Light hunting rifle - any point to .25MOA capable?

[Dwubyd]

I am looking at building a drool worthy 7PRC hunting rifle around 6lbs excl scope. Is it worth using an custom action capable of 0.25MOA or better in a light rifle? Will the movement during recoil make such accuracy potential wasted?

 

[NZ_Fclass]

A good out of the box light rifle - worth a look. NZ F-class team are using his barrels. The Hybrid is a really pretty rifle

Hardy Rifle | HOME | New Zealand

Home of The HYBRID and PROJECT X, Hardy Barrels, Suppressors, Muzzle Brakes, and Nightforce Optics. A supreme shooting experience, no compromise.

www.hardyrifle.com

 

[Dwubyd]

Hardy rifles look like a great option. Perhaps the one with the MDT NNT26 stock. I picked that stock because it has a full length Arca rail. I want to use it for a bipod and also for attaching to a tripod. Alternatively I could go for a traditional stock and use a tripod with a clamp.

 

[Dwubyd]

PURPOSE: stalking deer and pigs in Victoria, Australia. Min legal calibre is 270. Most shots are under 100m. Also want to be capable of reaching out to 600m, plus I just like accurate rifles! The distance and min calibre led me to 7PRC.
FEATURES:
7PRC, light, flush cups, prefer ARCA rail for bipod and tripod, carbon barrel for weight and being able to shoot repeated shots and looks pretty! I will be hand loading.
CANDIDATES: ($AUD)
- Fierce carbon rival xp $6000
- Bergara B14 Crest Carbon $3800
- MDT HNT26, IBI Carbon barrel, Ultimatum HMB action (All stocked by Cleaver) $6100
- MDT HNT26, Proof Research Carbon barrel, Surgeon or similar action $7800
- Hardy $8800

Maybe a Nightforce NX8 2.5-20 scope.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

I would not get exited about an Ultimatum action. I am looking after one at the moment and the bolt shows wear at the front right side and on the left side at the rear - ie. somethings not straight! I don't like wobbly bolt heads either (as per Savage).

 

[Rtheurer]

I have done a couple light weight rifles on Tikka Actions because of the Aluminum action, Just about as light as all this high end ti stuff.

The Last one a 7 RSAUM with a Carbon Fiber Bartlien Barrel on it. night Force NXS- 8 on it.
I get a kick out of most folks that think they want an ultra light weight rifle and expect to be able shoot sub MOA or Sub 1/2 MOA with it.
Ultra light rifles ARE HARD TO SHOOT! The high quality Muzzle breaks available today make it a ton easier than just 15 years ago but... still hard to shoot small groups consistently with them. Makes me chuckle a little inside.

 

[Lefty2506]

PURPOSE: stalking deer and pigs in Victoria, Australia. Min legal calibre is 270. Most shots are under 100m. Also want to be capable of reaching out to 600m, plus I just like accurate rifles! The distance and min calibre led me to 7PRC.
FEATURES:
7PRC, light, flush cups, prefer ARCA rail for bipod and tripod, carbon barrel for weight and being able to shoot repeated shots and looks pretty! I will be hand loading.
CANDIDATES: ($AUD)
- Fierce carbon rival xp $6000
- Bergara B14 Crest Carbon $3800
- MDT HNT26, IBI Carbon barrel, Ultimatum HMB action (All stocked by Cleaver) $6100
- MDT HNT26, Proof Research Carbon barrel, Surgeon or similar action $7800
- Hardy $8800

Maybe a Nightforce NX8 2.5-20 scope.

The short answer is no, there is no practical point in .25 moa accuracy if you're shooting deer and hogs out to 100m. Having said that, do you really need a point to have a .25 moa rifle?

Personally, I don't see any reason for a carbon fiber barrel. Pound for pound, I don't think the addition of the carbon fiber will do you any favors in regards to accuracy with a 7PRC.

Looks like $1 AUS is about $0.66 USD, so if your budget is $5,800 USD (plus another $2k USD) for glass, I'd think you could piece together just about anything you wanted for that price. Not exactly sure under what conditions you want to be able to shoot 600m but I'd be inclined to spend about 1/3 of that budget on a light weight hunting rifle for shooting out to 300 yds, and use the rest for something more dedicated to shooting farther.

Not trying to be a jerk here, but have you shot 600m?

 

[Clancy]

I don’t know if there are custom builders over there, I’d assume so, but I’d built it and save money.

Also, carbon barrels are a guaranteed path toward NOT shooting 1/4 moa. Oh, believe me, I’ve seen the advertisements as well, but it’s simply not true, especially not in large calibers. I’ve seen one or two guns that wore carbon barrels and could shoot quarter minute groups with some sort of regularity, and they were both small 22 calibers.

On the other hand, getting a 6 pound rifle to shoot quarter moa (5 shot groups) is a tall order with any barrel.

 

[ballisticdaddy]

With a maximum range of 600M it seems that 7PRC is overkill, have you by chance shot a magnum caliber like this in a lightweight 6 pound rifle?

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

For an actual hunting/field rifle if the first 2 shots are less than bullet diameter apart @ 100 yards(meters), and will hold a zero over time(several trips to the range) what would be gained by 3-5 shots .25 moa.

 

[Bill K]

Personally, I don't see any reason for a carbon fiber barrel. Pound for pound, I don't think the addition of the carbon fiber will do you any favors in regards to accuracy with a 7PRC.

I have read several reports and tests, that seem to show that after about the 3rd or 4th shot in a carbon fiber barrel, groups start opening up. But for a hunting rifle, where you only shoot one or two shots at a game animal they will aid in holding down weight of a given rifle.

 

[SVT_Tactical]

Titanium action, 1or 2# trigger, Match barrel in a shorter petite contour, carbon stock, match trigger...... Talley one piece ring mounts with your optic. Done.

My 300wsm hunting gun is an older remington titanium with a pencil shilen barrel in a carbon stock. With a leupold 4-12 it's about 6#s total. I have less than $2500 in the whole rig and will put the first 3 cold bore shots in the same hole.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

A large magnum rifle with a lightweight stock, TI action, and #2 sporter contour barrel, is probably not gonna produce actual consistent 1/4 MOA accuracy out at long range.

Most of today’s factory rifles will deliver more accuracy than you need for hunting. Could grab a lightweight Tikka off a shelf and you’d be hard pressed to build a more accurate rifle in the same platform using a custom action and barrel. Honestly, 1 MOA is all you need out to 500 yards/meters and many factory rifles can produce better accuracy than that with good hand loads. If you plan on shooting animals farther than 500 yards, then maybe I would start taking a look at a custom build. Otherwise, save money with a good factory rifle and focus your spending on a top quality optic because that’s what really makes the difference.

 

[Pyscodog]

I bought a Tikka T3x Lite Veil in 6.5 PRC. I think for a hunting rifle you will be hard pressed to find something that shoots better. Its fairly light and extremely accurate and the recoil isn't bad at all.

That;s a 3 shot group at 100yds with 130 Bergers, Not .25 but bet its pretty close.

 

[Lefty2506]

"I have read several reports and tests, that seem to show that after about the 3rd or 4th shot in a carbon fiber barrel, groups start opening up. But for a hunting rifle, where you only shoot one or two shots at a game animal they will aid in holding down weight of a given rifle."

My point was that for the first 2 or maybe 3 shots, I'm not convinced that the carbon fiber adds significantly to the accuracy of the rifle. No doubt that it cuts down on the weight, but so does using a barrel with a light hunting profile. There's a LOT that goes in to making 1st shot hits from a cold bore at 600 yds. The barrels ability to shoot tiny 3 to 5 shot groups at 100 yds plays a smaller role than most hunters think.

 

[K22]

A 6 lbs. 1/4" moa deer rifle capable of taking deer at 600 meters!

Well, I have been chastised more than once for offering sensible and practical advice on this forum because this forum is called "accurate shooters" where ultimate accuracy is the goal. I guess this thread proves it. So will pass on offering any sensible and practical advice, at least this time.

 

[STOMP442]

My thoughts and experiences. The 7PRC is probably the last choice in 7mm I would pick for .25MOA accuracy. I have built 5 or 6 of them now and everyone of them has been a struggle to get to half MOA. I have not been impressed with that cartridge at all and I have found that somewhere around 2800fps with a 180 seems to be their sweet spot. I would just shoot a 284 Win at that point. Way more efficient and extremely accurate cartridge. The tried and true 7 Mag will get you way more performance and in my experience also much easier to tune. As far as light rifles go my preference is somewhere around 9lbs. Any lighter and you start sacrificing stability, and performance. I always tell people to loose a couple pounds or cut weight from the pack. Much easier and cheaper than cutting it from the rifle. When hunting game at any range but especially at longer ranges a stable shooting platform is a must and the ultra light stuff just isn't that.

 

[L.Sherm]

I always tell people to loose a couple pounds or cut weight from the pack

I've said this forever.

 

[drover]

I have done a couple light weight rifles on Tikka Actions because of the Aluminum action, Just about as light as all this high end ti stuff.

I think you are in error about the Tikka having an aluminum action, they are steel. The original T3 had an aluminum recoil lug, perhaps that is what you are thinking of.
Regardless the Tikka is a relatively lightweight action that is machined very precisely and are hard to beat for building a lightweight rifle.

drover

 

[RabbitSlayer]

Overkill. Deer and pigs are not elk. You are more likely to get it shooting good if its not a magnum. Anything 270 and up in power is going to crush em with a good bullet. A gun can't be too accurate, but its a case of diminishing returns for the money and effort. 1 moa is easy and cheap, .5 moa requires good equipment and load development, under .5 is a rabbit hole of money and effort unless you just get lucky.