7 PRC Velocities / FACTORY Ammo

[resident vs nonresident]

Yeah this was my first time coming out to this specific range. Had no idea people would leave so much trash everywhere, was really disappointing to see. We picked up everything we brought in but it really needs a dedicated volunteer event to clean up. It was ridiculous.

The Hornady seemed to be more inconsistent with high and low shots due to higher variance on velocity. I’m planning on going to another range that goes out to 1000 and seeing if it’s more noticeable as I was only able to take it to 150 at this specific range.

I just picked up Garmin Xero as well. My rifle also has 22” Proof sendero barrel on Tikka action.
I have few boxes of Federal ELDx and my buddy with diff action/rifle but same 22” Sendero barrel has few boxes of Hornady ELDX. We’ll do comparison pretty soon. (I’m not sure if he has older or newer batch of H ammo)

 

[Fever Buck]

I just picked up Garmin Xero as well. My rifle also has 22” Proof sendero barrel on Tikka action.
I have few boxes of Federal ELDx and my buddy with diff action/rifle but same 22” Sendero barrel has few boxes of Hornady ELDX. We’ll do comparison pretty soon. (I’m not sure if he has older or newer batch of H ammo)

Cool. Definitely follow up when you go shoot. I’ll try to get out soon as well and follow up with a better comparison. Just wish the ammo wasn’t so damn expensive or else I’d be happy to do a bunch of 10 round groups to compare.

 

[TheViking]

Seekins Havak Element 22” barrel + brake

Federal 175 ELDX - 2930 average 10 shots
Hornady 180 ELDM - 2780 average 25 shots
Federal 170 Terminal Ascent - 3010 average 10 shots

ELDX shot the best for me around .5 MOA, Terminal Ascent was about .62 MOA, ELDM was .75ish

Edit - probably around 50 rounds total down the tube, these will get faster.

 

[Gadjet]

Seekins Havak Element 22” barrel + brake

Federal 175 ELDX - 2930 average 10 shots
Hornady 180 ELDM - 2780 average 25 shots
Federal 170 Terminal Ascent - 3010 average 10 shots

ELDX shot the best for me around .5 MOA, Terminal Ascent was about .62 MOA, ELDM was .75ish

Edit - probably around 50 rounds total down the tube, these will get faster.

Sounds like you must have gotten a good box of the Hornady ELDX before they went to a different load. I would have thought that the 180 ELDM would be a little faster than 2780.

 

[TheViking]

Sounds like you must have gotten a good box of the Hornady ELDX before they went to a different load. I would have thought that the 180 ELDM would be a little faster than 2780.

Those are federal ELDX, not Hornady.

 

[Gadjet]

Those are federal ELDX, not Hornady.

Oops, sorry I didn’t catch that.

 

[Buzzsaw]

I'm late to this thread but just what I was looking for. Thanks to all contributors.

 

[Fever Buck]

Got some crazy bad SDs on the Hornady 175 eldx today. Shot about 60 of them total and got velocities from 2715 all the way to 2885. Had tons of stiff bolt lift too. Just totally ridiculous.

Federal is staying consistent so far but only have 2 boxes so I’m being conservative with shooting it.

At this point, I won’t trust using the Hornady stuff for hunting season just from the severe spread on velocities.

 

[THellURider]

Has Hornady responded to any of this at all?

My Proof barreled 7PRC is enroute...

 

[swavescatter]

Has Hornady responded to any of this at all?

My Proof barreled 7PRC is enroute...

Yes. They've admitted they couldn't source the original, preferred powder (likely RL-26), but said the MULTIPLE other powders used meet their accuracy standards.

I.E. - sorry if you spent hundreds of dollars on demonstrably horrible "match" ammo that doesn't group and doesn't shoot the advertised velocities, but feel free to go suck a fat one.

They also paid Ron the Boomer Spooner to record a YouTube video where magically he could only source the known good lot number of early run ammo and it shot fast and grouped well.

If Sierra would come out with heavier for caliber TMKs (145ish+ 6.5?) I would never touch Hornady components again. Makes me want to switch to Berger bullets but I trust the ELD-Ms to expand more reliably at lower velocities.

 

[Willie IV]

Wonder if Hornady will make an announcement when the preferred powder is back in their products? How will we know otherwise?

 

[TheViking]

Seekins Havak Element 22” barrel + brake

Federal 175 ELDX - 2930 average 10 shots
Hornady 180 ELDM - 2780 average 25 shots
Federal 170 Terminal Ascent - 3010 average 10 shots

ELDX shot the best for me around .5 MOA, Terminal Ascent was about .62 MOA, ELDM was .75ish

Edit - probably around 50 rounds total down the tube, these will get faster.

Wanted to update this. I shot a bunch more Federal ELDX today and my average was 2960, my gun is speeding up. Shot .5 MOA groups at 100 and 200 yards, haven’t reached out further yet. The Federal seems to be very consistent. This will be my elk round this year.

 

[Kolton10018]

I have a 20” barrel and shooting the 180 match Hornady I would see as low as 2675… I’ve since switched to federal.

 

[Watrdawg]

The Federal ELDX velocities, at least for me, were coming in around 3000 to 3020fps. Definitely faster than the Hornady ELDX. IT was more accurate also. Today I was at the range shooting some Federal 170gr Terminal Ascent. Average velocity was 3026 for 15 rounds. I can keep .375" groups easily with it out of my rifle. I shot steel out to 750 today using a bipod and rear bag from multiple positions and had no issues at all. Really like the Federal 170gr TA. Now the 155Gr TA is another story. My rifle doesn't like it at all.

 

[Willie IV]

What rifle setup you running?

The Federal ELDX velocities, at least for me, were coming in around 3000 to 3020fps. Definitely faster than the Hornady ELDX. IT was more accurate also. Today I was at the range shooting some Federal 170gr Terminal Ascent. Average velocity was 3026 for 15 rounds. I can keep .375" groups easily with it out of my rifle. I shot steel out to 750 today using a bipod and rear bag from multiple positions and had no issues at all. Really like the Federal 170gr TA. Now the 155Gr TA is another story. My rifle doesn't like it at all.

 

[FrankAbagnale]

Shot my new 7 PRC for the first time today. 18” barrel. Federal Premium Eldx 175.

Average velocity for 40 shots was 2,799.70.

 

[GreyBeck]

Federal has avg over 3000fps for my son and I. 24” barrel.

And on sale. Much more consistent than Hornady so far and now about the same price

SCHEELS.com

SCHEELS.com

www.scheels.com

 

[MT_Wyatt]

Latest episode of Backcountry Hunting Podcast (yeah, I know, BOAL leg reaper adjacent) had Seth from Hornady on, and he addressed this pretty direclty. The powders they develooped 7 PRC for are not available and they've had to sub in other stuff. They specifically said velocity is lost because they are prioritizing consistency, accuracy, etc. Seems reasonable to me, and perhaps federal has a stockpile of a more suitable powder, who knows. What is for sure is there's been a drop off in some lots on velocity over the originally release stuff. It isn't a case volume problem, even Federal shows that, it'll move.

 

[Biggern'yurs]

Finally got mine past the 200 round mark and started taking velocities. 21" barrel carbon six barrel on a Kelbly's Atlas lite. Fed Terminal Ascent 175 grain going an average of 2955fps and the Fed ELDX 175 going in average of 2905fps. My goal was to get over 2,900 so I hit that in spades with the terminal Ascent.

 

[Bluumoon]

Federal has avg over 3000fps for my son and I. 24” barrel.

And on sale. Much more consistent than Hornady so far and now about the same price

SCHEELS.com

SCHEELS.com

www.scheels.com

Ammo seek will save you 30%