Custom 700 or commercial x bolt? 6.5 PRC or 6.8 western

M

mnhunter21

New member
Looking for some input. My hunting rifle collection is missing a good lightweight longer range deer rifle. I currently have .243 and the next step up is 30-06 and 300 RUM which is great long range but also heavy.

I bought a custom .243 middlestead a few years back in Remington 700. Action had been trued up along with upgraded trigger. I have never shot it and am contemplating either putting a new barrel on in 6.5 PRC or 6.8 western. Or just selling and buying a new x bolt in same chambers

Questions for the group.
Are either the 6.5 PRC or 6.8 western just another round that is going to fade away, or are they here to stay?
For a long range, lightweight deer rifle, any other thoughts?
Better off rechambering my middlestead, or selling and getting new xbolt?
 
You mean 22-243 Middlestead ?

Neither choice you mentioned will work with the current rifles bolt face.

6.5 PRC would be my choice if buying or building.
 
What are you consider as long range for this rifle? Reason I ask is that recently I was consistently hitting 12" x 12" steel starting at 300 yards out to 800 yards with my .243 Win using Barnes 80 gr TTSX bullets that I worked up at the reloading bench.

I would never shoot a deer that far with it but would not hesitate out to 500 yards. Beyond that I would grab my 7mm RUM.

I have a couple of buddies that shoot the 6.5 PRC and it is a great round and they really like it. That is probably the route I would go if I was looking to fill the gap between your .243 and 300 RUM.
 
Originally Posted By: mnhunter21Looking for some input. My hunting rifle collection is missing a good lightweight longer range deer rifle. I currently have .243 and the next step up is 30-06 and 300 RUM which is great long range but also heavy.

I bought a custom .243 middlestead a few years back in Remington 700. Action had been trued up along with upgraded trigger. I have never shot it and am contemplating either putting a new barrel on in 6.5 PRC or 6.8 western. Or just selling and buying a new x bolt in same chambers

Questions for the group.
Are either the 6.5 PRC or 6.8 western just another round that is going to fade away, or are they here to stay?
For a long range, lightweight deer rifle, any other thoughts?
Better off rechambering my middlestead, or selling and getting new xbolt?

What's the twist of the 22-243? Assuming it's a slow twist, so.....

Since the 700 has been trued, I'd pull the barrel and re-barrel it to a quick twist 6.5 Creedmoor. (It pains me to say that) I'd take a custom barrel over a X-Bolt any day.

I've built two custom 6.5 PRC's, and love the round. But, depending on your definition of "longer range", the 6.5 CM gives up little to the PRC at sane ranges, with less recoil, a smaller appetite for powder, & longer barrel life.
 
Originally Posted By: alf
Since the 700 has been trued, I'd pull the barrel and re-barrel it to a quick twist 6.5 Creedmoor. (It pains me to say that)


alf, you ok ?!!!
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Just call it a 6.5-243 if it helps you feel better.
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Originally Posted By: Tim NeitzkeOriginally Posted By: alf
Since the 700 has been trued, I'd pull the barrel and re-barrel it to a quick twist 6.5 Creedmoor. (It pains me to say that)


alf, you ok ?!!!
blink.gif


Just call it a 6.5-243 if it helps you feel better.
lol.gif


More specifically, it's really the 6.5-30TC.

Or......6.5-250 semi-improved

Anything but Creedmoor (Crapmore) I'm good with......
 
Since this is a Rem 700 they are very easy for any decent gunsmith to open up the bolt face from .470 to .540 and I'd have a pinned M16 type extractor installed if you decide to go that route. Also, I'd use at least a 3.00 mag box from Wyatt's or better yet get one of their 3.100 "Baney" mag box kits. Neither costs much and in a short action it'll give you plenty of room for using longer OAL with the heavier bullets.

I've had a 6.5 PRC for a couple years now and it shoots very well.

If you want 6.5 PRC performance but don't want to change or mess with having the bolt face opened up I'd go with a 6.5-284 and if you go that route I would definitely have a Wyatt's 3.100 Baney mag box kit installed.

The 6.5 PRC and 6.5-284 are nearly identical ballistic twins.
 
Originally Posted By: Tim Neitzke6.5-250 semi-improved , is that 1/2 Ackley improved ? If so is it 6.5-250 A or 6.5-250 I ?

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Maybe 6.5-250 Half Azzed Improved......

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Originally Posted By: alfOriginally Posted By: Tim Neitzke6.5-250 semi-improved , is that 1/2 Ackley improved ? If so is it 6.5-250 A or 6.5-250 I ?

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Maybe 6.5-250 Half Azzed Improved......

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Or go with the .308 cartridge family(bolt face good) choices from the easy peasy 7-08. Keep it 308(throat it for 150 vld type bullets) or neck down further to 6.5. Cheap/free range brass, good barrel life, 600 yard deer rifle that you can practice with out to a grand. Great deer bullet selection, plus target bullet options.
 
Thanks. I will probably keep the 700 and have the gunsmith open up the face. Probably going PRC route.

400 to 500 yards is max i want to shoot. In reality just looking for an excuse for a new toy!
 
I agree with B23 on the bolt face work. I knew it could be done, but didn't mention it. Heck most anything can be changed or fixed for the right amount of money.
Many times it's not cost effective, however.


Since we are talking smith work, will the feed rails need to be reworked for the PRC?
 
Originally Posted By: Tim Neitzke
Since we are talking smith work, will the feed rails need to be reworked for the PRC?

The Wyatt's Outdoor mag boxes are center feed so no rail work would be required. If the OP uses one of Kevin Wyatt's 3.100 "Baney" box kits it'll require a tiny little bit of action work but same deal with that mag box, it's center feed so no rail work needed.

If anyone wants to shoot heavies, and, you want to get all the performance out of the short mag cases like the PRC, SAUM, or WSM I would definitely go with the 3.100 Baney box kit and at the very least use one of Kevin's 3.00 mag boxes.
 
Originally Posted By: Kino MGentlemen don't leave out the 6.5SAUM, I hope to build one in the near future!

I have 6 boxes of ADG 6.5SAUM brass I bought awhile back and one of these days I'm going to have to get around to building a 6.5SAUM so I can use it. Necking it down to .257 and shooting the new 134 ELD-M or 133-135 Berger wouldn't be a bad idea either....
 
Originally Posted By: B23Originally Posted By: Tim Neitzke
Since we are talking smith work, will the feed rails need to be reworked for the PRC?

The Wyatt's Outdoor mag boxes are center feed so no rail work would be required. If the OP uses one of Kevin Wyatt's 3.100 "Baney" box kits it'll require a tiny little bit of action work but same deal with that mag box, it's center feed so no rail work needed.

If anyone wants to shoot heavies, and, you want to get all the performance out of the short mag cases like the PRC, SAUM, or WSM I would definitely go with the 3.100 Baney box kit and at the very least use one of Kevin's 3.00 mag boxes.

Thanks
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