500m PRS rifle

[James]

Just after some advice on which direction to go with a first PRS rifle. Local PRS club has targets out to 500m max.

I'll be using factory ammo. New to the sport and want to have fun and hit a few plates without too much frustration and balance this with not going broke.

Was thinking howa 6.5 creedmoor in a mdt xrs chassis as there's a decent package with a brake and all the bits at cleavers for $1750 but figure I'm then looking at pricey ammo.

Alternatively I thought a howa .223 in a bravo, oryx or xrs chassis. Slightly cheaper upfront and ammo seems way cheaper too.

Or am I missing some other idea altogether?

Any thoughts appreciated.

[deye243]

If it's only 500 as it is realy only short range a 223 1:8 twist and 75g pills will be cheaper and just as capable .
This is my pov pack 223 and I regularly use it out to 760y and it does a great job

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It's a howa 1500 .
MDT oryx cheap at cleavers .
And an element titan 3-18x50 .
If you look around you should get it for around $2300 .
My experience with the titan and a bloke I know with 3 of them and shoots prs rimfire and center fire they are tough as nails and tracks as good as my nightforce.

[bladeracer]

Just after some advice on which direction to go with a first PRS rifle. Local PRS club has targets out to 500m max.

I'll be using factory ammo. New to the sport and want to have fun and hit a few plates without too much frustration and balance this with not going broke.

Was thinking howa 6.5 creedmoor in a mdt xrs chassis as there's a decent package with a brake and all the bits at cleavers for $1750 but figure I'm then looking at pricey ammo.

Alternatively I thought a howa .223 in a bravo, oryx or xrs chassis. Slightly cheaper upfront and ammo seems way cheaper too.

Or am I missing some other idea altogether?

Any thoughts appreciated.

Get into reloading for a start.
6.5CM has one big advantage just now, you can get small primer brass for it, very useful when there are no large primers around.
.223 is also a good choice, especially out to 500m, but you want an 8"-twist or tighter so you can use VLD/ELD bullets. The .223 will stretch out to 1000m and beyond if you do decide to go further, but I think the 6.5 would be less frustrating at long distances.

[in2anity]

Mate just go 223, save your pennies. Presume it’s for hilltop? 223 is a great cal, used within its limits. Just make sure your magazine and action can handle the long OAL handloads before you buy.

For PRS I’ve heard of blokes loading the 6.5 cool anyway, so they can see their fall better, for corrected follow up. And heck if you wanna jazz her up, get a smith to stick the 223AI reamer up her!

[James]

223 it is by the sound of it. Thanks gents.

Wish I didn't think the Oryx was a bit ugly. Leaning towards the Bravo or XRS based mostly on looks and they're all within $100 of each other so money isn't an issue there.

I'd never heard of Element. Looks pretty good and only a bit more than the Arken EP5 5-25 I was considering.

[delinquent pleb]

Out to 500m a 223 will be absolutely perfect. I doubt you will be disappointed. I shot 223 out to 700 very reliably and have upgraded to the 223Ack in the last 12mths, I can also highly recommend the upgrade to 223Ack as well.

[Oldbloke]

BR is right. Reload, Reload, Reload.

Retain all your empty cases.

[zbenga]

to be honest I'd spend the money on a .243 instead if you only shoot to 500m, if you can get one with 1:8 twist you can shoot the Berger 105 or any of the super high BC 6mm projectiles after all 243 is a 6mm
Lapua makes brass for it and you will find ammo everywhere, probably cheaper to run than 6.5 creed but would burn barrel faster as all 6mm do

if you invest in reloading it's a skill you will have for a lifetime and you can pick water caliber you want to shoot really, to give you an idea I reload for 45-70 and my brass has over 15 reloads with no issues, it's very very cheap to shoot and fun when you reload

I'd go for a 6.5 creed, the 223 might do it but you will aways want something else, might as well buy a 243 or 6.5 now

[deye243]

Problem with a 243 is around 1200 round throat life for accuracy and that's only with a lot slower rate of fire the PRS I have had 3 of them 500y is short range and a 223 will hold a 3 inch group at 500 no problems.

[zbenga]

that is still a lot of matches
if PRS is the goal then you would have to re-train wind calls for 223? not sure, 223 is cheap to own/shoot
I went to a LA105 in 6.5 and won't look back, specially the last batch are much better the the originals, better Xray chassis (newer gen 4) and it's a really nice rifle with good availability and silly selection of projectiles and brass