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.