PRS Which barreled action?

[hacktical]

I need some quick advice on building an r700 based gun here (my first precision rifle).

I have an SPS Tactical 6.5 22" Varmint contour barreled action I can strip out of the stock for roughly $600

I also have a 5R Gen 2 6.5 24" stainless fluted barreled action I can get shipped for about $900.

Both are 1:8" twist.

I am thinking that I may as well go with the 22" and add an aftermarket trigger myself. but have also heard 5R barrels are really impressively accurate even for factory barrels.

Guidance toward either is appreciated.


H

 

[308pirate]

Neither: https://www.snipershide.com/shootin...-rifles/6741169-howa-1500-hcr-in-6-5cm-review

Put a scope and bipod on it and go shoot.

 

[hacktical]

I totally agree with the KISS approach for newbies I happen to have a manners t4a (my favorite stock) for an r700 print and I just enjoy the prospect of building things especially my first precision rifle. I did look at that gun though, heck of a factory rifle (albeit with a heck of a shooter behind it).

 

[bab029]

If you are going to scrap everything but the barreled action then get the SPS and go shoot.

 

[308pirate]

I happen to have a manners t4a (my favorite stock) for an r700 print

Ya that changes things. In that case agree with getting the cheapest of the two options you listed.

 

[hacktical]

Will do. I'm excited to get shooting! Manners t4a mini chassis / Burris xtr2 / sps tactical 22" barreled action...should shoot decently enough...someday I'll drop a custom BA in there.

 

[Sheldon N]

Agree with the cheaper of the two options. Add an aftermarket trigger and a good muzzle brake (APA, Area 419, PVA) and with the rest of the components you listed you'll be ready to rock. Skip the 5R barrel, flutes are a waste for PRS shooting and I'm assuming you'd need to get the muzzle threaded too.

 

[jbailey]

I totally agree with the KISS approach for newbies I happen to have a manners t4a (my favorite stock) for an r700 print and I just enjoy the prospect of building things especially my first precision rifle. I did look at that gun though, heck of a factory rifle (albeit with a heck of a shooter behind it).

You are absolutely right here. No bigger upgrade than getting a good and properly fit stock. This is the best thing you can do to correct the biggest source of problems: you, the human. Plus that Manners will last a life time and you can add all the fancy actions/barrels/triggers/optics over time to it. Great foundation so to speak.

I agree with Sheldon on adding a brake. Like his recommendations. Either APA or PVA for me.

best of luck with your build and shooting.

 

[Hollywood 6mm]

IMO, go with the 5r, as the extra 2" of barrel will give a nice little velocity bump. If you were building a full custom, I'd suggest going to a 26", but the 24" should still get you some respectable velocities.

 

[BCP]

There was a guy selling brand new 700 5R 308 24" actions on gunbroker for 550 bucks. I was gonna get one, stick it in a Grayboe and have it be my other "budget" precision rifle.

 

[hacktical]

@Plank The tempting thing about the 24" is that ballistics wise that looks like it's right on the edge of 2900 fps for some rounds (not the heavy 140+s I don't think, how quantifiable is that?..I'll never know or test).

BCP The Grayboe stocks were very interesting but the chassis in the manners really sold me for the extra money even vs Mcmillan. Being able to drop and action in is comforting, even if I could likely bed it myself with some thought.

@Everyone
Are these brakes plug and play or do I have to do anything unique because of the nature of precision shooting vs like..an AR.

 

[Sheldon N]

@Plank The tempting thing about the 24" is that ballistics wise that looks like it's right on the edge of 2900 fps for some rounds (not the heavy 140+s I don't think, how quantifiable is that?..I'll never know or test).

BCP The Grayboe stocks were very interesting but the chassis in the manners really sold me for the extra money even vs Mcmillan. Being able to drop and action in is comforting, even if I could likely bed it myself with some thought.

@Everyone
Are these brakes plug and play or do I have to do anything unique because of the nature of precision shooting vs like..an AR.

A brake is pretty much a must-have for PRS shooting. about 75% of shooters run brakes, the other 25% run suppressors. I'm not aware of anyone who does without other than maybe the occasional brand new shooter. A brake will help you stay on target, spot your impacts/misses so you can make corrections, and will reduce recoil by about 50%.

All three of the brakes listed above (APA, PVA, Area 419) are user installable and self timing. Just need the barrel to be threaded 5/8-24" on the muzzle. If the barrel doesn't come threaded you'll be paying a gunsmith another $125 or so to do that for you.

Don't worry about the ballistics between 22" and 26" barrels. 26" is the most common but there are national level shooters running 20-22" barrrels.

 

[hacktical]

Both barrels come threaded, PVA is out of brakes it looks like so APA it is.

 

[BCP]

If you're in a free state why not get a brake that can also be used for a suppressor like a surefire? Shims and rocksett are what I use to install them.

 

[hacktical]

When the time comes for a form 3 it'll be on a GAP

 

[DOA]

Don't worry about the ballistics between 22" and 26" barrels. 26" is the most common but there are national level shooters running 20-22" barrrels.

In .308 or are they running 6mm/6.5CM ?

 

[Sheldon N]

All different cartridges, 6mm and 6.5mm. I think someone was even running a 20" 6 Dasher in the PRS finale a year or two ago.

 

[hacktical]

Good reference for barrel length and includes by finish chart. http://precisionrifleblog.com/2015/11/21/precision-rifle-barrels/

 

[hacktical]

Re: all

I went with this brake. I like the look, and it’s on sale compared to the rest here: shop.otmtactical.com/Muzzle-Brakes.html

 

[RichS]

Neither: https://www.snipershide.com/shootin...-rifles/6741169-howa-1500-hcr-in-6-5cm-review

Put a scope and bipod on it and go shoot.

This. Don't see how you can do any better for the money. With their QC problems I would skip Rem altogether.

 

[SporterII]

I have bought four rifles in the past two years. A Howa that was horrible with negative support from Legacy and three Remington's that run very well.
Above post reminds me of industry trolling around like projecting politicians. Not good.

 

[hacktical]

It's just a gun dudes it goes bang or it doesn't. Anecdotal evidence on both sides aside, I'm comfortable with mounting a 700 action in there if I don't find an old one someone's got in a gun safe.

 

[Hollywood 6mm]

@Plank The tempting thing about the 24" is that ballistics wise that looks like it's right on the edge of 2900 fps for some rounds (not the heavy 140+s I don't think, how quantifiable is that?..I'll never know or test).

BCP The Grayboe stocks were very interesting but the chassis in the manners really sold me for the extra money even vs Mcmillan. Being able to drop and action in is comforting, even if I could likely bed it myself with some thought.

@Everyone
Are these brakes plug and play or do I have to do anything unique because of the nature of precision shooting vs like..an AR.

Check Core Shooting for an APA Little Bastard. They're great folks to deal with, and they probably have Gen 2 LBs in stock. I just picked up a Gen 2 Fat Bastard from them a week ago for my new SAUM barrel.

The speeds you're looking at will be for 120-130 grain pills, but when you run the ballistics the 140s in the 2700-2850 range will out-perform the lighter stuff at distance. I realize that there are people in the PRS running shorter barrels (most of the ones I see doing it are also running cans), but if you're planning to run just a brake, I'd rather have the free velocity. My first semi-custom was a GAP built 24" 6 Creedmoor. When I got my first custom built by them, I went with a 26" barrel. The exact same load in both rifles was a full 100FPS faster in the 26" than it was in the 24". Obviously your mileage may vary, but the shorter you go, the bigger the difference you get out of every inch of barrel.

 

[Barney88PDC]

If you ever decide to upgrade do yourself a favor and sell what you have and buy a custom action. They are so much more smooth with less issues than a Remington. As far as brakes go I swapped from APA to Area 419 and I like it better. Use a brake and the longer barrel the better.

If you decide to go with a Surgeon I can help you out and get you a discount.