Part 3: 7 PRCW Bedding and Break In

Ever since I met Erik Cortina, I’ve been curious about F-Class. It’s finally time to shoot my very own 7 PRCW!

Disclaimer

Ultimate Reloader LLC / Making with Metal Disclaimer: (by reading this article and/or watching video content you accept these terms). The content on this website (including videos, articles, ammunition reloading data, technical articles, gunsmithing and other information) is for demonstration purposes only. Do not attempt any of the processes or procedures shown or described on this website. All gunsmithing procedures should be carried out by a qualified and licensed gunsmith at their own risk. Do not attempt to repair or modify any firearms based on information on this website. Ultimate Reloader, LLC and Making With Metal can not be held liable for property or personal damage due to viewers/readers of this website performing activities, procedures, techniques, or practices described in whole or part on this website. By accepting these terms, you agree that you alone are solely responsible for your own safety and property as it pertains to activities, procedures, techniques, or practices described in whole or part on this website.

About the Build

Following Erik Cortina’s advice, I built a 7 PRCW (essentially a necked up 6.5 PRC) in a WOOX Titano Chassis with BAT VR action and Brux barrel.

When the chambering work was done, I installed an EC Tuner V2.

Bedding

I’ve used a number of bedding products, but haven’t been thrilled with any of them. After watching people bed stocks with thicker putty, I decided to try the Devcon Plastic Steel Putty (10110).

This material has a peanut butter consistency and cures overnight. I used carnuba car wax as a release agent, weighing the materials on my Cambridge Environmental A&D EJ3000 balance before combining them on a spare notepad.

I only needed to bed two areas on the WOOX Titano — the rear tang and behind the recoil lug. I also coated the action screws.

For simplicity I didn’t use the barrel, just the action, pressing the BAT VR into the stock. I tightened the action screws until I just felt them catch, then backed them off.

It’s important not to have any stress on the action during this time. After letting it sit overnight, I popped the action out of the stock and touched up the bedding on the milling machine.

Everything worked beautifully. I did some profiling and used an end mill to drill out the action screw holes.

Next, it was time to screw on the barrel. I used a Short Action Customs Bravo barrel vise for this task. When this was completed, I laser engraved the barrel details: 7 PRCW 1:9, 32” and marked a dash near the muzzle to keep track of my EC Tuner setting.

Final Assembly

The rifle still wasn’t 100% ready to shoot. I needed bottom metal. Hawkins Precision sent their Oberndorf bottom metal, which works with the BDL inlet on the WOOX Titano.

At 2.5 ounces, it is typically used in lightweight hunting rifles and fits the Remington 700 footprint. While the WOOX Titano is set up to accept a magazine, I chose a special variant of the BAT VR action with a solid bottom. In my case, the bottom metal really just exists for the trigger guard and action screws.

During final assembly, I verified the bedding job. When I tightened the action screws, they tightened right away upon bottoming out. This is an indication of a good bedding job. I’ll also put my hand along the forend while tightening the front action screw and check for movement. There was none.

I borrowed and mounted a Delta Optical Stryker HD 5-50x scope from another rifle. This scope is ideal for F-class because of its high magnification.

Sight-In Load

I prepared a single sight-in load using two types of brass. I set Berger 7mm 180 grain Hybrid Target bullets over Vihtavuori N555 powder and a Federal 210M primer in both Lapua 6.5 PRC brass and ADG 7 PRCW brass. COL was 3.130”.

All of this ammunition was loaded using the Area 419 Zero press, EC mandrel (for the 6.5 PRC brass), and SAC APS infinity die.

Sight-In

I was thrilled to be able to use my Sinclair front rest and Protektor leather rear bag. I’ve been so spoiled with suppressors and muzzle brakes I had to be extra careful to not anticipate the shots. Mind over matter prevailed and my first three shots at 100 yards measured 0.271 MOA.

The first 15 shots had an average velocity of 2826 fps and average SD of 9.5 fps.

This was with zero load development—only the load Erik Cortina gave me! It’s also important to note that my bench tops aren’t the most stable. I’ll be upgrading them to concrete in the near future.

Conclusion

Next up is fire-forming more brass and doing actual load development with consideration to charge weight and seating depth. Tuner optimization is also on the list as well as training with F-Class John and Erik Cortina for my first F-Class match!