"Budget" ELR Build - cartridge choice questions...

[BigNate]

I'm going down the path of building a bolt gun to allow me to come out and play a bit more on the ELR range days and am looking into buying / building a "budget" rifle for that purpose.  I'm looking for advice on cartridge selection.   When I say "budget" - I'm thinking about the total cost of shooting the gun over time.  I look at what @Magwa did and I like it - but the $6 (ish) per round load cost scares me.   

I found the following link (it's a few years old - but I think it's largely still appropriate reference) - and it, and others, seem to tell me that with the right loads and gun I can get out to 2000Y with a 6.5PRC.  I was surprised to see this - as I had sort of assumed that I'd need to be at least 7mm PRC to play at that range - but this but would like feedback on cartridge selection. 

https://precisionrifleblog.com/2020/08/27/best-rifle-elr-caliber-cartridge/

Right now I'm leaning towards 6.5 PRC as something that I can use across the spectrum, that is relatively cost effective for reloading. I've also though about 7 PRC or 300 PRC.   I'm probably going to avoid 300 Norma, 338 Lapua or some of the other hotter / bigger primarily because of the significantly higher cost of reloading.  The one outlier in that space would be .300WM as I have about 1000 pieces of once fired brass (as well as dies etc.) that I can work against reducing the ramp up cost - but I'm not sure that this provides enough cost relief to overcome the other negatives of using that cartridge.  

One other thought is 6.8 Western which would let me use the Rem700SA stuff that I had started accumulating a while ago - while allowing slightly heavier bullets at higher velocities than the 6.5PRC - although I think I'd be pretty lonely in working in that cartridge.   Another thought would be 7-6.5PRCW (wildcatted 6.5PRC necked up to 7mm - still SA, lower recoil than 7PRC but with the .284 bullets).  

I'd like to keep my cost per round (to load) at or below $2 if possible.   I think this is viable with 6.5PRC (I can buy factory match 6.5PRC at $1.65/rnd - in bulk - shipped plus tax - and load from there).  

Anyway... Just thinking out loud and looking for input / thoughts.   

TIA

Edited December 2 by BigNate

[98Z5V]

12 hours ago, BigNate said:

Right now I'm leaning towards 6.5 PRC as something that I can use across the spectrum, that is relatively cost effective for reloading.

This isn't anything that you do, brother, that you use across spectrums.  It's dedicated.  IMHO, the exception to that would be .300 Win Mag.  Everything else is stupid expensive.

As far as @Magwa's .338 Lapua - everyone jumped into that thread, and said it was so expensive...  It's NOT that expensive.  @Magwa dropped $400 on 100 brand new pieces of Lapua brass for that build, and everyone MISSED that - completely.  If those that chimed in were reloading, they'da picked up on it real quick.  Not the case...    He anneals after every firing.  That brass will last forever.  Even if each piece of brass only lasts 10 firings, that brings the brass price to 40 cents each.  It'll last a hell of alot longer than that, too...  Food for thought... 

Don't factor in the scare-tactic of what people misunderstood in the costs of getting into it, for him - figure in the long-term.

I can load 225gr Hornady SSTs in .338 Lapua for under $2 each.  That's cheaper than some high dollar .308 Win ammo from some places.

Skip 6.5 PRC.  It might make the initial distance, but it's not going much further than that - 2k.  7 PRC will smoke a .300 Win Mag at some of the extended ranges that we're getting into now - and the .300 Win Mag is holding it's own, now out to 2280 yards, with 225gr Hornady ELD-M handloads.  A 190gr Hornady A-Tip for the 7mm guns would embarass that load, at longer distances.  How much longer?  Don't know yet - still figuring the limits of the .300 Win Mag right now...  2280 ain't it - yet.

Once I burn the barrel out of my .300 Win Mag, I'm turning it into a 7 PRC.

Edited December 3 by 98Z5V

[Cunuckgaucho]

 For a more 'all arounder' I would go with the 7PRC over the 6.5PRC

I initiall went with a 6.5PRC because I was looking at 8-10 month for a 7PRC anyways here's the journy and lots of great suggestions.

 Very happy with my choice but there is a 7mmPRC in the works, the 7 shoots flatter and has a better BC than both the 6.5 and 300PRC

[Magwa]

     There is sound advice in both the above answers and 98Z5V is 100% correct the Lapua is not that expensive my thread on it's cost was me being sarcastic and attempting to be somewhat funny, but the truth is 1 lb of powder will load 70 to 75 rounds brass as 98Z5V said cost 400 bucks BUT I went to scheels to get it and found that if I got their visa card I got 30% off and another 10 percent made on purchases that day I got them for 265 bucks , what I am saying is look for deals they are out their. Bullets that I shoot are 1 dollar a piece Berger 300 grain OTM Hybrid Tactical that is not the only bullet out their hornady 285 ELD match are way cheaper A tips are the same price as the Berger's....I am probably loading Lapua rounds for around 2.40 cents a round ...but I made the decision to shoot that round for many reasons and the main one was I still have a lot of distance to go with it .

      Calibers lets talk you have three classes of calibers marginal, finesse, and big boys, marginal are the 6GT, 6.5 Creedmoor, 308, ect. finesse are 300WM 7Mag ,7PRC ,300PRC, and even 338 Lapua, Big boys are 375 Chey-tec 416 Barrett 408 Barrett, 338x378 with one off bullets 50 cal ect.

    What do all the big events like king of 2 miles shoot? big boys and I can not afford to build one much less feed one so I chose the finesse class and in that class I chose the biggest I could afford without mortgaging the house so what you want to look at is how big of a bullet can I send downrange with any given caliber, that is the key that is how the big boys win big bullets. I shot the mile with my 6.5x284 Norma it shoots a 140 grain bullet at 2980 it would be easy to do on a windless day that day I had to hold 12 to 14 min. of angle wind!!!!!! with the Lapua in the same wind 3 Min. it is big bullets that get it done in the wind.....

   So lets talk 7 PRC as a stock Caliber for ERL i really do not see it doing much past 2200 to 2500 simply because of case capacity the bullet will do it for sure the BC is awesome but can you launch it fast enough ? i can not really say BUT I do have experience with another 7mm the 7 mm STW now that case will hold a lot of powder and would be a match for the big 190 grain bullets brass is available all you have to do is get a Remington 700 action or gun in 7mm STW and have it throated to allow for the big bullets and you would have the very best the 7mm can offer and you will not break the bank...IMO

    If your goal is 2k and you are not worried about 2500 and 3000 (like I am) then I think the 300 win mag would be the most economical choice you are still going to need a chassis and weights to bring the total weight over 20 to 24 or so lbs to keep that bitch from beating you upa and I think a sendero type barrel in th 28 to 30 inch range will add some legs that keeps the barrel cool and that is a problem with the thin stock barrels Heat! anyway my 2 cents if I can help you in any way just drop me a line more than happy to help.

P.S also look at 28 Nosler but my point to all this is a 300 win mag and a 7mm prc both launch the same type bullet (190) at about the same speed so whats to gain? A little bit of BC......IMO

  

Edited December 3 by Magwa

[BigNate]

Thanks gents... changing my "lean"...  The more I read the more I'm leaning towards the 300WM but we'll see - maybe 7PRC needs a closer look.   

Edited December 3 by BigNate

[98Z5V]

.300 Win Mag is the cheapest way to get into this game - with the right gun.  It's 2k Capable-All-Day with the heavies, 225 Hornady ELD-Ms, handloaded.  2K is no sweat for it.  2280 was nice, and I know it can go a little more - and it's gonna get pushed to whatever it can do, and we'll find out what that is, eventually.

By far, though, if you dip your foot in this pond, the Win Mag is the stepping stone to learn all about it, and it's gonna be the cheapest option, by far, over all the new niche calibers.  Factory Off-The-Shelf ammo is jut not gonna do the job, though - handloads are the answer.  Big heavy projectiles, handloaded to whatever gun you decide on.