New hunting rifle

[Jeffrey Masters]

Planning an Antelope hunt in the next few years, and I got hot to get a rifle that would shoot a little further with more accuracy than my 270, and certainly my 338. I just ordered a Ruger American Gen II 7MM PRC. I'm topping it with a Vortex Viper HD 3-15X44, VMR3 MOA reticle. I read a lot of good things about both. Anyone care to tell me how poorly ar well I chose? I am looking forward to setting it up, and I am curious about suggestions for ammo that this platform will like? Thanks all.

 

[Ray B]

A friend of mine shoots the 7mm PRC in long range competitions. It is a very good cartridge for long range use- unfortunately all of his loads use target type bullets, not intended to use on game. However, some of his loads use Berger bullets and some of the Berger bullets designed for hunting are very similar to the target bullets, so I suspect you will find a combination that will work very well for you.

 

[xbr897]

Planning an Antelope hunt in the next few years, and I got hot to get a rifle that would shoot a little further with more accuracy than my 270, and certainly my 338. I just ordered a Ruger American Gen II 7MM PRC. I'm topping it with a Vortex Viper HD 3-15X44, VMR3 MOA reticle. I read a lot of good things about both. Anyone care to tell me how poorly ar well I chose? I am looking forward to setting it up, and I am curious about suggestions for ammo that this platform will like? Thanks all.

Try the Hornady Precision Hunter ELD-X ammo. I found that very accurate in a 7PRC rifle.

I think you picked good components there. I've not tried the American Gen II. I just shot someone's Gen I at the range one day. I didn't find the action or trigger quite as nice as Tikka, but it's not bad either. I think you'll get good accuracy out of the setup and build up some nice confidence with plenty of range time.

 

[CBH Australia]

The 7PRC should be good for Antelope

 

[Hogpatrol]

It's a Hornady developed cartridge. Use Hornady ammo, ELD-X. Buds have the 7 and the 300, both shoot 1/2 moa to 500 meters with factory ammo.

 

[Elkeater]

I’d grab a case of Hornady precision hunter ammo and head to the range with a chronograph. Shoot some groups and get velocity (for that lot of ammo) and then get off the bench and onto a bipod. Check your calculated shot drops out 600 yards.

I do a have an American gen 2 chambered in .223 that is a nice gun for the money. No real complaints. It’s a decent gun at a good price point (grabbed mine on sale for $425).

 

[Roosterlund]

I too have a gen2 in .223. She shoots tiny groups. Maybe I got lucky. Love the gun and tang Safety. Really like the modern look myself. Liked so muck picked up a gen2 predator in 6.5 man bun. Only got it sighted in, hope it’s a shooter as well.

 

[Roosterlund]

Also very easy to lighten trigger. Lots of videos out there. With very little work got mine down to just under 3lbs

 

[BeeMaa]

Ruger American would not have been my first choice, or even my tenth but that's because their stock dimensions never seem to fit me. Nothing wrong with the Ruger, but a Tikka T3x Lite (same price range as the Ruger) in stainless and synthetic at 6.6 lbs bare rifle would be more my speed for near the same money while staying with your cartridge of choice.

If you plan on hunting abroad with this rifle, I'd choose a cartridge that's more commonly found in remote camps like the 7RM and 300WM for the sake of possibly loosing (or being delayed) your luggage that contains your ammo. Travel enough and it's bound to happen at one point. Driving to a hunting camp doesn't present this risk.

What are the expected distances you expect to be shooting at? 270WIN is pretty good for antelope out to 500 yards with Barnes LR TTSX 129 grain pills. Has about the same amount of drop as the 7PRC Barnes LR TTSX 160 grain but has an energy advantage of 500 lb-ft. You taking some long range shooting training to prep for this hunt? Might be a good investment.

You could save the money on a new rifle, scope...etc and double down on practicing with your 270WIN with more ammo and a shooting school. But I'd never try to talk someone out of buying a new rifle.

 

[Franco]

I bought a Hill Country Rifles 7 PRC a few months ago, the recommended ammo was Federal 225 grn. It has a Kahles scope. I have not had the opportunity to shoot it, my son shot it 1400 yds at the range at FTW - I couldn't pry it out of his hands. He shot a nice whitetail buck with it.
Depending on ammo, I think the 7 PRC would do better than 1400 yds, I shoot my Hill Country 300 PRC over 2000 yds with Hornady ELD.

I don't know how far you plan on shooting you antelope, but I would think your setup would be quite capable. I shot an antelope at 450 yds with a 6.5 creedmoor, 147 grn Hornady ammo, and he dropped in his tracks.

 

[Hogpatrol]

You could save the money on a new rifle, scope...etc and double down on practicing with your 270WIN with more ammo and a shooting school. But I'd never try to talk someone out of buying a new rifle.

That's getting pretty close to being excommunicated from the forum's enabler club. Damnit, we need to keep up our reputations of convincing people to rationalize why spending more money on anything hunting or shooting related is not a financial issue but a technical one. We'll let you slide this time but better watch it.

Hey buddy, you getting ready for ducks?

 

[BeeMaa]

That's getting pretty close to being excommunicated from the forum's enabler club. Damnit, we need to keep up our reputations of convincing people to rationalize why spending more money on anything hunting or shooting related is not a financial issue but a technical one. We'll let you slide this time but better watch it.View attachment 724695

Hey buddy, you getting ready for ducks?

I’ll have to recalibrate my head, because I don’t know what I was thinking. Appreciate you letting me slide with a warning.

There have been some outside events that have impacted my waterfowl potential this season. Plus I just did a day of sporting clays with @HankBuck and @Bob Nelson 35Whelen …I need to do better. Much better.

 

[CBH Australia]

I’ll have to recalibrate my head, because I don’t know what I was thinking. Appreciate you letting me slide with a warning.

There have been some outside events that have impacted my waterfowl potential this season. Plus I just did a day of sporting clays with @HankBuck and @Bob Nelson 35Whelen …I need to do better. Much better.

I think you have been recalibrated. I see ol’ Bob took along some Rum to clear the sinus out.

You have mentioned the Tikka and I concur. Nothing against the others but my Tikka’s meet expectations.

 

[Red Leg]

Assuming you have an accurate load for it, you have a great antelope rifle in your .270. However, if you simply WANT a 7 PRC, then by all means buy one. Justify it to your spouse, but there is no need to justify it to us.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I would have personally gone for a 7mm Remington Magnum. But 7mm PRC is also an excellent choice.

 

[Safari Dave]

What kind of antelope?

 

[Firebird]

I’ll bet More than half the resident hunters in Wyoming kill their antelope with a hand me down grandpas gun and a lead tipped bullet-
If you want a new rifle, you don’t need a reason but that’s a good one, but to redlegs point, you probably already have a good one in your safe.

 

[M70375!]

Your 270 will be an excellent choice, I would certainly stay with that, but I know it is always fun to get another new gun that you don't need, I just did so myself. Want vs need, want seems to win out.

 

[Bandera]

My hang up would be the Vortex scope. I bought a Vortex Viper 6-24 for a Prairie Dog shoot in 2018. My experience with it was out past 500 yards the scope was fuzzy when dialed up over 20. No amount of adjusting and focus would clear it up.I finally just stayed at 20 X and dialed the turret.
Did not need the MOA reticle. That was the last scope I bought with a mil dot anything on it. Was the last vortex rifle scope I bought.
Leupold makes a much better scope in the same price range.

Your choice of rifle should be fine.

 

[M70375!]

My hang up would be the Vortex scope. I bought a Vortex Viper 6-24 for a Prairie Dog shoot in 2018. My experience with it was out past 500 yards the scope was fuzzy when dialed up over 20. No amount of adjusting and focus would clear it up.I finally just stayed at 20 X and dialed the turret.
Did not need the MOA reticle. That was the last scope I bought with a mil dot anything on it. Was the last vortex rifle scope I bought.
Leupold makes a much better scope in the same price range.

Your choice of rifle should be fine.

I have had bad luck with Vortex also, never again. Also had a Ruger 416 guide gun that was rough and would not feed, I sent it in. They asked my permission to give me a new rifle, as they were going to junk mine. I said that I had enough of Ruger and asked if they could refund me so I could buy a model 70, a much nicer rifle. They refunded me and that was my last ruger.