Medium action 6.5 PRC Zermatt Origin action and Criterion shouldered prefit

[Triggertoe]

Looking at doing a 6.5 PRC for long range whitetail. Since I don’t have a lathe I was looking at the Zermatt Origin with a Criterion prefit. I’m thinking about going with a 26” barrel in varmit. New to building bolt guns and looking for any suggestions or tips. I’ve also considered the 6.8 western but reloading components seem a little harder to get ahold of. Any useful tips or info would greatly be appreciated. Thanks

 

[FisherT&C]

I think 6.5 PRC would fit you needs; good availability for ammo and reloading. Criterion are good barrels too.

 

[codym]

What kind of hunting are you doing? Back packing? Horse back? Stand hunting? How far are your shots going to be? 6.5 prc is a good cartridge, I really like 7 saum. I prefer shouldered prefits to nutted barrels but just preference. I’ve also found it easier to find chassis and stocks in LA or SA although the mediums are getting more common. I built my 7 saum on a LA and have no regrets at all. Can’t go wrong with zermatt have 4 of them and they are great

 

[Triggertoe]

What kind of hunting are you doing? Back packing? Horse back? Stand hunting? How far are your shots going to be? 6.5 prc is a good cartridge, I really like 7 saum. I prefer shouldered prefits to nutted barrels but just preference. I’ve also found it easier to find chassis and stocks in LA or SA although the mediums are getting more common. I built my 7 saum on a LA and have no regrets at all. Can’t go wrong with zermatt have 4 of them and they are great

Mostly stand hunting where I’m at and shooting across open fields 5-700 yards. I had some interest in the 7 saum but wasn’t sure about components for reloading. What primers do you use? Any suggestions on stocks if I do go with the 6.5 PRC? I was originally interested in the Manners EH but didn’t see an option for the medium action.

 

[4O6shootist]

I have a McMillan Game Warden long range 2.0 with a medium origin in it, m5 medium bottom metal, 26" 6.5 Saum hawkhill rem varm. It's a great rifle, very accurate! My smith prefits all zermatt actions and many others. The rifle is a tank 8# no glass, but man it shoots great! It's 11.5# all up to hunt with bipod. Which is fine in open country walks, but it's a lil thikkkk for the mountains I found this last fall.

I was going to run an SR3 medium action, but the beauty of the origin, can utilize the hunts recoil lug, and tl3/sr3 barrels headspace properly on the origin. Kinda handy if you find a 7saum or 300wsm tl3 barrel for a good price, simple swap.

 

[davsco]

i stupidly sold my zermatt tl3 short action 6.5 prc with a proof carbon prefit in a krg bravo. a little heavier and clunkier than i wanted for carrying around hunting. with factory hornady 143 eldx easy button, no prob with mag length. not sure if the bravo will fit a medium action. i guess??? going to a long action may give the cartridges a little slop and possible feeding issues, but would prob have a lot more stock options available, medium doesn't seem to have many options.

 

[4O6shootist]

Manners does inlet for medium zermatt, my friends has a manners cs2 with a origin medium in it. So does AG composite and McMillan.