Hunting & Fishing Multipurpose Rifle... what is your opinion?

[S3th]

I'm looking to build a multipurpose bolt rifle for PRS, long-range shooting and hunting. The majority of the rifle's use will be at the range (90% of the time) and equal parts PRS/Hunting (10% of the time) which are "seasonal". The total scoped rifle weight is roughly 16.5lbs. I am debating on chambering the rifle in 6GT or 6.5PRC. For whatever reason, I am not interested in a 6.5 Creedmoor... don't ask why cause I don't know lol.

Hunting will be mostly wild boar & whitetail with mule deer and antelope in the plans.

6GT: 109gr Bergers @~3,000fps (PRS/Range/Long Range Hunting) & 90gr GMX @~3,300fps (Hunting <300 yards); estimated
6.5PRC: 156 Bergers @~3,000fps (PRS/Range/Long Range Hunting) & 120gr GMX @~3,300fps (Hunting <400 yards); estimated

I have never competed in PRS but I would like to try it out throughout the year.

Thanks for all of the information and opinions! I've decided on running a 6.5CM, lol.

 

[Huskydriver]

AXMC and be done....

 

[verdugo60]

I have an AXMC and it's not really ideal for hunting, too heavy to carry far or shoot off hand, and is probably not the best for PRS/NRL either.

OP: you will find that there is no do-all rifle. We have searched. You can come close with a few but you will always be giving something up.

You are not unique, many people starting have the same thought. If you don't mind walking with it you could get a good 6mm Creedmoor around 12-15 lbs. It wouldn't be outlandish to hunt with, has factory ammo, and matches a great and proven hunting cartridge ballistcally; the 243 Winchester.

It also wouldn't be too bad off barricades in some local matches. Put a good brake or suppressor on it. You're not going to be winning your first matches anyways, lol. Then as you get more into things you can build separate specialized rifles. 6.5 PRC is too much recoil to be competitive in PRS stuff off unsupported positions. 6mm (and trending smaller) rule that game for a reason.

 

[verdugo60]

Ironically for what you're looking at doing a 6.5 Creedmoor would actually probably split the difference pretty well if stuck with one caliber, lol. Depending on budget you have a few options.

Tikka CTR 6.5 Creedmoor, Seekins Havak, GAP production rifle, Bergara.

If you wanted to be really clever buy a Bighorn Origin action with a 308 bolt face to start. You could get a 6mm Creedmoor pre-fit to do everything or start off with a 6GT barrel. Drop it in a chassis or stock of your choosing that allows 10rd mags for comps/range and a 5 rd AICS mag for hunting. Then you can swap bolt heads and do a short action magnum barrel like a 6.5 PRC, 7 SAUM, etc for hunting if you go for big mulies or elk. Then you also have the option of going to 223 bolt head for a practice barrel. The gun could grow and change with you as you decide what your real interest is going to be. See thread below for ideas.

Bighorn Origin Build Thread

Post your Bighorn Origin builds here. Mine is another masterpiece by Jon Beanland. Bighorn Origin #3 Bartlein 5R chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor finished at 24” McMillan Adjustable Game Scout in Desert Carbon Ambush Triggertech Diamond APA Bottom Metal Bighorn 20 MOA rail SWFA rings Bushnell 3-12...

www.snipershide.com

 

[GMZ]

DT SRS A2 Covert in 6 or 6.5 CM.

 

[BiggBeans]

6.5cm, manners stock, barreled action of your choice. Good all around rifle.

 

[S3th]

I have an AXMC and it's not really ideal for hunting, too heavy to carry far or shoot off hand, and is probably not the best for PRS/NRL either.

OP: you will find that there is no do-all rifle. We have searched. You can come close with a few but you will always be giving something up.

You are not unique, many people starting have the same thought. If you don't mind walking with it you could get a good 6mm Creedmoor around 12-15 lbs. It wouldn't be outlandish to hunt with, has factory ammo, and matches a great and proven hunting cartridge ballistcally; the 243 Winchester.

It also wouldn't be too bad off barricades in some local matches. Put a good brake or suppressor on it. You're not going to be winning your first matches anyways, lol. Then as you get more into things you can build separate specialized rifles. 6.5 PRC is too much recoil to be competitive in PRS stuff off unsupported positions. 6mm (and trending smaller) rule that game for a reason.

This year I hunted whitetail with my 26lb 6BR and it was doable but quite a pain as one could imagine. I think based on what you said, I'm leaning heavily towards the 6GT. This will be built on an LPA Fuzion so spinning up two prefit barrels isn't out of the realm of possibility. I believe the 6GT cartridge will be of equal success that my 6BR (which I sold) was but significantly lighter and pushing bullets roughly 10%+ faster. I think the 90gr would put a smacking on deer & perform well in every environment I mentioned. I'll toss the 6.5CM around again but I am just not feeling it...

 

[Slab74]

Don’t be like me and try to split the difference. I’ve done this and I always end up buying the magical tweener rifle and then buying the other two rifles that I should have bought in the first place. I’ve done it with pistols too. My safes are very full. ?

 

[verdugo60]

Yeah a 14 lb 6 GT vs a 26 lb match rifle would be lots different walking for whitetail. I built a carbon fiber barreled Proof 6.5 CM on a Tikka action that comes to 9 lbs scoped, it's a great general purpose gun.

Same could be done in 6CM or GT. You can trend towards hunting with carbon fiber and titanium or match with steel and weighted chassis but you're giving something up either way. One in the middle will work OK for both but not excel in either. For some people and budgets that's just fine... Until it isn't, lol. That's when options like prefits and swappable bolt heads can be nice.

 

[Fig]

All good advice. Do-it-all means do nothing well when it’s rifles or really any other tools.
I would only say that chasing Wapiti in the mountains is a lot different hunting than ambushing deer from a stand...
I can carry a Solothurn out to a deer stand, but climbing and dropping 4K’ every day calling to bulls is another story entirely.

 

[TangoSierra916]

I agree the do it all rifle is a tough find but if you're going for hunting/PRS and rang time the AI AT is an option. .308 or 6.5cm for either application, lighter than the AXMC, folding stock for long hikes in for a hunt. Still not carbon fiber light but relatively inexpensive for the capability you get, you can always go PROOF barrels too to lighten it a bit.

 

[UpSideDown]

I have a Tikka T3X CTR w/ 20" stainless bbl in 6.5cm, in a KRG Bravo chassis, with Vortex Razor 3-18 on it. It's a 14lb gun. I hunt with it but it is not pleasant.

6.5 Creedmoor sounds like a great round for your application. I chose 6.5cm for a similar use case, but I don't compete.

If you already have a 26lb 6BR, why the heck would you want to make a gun to shoot PRS and hunt with, that won't be good at either? Pick a good caliber and build a light gun if you want to hunt. You've already gone to the extreme end of the scale with your existing gun. I cannot possibly see how switching to a different 6mm caliber would possibly offset the loss of taking 10 pounds off of a gun.

Why not just get a dedicated lightweight hunting gun in .308?

 

[txguero]

Since you seem pretty set against 6.5 Creedmoor (which really seems like a good choice for what you’re wanting), I’d say to look into a 260 Remington or 6.5x47. The middleweight 6.5s are really pretty great for do-all.

 

[txguero]

Forgot to mention but I’m also a huge fan of 7mm-08, however, it has a little bit more recoil than most would probably like for PRS type applications.

 

[Long Range 338]

Tikka, Seekins, Nucleus, Bighorn, etc. All of these you are able to get profit barrels for. With the Bighorn and the Nucleus you can also change bolt face size. Rem 700 compatibility for chassis/stock, trigger, etc. and pre fit barrels on the cheap. You can do a hot 6mm with heavy barrel for PRS and a lightweight 7mm-08 carbon fiber for hunting. Swap stocks and barrels if you want and only need one good quality scope. You could do anything from 22CM to 338 Federal, that ought to cover you.

 

[UpSideDown]

If you want something fun that's good for hunting and PRS, how about 6.5-284?

 

[brianf]

We have all tried it...don’t waste your money.
Jack of all trades master of none.

 

[TxWelder35]

 

[isofahunter]

@verdugo60 points in post 4 sound like a good answer for what you are trying to do. You are not chasing first place at a match nor are you sheep hunting. A friend has a Bergara and it is a very nice rifle. There is no perfect do all rifle.

 

[verdugo60]

I have a Tikka T3X CTR w/ 20" stainless bbl in 6.5cm, in a KRG Bravo chassis, with Vortex Razor 3-18 on it. It's a 14lb gun. I hunt with it but it is not pleasant.

6.5 Creedmoor sounds like a great round for your application. I chose 6.5cm for a similar use case, but I don't compete.

If you already have a 26lb 6BR, why the heck would you want to make a gun to shoot PRS and hunt with, that won't be good at either? Pick a good caliber and build a light gun if you want to hunt. You've already gone to the extreme end of the scale with your existing gun. I cannot possibly see how switching to a different 6mm caliber would possibly offset the loss of taking 10 pounds off of a gun.

Why not just get a dedicated lightweight hunting gun in .308?

He mentioned he sold the heavy 6BR.

 

[Batemanb12]

AXMC and be done....

This!!!!

 

[Supersubes]

90% PRS, 10% hunting. Popular topic lately. That’s two rifles, seriously. Don’t do the multi barrel thing, that’s just stupid. Just buy two rifles.

 

[shax2lex]

I think you need to look multi rifle. I hunt with all of my rifles and they are all match rifles. I try to keep my rifles 16lbs or less and modular. If I had extra coin, then I’d buy a Seekins Havak in 6.5 PRC for strictly hunting whatever.

 

[UpSideDown]

I missed that you sold the 6BR, thanks @verdugo60

A good hunting rifle can be $800 all in. You can probably buy a kit gun for $500 and be done. Mass production sub-MOA lightweight guns in common calibers, and effective scopes, are dirt cheap these days. Hunting guns only need to shoot a few rounds a year of a useful caliber and be somewhat precise.

 

[WB300]

Op, what's your budget?

I did this in 2010 and wound up with a rifle that's not ideal for either. With some more $, described below is as close as i came to achieving. My components are different, so I'll taylor it to your specs.

6.5cm (or whatever caliber you choose), Proof Carbon barrel, and have 2 stocks fitted for the action (AI, Mc M, or whatever heavier type bench or PRS stock you want, and a light weight hunting stock).

2 different scopes, both in rings than can easily be switched off/on a picatinny rail. ie Vortex RZR 4.5-27, and a Swarovski.

Weight is just over 16 pounds for range/PRS, and just under 10 pounds for hunting.

Down side is having to confirm zero before switching diciplines. If you are dead set on 1 rig, this is an option. If not, get 2 different rigs.

Hope this helps.

 

[lintond]

IMO a 14# gun is going to get a bit heavy when carrying around for hunting, especially when it isn't a long range magnum. For me the "all purpose" gun would end up being disappointing in both arenas. Plus who doesn't need more guns!

 

[brianf]

if you dong any mountains or heavy hills...14 lbs gets heavy quick
truck to deer stand or 1-2 miles and glass is ok
but 2-3 days of food, tent, water youll want to throw that 14lb stick in the river

believe me i know

 

[Shootnwrench]

1 is a Conglomerate of compromises.

Go for 2 and you won’t be disappointed in either for their respective uses.

 

[longshooter]

If I could have only one, it would be the 300 WinMag. 110 gr to 240 gr, slow to fast, light to heavy, mild to wild. What's not to like?

 

[jwhjwh54]

I'm 90% hunting 10% shooting 40-60 rounds at the range at steel

I have a bergara ridge 6.5 SP and it's pretty good as a dual gun. With a Nightforce nx8 on top, atlas cal, tbac cb7 (I have an ultra 7 on the way) I think it's around 11 pounds. I've got a manners mcs-T on order for it too. 600Y and closer it's great but 750-1250 I start to have trouble. A better shooter probably wouldn't but I've shot rifles more suited for long range and it was a bit easier to hit those longer distances.

I wanted to practice and get as proficient as I could with a rifle I actually hunt with but I think eventually the NF will go on a range gun and the bergara will shift to hunting only with a lighter scope. Those vortex LHT's or the vx5hd with the mil reticle look like good options

 

[Bro Mo]

I'm a fan of the saying, "beware of the man with only one gun, because he probably knows how to use it." I've spent a lot of hours thinking of this exact same thought experiment. I think a Manners Elite Hunter Adjustable with a Proof Carbon Fiber Barrel with brake in the 6.5 creedmoor is about as multipurpose as it gets. I think that ZCO 4-20x that Frank has recently been talking about fits to go on top too.

 

[coldboremiracle]

I understand your not wanting a 6.5CM, both you and anyone interested in the idea need to look at the 25 Creedmoor. It is a superior cartridge when shooting the Blackjack 131 Ace.
If you are interested you can see more info here.

 

[bmash]

Opinion - build it and you will love it for prs and the range and hunting where very little walking is require. But as others said, and my experience, you need something lighter for the walking.

 

[bullseye13]

Buy something really expensive and cool for PRS first. Tell the wife it's going to be the last rifle you'll ever buy. Then when it doesn't work out how you'd like for hunting you can buy a nice hunting rifle.

 

[idahoorion]

Damn the bullet cost alone per year for prs will buy a ruger american or such for a hunting rifle in a different caliber and add a scope and done. wife won't notice after she gets some bullet bills.......
Idahoorion