7 Rem mag or 7 PRC

[RidgeReaper3]

I have read numerous forums on this topic and was hoping to get some insight and recommendations from you guys. I live in the western states where I hunt elk, deer and antelope. I am looking for the "best" do it all cartridge for ranges 700 yards and in. The last couple years I have been shooting a browning HC Speed 6.5 CM. I can get MOA accurancy with 143g Eldx factory ammo (650 yards). My wife started hunting a couple years ago and I will be passing this rifle onto her. Which is why I am looking for a new one. I am really considering the browning x bolt mountain pro LR chambered in the 7mm Rem mag with 1/8 twist. I would like to shoot bullets in the 168-180g range. I know this is where the 7 prc shines with the capabilities of heaver, longer and high BC bullets. But my concern is available ammo and lower than advertised velocities. I do not reload but am considering it in the future. Without any experience reloading should the belted 7 rem mag be a consideration as well when compared to the 7 prc incase I do end up reloading. Being an ethical hunter I know shot placement is the most important aspect but I would like the have a rifle that will pack a punch out to the ranges discussed above. Thank you in advance.

 

[buffybr]

I got my first 7mm Rem mag in 2000. I've used it on hunts here in Montana and in Africa and Canada (the rifle in my avatar). All of my shots have been under 400 yds. For longer range shooting, I think that the 7 PRC with a faster twist and heavier bullets would have the advantage. As a reloader, I see no difference in loading either the 7 RM or 7 PRC. For availability of factory cartridges, I think that the 7 RM has the advantage, especially in foreign countries.

I'm not about to trade my 7 RM for a 7 PRC, but if I was looking for my first 7 mm rifle, I would probably buy a 7 PRC.

 

[wapitibob]

The factory chamber of the prc allows you to seat any bullet boattail at/above the neck/shoulder jct. After this stw barrel is done, I'm moving to the prc for that reason. Velocity is not a concern at 700 yards.
As for the belt, I've reloaded the 7stw for a decade and the belt is a non issue.

 

[RidgeReaper3]

The factory chamber of the prc allows you to seat any bullet boattail at/above the neck/shoulder jct. After this stw barrel is done, I'm moving to the prc for that reason. Velocity is not a concern at 700 yards.
As for the belt, I've reloaded the 7stw for a decade and the belt is a non issue.

Thanks for the reply, do you think that the 7 PRC would outperform the 7 RM 1/8 Twist shooting 180 G Berger VLDs.

 

[wapitibob]

7MM PRC Cartridge Guide - Long Range Only

DISCLAIMER: This is a guide. Everything listed within is for information purposes only. All loads should be worked up carefully. We have seen loads that require as much as two grains of charge weight adjustment from one powder lot to another. We have seen as much as five grains of powder...

www.longrangeonly.com

 

[doc holiday13]

I bet the firearms section wouldhave an answer for you

 

[RidgeReaper3]

Yeah thought the same thing, couldn't find much info regarding the 7 Rm with a 1/8 twist. Everything was referring to standard factory 1/9.5 twist rates. Hence why I asked here

 

[cuerro viejo]

Yeah thought the same thing, couldn't find much info regarding the 7 Rm with a 1/8 twist. Everything was referring to standard factory 1/9.5 twist rates. Hence why I asked here

Because the 7rm Neck wasn’t built around longer modern higher BC bullets. It’s like comparing the 270/270WSM (1-10 twists) vs 6.7 western (1:8 or 1:7.5)

 

[RidgeReaper3]

Because the 7rm Neck wasn’t built around longer modern higher BC bullets. It’s like comparing the 270/270WSM (1-10 twists) vs 6.7 western (1:8 or 1:7.5)

I guess what am getting at is with the .270s you are shooting 130-150 grains bullets where as the 6.8 western you are shooting 165+ grains. The 7 rm with the right twist rate can shoot (stabilize) the same weighted bullets as the 7 prc.

 

[cuerro viejo]

I guess what am getting at is with the .270s you are shooting 130-150 grains bullets where as the 6.8 western you are shooting 165+ grains. The 7 rm with the right twist rate can shoot (stabilize) the same weighted bullets as the 7 prc.

Yes but it’s not a standard twist offering for the 7rm but an aftermarket 1-8 barrel would stable those bullets and then it’s just a matter of seating depth and COAL. With that said finding 7rm loaded with with 175+ bullets will be a chore, again going back to standard twist for it.

Short answer 7prc will give you a wider bullet grain range with its faster twist

 

[Huntfam]

I am currently building a 7PRC due to similar reasons as to why you are looking at a new rifle. My wife hunts more with me now and my kids are getting older to the age where they will start going on longer trips with me as well. I chose the 7prc due to its capabilities, but I also reload so ammunition will not be as big of a problem for me. I hunt a wide range of game as well and for me personally the 7prc seems like it is going to perform in every way I will need it to. Of course, it is all personal preference and either cartridge will get the job done but for me the 7prc has all of the capabilities I was looking for in one cartridge.

 

[bluetick78]

I understand your question ridgereaper3. 7 rem mag vs 7mm prc, both with 1/8 twist barrel, both launching 180 gr projectile. The 7 rem mag has a case capacity of 73 gr, the 7 prc's capacity is 68.5. Mathematically, the 7 rem mag should hold a velocity edge. I think with careful handloading you could really make the 7 rem mag shine. If you decide to go that route, I'd be interested in the results. With the slower-than-advertised factory velocities in the 7mm prc, and many factory rifles having headspace issues, not to mention extremely limited factory ammo offerings, there's still a big gap in the industry that the 7mm prc was supposed to fill.

 

[menhaden_man]

I was dead set on grabbing an X bolt in 280 AI a few years ago (2020), but backed off the idea due to trouble finding brass and ammo. Wound up grabbing another 7 RM, the Hells Canyon with a 1/8 and 28” bbl. It’s a hoot, extremely accurate, and easy to reload for. Long throat (really long) so easy to push the limits reloading. I shoot a lot of 168 VLDs and 180 ELD-Ms and it’s not hard to get the 180s over 3,000 fps. Pretty sure I’d go 7 RM again if I had to start over… as a reloader.

 

[grfox92]

If I was going to have a 7mm as my one and done do all gun, I would need to be able to shoot 180ELDMs. That would leave the 7PRC.

Im unaware of any factory Rem Mags with an 8 twist, but even if someone was making them, no one is chambering 180s in factory 7RM ammo, so reloading would be a must.

 

[RidgeReaper3]

I understand your question ridgereaper3. 7 rem mag vs 7mm prc, both with 1/8 twist barrel, both launching 180 gr projectile. The 7 rem mag has a case capacity of 73 gr, the 7 prc's capacity is 68.5. Mathematically, the 7 rem mag should hold a velocity edge. I think with careful handloading you could really make the 7 rem mag shine. If you decide to go that route, I'd be interested in the results. With the slower-than-advertised factory velocities in the 7mm prc, and many factory rifles having headspace issues, not to mention extremely limited factory ammo offerings, there's still a big gap in the industry that the 7mm prc was supposed to fill.

This is exactly my thought processes. I was strongly considering the 7 prc and almost purchased one on multiple occasions. I have had good luck with browning x bolt rifles so when I saw they offered the 7RM with a 1/8 twist I really started to dig into what made the 7 prc better. I could find a good amount of info on both rounds but nothing that really compared the cartridges with same twist rates and same projectile weight. I am leaning towards the 7 RM and I feel with some experimental time reloading I could get the same if not better results than the 7 PRC. The 180g Berger VLDs offered from copper creek are expensive but are producing extremely close numbers to the factory 7 PRC rounds.

 

[RidgeReaper3]

If I was going to have a 7mm as my one and done do all gun, I would need to be able to shoot 180ELDMs. That would leave the 7PRC.

Im unaware of any factory Rem Mags with an 8 twist, but even if someone was making them, no one is chambering 180s in factory 7RM ammo, so reloading would be a must.

Browning offers the X bolt LR in 7 RM 1/8 twist. I'm not sure if these are considered factory loads but copper creek and choice ammunition both offer 180g VLDs chambered in 7rm. Next closest I could find is the 175g federals. I am not opposed to reloading I just don't have the equipment/experience yet. I do agree if it's going to be a do it all riffle ideally will be shooting right around the 180g mark.

 

[The Guide]

This is exactly my thought processes. I was strongly considering the 7 prc and almost purchased one on multiple occasions. I have had good luck with browning x bolt rifles so when I saw they offered the 7RM with a 1/8 twist I really started to dig into what made the 7 prc better. I could find a good amount of info on both rounds but nothing that really compared the cartridges with same twist rates and same projectile weight. I am leaning towards the 7 RM and I feel with some experimental time reloading I could get the same if not better results than the 7 PRC. The 180g Berger VLDs offered from copper creek are expensive but are producing extremely close numbers to the factory 7 PRC rounds.

The real question is do you want to handload everything or do you want the option to use box ammo in addition to handloading. There are no heavy factory ammo loads for the 7mm RM. If you are handload only, the 2 cartridges are about a wash with speed variations that are generally in the realm of barrel speed differences.

Jay

 

[grfox92]

Browning offers the X bolt LR in 7 RM 1/8 twist. I'm not sure if these are considered factory loads but copper creek and choice ammunition both offer 180g VLDs chambered in 7rm. Next closest I could find is the 175g federals. I am not opposed to reloading I just don't have the equipment/experience yet. I do agree if it's going to be a do it all riffle ideally will be shooting right around the 180g mark.

If I was going to shoot Bergers in a 7mm it would 168 VLDs which you could shoot out of any 7mm RM. Based on my research the 180 ELDM is amongst the best of the best killing bullets out there.

I'm a fan of Browning rifles. They have their shortcomings but it would be my runner up to Tikka for a factory rifle.

Sent from my SM-G990U using Tapatalk

 

[The Guide]

Browning offers the X bolt LR in 7 RM 1/8 twist. I'm not sure if these are considered factory loads but copper creek and choice ammunition both offer 180g VLDs chambered in 7rm. Next closest I could find is the 175g federals. I am not opposed to reloading I just don't have the equipment/experience yet. I do agree if it's going to be a do it all riffle ideally will be shooting right around the 180g mark.

Copper Creek and Choice are both Boutique ammo companies just like Unknown Munitions. You will not find their ammo in stores and it generally isn't loaded until you order it. Made to order specialty ammo is what it would be categorized as.

Jay

 

[RidgeReaper3]

I was dead set on grabbing an X bolt in 280 AI a few years ago (2020), but backed off the idea due to trouble finding brass and ammo. Wound up grabbing another 7 RM, the Hells Canyon with a 1/8 and 28” bbl. It’s a hoot, extremely accurate, and easy to reload for. Long throat (really long) so easy to push the limits reloading. I shoot a lot of 168 VLDs and 180 ELD-Ms and it’s not hard to get the 180s over 3,000 fps. Pretty sure I’d go 7 RM again if I had to start over… as a reloader.

Great information, I have really enjoyed the browning rifles. I am leaning towards the 7 RM and reloading. Any recommendations on brass/powders to start with? Have heard good things about the H1000 with 168s but not much on the 180s. Read federal brass is good for the 7 Rms as well.