Posted: 12/14/2025 7:33:27 PM EDT
[Last Edit: astrocreep96][Edited]
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I'm thinking of picking up an MRAD in .300 PRC. My partner at work is big into F1 class shooting, and he told me about a semi-local ELR class this June he is attending. Ranges are 1000 to 2000 yards. It's a 2 day course taught by Mike Perkins in the Stanley Mountains of Idaho and includes lodging in a nice cabin for 3 nights. I'm interested in going, but my two bolt action guns are an AIAT and a Q The Fix in 6.5CM. Also, I'm a total n00b for long range shooting. Those won't have the oomph to hit 2K yards so I will have to pick up a new gun and I'm thinking of a .300PRC. I like my AI, I'd be inclined to pick up another AI, but on Eurooptic the AXSR in on backorder for the .300PRC, and it is more than 2X the cost of a Barrett MRAD. So, all that said, anyone have experience with this gun? Another option is a custom action/barrel/chassis, which I would be fine with, but lead times are such I don't think I would have it in time for this course. Whatever I get, I'm going to throw a ZCO scope and Thunderbeast suppressor on it. I've really liked my ZCO 5 - 27 on my AI. They make an 8 - 40 that would be good for ELR.  I'm going to have to spin up some gear and do some reading and maybe a few local classes/comps for LR shooting this spring/summer to get ready. I'll be happy to learn what I can for this course but understand I will be outclassed by much better/more experienced shooters. |
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Not opposed to a custom gun, but again the lead times for custom guns are such I'm not sure it would be ready by June. I'd be happy to pick up a Zermatt action and Bertlein barrel, but it will take months for that to be ready. I could also get a Timney trigger for the MRAD. I don't need a quick change barrel, it is not a bad feature but I am more likely to just buy an other gun if I need another caliber. |
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TRG-42 A1 in 300WM would work too. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1140874341 |
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Originally Posted By Firestarter123: TRG-42 A1 in 300WM would work too. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1140874341 Yeah, not a bad option. I've always wanted a TRG. For what it's worth, Eurooptic has the MRAD on sale for $5,300 so the TRG would be more expensive. If I'm going to spend more, I'd rather just do an AI. |
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Here’s an AXSR in 300PRC. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1142787484 |
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MHSA has them in stock too. https://www.milehighshooting.com/2021-accuracy-international-axsr-300-prc-27-black/ |
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Originally Posted By astrocreep96: Not opposed to a custom gun, but again the lead times for custom guns are such I'm not sure it would be ready by June. I'd be happy to pick up a Zermatt action and Bertlein barrel, but it will take months for that to be ready. I could also get a Timney trigger for the MRAD. I don't need a quick change barrel, it is not a bad feature but I am more likely to just buy an other gun if I need another caliber. In that case, you could get a Zermatt or Impact Action and get a Proof Research prefit 300 PRC barrel pretty quickly and put one together on your own. Wouldn’t be a bad option. ETA: For an extra $100 you can get a 2 week lead time on a prefit, or $200 a 1 week lead time if you order an Osprey barrel from Patriot Valley Arms. |
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Originally Posted By Firestarter123: MHSA has them in stock too. https://www.milehighshooting.com/2021-accuracy-international-axsr-300-prc-27-black/ I do like the AI system, I guess the question becomes, are they worth 2x the cost of the Barrett? I'm new to long range, so is buying the AI worthwhile? Maybe so. The action on my current AI is buttery smooth. |
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Originally Posted By astrocreep96: I must have been looking somewhere else, I thought they were on backorder, but obviously not. I do like the AI system, I guess the question becomes, are they worth 2x the cost of the Barrett? I'm new to long range, so is buying the AI worthwhile? Maybe so. The action on my current AI is buttery smooth. Originally Posted By astrocreep96: Originally Posted By Firestarter123: MHSA has them in stock too. https://www.milehighshooting.com/2021-accuracy-international-axsr-300-prc-27-black/ I do like the AI system, I guess the question becomes, are they worth 2x the cost of the Barrett? I'm new to long range, so is buying the AI worthwhile? Maybe so. The action on my current AI is buttery smooth. If I could swing it I’d happily pay 2x the price for the AI. |
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Originally Posted By astrocreep96: I must have been looking somewhere else, I thought they were on backorder, but obviously not. I do like the AI system, I guess the question becomes, are they worth 2x the cost of the Barrett? I'm new to long range, so is buying the AI worthwhile? Maybe so. The action on my current AI is buttery smooth. IMO, the AI isn't anywhere near worth the cost over the MRAD. What I like about the MRAD: 10rd double stack double feed mags. You can top load with the mag in still in the rifle, great option in the dark. MLOK rails, not the proprietary attachment system on the AI New barrels come with new bolt heads. Barrel swaps for me have never been more than .2 off from return to zero. You can get parts everywhere  |
I'm no good at telling people what they want to hear when I dont believe it myself :)
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Originally Posted By bigbore: IMO, the AI isn't anywhere near worth the cost over the MRAD. What I like about the MRAD: 10rd double stack double feed mags. You can top load with the mag in still in the rifle, great option in the dark. MLOK rails, not the proprietary attachment system on the AI New barrels come with new bolt heads. Barrel swaps for me have never been more than .2 off from return to zero. You can get parts everywhere https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/12678/20250310_124517-3487900.jpg Those are great features. Not sure if you meant to imply they’re not found on the AI, but for clarity the AI also uses double stack/feed mags and I single feed mine by hand with mag inserted all the time. And barrel and bolt swaps are quick and consistent like mrad. I think the AXSR is worth the price. However, it’s not great camo in the snow!   OP, if you are serious and plan to shoot 2k often, and like the AI platform, my recommendations in order of preference would be: 1 step up to the AI ELR 50bmg, then swap barrel out to one of the ELR cartridges. 375 or 475 somethings. That’s going to be a lot more $ but you’ll prob hit more. 2000yd is a hike. 2 custom 338-based or 300nm based ELR cartridge, impact action, foundation stock (pm me for info on smiths) 3 AXSR in 300nm. Then when you burn that barrel out, replace it with a 338lm-based ELR cartridge (same bolt head as 300nm so all you’d change are the magazines) 4 AXSR in 300prc 5 MRAD in whatever ETA: check out the mag range others are using before you buy that 8-40. FOV at 40x is tight. |
| I just checked Bugholes and they have actions and barrels in stock. They weren't Origins but there were a couple choices. Site says he can deliver fairly quickly if it's in stock stuff. Might be worth looking around for used stuff as well that high dollar stuff gets bought and not shot quite a bit. |
BikerNut:
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Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
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I have limited experience with the PRC but do compete with a Norma. As a matter of fact I shot against my smith and his PRC. He is buying a barrel to switch to a Norma. The Norma loaded with a 245 LRHT in Lapua brass is the easy button. Pick either H1000 or N570 and it’ll shoot excellent. If you are buying factory ammo the PRC is better but for hand loaders I feel the Norma is better. |
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Originally Posted By Firestarter123: TRG-42 A1 in 300WM would work too. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1140874341 Nope 11 twist will not let you run the 220+ grain bullets you need for 2000 yards. Will max out at about 200gr. And unless it custom throated for the big 30 cal heavies, 300 WM sucks for big heavy bullets. 300 PRC is great and the math on it checks out, but you really need to handload because honestly Hornady factory ammo kinda sucks. With 220 Bergers Im still just supersonic at 2000. However, at that range unless you have really clean impact zones, even those can be hard to see impacts on. 300 RUM is another option, but once again 30 cal bullets dont splash that well. Its not that 30 cal guns arent good, there are just better most consistent options out there. If I was looking for an actual complete rifle to buy? Id buy a 338 Lapua, and have the chamber recut to a 33XC. Good brass and bullets available, and its fairly well proven. Id even consider building a gun in this caliber if I really wanted a smaller gun than the really big boys that isnt going to end up with me poor and likely divorced 
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Originally Posted By SpeyRod: Or 338 Lapua improved. There was one of Alex Wheelers listed on long range only at a great price. If my Norma wasn’t such a hammer with 245’s I would buy his rifle in a heart beat! Alex builds some cool shit for sure. Guy really has a mind for figuring stuff out and making it work. |
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Thanks for all the info, everyone. Some thoughts on the above - this will be my first long range course. I could see getting into it, but not sure I will consistently be shooting at 2000yds. I do have a range membership with access to 1000yds, but my AI in 6.5CM would be fine there. With that in mind, an AI AXSR is probably more than I need. The Barrett seems to be a nice middle ground - accurate without spending stupid money. The counter-argument to that is, I like the "buy once, cry once" philosophy, and an AI would scratch that itch. I did email the course organizer and he gave me the name of a local custom builder, so that could be an option as well. I'm hedging towards pulling the cord on an AI AXSR in .300PRC. The fact that a black one is in stock on MileHigh increases my interest in that gun quite a bit. I will say my AIAT is a nice little gun, and super smooth. Since I,I'm familiar with the brand, it doesn't hurt to stick with it. I will have to pick up another athother TBAC suppressor and scope. I thought I was done this year with my 18th suppressor.
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| The best thing about the PRC vs some of the bigger cartridges mentioned about is you won’t feel guilty shooting it at 300, 600, 1,000 etc. the cost of the 338 improved and larger rounds goes up exponentially. The PRC with a 230 or 245 Berger will be fine out to 2,000 and beyond occasionally. |
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Originally Posted By SpeyRod: The best thing about the PRC vs some of the bigger cartridges mentioned about is you won’t feel guilty shooting it at 300, 600, 1,000 etc. the cost of the 338 improved and larger rounds goes up exponentially. The PRC with a 230 or 245 Berger will be fine out to 2,000 and beyond occasionally. Honestly? We have 700 available on my buddies range, and just dialing in the elevation on my 300 PRC and shooting the head on a 1/2 IPSC with little to no effort feels like cheating. 1000 really isnt a huge challenge. 1200+ is where things start to get interesting. Same thing with my 6 CM. This is precisely why Im building a nice 223 this spring, bring back some challenge and the cost being way cheaper is a driver too. |
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Originally Posted By astrocreep96: The Barrett seems to be a nice middle ground - accurate without spending stupid money. PSA had .308 MRADs for $4500. At that price it's a no brainer. You can sell the 308 barrel and buy a 300PRC barrel. |
I'm no good at telling people what they want to hear when I dont believe it myself :)
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Originally Posted By Kaldor: Honestly? We have 700 available on my buddies range, and just dialing in the elevation on my 300 PRC and shooting the head on a 1/2 IPSC with little to no effort feels like cheating. 1000 really isnt a huge challenge. 1200+ is where things start to get interesting. Same thing with my 6 CM. This is precisely why Im building a nice 223 this spring, bring back some challenge and the cost being way cheaper is a driver too. Yes. I shoot a lot of 223 at 600. It is great practice, especially in the wind. I occasionally pull the 300 out and shoot it at 300 and 600 just because. Also yes, at 1,000 it is the easy button. Where the 300 becomes more interesting is beyond a mile. When my hit % drops below 60-70% I begin to focus and the fun begins. When you begin shooting the heavy 300’s and larger you also need to realize you are above 4,000 foot lbs and some ranges have restrictions at that point. Mainly because you can damage steel and traps. I put a hole through one of our plates at 340 yds with the 245 Berger. |
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Originally Posted By SpeyRod: I put a hole through one of our plates at 340 yds with the 245 Berger. Tell them to stop using shitty chinese steel? Ive shot 3/8" AR550 at a 100 yards with 220 Bergers with a 3000fps muzzle velocity and it holds up with no issues. Velocity kills steel, not mass. We run good US made AR550 3/8" at a 100, 200 and 300, because those plates get abused. We run the 3/8" cheap chinese shit at 400+ as its good enough and holds up just fine. When my buddy gets out his 50? We use 1/2" AR550 plates, which hold up even at a 100 yards. But the 223? Time to bring back some difficulty. We have 700 available all the time, and 700 with a good 223 is a good time. Our range was largely cut thru the woods, so wind max is maybe 10mph on a bad day. And I can crank out decent 223 on my RL1100 and spend less time reloading, and more time shooting. |
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I have a MK22 in 300n, 300prc, and 338N. The 300N is amazing accurate out of the rifle with handholds. Took sometime to find a load it likes. 300prc is nice but I haven't found a hand load it likes yet. It did not like the Hornady factory stuff at all. Factory Berger was okay. As stated above, can swap barrels and bolt heads in less than two minutes torqued and ready to go. I have not seen any impact changes swapping barrels which says a lot. If you want to shoot several calibers, like me, it is the rifle to have. If you just want to shoot 300 PRC, this is going to sound strange, buy a Gunwerks rifle package. Mine shoots one hole handloads at 200 yards with their optic package, better than my mrad. Yes it's an expensive hunting rifle but it works! What I like about them is they make everything in house. They make their own blanks, rifle their own barrels, make their own ammo...etc. I am by no means affiliated with them at all. Plus their customer service is second to none. I have texted my salesman on Thanksgiving and he wrote me right back with what to do. Just my two cents. |