7mm PRC build

jlanecr500

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I've gotten sucked into the rabbit hole. In the safe was a new carbon fiber stock and an action to go in it. I hated to let it sit around so I decided to build a lite weight 7mm PRC for hunting out to 400yds or so. A 24" Proof carbon fiber wrap barrel, DNZ base, dies, brass, bottom metal, magnum magazine, 180gr Berger hunting VLD's, 175gr ABLR's, and one of those crappy Vortex Viper scopes should all arrive next week. I'd like to hunt with it the last week of the season. I'll update this thread as I progress. Hopefully I'll have it together by Christmas eve but doubt the bullets and brass will make it till later in the week.
 
just out to 400 or so? With that setup you can really reach out and touch something :)
You could use about any modern day rifle for that, including a few of my sml's. Ive got a couple 6.5 prc's and have killed at those ranges this year with them and my sml's. I just needed an excuse to build a 7 prc. A lot of things can happen. Add lock time, bullet travel time, and the lag between my brain and trigger finger. That's well over a second, more like 2. The deer can move in a fraction of that time and cause a clean miss, but worse is a wounded deer. Given the right rest and circumstances, I might take it to 500.
 
The gun is assembled and ready for firing after I get over the flu. It weighs 7.8 pounds with no ammo.
Savage 110 bottom bolt release action, 24" Proof 7mm PRC carbon fiber wrapped barrel, Stocky's carbon fiber hunter stock, DNZ base, Viper 4-16×50 HSLR.
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Thats great .A whole lot better than mine with factory a.mo
Same... a WHOLE lot better!

But that doesn't hurt my feelings. I'd be ashamed if factory ammo shot better than my handloads, and I'd be nervous about working up handloads that would beat that group!

But the 2775MV out of a 24" bbl does make me feel better about my slowpoke 7PRC!
 
Same... a WHOLE lot better!

But that doesn't hurt my feelings. I'd be ashamed if factory ammo shot better than my handloads, and I'd be nervous about working up handloads that would beat that group!

But the 2775MV out of a 24" bbl does make me feel better about my slowpoke 7PRC!

Same... a WHOLE lot better!

But that doesn't hurt my feelings. I'd be ashamed if factory ammo shot better than my handloads, and I'd be nervous about working up handloads that would beat that group!

But the 2775MV out of a 24" bbl does make me feel better about my slowpoke 7PRC!
Not trying to hijack but are you ok with the storms down your way
 
After zeroing, shooting groups, confirming drops at 300 and 400yds, and killing the deer, I only had 2 factory rounds left. I ran a load with the same 175 eldx and N565 in QL. I ran a progression from 69.6g to 70.4g. QL estimated the node to be 70.0g and it ended up being 70.2g. Assembled them and went to the range today. Shot a group a little over 1/2 inch at 3050fps. That's nearly 300fps faster than the factory ammo. I'll load up some more of those tomorrow to get me thru the season. After season, I should have all the components for some serious load development. Season is almost over. Good luck all !
 
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Thought I'd wrap up this thread with a final load. Ultimately, I wanted to shoot the 195 Berger EOL with N570 in this gun at 3000 fps. Like others have found, there is a high node that is a little over 3045 fps in a 24" bbl but accuracy isn't what I was looking for and brass will not last due to high pressure. I may load some just for hunting and throw away the brass afterwards.

The next lower node proved to be wide with 1/4 moa accuracy at 2850 fps with 69.8gr N570

Overall, I'm very pleased with this build and I'm tempted to buy another barrel in a different caliber.
 

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