My rifle is 8.6lbs scoped and it is very mild for recoil. Doesn't feel that different then my 308. I was initially concerned how it would be in a lightweight build but it's a non issue. I can shoot for a long time with out it bothering me and I am not a large human.
Braked and 12 pounds... It will be significantly less then a hunting weight non braked .270
I love the 6.5 cm for deer but have seen a bunch of my shots that did not pass through with bonded bullets. A 243 can take down an elk with the right conditions but elk are not small animals and question if the 6.5 CM or even the 6.5 PRC is the right medicine for the job. I just got back from elk hunt and shot a bull with 300 wsm with 180 gr bonded bullet at 185 (relatively close shot in the elk hunting world). It was slight quartering away and first shot lodged against the far shoulder, no exit. The bull did not go 2 steps but that was also due to a quick followup shot with hit spine. On the same hunt one of the guys shot an elk with 7MM mag with a Barnes TSX, no exit and no blood trail. Did not find the bull until the next day, He got lucky. This is an n of 2 so not exactly scientific evaluation but we owe it to the animals we hunt to use the enough gun for the job to not end being a coyote and bear food and dead head that someone finds in the spring. Just my two cents.
Recoil is definitely going to be more for a 7PRC than a 6.5 CM but ask any hunter and they will tell you they never notice the recoil when shooting at game. That said, they make some fantastic muzzlebrakes that tame it up to 70ish %. I gave my bull two pills with 300 wsm both hits and the guide was like that was the fastest follow-up shot I've seen, I have a recoil hog on mine. On the bench it makes it feel like a 6.5 CM to be honest. Here's a recoil comparison for the 7PRC from Backfire.
I would not worry about recoil on most "standard action length" cartridges. I have a 300 win. It recoils more than my 308 but I can shoot both all day because I shoulder the guns correctly and have good recoil pads. Brakes definitely help but good recoil pad and correct shouldering does a lot. Now staying on target is much harder with a 300 win than a braked 6.5 cm. Braked 6.5 cm kicks less than an unbraked 223...
The 6.5 is obvious a decent bit less than the 7... but with a can, both are "pleasant" to shoot and sessions of 30-40 shots are easily done.
Nice feedback! I've shot a 7mm RM for years, a Win 70 with a trim traditional stock. Stock fit is everything and it's easy to shoot. After shooting my 7 PRC at the range, suppressed, it's very comfortable to shoot, not like my 6.5 CM but but I can shoot it with comfort and just as accurately. I build mine with a 22" barrel, a compromise wanting it as short as possible for the can but not giving up on too much velocity.FWIW I have been shooting my 6.5 PRC and 7 PRC back-to-back quite a bit the last several weeks.
6.5 PRC is a Seekins Havak element
7 PRC is a Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT
Both rifles are shot with my Hyperion K suppressor (CA was shot with a muzzle break prior)
My thoughts:
Recoil wise, the 7 PRC is LESS then I expected and the 6.5 PRC is MORE then I expected (coming from the 6.5 creedmoor land). Neither is punishing at all (and these are in lightweight rifles), and I can blow more money on ammo shooting then is practical in a short amount of time
Stock and recoil pad make a difference... the CA 7PRC is significantly more pleasant to shoot then my un-braked T3x in 30-06, for example. The Seekins is in the same ballpark as my 6.5 creedmoor T3x.
In my opinion, at least with my rifles, recoil is just not really an issue (at least with a break or can).
Both are awesome rounds!
Great looking setupNice feedback! I've shot a 7mm RM for years, a Win 70 with a trim traditional stock. Stock fit is everything and it's easy to shoot. After shooting my 7 PRC at the range, suppressed, it's very comfortable to shoot, not like my 6.5 CM but but I can shoot it with comfort and just as accurately. I build mine with a 22" barrel, a compromise wanting it as short as possible for the can but not giving up on too much velocity.
I have fired it a total of 12 rounds, the last three went .574". Looking forward to taking it afield. It's a DIY pre-fit, just accumulated the parts and put it all together.
It's really nice to not have to walk back and forth to the target or bring a spotter. Public range, state of the art, $20 per visit.
You mean a 7wsm lol
You're not wrong, to me its more of a horse of a different color. Rate of twist and marketing is what is going to make the 7 PRC the shiny new toy. I have a 300 WSM that I love and hope they keep it alive as it just plain works at the ranges I shoot at. I'm not taking elk at 600+ yards
It's a bummer 7wsm doesn't get the support it deserves. I've got enough 300 wsm brass to burn out a barrel.
