New hunting rifle

[farmer_john]

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.

Or also an option to rebarrel it.
A faster twist rate could be beneficial to use heavier 270 bullets.

But what kind of groups are you getting?

And what distance are you planning to shoot. 500m is pretty far most the time id imagine you can get closer if you wanted.

 

[RedTag]

I’ve seen and heard mostly good things about the Ruger American; that being said I don’t think it’s design really brings anything to the table other than a price point that allows them to charge more for their M77 rifles.
Vortex gets some bad press, and honestly I think their quality is probably very hit or miss. I had a Viper 4-16x scope a few years ago and it was really a pretty good optic. I shot quite a bit and hunted with it, and it performed perfectly. I sold it only to help fund the purchase of another Leupold fixed-6x scope before they quit making them, and glad I did for what it’s worth.
As to the cartridge, I’m sure it’s great, but I just don’t understand all the excitement about the new school alphabet soup numbers. I get wanting to jump on the high speed bandwagon back when the .270 Winchester and the .300 H&H Magnum came on the scene a century ago, and from there we truly realized the truths of cartridge design over the next half century, but the new stuff just seems like an attempt to reinvent the wheel and sell more stuff. I’m probably a little salty because they don’t support the classics like they once did.

 

[MS 9x56]

So far I have not had any of the old classics give me any reason to look at, let alone try any of these new whiz bang cartridges. Am I an old curmudgeon? Proudly yes.

 

[Wiley64]

The 270 is a more elegant antelope rifle. The prc is for steel in my opinion.

 

[farmer_john]

I’ve seen and heard mostly good things about the Ruger American; that being said I don’t think it’s design really brings anything to the table other than a price point that allows them to charge more for their M77 rifles.
Vortex gets some bad press, and honestly I think their quality is probably very hit or miss. I had a Viper 4-16x scope a few years ago and it was really a pretty good optic. I shot quite a bit and hunted with it, and it performed perfectly. I sold it only to help fund the purchase of another Leupold fixed-6x scope before they quit making them, and glad I did for what it’s worth.
As to the cartridge, I’m sure it’s great, but I just don’t understand all the excitement about the new school alphabet soup numbers. I get wanting to jump on the high speed bandwagon back when the .270 Winchester and the .300 H&H Magnum came on the scene a century ago, and from there we truly realized the truths of cartridge design over the next half century, but the new stuff just seems like an attempt to reinvent the wheel and sell more stuff. I’m probably a little salty because they don’t support the classics like they once did.

I think the issue people have is they mant $$$$$ performance from a $ scope.
If you use them within their limitations there not bad. But there are better brands out there.

 

[Roosterlund]

I’ve owned 2500$ Coopers that don’t shoot as accurately as the Ruger Americans. It’s a budget gun, or a working man’s gun. A good beater.

 

[farmer_john]

I’ve owned 2500$ Coopers that don’t shoot as accurately as the Ruger Americans. It’s a budget gun, or a working man’s gun. A good beater.

Better a good shooter with a cheaper gun. Than a bad shooter with a $$ one

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

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.

Not sure if that was a typo, but Federal doesn’t load any 225gr pills in 7PRC or any 7mm for that matter

Your factory 7PRC options from Federal are
155gr Terminal Ascent
170gr Terminal Ascent
175gr Tipped Fusion
175gr ELD-X

Their customer shop options are
131gr Heavy Hammer
140gr TTSX
155gr Terminal Ascent

That said Federal’s PRC ammo options have typically been a little more consistent velocity wise than other manufacturers and their ammo has also been inline with published box velocities unlike other manufacturers who have been challenged the last few years with powders.

 

[BAY]

Hard to beat the accuracy of a 6.5 CM or PRC with a high BC bullet in the windy high plains. I’ve had several one shot kills on speed goats, mule deer, caribou and sheep with Accubonds, ABLR, ELDX and Terminal Ascent. Find a bullet that fits your ballistic and terminal performance needs and shoots in your rifle. That process can be fun.

 

[Kalahari Ferrari]

Not sure if that was a typo, but Federal doesn’t load any 225gr pills in 7PRC or any 7mm for that matter

Your factory 7PRC options from Federal are
155gr Terminal Ascent
170gr Terminal Ascent
175gr Tipped Fusion
175gr ELD-X

Their customer shop options are
131gr Heavy Hammer
140gr TTSX
155gr Terminal Ascent

That said Federal’s PRC ammo options have typically been a little more consistent velocity wise than other manufacturers and their ammo has also been inline with published box velocities unlike other manufacturers who have been challenged the last few years with powders.

Completely agree on Federal being the most consistent factory ammo wise.

I chronograohed Hornady, Barnes, Norma and Federal when choosing which factory ammo to go with on my 7mm prc. Federal was consistent and produced the 2nd most accurate groups behind the Hornady. If it wasn't for the velocity issue with Hornady, I would've considered them.

I assume he meant to type 300 prc for that 225gr loading as that's well above anything offered for 7 prc.

 

[steve white]

I have heard stellar reports of the 7mm PRC--you made a great choice in terms of performance. I just hope that you and a BUNCH of other hunters make it popular enough to bring the cost of ammo down, lol.
Tell us about what you slay with it!

 

[Franco]

Not sure if that was a typo, but Federal doesn’t load any 225gr pills in 7PRC or any 7mm for that matter

Your factory 7PRC options from Federal are
155gr Terminal Ascent
170gr Terminal Ascent
175gr Tipped Fusion
175gr ELD-X

Their customer shop options are
131gr Heavy Hammer
140gr TTSX
155gr Terminal Ascent

That said Federal’s PRC ammo options have typically been a little more consistent velocity wise than other manufacturers and their ammo has also been inline with published box velocities unlike other manufacturers who have been challenged the last few years with powders.

Not a typo - memory issue. We picked the rifle up from Hill Country on our way to FTW for a few days of training. I had asked HC to include a case of whatever ammo they determined was best.

Like I said, I never had a chance to shoot it and barely saw what ammo was in the case. He shot all of it, so I don't even have a box to reference.

I'm guessing it was the 175gr ELD-X, but I'll confirm with HC on Monday. Thanks for pointing out my error, saves me looking for something which doesn't exist.

 

[RSL]

My inexpensive Mossberg 7 PRC likes Barnes 160 LRX factory loads. .5 groups@100yds
from it with less than 20 rds through it. I am hoping it does better as more rounds go down the barrel. And it's in the really cheap pos plastic stock. Which will be changed asap.

 

[318AE]

I think a 25’06, or perhaps a 257 Weatherby, may just be the ideal pronghorn caliber, and a 270 is very close to that. There are a wealth of choices. They are fun to hunt, but I’ve never found them much harder to kill than pen raised quail.

 

[Jeffrey Masters]

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.

Makes sense. Thank you!

 

[Jeffrey Masters]

Thank you Gentlemen. I thought a lot about just keeping the 270, but then my head cleared. I do appreciate the help, and I am looking forward to putting in some time with it at the range.

 

[Stompbox]

It sounds like a really good selection to me. The new viper HD 3–15 is a really good optic. I have shot over 40 antelope and used 11 or 12 different cartridges to do it and your set up will be great.

 

[steve white]

PS--it's new, don't forget to swab the grease out of the barrel first. Talking to myself as I get forgetful and ALMOST forgot to do so myself.