Need Help Building a PRS Rifle

[ocabj]

Hi all,
I'm a gun noob in general, but my interest lies in Long-Range Shooting. So far, I have been shooting my friend's Ruger Precision Rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor. I've liked the experience so far, but I don't want to keep sharing guns and begging the man to go to the range. I would like to get my own, but this time chambered in 223 Remington if possible. I have looked into building one of my rifles, but I am super lost. I would like to go with a 22-inch barrel to keep the form factor down, and use an MDT Chassis if possible, since I'm a sucker for the styling and all-black colorways. My biggest issue is working out what "barreled action" and trigger to get. I don't know what to choose, or whether I need to get a barrel after getting said barreled action. Is there any way I could get pointed in the right direction? A build with links for parts would be great! Also, my total budget is 2250 to 2500. Thank you all!

I'm late to this thread but I'll chime in.

For one, go 6.5 Creedmoor. If you really want to shoot PRS, you want something that is a good all around cartridge for precision, wind, and barrel life.

Which MDT chassis are you talking about getting? You really should focus on getting the chassis or stock that fits and handles well for you, not focusing on the looks and certainly not the color.

As far as barrel, you really want 26" (or even 24") over 22". You need this thing to balance and a 22" even a straight contour can be difficult to balance and forces you to be creative (e.g., MDT ACC Elite with lots of weights pushed to the very front end, DST Precision Da Rail, etc).

Anyway, as I think about this, I have a hard time recommending anything because if you are serious about this, you kind of want to start off with a quality action that you can work with an grow on, rather than buying a platform you end up having to sell because it isn't flexible and having to repurchase another action.

Not to mention, the $2500 budget is limiting, especially if you want to get the optic, too, since the MDT ACC Elite is a $1600 chassis (although, you could probably get one down to $1300 OTD) and an ACC Premier is still $1000 (maybe $900 OTD) and that's before all the options you'll need (e.g., weights).

The sensible move is going to be Bergara B14 or a T3x in 6.5 CM and run off the shelf until you really decide you want to commit the time and money into this.

As much as I hate to say it for a budget scope, a DNT TheOne 7-35 will probably be your best bet. I have a Match Pro ED and I'm not a fan. People hyped this scope up and it's ok, but I found it disappointing and I personally don't care for the turrets even though everyone else likes the zero stop mechanism.

You should be able to get a Bergara B14 or T3x + scope for well under $2500, but have to forgo an MDT for a while. B14 will be a Remington 700 footprint so you'll have more options for triggers. Tikka will give you the option for prefit barrels.

You could try to gamble on an Aero Solus and wait for one of their sales. I'm not a fan of Aero as a company but if you had looked into this last year, Aero was having tons of deals on the Solus, either in bare action, barrelled action, or complete rifle and you could have gotten one for well under your budget (not counting CA 'tax' including FFL transfer fees). The Solus is a decent action for what it is and uses the same prefit spec as the Zermatt Origin, so barrels are relatively easy to get "off the shelf" so to speak. I do have a Solus that I bought last year to try out and keep on hand just to have some action I can use to test different cartridges (I have both the .308 and magnum bolt heads).

*
If we took off the budget cap, this is what I would do while keeping things simple:

• Impact 737R or Lone Peak Fuzion (both have the same spec for headspace with prefits)
• Proof Research stainless prefit 26" 6.5 CM
• TriggerTech trigger in whatever you want to spend on, and whatever stage you prefer (single or double)
• MDT ACC Elite

As far as optic with no budget cap, I'm going Zero Compromise (or Tangent). I have three ZCOs and I'm a fan. Although, I would also consider the Kahles K540i. But with tariffs, we're now screwed on high end optics.

 

[Mil-Dot]

So many good posts here already but I add you aren't going to get anything g out of the .223 for real long range. I've done PR for years. I shoot 6.5 creed. When you think of PR yiu are either shooting 6.5 creed or .308. There are a few other calibers some ppl will oddly shoot for 1 reason or another but 90% of shooters are shooting either of the otber 2 i me tioned. Pick one of those and start from there.

If you are looking to stay under 2500 you should look into a sub $1000 rifle because you will need to spend 700to 1000 on a scope i recommend the Vprtex Strike eagle 25x50. Its about 800 and they offer a lifetime warranty and it will get the job dont for everything inside 1500 yards easily. Pair that with quality mounting hardware not that cheap . You will also want a nice Bipod I recommend the 12" Harris.

Those all include will meet your budget and leave you a couple bucks to buy quality boat tail ammo.

If you are willing to spend a bit more which I also recommend buy once cry once. BERGARA makes a fantastic rifle with a similar chasis to the MDT. Its heavy enough to stabilize on any barricade but not overly heavy to run with. The BMP 14 can be found for about $1500 or so i think.

 

[eaglemike]

A local place has the new Tikka Ace target (chassis version of the T3X) with a 26" barrel in 6.5 Creedmoor on sale for $1500. That's a decent rifle IMHO for a good price. Unfortunately with the 11 percent and sales tax it still gets more expensive than we'd all like. The guy that has the backfire channel likes this rifle. I know a guy that has an unfired Tikka CTR with a 24" barrel in 6.5 Creedmoor that he would sell for under retail, so shoot me a message if you want his contact info.
link to Tikka on sale

 

[TheAverageShooter]

Are you just shooting for fun or are you actually going to shoot matches?
In actual matches on steel targets, 223 has a serious problem with seeing the hits on steel targets beyond about 300-400yds.
I have match guns in 223, 243 and 260 and I lost a lot of points shooting the 223 even at 200yds when the hits were not being called.

If you are just doing informal target shooting that's not for score or only on paper, then 223 is fine.
You really need to be reloading 80-90 grain bullets to 2.5" OAL in a fast chambered barrel to get the most out of a 223.
There are no factory rounds loaded like that.

If you are only shooting factory ammo, I suggest 6mm Creedmoor or 6.5mm creedmoor as much better options.
If you actually want to learn to be a better shooter, start with a 308.
Shooting a 308 will fix the shooter problems that shooting a 223/6mm creates.
After you master a 308, then go to a 6.5mm or 6mm to realize the ballistic gains.

Regardless of the caliber you choose, a high quality barrel that's hand fitted to your action is the only way to go.
Forget about factory mass produced barrels or pre-fit barrels or any action using a barrel nut and do it right.
I can barrel an action for you.

What components would you suggest and how much would it cost approximately to have a barrel hand fitted? Trying to get a sense of pricing, as it seemed pretty expensive when I looked at it last year.

 

[6MMBRA]

You’d be miles ahead of a factory rifle with a zermatt origin and proof prefit vs a tikka or a Bergara. If you search snipers hide, you can find deals on origin actions. Throw a tirggertech primary on it and a krg bravo and you can have a pretty nice first rifle that you can grow into. If you’re patient enough and wait for sales/deals, you can put together that combo for around 16-1700.

Plenty of people build 223 trainer rifles, but I’d highly advise against it as a beginner. 6.5 creed is pretty standard to start off with. Best advice is to show up to a match and see what people are running. If you’re local to SoCal, there’s a match once a month at pala shooting range near Temecula. Hit me up if you’re interested.

 

[AR15barrels]

What components would you suggest and how much would it cost approximately to have a barrel hand fitted?
Trying to get a sense of pricing, as it seemed pretty expensive when I looked at it last year.

Get your action of choice and a premium contoured barrel blank like a Bartlein.
I like an 700 pattern action with an integral scope rail and recoil lug as that gets you the most options in stocks/triggers.
The Aero Solus is an inexpensive option that checks all the boxes.
By purchasing the parts all separeatly for a build, you save the extra 11% on all the parts except for the action vs buying a complete rifle, you pay the extra 11% on the whole rifle.
Having the rail as one piece or at least an action with a solid top is much better than an open top action with a rail that screws on.
I get $395 to thread/chamber a stainless barrel blank for a 700 platform action, cut to finish length and crown.
I don't have or supply any parts so get all your parts and then make an appointment when you are ready for the build.
All the machine work is done the day of your appointment so you only have to make one visit.
Most of my builds are shooting 1/4moa and better from the targets people send me.

 

[SDMk223]

Personally if the budget is $2.5k for a rifle I would make an MPA production rifle happen in 6.5cm and call it a day. DGM in San Diego I know stocks and carries them and I have seen them at turners. It will be fun to shoot and if you go to matches it will be enough rifle to win when your skill set gets there.

 

[TheAverageShooter]

Get your action of choice and a premium contoured barrel blank like a Bartlein.
I like an 700 pattern action with an integral scope rail and recoil lug as that gets you the most options in stocks/triggers.
The Aero Solus is an inexpensive option that checks all the boxes.
By purchasing the parts all separeatly for a build, you save the extra 11% on all the parts except for the action vs buying a complete rifle, you pay the extra 11% on the whole rifle.
Having the rail as one piece or at least an action with a solid top is much better than an open top action with a rail that screws on.
I get $395 to thread/chamber a stainless barrel blank for a 700 platform action, cut to finish length and crown.
I don't have or supply any parts so get all your parts and then make an appointment when you are ready for the build.
All the machine work is done the day of your appointment so you only have to make one visit.
Most of my builds are shooting 1/4moa and better from the targets people send me.

Thanks, good option to keep in mind for the future. Just wish you were in NorCal.

Personally if the budget is $2.5k for a rifle I would make an MPA production rifle happen in 6.5cm and call it a day. DGM in San Diego I know stocks and carries them and I have seen them at turners. It will be fun to shoot and if you go to matches it will be enough rifle to win when your skill set gets there.

I believe the OP stated the total budget is up to $2500, which implies much less for the rifle.

 

[AR15barrels]

Thanks, good option to keep in mind for the future. Just wish you were in NorCal.

I get lots of people from Norcal that make the trip down here for the day and then drive home in the evening with their finished rifle.
It's a long day, but it's just one day which is not the case with almost any other way you could get an action barrelled.

 

[SDMk223]

Thanks, good option to keep in mind for the future. Just wish you were in NorCal.

I believe the OP stated the total budget is up to $2500, which implies much less for the rifle.

That's fair, I wasn't sure what "total budget" implied and people were talking about custom barrels and actions.... at that point his best bet is probably a Bergara or Tikka in 6.5cm and just go shoot it. Upgrade as the budget allows and go from there. I have seen guys put one of those rifles in a $400 KRG bravo with a Vortex strike eagle do well at matches.

The reality is the real cost is in the money of ammo/range time if the goal is to get good proficient at long range shooting and that's usually what kills the hobby for most folks.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

The range I have been going to caps out at about 600 yards. According to another user, PRS has ranges up to 1,000 yards, which I never knew. I guess a caliber reevaluation is needed! I was thinking I could get away with using a smaller bullet for economic reasons, but I won’t shy away if I need to go the 6.5 Creedmoor route.

Thank you for the good question, helped me flesh out my needs.

If you liked your friends Ruger Precision Rifle, why not just get one of those in either .308 and 6.5 Creedmore? Could you design something better? Probably. Still, it’s a decent off the shelf rifle as it is.