This weekend went to my first range that you could shoot 1000 plus. Looking at 300 PRC Browning xbolt long range and the Bergara B-14 hmr which would you all suggest over these? Also need some ideas on scopes. I have a couple PST Gen 2s found out they don’t have enough adjustment to shoot a mile. Looking for something entry level that’s decent I live 7 hours to closest range to be able to shoot that
Entry level gun and scope
- Thread starter Big joe
- Start date
Unless you honestly plan to shoot a mile often and really need it to shine at that distance I’d personally opt for a 6.5.
In cheaper factory rifles I’m a tikka fan. Otherwise I shoot my AI’s or would just build.
What’s the budget for the rifle? A tikka CTR will be a great starter if your around $1000-$1200 for the rifle
Otherwise shop the px here for a setup
Edit: I’m not saying don’t get the 300 PRC. It’s a hell of a cartridge. Just understand the cost and recoil difference if you don’t necessarily need the extra power
I started with a Savage criterion barreled action in 260 Remington and have taken that over a mile with success. No it’s not the ideal cartridge but for the amount of times I shot that distance vs 1000 or closer it was just fine
For a decent cheaper optic I’m liking my DNT. Otherwise Athlon is a good bet. The Ares and Cronus line are great
In cheaper factory rifles I’m a tikka fan. Otherwise I shoot my AI’s or would just build.
What’s the budget for the rifle? A tikka CTR will be a great starter if your around $1000-$1200 for the rifle
Otherwise shop the px here for a setup
Edit: I’m not saying don’t get the 300 PRC. It’s a hell of a cartridge. Just understand the cost and recoil difference if you don’t necessarily need the extra power
I started with a Savage criterion barreled action in 260 Remington and have taken that over a mile with success. No it’s not the ideal cartridge but for the amount of times I shot that distance vs 1000 or closer it was just fine
For a decent cheaper optic I’m liking my DNT. Otherwise Athlon is a good bet. The Ares and Cronus line are great
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for 1000 and the odd time at a mile I'd look at 6.5 or even 7 PRC. I'd go for the Bergara over the Browning.
CVA actually came out with some decent rifles for reasonable also that are a touch cheaper than a Bergara.
Athlon Cronus is a really good scope for the money, could go to an Ares ETR for a bit cheaper. Even a Midas Tac if you wanted. Gonna wanna put it in a mount with some cant to get all the elevation out of it
CVA actually came out with some decent rifles for reasonable also that are a touch cheaper than a Bergara.
Athlon Cronus is a really good scope for the money, could go to an Ares ETR for a bit cheaper. Even a Midas Tac if you wanted. Gonna wanna put it in a mount with some cant to get all the elevation out of it
Have you ever looked at a prs production class rifle from mpa?
it’s all dependent on your budget but there’s a lot of stuff packed in for the $.
mpa pmr pro rifle
also has several caliber choices.
i like 6.5cm bc of commercial availability , easy recoil, and can do the job from 100-1k-1m for the occasional 1mile trip
best advise ever given to me was save $ and buy for today. spending extra money for the future well the future may change and you may want something different.
sooner you have gear in hand sooner you can go enjoy and see what works for you.
it’s all dependent on your budget but there’s a lot of stuff packed in for the $.
mpa pmr pro rifle
also has several caliber choices.
i like 6.5cm bc of commercial availability , easy recoil, and can do the job from 100-1k-1m for the occasional 1mile trip
best advise ever given to me was save $ and buy for today. spending extra money for the future well the future may change and you may want something different.
sooner you have gear in hand sooner you can go enjoy and see what works for you.
7PRC w 162 or 180 is where I’d steer a guy for 1000+ just starting out
And I’d consider a SAVAGE action and get a pre-fit custom barrel and a TT diamond
And I’d consider a SAVAGE action and get a pre-fit custom barrel and a TT diamond
Personally, I'd dump the heavy recoil, barrel burner, cartridges and go 6.5 Creedmoor in a Tikka t3X TAcA1.
Easy to 1k and if you try the heavies (e.g. Berger 153.5 Grain LRHT or similar) you might find it suitable for your occasional attempts at a mile.
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Between the Bergara and the Browning, I would definitely go with the Bergara. The X-Bolt is an okay hunting rifle action, but it just feels off to me when I shoot one. Also, the stock trigger is not good - definitely needs to be upgraded, but options are limited. Honestly, though, I'm also not a fan of the base Bergara, and there have been a fair number of reports of issues with Bergaras in general in long-action magnums. They work well with smaller calibers, but it seems like they didn't beef up anything for magnums and they just have issues with the added stress.
I am a fan of the Bergara Premiere actions, however. I used to own one in 6CM and it did exceptionally well. They cost a fair amount more than the base Bergaras, but they are essentially a whole different rifle - upgraded stainless bolt, upgraded trigger, upgraded action. As @Baron23 mentions, a Tikka is also a great alternative.
Also, going with a magnum like a 300 PRC out of the gate is a) somewhat overkill for most of the shooting you'll be doing, and b) is not a caliber I'd recommend as a first long-range rifle - it takes very solid fundamentals to get it to behave.
If you're mostly going to be shooting at 1000 yards, pretty much any high-power short-action round will work. For work at a mile, depending on the conditions around the target, wind, etc., something like a 6.5 CM _can_ work, but it's not ideal. But, likewise, using a 300PRC at 1000 yards is not ideal either - more power than needed for the range, more expensive per round, tougher to control.
As for scopes, a PST Gen 2 will more than get you to a mile because you can use a mount with, as an example, 20 MOA built in, and/or a rail with, also for example, another 20 MOA. However, I wouldn't recommend it for that distance. The glass isn't great. When I had one, I tried to use it at longer distances and I had my share of eye fatigue issues. At 1000? It works just fine - and is a pretty good bargain for what you get. Scopes that will treat you well at a mile are a class up from those that will do okay for you at 1000 yards.
Recommendation: Get a rifle chambered one of the more potent short-action rounds, get a scope in the class of a PST Gen 2, get good at shooting at 1000 yards, then play at a mile and decide what to do from there.
I am a fan of the Bergara Premiere actions, however. I used to own one in 6CM and it did exceptionally well. They cost a fair amount more than the base Bergaras, but they are essentially a whole different rifle - upgraded stainless bolt, upgraded trigger, upgraded action. As @Baron23 mentions, a Tikka is also a great alternative.
Also, going with a magnum like a 300 PRC out of the gate is a) somewhat overkill for most of the shooting you'll be doing, and b) is not a caliber I'd recommend as a first long-range rifle - it takes very solid fundamentals to get it to behave.
If you're mostly going to be shooting at 1000 yards, pretty much any high-power short-action round will work. For work at a mile, depending on the conditions around the target, wind, etc., something like a 6.5 CM _can_ work, but it's not ideal. But, likewise, using a 300PRC at 1000 yards is not ideal either - more power than needed for the range, more expensive per round, tougher to control.
As for scopes, a PST Gen 2 will more than get you to a mile because you can use a mount with, as an example, 20 MOA built in, and/or a rail with, also for example, another 20 MOA. However, I wouldn't recommend it for that distance. The glass isn't great. When I had one, I tried to use it at longer distances and I had my share of eye fatigue issues. At 1000? It works just fine - and is a pretty good bargain for what you get. Scopes that will treat you well at a mile are a class up from those that will do okay for you at 1000 yards.
Recommendation: Get a rifle chambered one of the more potent short-action rounds, get a scope in the class of a PST Gen 2, get good at shooting at 1000 yards, then play at a mile and decide what to do from there.
