New member here looking forward to learning from/with everyone. I am lucky enough to be signed up for my first mule deer hunt as of this Christmas. I am using it as an excuse to purchase a new rifle. I want a round that can cover Whitetail, Antelope, Mule Deer, and Elk well. I live in TN so I primarily hunt whitetail but went on my first antelope hunt last year and am now for ever hooked on western hunts. I was thinking about the 6.5 prc sig cross sawtooth because of all of the good reviews. But the latest videos I have been watching have me second guessing for a 7 prc. I want something that can harvest an elk but with as little recoil as possible. Look forward to yalls advice.
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For the rifle, the Sig cross sawtooth is a good option. We are getting .78” 5-shot groups on average. Decent performance and I think the right handload could really make it sing.
Other factory rifles could be the Tikka Ace Game (excellent accuracy), Sako S20 (great accuracy and $1000 cheaper than the Sig), Fierce Reaper (bad customer support but can be great guns), Horizon Vandal (excellent accuracy on a more traditional stock), or Bergara Cima (picky accuracy but can be good with Norma 6.5 prc Bondstrike). I don’t recommend the Bergara MG Lite due to accuracy and ammo/magazine damage issues.
However, if you have a suitable tikka or Bergara action already, you could do a full custom on it for the same price and have something truly amazing.
For cartridge, it sounds like you’re describing the perfect candidate for a 6.5 prc. Elk capable but mostly smaller animals. Flat shooting and reasonable recoil.
Don’t get the 7 prc. Too much recoil for 90% of what you’ll use it for, and way more accuracy problems.
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Thanks for the quick response! Is there a different cartridge/rifle set up I should look at? I’m still in the early stages of the selection process. I harvested my antelope with a 7mm08 browning A bolt at ~320 yds, I have made a few mods to it though. I have a GAP 300 win hospitaller that I love just thinking it may be too heavy to lug around out west.
I updated my response with more info.
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Awesome information thank you so much!
That 7mm-08 will work for everything on your list.
But I understand wanting a new rifle.
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He may need a new rifle for his “wife” 
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Hey man, I’m inTn as well. I use a 6.5prc for almost everything, but similar to you, am going on an elk hunt in Sept and wanted a reason for another rifle. I opted for a 280ai. 7mm bullet w less recoil than 7prc or 7 mag. Decent selection of factory ammo (online), and very capable for everything in North America without being in a magnum action.
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Chris, I am thinking through the same thing you are. I have a .308 that I love, but want something more. I am leaning toward 6.5PRC over the 7PRC. I have looked at both Seekins and the Sig Sawtooth. I may end up doing a custom build, though.
The 7PRC is a hammer, but if you’re willing to invest in the equipment to reduce the felt recoil it can be not only very accurate but very shootable. I can spend a day on the range with 7 and not regret it. I should also say that I am a pretty fit 195lbs, so there is some mass behind the scope.
My 7 is in a chassis, with a massive break and the Backstop. It also weighs right at 10lbs which isn’t too heavy imo when hiking around the mountains on a western hunt.
7mm is the just about perfect for almost all North American game. So the 280AI, 7 SAUM, 7 BC, 7mm08 and 7PRC will deliver. It just depends on you ethical range for which one.
Just don’t rule out the 7PRC with fear of the recoil, if you are willing to build the rifle up some and you have some mass to absorb the remaining recoil.
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Jim, you mentioned doing a full custom 6.5 PRC build above…let’s say you were starting from scratch (no tikka/Bergara action) and cost wasn’t an issue, what components would you use?
I’d get a Bartlein barrel chambered by Stuteville https://www.stutevilleprecision.com/shop-4
Impact NBK action
Triggertech primary trigger
Chassis of your preference. I’m biased 
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Just watched your 6.5prc video again…would you go 20”, 22” or 24”? I’m guessing 22” or 24”.
Probably 24” for a 6.5 prc. 19” would pretty much match a 6.5 creedmoor exactly in velocity. 22” can work but still just isn’t taking full advantage of the cartridge in my opinion.
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Thank you.
Would 20” with suppressor be good. Would that help take full advantage of cartridge
Nah. A suppressor barely adds anything. Maybe 15fps.
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I have a 6.5 prc fierce mtn reaper with a 26 barrel could not be happier
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I’m a hand loader and couldn’t be more happy with my mountain reaper chambered in a 7mm PRC I’ve add a suppressor and a backfire recoil pad. The recoil isn’t enough to hurt but a little hard to keep on target. It shoots a 3/4 to 7/8 moa and I have constantly taken it out to 800yd, that’s the furthest target I have at the moment.
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