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Best Rifle for both PRS and Hunting around $2k

PilotPhill

Hello,

The Background: I am in the market for my first bolt gun. After years of shooting pistols in competition for fun, I want to get into the PRS and or NRL competitions. I have basically decided on 6.5 Creedmoor because of its good accuracy/high BC, popularity in competition and hunting, and available and relatively affordable match ammo as I am not yet a reloader for any rifle cartridges. Decent barrel life is a pro too.

The Question: What is the best rifle, for roughly around $2k, that would be most capable both in matches and a bit of hunting?

The Ideas:
Springfields 2020 Waypoint: Lots of great reviews and is on sale for under $1600.

MPA BA MPR Hybrid Hunter at $2400 also looks amazing. More expensive but worth it?

Seekins Precision makes some nice looking stuff too.

There may be others but what do you all recommend? How much would I really be loosing if I went Waypoint over some of the slightly more expensive stuff?

Thank you, Phill
 
Like all hobbies, it's expensive. See what factory competition shooters say about Tikka. Cost a bit less, very simple and well made. 1 moa is all that's needed. A great shooter might be a quarter of the way there after burning the factory barrel out. An ok shooter less than that. Spend a bit more on an optic and other things you'll need unless you already have em. Kestrel, range finder, ammo, bubble level, bipod, ammo, bag, shot timer, more ammo etc, etc. I once fell into the rabbit hole and started with a hot rifle and lost my budget with accessories and ammo. You'll hear a lot of great shooters tell you the most important thing is "just get out and shoot". Those words cannot be overstated. Years ago a well know shooter who I relentlessly asked questions told me this: It's not the arrow, it's the Indian. Wish I could shake his hand for burning it into my memory. The real fun comes in learning how and the addiction comes in learning why.

The rifles you mentioned are pretty good but if your after 1/4 moa or less your best bet is full custom starting at $4500. These guns are true accuracy machines that hold tight tolerances, hard to machine steel and a gunsmith with a proven record. PRS requires 1 MOA and although many great shooters pack a 6BR that prints in the 2's it's not necessary to be competitive or win. The targets aren't that small. Yes, more accurate is better but if you can't run it, it won't win a match for you. Welcome to the sport! It's an unforgettable venture you won't soon forget.
 
I would advise to not get an action that you can not get shouldered prefit barrels for. This way you can change them at home yourself. You can build one yourself now also.

Bighorn Origin $900
Prefit barrel $500-600
KRG Bravo $350
Trigger $140-200

There you have the ability to change barrels at home so you can have a lighter hunting barrel and heavier PRS barrel. Also with the Origin you can change bolt faces for $125 so you can have a .223, 300WSM and a 6.5 Creedmoor on the same action.
 
Rob01 said:
I would advise to not get an action that you can not get shouldered prefit barrels for. This way you can change them at home yourself. You can build one yourself now also.

Bighorn Origin $900
Prefit barrel $500-600
KRG Bravo $350
Trigger $140-200

There you have the ability to change barrels at home so you can have a lighter hunting barrel and heavier PRS barrel. Also with the Origin you can change bolt faces for $125 so you can have a .223, 300WSM and a 6.5 Creedmoor on the same action.
Click to expand...
^^^^^^^^^^^^^ excellent suggestion
Also I'll add, I like the arca rail on my KRG Bravo's.
 
I have 2 Nucleus actions and an Origin. The Origin and 1 Nucleus are both in KRG Bravo's. The other Nucleus is in an MPA Chassis. I've owned 3 MPA 's. If you're looking for less weight go with the KRG Bravo. I also have 2 Oryx Chassis's I like them but the butt is a little high and during cleaning it causes bending of the rod.
 
GA precision has a production class rifle that may be in that ball park. From the couple I have seen they are basically customs but qualify as production. Sorry I am on the way out of the house so can't look it up as I do not know the name of this rifle but i'm sure someone will chime in or you could loook quick.
 
Rob01 said:
I would advise to not get an action that you can not get shouldered prefit barrels for. This way you can change them at home yourself.
Click to expand...

Will quote myself for the OP. The only issueI can see with the MPA is that they say they lap the lugs and with that can change the headspace and not allow shouldered prefits possibly. Something to check with MPA about before buying one.
 
I would be willing to discuss parting with the following,

A) MPA Ultralight Hunter, folder, midnight bronze. Curtis SA 3-lug, .308 bolt face, (1) Proof Carbon 20" .308 barrel, muzzle threaded 5/8X24, (1) Proof Carbon 20" 6.5 Creedmoor barrel, muzzle threaded. Both barrels have the QD tenon. The .308 barrel has ~ 350 rounds through it, the 6.5CM is new. Barrels are not prefits.

B) Seekins Havak Bravo 6.5 Creedmoor, KRG Bravo grey chassis. 340 rounds through it.

C) MPA Ultralight Hybrid chassis, blue smoke, w/ weight kit, Terminus Zeus SA, 3-lug, .308 bolt face, (3) Bartlein 30" .308 heavy palma barrels, muzzle threaded 5/8X24, one is black cerakote and has 1450 rnds through it, 1 is stainless and has 624 rounds, the other is new. All three chambered .308 with the QD tenon. (1) Proof Carbon 24" .308 barrel, muzzle threaded 5/8x24. I also have a Cortina V1 tuner in black for the black barrel. Barrels are not prefits.
Not quite sure I want to cut this setup loose, but we can discuss.
 
Origin - $900
KRG Bravo - $369.99
UrbanRifleman 6.5cm shouldered prefit $499
(NOT sure he does 6.5 as I don't see any 6.5's in his nut barrel prefits) otherwise a Criterion Stainless Select Match nut barrel from NSS with nut for $405
Triggertech Special - $150


$1825... that leaves you money for muzzle threads if you want $75-$100) or a muzzle break and your still at your $2000.

I'll tell you right now you aren't buying any factory rifle that comes close to this build for this money.. and it's no entry level setup.. you can change bolt heads and have multiple calibers to shoot with this setup as you grow
 
I would try to find a Remington 700 Varmint rifle in 6.5 Needmoor. put it in a KRG Bravo stock for now. Have your trigger adjusted. Get a couple of Magpul magazines and go shoot out that barrel. When that barrel is gone. You'll know more your looking for. You can add pieces as you go along.
 
I'd recommend stepping back and prioritize.

NRL hunter has a different set of rules...99.9% of open PRS rifles won't make weight or power factor unless they've changed the regs.

My PRS rifle is 23+ pounds. I'm not going far from the truck hunting with it.


You can absolutely shoot PRS matches with lighter rifles. It's just harder to keep them steady and spot your rounds to get feed back. Also why 6 BR variants are widely popular in PRS..low recoil and good barrel life.


I built my first rifle thinking I'd never wanna shoot a match. Just bang steel and hunt. It was 12-13lbs and 6.5x47. It didn't take long till I put it in a weighted MPA chassis. My next barrel was a 6BRA in a much heavier contour.

I dont have NRL hunter matches around but I have a PRS range down the road so naturally thats where I ended up and now dabbling in matches.


Just some stuff to ponder before you spend a couple grand and realize you wish you went with a different rig.
 
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