sako Hunter or any other stock you want. I like the Sako Hunter model. Looks like a hunting rifle and not a competition rifle.
Chop barrel to 18-20"
Add suppressor
Sportsmatch rings
Two spare magazines

No need to upgrade trigger!!
Just turn a small screw to lighten it.
Its proven itself to be one of the best and most reliable triggers on the market!!!
It is after all a sporterized Sako TRG action..

Why 308Win...
Its a light recoiling caliber, even more with suppressor. You will find ammunition everywhere!!
Its point and shoot out to 300 yards and will kill anything in the US out to 500yards easily.
Barrels lasts 10.000+ rounds.

Tikka T3x Lite SS costs new what, $8-900 in the US.. Its around $1400-1600 in Europe. Its a bargain!!

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Stick with something in a common caliber, no way in hell you’ll find 7PRC ammo sitting on a shelf even by next season.

Tikka T3X Lite SS in 7MM Rem Mag or 308, the Vortex LHT of your choosing, and one of the new Spuhr hunting vortex mounts. Then feed it Barnes ammo. Spend the $1700 left over from your rifle budget on another hunt.

I know boujee is cool and I’ve been there but there’s literally nothing that a $2500 rifle will do in the woods that a $800 Tikka won’t.

 

[rockn30809]

Boring ass .30-06 been killing shit dead all over the North American continent forever.

 

[diverdon]

This hunt will be fall of 2023, so there’s a lot of time left, but I want the rifle complete well before I leave.

Actually the way things are you might almost be kinda last minute.

 

[Forrest84]

Just finished this rifle for my brother it has a LHT on it and you can just build it in a medium action or long action form but it’s a beautiful handling rifle and is still very light. I’ll start load development Sunday.

Bighorn origin
Proof carbon 22”
Trigger tech special
Manners LRH
Hawkins flush bottom metal

 

[The D]

I have a origin short action build already, love it.

I was leaning towards another origin, cf prefit, krg bravo.

So many good calibers to choose from now.

I’m drawn to 7PRC

If you already have an origin just buy a new barrel and bolt head(if needed) for whatever cartridge you want(.30-06 will do whatever you want and is available everywhere)

Edit: Actually, you mentioned a possibility of hunting brown bear. You’ll need some more power for them. But the original premise still stands. Buy the bolt head and barrels that you want instead of entirely new rifles

 

[Edds]

Help spend my money….

I will be heading out west this year for hunting season. I’m planning on one gun for anything (I live in NJ, we can’t rifle hunt here, so I have no big game rifles).

I want one rifle that can’t handle just about anything (brown/black bear, elk, goats, deer).


I would like to build on a custom action. I want to be on the lighter end. I don’t want my shoulder dislocated every shot.

I’m leaning towards a 7PRC and a Vortex LHT Razor (not sure on magnification)

For them seasoned hunters, please give me some guidance .

For your game list, 300 Win Mag. For a modern version, 30 Nosler.

 

[triumph001]

Seekins PH2 would be the direction I would head. I feel like I post this answer every couple weeks when a new “help spend my money on a hunting rifle” thread comes up. I will say you are unique because you upped the ante to include bears that will eat you. In your case the long action in at least some 30 cal magnum would be a safe bet. You can always start with a 7 PRC or 7 rem mag and then buy another barrel from Seekins in 338 win mag or 300 PRC to go after the mean shit!

It is hard to piece something together more cost effective than a Seekins!

Havak PH2

Havak PH2 With its newly designed, lightweight carbon composite stock and hand-bedded barreled action, this rifle is able to handle mother nature's extreme conditions providing the hunter with repeatable accuracy and Seekins' unparalleled reliability.

seekinsprecision.com

 

[JsnSanko]

Including the bears (as a western hunter who has harvested multiple Elk), I would consider something starting at .338WM as a start.

Even for elk I hear a lot of stories and have met plenty of people who have lost 6.5CM shot Elk. Personal opinion on that is poor bullet selection (match/ELDX factory type ammo) and shot placement. Elk are large boned animals. Yes the Swiss have been shooting Moose with 6.5 for a long time but those were mainly with round nose bullets.

A .338 Win Mag would be my choice as a min, with a pick your poison .300 as a back up. The bears (Brown/Grizz) really change this equation.

Even on deer/antelope a .338 wouldn’t be an overkill, just pick your bullet/load. Drop would be a concern on longer shots. For any of the game bullet selection would be key.

 

[SeekingNorth]

Yes the Swiss have been shooting Moose with 6.5 for a long time but those were mainly with round nose bullets.

Swiss? SWISS?

Its a Norwegian/Swedish..

 

[KYAggie]

Even for elk I hear a lot of stories and have met plenty of people who have lost 6.5CM shot Elk. Personal opinion on that is poor bullet selection (match/ELDX factory type ammo) and shot placement. Elk are large boned animals. Yes the Swiss have been shooting Moose with 6.5 for a long time but those were mainly with round nose bullets.

I’ll add that the Swiss don’t have the addiction to sniper game a long range with 6.5’s like people here do with their CM’s and PRC’s. They take careful close range shots with stout 6.5 bullets. Stuff a Partition, Swift A frame, Barns TTSX, etc in a CM or PRC, limit your shot to 250 yards, and be anal about shot placement and I’m sure it would work, but elk rarely give you the time to be overly picky about a perfect broadside shot. Hence the need for a 30 cal or larger with a similar bullet make as above.

 

[Aftermath]

280 Ackley Improved
Titanium, carbon fiber
Swarovski
Dial in 140's for deer, sheep, goats, antelope. 180ish for everything else on the list.

 

[30338]

Guessing OP doesn't reload. Some pretty famous Brown Bear guides recommend 30-06 with heavy partitions. I'd buy an off the shelf 30-06 and a Nightforce 2.5-10, seekins rail and rings and get shooting.

We've seen a number of elk killed very well with 6.5x47. Same goes for black bears, mule deer, antelope, etc. So if you took brown bear off the list, I'd without hesitation say 6.5 Creedmoor. Those bulls, bears, mule deer, etc all succumbed to 140 Berger VLD through shoulders or just behind shoulders. Longest shots for us using those were 500 yards. No animals lost. Last animal I saw lost was about 12 years ago and was a bull elk shot with a 300 win magnum. Learn to shoot, stuff dies.

Hit the easy button, 30-06 or 6.5 creedmoor.

Cleaning this over the counter, public land bull right now killed with a 6.5x47, 140vld load. Never took a step after shoulder shot.

 

[jbuck88]

If brown bear is a possibility start around the 300prc and consider the 338's.

I can't think of a light recoiling rifle I'd take bear hunting. Although you may consider something like the ARC actions. I have a Archimedes with 6.5cm and 300wsm barrels and bolt heads.

Please understand that for every person who tells you the 6.5 cm/prc/47/55 works for elk there are way more stories that don't get told about wounding animals and animals that are shot never to be recovered. They will work just fine in the right conditions and my backup rifle is a 6.5cm, but it is a handicap versus my primary 300wsm. I can't take the same shots I would with a larger cartridge.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

If brown bear is a possibility start around the 300prc and consider the 338's.

I can't think of a light recoiling rifle I'd take bear hunting. Although you may consider something like the ARC actions. I have a Archimedes with 6.5cm and 300wsm barrels and bolt heads.

Please understand that for every person who tells you the 6.5 cm/prc/47/55 works for elk there are way more stories that don't get told about wounding animals and animals that are shot never to be recovered. They will work just fine in the right conditions and my backup rifle is a 6.5cm, but it is a handicap versus my primary 300wsm. I can't take the same shots I would with a larger cartridge.

People kill pissed off charging grizzlies with 9mm, .357 mag, 10mm, and 45’s every year. Would I choose one of those to go hunt a brown bear or any bear? No, but it makes it obvious that you don’t need a big 30 cal magnum or 338 to kill a grizzly. I think this fudd psychology that’s engrained in peoples brains is probably from making piss poor shots and blaming it on the rifle not being powerful enough. Poke a high velocity hole through the vitals, brain or major artery and shit dies.

And yes, 6.5 is perfectly adequate for Elk, people are dropping them consistently with 223’s LOL.

 

[jbuck88]

Ok. I'll be a Fudd. If I'm considering brown bear I'm taking a 338win mag or larger. And I agree that a 6.5cm is adequate for elk, but it's not ideal. Again I'll stand by my assertion that for for every elk killed with a 6.5cm there are tons that run off injured.

 

[The D]

…which is why OP should choose something with easily changeable bolt heads/barrels.

OP, if you don’t want to single feed rounds because your current rifle is a short action just get a long action something-that-accepts-prefits and swap between situations

Firearm LEGOS are awesome(this should probably go in my signature line somewhere)

 

[SeekingNorth]

…which is why OP should choose something with easily changeable bolt heads/barrels.

A Blaser R8

 

[The D]

A Blaser R8

This is awesome but probably a tad outside of OP’s budget

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Ok. I'll be a Fudd. If I'm considering brown bear I'm taking a 338win mag or larger. And I agree that a 6.5cm is adequate for elk, but it's not ideal. Again I'll stand by my assertion that for for every elk killed with a 6.5cm there are tons that run off injured.

Tons that run off injured per one killed

If you add up all the fudds grazing them across the ass cheeks when they flinch from anticipating their lightweight magnum rifle knocking the shit out of them that they zero’d on a led sled because they’re afraid to shoot it, then consider how few people go after elk with a 6.5 creed just due to cartridge popularity, you might be right.

 

[DJL2]

This is the absolute truth. I went to Texas a few weeks ago to hunt a 3000 acre ranch for scimitar oryx. I went to the range multiple times with my 300 win mag and practiced in multiple field like shooting positions out to 400 yards; which was as far as I felt ethical shooting wise at the moment in the field. I bagged a Oryx at 100 yards and a Axis doe at 70 yards. Both one shot and down.

Two other guys showed up at the lodge the day before I left; both from komyfornia. One guy took his bolt out of his gun and couldn’t get it back in. After the two of them gave up, they asked me. I looked it over carefully, showed him that his bolt had decocked somehow when he removed it, I showed him how to fix it, and he was back in business. The second guy took one shot at a Japanese Sitka and fortunately put it down with that one shot because the bolt broke off his rifle when he tried to chamber another round. He said something about the bolt being kind of stiff, but he was sure he had cleaned the last time he shot it over a year ago……insert eye roll! Good grief, this is pathetic, but sadly likely the norm these days.

Practice, practice, practice! You can’t make up for a lack of practice no matter how G-wiz your rifle/scope combo is.

About as proud as I've ever been of my field shooting was tranquilizing 3x waterbucks. I was with some buddies helping out a ranch manager. After I darted the first, they all collectively decided I'd do the next two as well. Three perfect shots - felt a little like the guy's son there for a second.

People kill pissed off charging grizzlies with 9mm, .357 mag, 10mm, and 45’s every year. Would I choose one of those to go hunt a brown bear or any bear? No, but it makes it obvious that you don’t need a big 30 cal magnum or 338 to kill a grizzly. I think this fudd psychology that’s engrained in peoples brains is probably from making piss poor shots and blaming it on the rifle not being powerful enough. Poke a high velocity hole through the vitals, brain or major artery and shit dies.

And yes, 6.5 is perfectly adequate for Elk, people are dropping them consistently with 223’s LOL.

Shhhh, don't tell them about Rokslide or THIS thread... they're not ready. Just from a pure, cold hard logic standpoint a 6.5 Creed is leaps and bounds more lethal than any bow you can carry into the field. There's an intersection somewhere for each shooter between confidence/capability with the gun (declining as recoil energy/velocity increases) and margin for error (increasing as recoil increases).

 

[jbuck88]

Just from a pure, cold hard logic standpoint a 6.5 Creed is leaps and bounds more lethal than any bow you can carry into the field. There's an intersection somewhere for each shooter between confidence/capability with the gun (declining as recoil energy/velocity increases) and margin for error (increasing as recoil increases).

A bow doesn't kill by energy transfer and shock. It kills by slicing up the chest cavity.

But yes there is a intersection between the ability to handle recoil and ability for the bullet to work. I think the 6.5cm is adequate. I just think it's on the bottom end of adequate. So if your able to go bigger, why not.

But like I said before I'll be the Fudd with a larger rifle if big game is on the menu. Especially if your talking large carnivores.

 

[DJL2]

A bow doesn't kill by energy transfer and shock. It kills by slicing up the chest cavity.

But yes there is a intersection between the ability to handle recoil and ability for the bullet to work. I think the 6.5cm is adequate. I just think it's on the bottom end of adequate. So if your able to go bigger, why not.

But like I said before I'll be the Fudd with a larger rifle if big game is on the menu. Especially if your talking large carnivores.

That's sort of my point - everyone seems to agree that putting a pointy stick into an animal is humane and good to go, but then loses their shit when someone wants to take a vastly more capable platform into the field to the same end. I'm not an elk hunter, don't have a dog in this fight or skin in the game. It's just an observation. I've got buddies that hunt EVERYTHING with a .300 Win Mag - works fine for them. There's a huge amount of personal preference and bias that goes into hunting.

 

[Mike Islander]

Tikka and Nightforce if you want a reliable combo. 308 covers all game in North America. You will have a tack driver with mild recoil that you can beat the hell out of without losing accuracy.

 

[bubbaokie]

I’ve hunted and killed elk since 1973 and used a 338 win mag and wouldn’t feel under gunned with a 338 for brown bear. The last two years have been 6.5 STW for elk. I wouldn’t feel under gunned with a 6.5 Creed on any black bear, elk or deer hunt.

 

[Junco Grande]

The 7 PRC is the buzz, and is appealing, but it's like a giant carrot being dangled right now. Everyone has a barrel but no ammo available. Maybe by next year it will be better. I loved to hate the 6.5 PRC until I got one. a 7RM will do what the PRC will do at normal hunting ranges.
I say it every time, the Origin/Proof combination is hard to beat. You can find a MK5 and NX8 in the 1500 range fairly easily as well.

 

[spamassassin]

Any old off the shelf .300wm or .338wm will do the trick. Everything on top of that is want, not need.

 

[wadebrown]

7 mm bullet would be ok for all NA animals except for browns, grizzly and polar bears. I would feel very undergunned going after an animal that can weigh 4-5 times more than me has teeth made for shredding meat and breaking bone with a bullet in a caliber less than 338. In the event that the unfortunate happens and you need to kill one of the big bears to save yourself the shooting will be up close and personal and you will want to plow through whatever bone is between you and the central nervous system. Yes a well placed 7 mm may reach the CNS a 338, 375, ... will spread out a lot more bone shards that me disrupt the CNS along with the hunk of lead or in place of it.

I hunt black bears every spring in canada, I do not ever envision needing to shoot a black bear that is attacking me and I use either my 9.3 x 62 or 375 Ruger shooting solid copper bullets. I use a lot more gun than is needed for black bears but I like to be able to put two good sized holes and get to the vitals on any angle if a big boar does not cooperate and give me a classic broadside shot. The bears usually make it about 25 feet before expiring so tracking is not needed but if it is two holes are better than one.

On bullets: A friend of mine who was hunting with me in Sask took a beautiful spring cinnamon that was about 250 pounds with his 375 Ruger using Sierra GameKing bullet (I forget the weight) and the remnants of the bullet was found in the leather never achieving a second hole. A second hole was not needed as the bear decided to give up right away but it reinforced why I shoot solids, although a partition or bonded cup and core would have punched a second hole in that bear.

Just my thoughts,
wade

 

[XTREM HTR16]

Bullets matter more than headstamp.

Figure out what bullet you wish to use, and build around that.

I haven't ever hunted bear, but I've killed deer and bull elk with 6.5 SAUM/139 scenar, and 7 SAUM/175 Berger elite hunter. All of them one shot kills from 140 to 400 yards. Gonna try a 300 win mag with Berger 215 hybrid for a bull elk in 2024 just because....

Oh, and all of them suppressed.