7 PRC - finding loads for all occasions?

[allstajacket]

I have a 7 PRC with a 20” barrel (X-bolt 2 speed spr) on order and am in the planning stages for some load development.

The primary purpose of this rifle will be for Elk at 100-500+ yards, however I’d really like to give this rifle a go for next deer season here in MI. It’s silly as most of my shots are 30-150 yards, but I’d like to use it nonetheless.

That being said, while I’ll be loading a copper bullet (like the 160 CX or 168 LRX) for elk, I’m not too sure where to begin for MI Whitetail. I don’t want to cause too much destruction, so I’m thinking about trying Accubonds or Interlocks for this purpose.

Does anyone have any experience with the 7 PRC at close range? We all know it does well at long range stuff!

I have some ADG brass on the way and have both LR and Magnum LR primers on hand. I plan to start with H4831/H4831sc. Just need to get some bullets to try.

Thanks in advance!

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[Bfish22]

Why not try your all copper load first so you don’t have to switch back and forth?

Fwiw, I use the Berger 175 elite hunter and have had great results 200-300 yards but nothing closer yet. It put a pretty big hole in at 300 still, closer might be messy.

 

[Wapiti1]

At close range, you will have a lot less meat damage with a copper mono. You might have to track it a little ways. I have used quite a few big magnums here in Indiana for deer, just because I could. They all do better with deer using tough bullets at close range. Berger, and similar, are too much of a good thing at high velocity.
An example would be my 28 Nos. I used Lapua 180gr Scenar and they are on the tough side, but still were a bomb in a deer under 100 yards. I went to Maker 175gr TREX and it is way better.

I will only use highly fragmenting bullets here in my 6mm bore rifles to control meat damage.

Jeremy

 

[wapitibob]

I would drop weight if using solids, 140 range.

 

[HandgunHTR]

Use the same bullet for both.

There is nothing magical about elk. They are just wider and taller than deer. A good elk bullet will be a good deer bullet and vice versa.

Whether to use monos or not is another topic. I wouldn't.

 

[77TMK]

If you don't want a ton of meat damage just shoot them in the lower neck. It's already a handicap that you're using 7mm PRC to shoot extremely frail whitetail at such close ranges.