Hello I am planning on building a custom rifle (with a gunsmith) for aoudad sheep in west texas and public land elk hunts colorado.

Performance Objectives:
400-600 yrd shots (most of my shots are 300-400 on sheep)
8Lbs rifle or lighter
.308 Caliber bullet 180grains and up....
Eventhough I reload a little, I like good performance with factory ammo
Donor action is a sako 75 in .300win

This would be my toughts on components please share your recomendations, I'm not set on anything, just looking for other people toughts
- Hart Barrel #4? Fluted
- Cerakote
- Spiral Fluted Bolt
- 300winmag (might consider a .300PRC) . . . I
- McMillan Desert Camo (molded in color)
- Jewel Trigger 2lbs

Whats your opinion on the .300PRC, will it stay in the market for a long time?? will it fade out?? Should I stick to .300win mag? (by the way I own a couple of .300winmags already)

300PRC isn't going anywhere...my 2 cents. It's the moderized 300 win mag.

Buddy and I are going on a Nilgai hunt next month and we built two rifles specifically for this hunt. I chose the 30 Nosler and he chose the 300prc...both are in McSwirly's (mine a Game Hunter and his a Game Scout). We are both shooting 215's w/ 22" barrels at 2900...my Nosler has a higher node but it's shot so well there that I didn't feel the need to go higher/faster. I don't think anything in North American could survive a well placed 215 running 2900...including Grizzlies should I ever elect to chase one of those.

The only thing I would change in your list is I would ditch the Sako (sell it) and go with a custom action that will accommodate a Wyatt's extended box BDL. By the time you pay to have the bolt fluted and you pay to have the action trued...you're not that far off from a custom. At the end of the day, you still have a Sako and with a custom...you have a custom and they will retain value better. Lots of great custom action makers out there today.

From my understanding Jewell has closed it's doors...probably need to look Timney, Trigger Tech and Bix N Andy. I am not familiar with Sako's trigger so I have no idea if any of those even make one for Sako but they do for the customs that I recommended above.

For that distance I would not build a rifle over 6.5 pounds, infact I would push for sub 6. As far as caliber, Id drop down to 6.5 PRC/Saum. or 7PRC.

If you are set on a 300, flip a coin. Both will stand the test of time. They also load out about the same. Since its a 300 Id look at the 215 VLD EOL or 212/225 ELD.

jewell is my favorite but I like my timney, TT and Bix

The first thing I would figure out, if you plan to use the Sako 75, is the bottom metal (like Judd mentioned). I don't know what options there are for stocks or even if McMillan inlets for a Sako 75. But I would plan out the stock and bottom metal first, and make sure you bottom metal can accomodate about 3.600" COAL, or a touch longer. I also would not recommend a Sako 75, unless your gunsmith can work on metric thread actions. If all this works for you, then go for it. You just need to make sure you have planned everything in advance and that it will work.

Between the PRC and Win Mag, pick your choice. But I would hand load or use good custom ammo, like what I make. Factory Win Mag ammo really isn't all that great and has limited bullet choices when it comes to the heavy (200+ grain) bullets.

What Judd said.

And keep the bullets 200 gr or heavier.

I bought reamers this year. I bought .300 PRC but did not buy .300 Win Mag. If we are starting from zero on a build, might as well go with the modern cartridge. The tweaks the .300 Win Mag needed, has been done in the .300 PRC and .30 Nosler.

I stick with the .300 win.

I travel often to hunt and if my ammo and gun get separated I’m much more likely to find .300 win ammo than PRC ammo. I shoot 180 grain accubonds and have had great results.

Either one will flatten any sheep or elk.

If those weights are your expectations I wouldn't waste money on that build.

Besides what is already said you need to lose some weight in the barrel, pick a stock, and choose a different action and maybe even a lighter weight action

Your specs are average gun specs that can be bought over the counter

I wouldn’t sell a Win Mag to buy a PRC, but if I were starting from scratch, the PRC only makes sense.

I like your plan. If you want to be able to shoot factory ammo as you stated, the 300 Win Mag is what I would choose. 300 PRC factory ammo is going to be a limitation. Your Sako action is a high quality action. McMillian makes a Sako stock it will drop into. No need to change the trigger on that Sako. Capping the range at 600 as you stated, I’d probably stick to 180’s. 200 grain bullets in a 6 pound 300 are gonna jar you a little bit.
Good luck with it. Sounds like a fun project.

I have never left home without my hand loaded ammo.

I never understood the argument of being able to buy factory ammo.

Rifle
Ammo
Range Finder

thanks guys, great input! I will have to think about ditching the sako..

I can tell you at no time will you wish your rifle was a pound heavier but you wish you had a pound of sneakers, reeses or more treat food etc. Beauty of food, the weight disappears when you eat it

I spent some time a few years back with a friend in Alaska, he has done a lot of extremely remote high altitude sheep hunts, awesome stories!
300 win mag and 180 partition has worked for him on sheep, moose, caribou, and grizzlies..
ammo would be readily available anywhere, maybe not exactly your preferred load but that is better than not being able to find 300 PRC

It’s interesting that the .300 WSM gets no love in this thread.

The whizzum is a beast and I love mine but he didn't ask about that...he specifically asked about the prc and the win mag. Shockingly, we stay pretty well on those two Although, I did sprinkle in a 30 Nosler earlier and opened that door