I have a TL3 short action custom currently setup with the standard bolt and a 20" 308 barrel. I have been using it for whitetail deer, pigs, Aoudad and whatever else steps out when I am sitting in the blind this past season. I plan to take this to Colorado this coming November for Elk and Mule deer, my hunting partner will have a 300 PRC. I figured if I could stalk inside of 350yds a 150-168gr bullet would likely get it done on an Elk. I really don't want to buy a XM or LA action and start a new build this year from a cost perspective in 6.5PRC, 7 PRC or 300 PRC, even though I'd feel a lot more confident in energy on target beyond 300yds and the option to take longer shots if needed.
6.5 PRC works in a SA so I could run factory loaded ELD ammo and swap to a magnum bolt and 6.5 PRC barrel and gain another 150yds in effective range and have a flatter shooting caliber at the same time. This is a much more cost effective alternative for the time being and it won't require an entirely new build. I plan to build a 7 PRC for next year so this option would simply get me by for this years hunt but if the 6.5 PRC proves to be effective out to 500yds I might not even need to build a magnum option. So my question is do you think it's worth the cost of grabbing a magnum bolt, a new barrel and mags to turn this short action 308 into a 6.5 PRC or should I just keep things as they are and roll with the 308 for this years hunt?
6.5 PRC works in a SA so I could run factory loaded ELD ammo and swap to a magnum bolt and 6.5 PRC barrel and gain another 150yds in effective range and have a flatter shooting caliber at the same time. This is a much more cost effective alternative for the time being and it won't require an entirely new build. I plan to build a 7 PRC for next year so this option would simply get me by for this years hunt but if the 6.5 PRC proves to be effective out to 500yds I might not even need to build a magnum option. So my question is do you think it's worth the cost of grabbing a magnum bolt, a new barrel and mags to turn this short action 308 into a 6.5 PRC or should I just keep things as they are and roll with the 308 for this years hunt?