7 PRC Velocities / FACTORY Ammo

So sounds like hornady 7prc is still garbage and nowhere close to the velocities they claim on the box? I keep going back and forth about whether or not I want to rebarrel my 7mag but trying to sort out the actual gains is very difficult
I see it differently. While I love my 7mmRM, I am not able to shoot the heavies that I can out of 7PRC. To me, that is where the advantage is.
 
I’m now past 100+ rounds through this barrel and it looked to have been speeding up. I had number of rounds break 3,000fps. But turned out few boxes I had from same lot were just loaded lil hot.
Next lot# dropped off a bit.
All are Federal ELD-X
22” Proof carbon barrel / Tikka action.
That’s also my group at 400y. I’ll take that anyday.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_6238.jpeg
    IMG_6238.jpeg
    660.5 KB · Views: 18
  • IMG_6245.jpeg
    IMG_6245.jpeg
    561.5 KB · Views: 19
  • IMG_6243.jpeg
    IMG_6243.jpeg
    566.3 KB · Views: 19
Christensen Mesa FFT 7PRC 22" barrel. This is only my first box of ammo (Hornady Match 180 grain ELD Match) through it so still dialing it in...after 3x range sessions. And averaged together. Screenshot 2025-07-02 18.29.17.png
 
And through a Banish Backcountry supressor.
Christensen Mesa FFT 7PRC 22" barrel. This is only my first box of ammo (Hornady Match 180 grain ELD Match) through it so still dialing it in...after 3x range sessions. And averaged together. View attachment 901181
And through a Banish Backcountry Supressor.
 
A few more data points.

New build
22" proof barrel
Dead air nomad ti suppressor

Hornady Precision Hunter ELD-x
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_20250930_190513_ShotView.jpg
    Screenshot_20250930_190513_ShotView.jpg
    61.3 KB · Views: 26
  • Screenshot_20250930_190432_ShotView.jpg
    Screenshot_20250930_190432_ShotView.jpg
    62.1 KB · Views: 24
  • Screenshot_20250930_190417_ShotView.jpg
    Screenshot_20250930_190417_ShotView.jpg
    61.9 KB · Views: 22
Shot a brand new Seekins Ph3 22” barrel. Rounds 9-13 out of the rifle. With 7” sico .30 custom suppressor.

Two shots per ammo type-

Hornady 180 ELDM - 2843 FPS/2795FPS
Hornady 175 ELDX - 2824FPS/2822FPS

Will measure more - goal is to track to 100 rounds and see, also going to pick up some Norma to try.
 
Federal 175 eldx was running fast last weekend. Avg was 3025fps - 40 rounds/2 boxes. This is the same speed as my handloads w/same 175g eldx bullet. 24” barrel / 6” suppressor
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3624.jpeg
    IMG_3624.jpeg
    427.5 KB · Views: 13
Federal 175 eldx was running fast last weekend. Avg was 3025fps - 40 rounds/2 boxes. This is the same speed as my handloads w/same 175g eldx bullet. 24” barrel / 6” suppressor
Hmmmmm. They must have a pipeline to Alliant.
 
Shot a brand new Seekins Ph3 22” barrel. Rounds 9-13 out of the rifle.

Two shots per ammo type-

Hornady 180 ELDM - 2843 FPS/2795FPS
Hornady 175 ELDX - 2824FPS/2822FPS

Will measure more - goal is to track to 100 rounds and see, also going to pick up some Norma to try.
Nice rifle! That would be my next purchase, but in a 30 caliber.I have two neighbors who have them, one in 300PRC. It shoots stupid good.
 
Hmmmmm. They must have a pipeline to Alliant.
They are good enough to make me question hand loads. SD still wider but @ 600yds this is plenty good for factory ammo.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3625.jpeg
    IMG_3625.jpeg
    680.6 KB · Views: 17
With my 24” Lilia barreled semi custom tikka, I’m averaging 2820 with factory hornady 180eldm’s, 122 rounds down the barrel. Once I’ve shot my remaining factory loads I’ll get to reloading and see what I can squeeze out. Hoping for as close to 3k as possible with continued accuracy levels.
 
Federal 175 eldx was running fast last weekend. Avg was 3025fps - 40 rounds/2 boxes. This is the same speed as my handloads w/same 175g eldx bullet. 24” barrel / 6” suppressor
You finding any fresh Federal eldx or this your own stockpile? I have 5 boxes left and am paranoid to use it up till I see it start hitting the shelves again...
 
You finding any fresh Federal eldx or this your own stockpile? I have 5 boxes left and am paranoid to use it up till I see it start hitting the shelves again...
Have about 6 boxes left. Haven’t checked on availability. Have one box of Hornady left that I haven’t shot because it’s close to 200fps slower
 
22” Seekins Havak Element M3, Hornady factory 180 ELD-Ms, DA Nomad TI XC. I don’t own a chrono, but a guy at the range let me use his for my last 4 rounds of the day. Orange circle is 1” diameter and a 5 round group. Overlaying the other 5 round group put it at around 1.3” for the 10 shots.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_6282.jpeg
    IMG_6282.jpeg
    292.8 KB · Views: 9
  • IMG_6281.jpeg
    IMG_6281.jpeg
    382 KB · Views: 9
Have about 6 boxes left. Haven’t checked on availability. Have one box of Hornady left that I haven’t shot because it’s close to 200fps slower
Yeah, the Hornady was much worse for me as well. I'm going to be hunting with the 170 terminal ascent this fall at this point. Have several more boxes and have been seeing them back fill much faster.
 
Yeah, the Hornady was much worse for me as well. I'm going to be hunting with the 170 terminal ascent this fall at this point. Have several more boxes and have been seeing them back fill much faster.
The Hornady's albeit slow, were very accurate in my rifle. I bought a case, and was disappointed in the velocity especially after 100 rounds down the barrel. They grouped 0.5-0.75" out to 1000 yards though. Since I bought the rifle a few weeks before the 2023 elk season and had no time for load development, I had to use them for the hunt, and nailed a 7x7 bull with one shot at a fairly long range. Now I'm handloading copper solids.
 
Well today was second time out with the Seekins PH3. Edit - 22” barrel 7PRC. I needed to sight in and get ready for a TX hunt next week.

Shot around 40 rounds 1 box of Hornady Precison Hunter 175s and 1 box of Hornady Match 180s.

Shot 75% suppressed and the other 25% with the factor muzzle break. Trying to track PO shift.

Bottom line - rifle doesn’t love 175 ELDX, but it does love the 180 ELDM.

Best 5 shot group with ELDM was .626 and an average velocity (suppressed) 2876.

Best 5 shot with ELDX was undetermined as they were well over 2” and I thought there was an issue. More work needs to be done, but velocities were low so I shot break in barrel, but I have low hope.

Average velocity of the 180 ELDM - suppressed - 2875 (SD of 6, ES 41) -
MB velocity was 2780

Interesting that I got an extra 100 fps with the suppressor - definitely increased pressure, as the string went on and things heated up - I started getting heavy bolt lift and ejector swipes, no primer cratering/flattening.

Average 175 ELDX velocity suppressed was 2,831 FPS, with the MB it was 2,784 FPS. Gun was hot, as mentioned groups sucked.

Second side note - the factory muzzle break did a better job at recoil reduction than the suppressor. It was offset by the blast though.

Also carbon on cases was a lot for any bolt gun I’ve shot suppressed.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4613.jpeg
    IMG_4613.jpeg
    339.9 KB · Views: 4
Seekins Havak Element M3 7PRC 22inch barrel. Muzzle Velocity 2885fps with 180gr ELD-M. Impact velocities of 2467ish and 2550ish, buck and doe antelope.

Buck entrance and heart:
IMG_6619.jpeg
IMG_6614.jpeg

Didn’t exit, found base and fragments under offside hide:
IMG_6618.jpeg
Doe exit:
IMG_6620.jpeg
IMG_6621.jpeg
IMG_6622.jpeg
 
Back
Top