7mm-08 vs. 6.5 PRC for muleys

[Rich M]

I used a .243 for my boal

 

[wy_will]

I was dead set on building a 20” 7mm-08. Even ordered Alpha Munitions brass for it. Ended up having a 6.5 PRC built instead. It will be used for elk as well and offers just a little bit more energy, so it made sense.

If I built a 6.5-284, I would certainly go with a long action. Doesn’t make much sense to me to build it in a short action.

 

[6.5Express]

I have three 7mm-08’s (one is AI’d), one 6.5 PRC, and one 6.5 Creedmoor. I’d have no qualms using any of them for mule deer. The 7mm-08 is a fantastic cartridge and would work well with any quality bullet. The 6.5 PRC paired with a 143 ELD-X or similar would also be a great choice. I don’t think you’d notice much of a difference inside 300-400 yards though.

What kind of gain in velocity are you seeing with the ackley?

 

[mcseal2]

I've shot most of my bucks for 20 years with a 264 win mag shooting 140gr bullets at 2914fps. It's a mild load, but the rifle loves it. The 6.5 PRC can duplicate that performance so it would be my choice.

Nothing wrong with a 7mm-08 pushing 140's either.

The little extra speed and BC with a 140gr bullet would lead me toward the 6.5 PRC.

 

[Marble]

What kind of gain in velocity are you seeing with the ackley?

I have one also, and there really isn't much difference at all. I was shooting RL 15 and 140 gr accubonds at ~2860 in the AI. My other 7-08 shoots a 145 Barnes at 2960. ...

In all fairness to the AI, I think with some different powder I could get some more velocity. But I don't want it faster.

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[dtrkyman]

Guided a couple deer hunters that shot 6.5 PRC.

Bang flop on both!

Perfect shot placement of course.


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[TradLife406]

The PRC is a great prairie round! It's about purpose made for it. Great BC and velocity.

 

[Elite]

I started playing around with a PRC last week.

I think that it depends on what you value in a bullet, what powder you can access, and what your preferred barrel length is.

My wife's 20" 7-08 is sending a 145lrx at 2930fps the BC of that bullet is .486/.239

My Creedmoor load in a 24" rifle is 2830fps for a 140 Berger BC of .6/.307

The PRC is 22" and hit 2840fps with the same 140 Berger and reaching pressure with Staball HD
With the 156 Berger it produces 2835fps with the Staball HD, BC of that bullet is .679/.347

The PRC with a 120gr Etip beat the creed moor by 300fps, and with 85gr hammer by 300fps.

If I was trying to shoot stuff far enough away that the BC of the bullet made a big difference in wind drift, then the PRC steps ahead with that 156gr EOL Berger. The 7-08 can't get a bullet with comparable BC to the same velocity as the Creed or PRC.

If you are shooting at stuff inside 300yds like my wife is, they are all the same but one takes 10-15 grains more powder.

If I wanted to shoot far, didn't care about lead, and thought the creed was anemic, the PRC makes a lot of sense. A 6.5-284 might do the same with a little less powder.

How do you find the recoil of the 6.5PRC vs 7mm-08?

 

[EMAZ]

Recoil from what I’ve shot: 6.5CM<7mm-08<6.5PRC<.270<.280ai<.30-06

The difference is about ~.5-1ftlb greater on the scale with common comparable typical factory ammo loads that would be representative for each.

 

[4JRanch]

PRC

 

[sndmn11]

How do you find the recoil of the 6.5PRC vs 7mm-08?

I think the prc is more in line with the -06 case cartridges than the 308 and similar. I think brakes surely help increase the chances of spotting shots. It is hard to say where the line is for someone else. I know my wife does with with her 7-08 in a bravo, and the PRC as well as my 30-06 in a stockys take a better position to have that kind of control. The "kid" 6.5creed we have set up in a stockys is significantly less than all of them. My dad's creed in a traditional shaped Weatherby stock is a little harder.

 

[Elite]

I put together a custom 6.5PRC two year ago. I’ve killed two mature mule deer with it, one at 352, one at 421 yards. It’s killed an antelope at 80 yards, a bear at 45 yards, and my wife used it to kill a whitetail at 280. I’ve got 140gr Accubonds going 2950 out of a 21” tube. Bare gun weighs in just over 6lbs. It’s the perfect mountain rifle for mule deer in my book. With the bonded bullets, I don’t worry about close shots, and if I need to, I can stretch it out a long ways. As others have said, if you’re keeping it inside 450-500, it doesn’t really matter…


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Is your 6.5PRC breaked? Can you spot your shots

 

[Elite]

If you want to extend your range and effectiveness go put a 162 ELDM with H4350 in the 7-08. The BC of .67 @ 2750 is way more capable than people realize.

Below is a my chart at 40* and 8500’. Bullet is still above terminal limit and 1000# of energy at 1000yrds.

View attachment 575926

Looks like a promising load. How much 4350 is that? Must be compressed

 

[Jake Larsen]

Is your 6.5PRC breaked? Can you spot your shots

Suppressed. And I can spot my shots starting around 250-300, if I’m on my bipod.


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[KMW831]

I'm a pretty big 7mm-08 fan. My primary hunting rifle is 7-08 and that's what I bought for my two oldest boys as they each started hunting. Versatile, and theirs something enjoyable about underrated cartridges that missed the hype train. Ammo is easy to find around me. 6.5 PRC looks interesting, but too redundant for me to mess with, relative to 7mm-08. I'd rather stick with 7's and go 7mm PRC if I wanted more range and to scratch the "variety is the spice of life" itch.

Great thread though. Some interesting load/data that's got me wanting to experiment. Not bad for my first thread read since joining.

 

[The_Real_McQueen]

Bypass the 6.5 PRC and upsize to the 7MM PRC!

 

[ZWA]

Looks like a promising load. How much 4350 is that? Must be compressed

Yes slightly, 45gr and a little change.

 

[Sako76]

I have a GA Precision that shoots 139 Scenars @3075 fps and is basically a one hole rifle. I haven’t killed anything with it. Used a 300 Weatherby on a New Mexico elk and 280 AI on the mule deer this year. My rifle has a Vais brake and I cannot spot my shots.

I used a Kimber Montana in 7-08 in Africa because of an elbow injury, bangflopped a warthog @ 80 yards, impala @136 yards and a blesbok @ 156 yards shooting factory Barnes Vor Tex 120 grain TTSX!

 

[JRS3]

My GAP 7mm-08 is one of my favorite setups. It shoots 140gr NABs into tiny little clusters very well.

 

[honestcomrade]

My wife's 20" 7-08 is sending a 145lrx at 2930fps the BC of that bullet is .486/.239

Sounds like a pretty fast barrel. What twist and manufacture?