7PRC or stay with 6.5PRC

[ReaptheHeat]

Currently in a similar predicament between 300 PRC and 7 PRC. Most of my hunting will be whitetail in SC but I start going out west this year and looking to upgrade from my 308. Would the 300 be way too much? Looking at the X Bolt with muzzle brake

Go 7... You will be grateful for the lower recoil.

But 308 is plenty good for 99% of shots you will take. I haven't shot over 350 yards at an animal and I hunt open sage and aspen. I think guys overestimate the ranges they need to shoot animals out west at.Get a new gun if you want and tell the wife RS says you need a new gun.

If you can dial the 168 ABLR in the 308 that seems to be a killer bullet for its class.

 

[TaperPin]

This is the old 270 vs 7 mag decision. The 6.5 is very similar in performance to the 270. To 500 yards neither you or the animals could tell these apart.

The 7 rem mag and 7 PRC are likewise very close. Even if factory velocity is a little slow, being in the range of the 280AI isn’t a bad place to be.

I started out a huge fan of the 270, but shooting side by side with an older friend and his 7 mag I quickly became a convert. His mule deer went down faster, his elk went down faster. Larger heavier bullets penetrate and disrupt important bits better. Folks saying size doesn’t matter would be using 223’s or 6mm’s if they really believed that.

Hard to go wrong either way.

 

[omicron1792]

Keep seeing this 500 yard number for 6.5prc. Where does that come from. My dope shows well beyond 500 yards. I get out past 700 at 1800fps and I have a 20” barrel.

 

[Lou270]

6.8W. You will get hooked. Come to the dark side…

Lou

 

[ReaptheHeat]

Keep seeing this 500 yard number for 6.5prc. Where does that come from. My dope shows well beyond 500 yards. I get out past 700 at 1800fps and I have a 20” barrel.

500 yards is just a catch all number for most people's maximum "ethical" hunting range. Even though most people can't put down an moa group off a bench at 200 yards. Not to get off topic but holy crap so many people zero at 100 as their only practice and think they can shoot at 500.

Shooting off a pack in -10, snow, and slope is just a different ball game all together.

 

[7mm-08]

Since you've indicated that 500 yards is your maximum shooting distance, I see no practical advantage in going to a 7 PRC from the 6.5 PRC caliber you already have. That being said, if you are enamored with the 7 PRC, give it a try. I say that with this premise in mind - the animals you shoot under 500 yards will not know the difference.

 

[7mm-08]

Where do you get the 500 number from?

The OP set that number. Refer to his original post.

 

[Gila]

6.8W. You will get hooked. Come to the dark side…

Lou

I run a T3x action with a 6.8 Western and a 284 Winchester. I also use the newly upgraded Labradar v1.

I am well down the path to the Sith! LOL

 

[omicron1792]

I see. In another thread someone talked about 6.5 was good to 500. I see now.

 

[BigBelle]

I'm extremely happy with my 7prc, I was skeptical at first and had a few problems when my 7PRC rifle was first built. However, yesterday I dropped 3 162gr ELD-M bullets into 3/4" @ 400yds. That sure made me a believer in the potential of the 7PRC. Overall, .5 moa has been regularly achieved.

 

[finner]

For me the only reason to go 7 over 6.5 was to push relatively high bc monos faster for a larger performance window. If I were shooting lead on elk, I’d go 6.5 ten times out of ten for reasonable hunting ranges

 

[10ringer]

For me the only reason to go 7 over 6.5 was to push relatively high bc monos faster for a larger performance window. If I were shooting lead on elk, I’d go 6.5 ten times out of ten for reasonable hunting ranges

Well said finner,
One of the best arguments for 7prc is heavy for caliber high BC monos.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CrumBum77]

I think the 7PRC is all hype. The 6.5PRC will kill elk just fine with less recoil.
Also, Yarbro? That’s interesting, by best bud goes by Yarb, his name is Yarborough. Good luck with your rifle I am always tinkering with mine super fun. I have a 270 win Sako I want to rebarrel into something.. not sure what.

 

[OV11]

Building a 7prc right now. Looking forward to shooting it!

 

[FarmerDan]

The only thing you will gain sub 500 yards with a 7mm PRC is recoil. The only benefit is past 800 yards and really past 1k is where it is useful to have the 7mm PRC. Both of my 6.5 PRC rifles can be pushed to 1800 past 900 yards with the 147 ELDM and the 156 Berger.

Jay

Second this. The 6.5 with either one of those bullets is a great 1000 yard and in gun for all western big game. Minimal recoil with a lot of performance.

 

[KiloKiloSeven]

Go 7PRC, especially if you can suppress it. I have a Seekins Element in 7PRC and with a suppressor it tames the recoil very well. 7PRC bucks the wind better than 6.5 in my opinion but that's subjective.

 

[The Guide]

Go 7PRC, especially if you can suppress it. I have a Seekins Element in 7PRC and with a suppressor it tames the recoil very well. 7PRC bucks the wind better than 6.5 in my opinion but that's subjective.

At 500 yards (the limit for the OP) the difference in a 10 mph wind between my 6.5 PRC 147 ELDM and 7 PRC 180 ELDM is less than 2 inches. Not really discernable for most shooters. When you get to 1000 yards, the difference is about 9.5 inches which what gives the 7PRC and edge past 1000 yards since you are about 1 MOA different.

Jay

 

[Chamaus15]

7 prc is going to have an additional 1000 lbs of energy compared to 6.5 prc at 500 yards. I'll take it on elk.

 

[ndlawrence]

7 prc is going to have an additional 1000 lbs of energy compared to 6.5 prc at 500 yards. I'll take it on elk.

That’s some WALLOP

 

[KiloKiloSeven]

At 500 yards (the limit for the OP) the difference in a 10 mph wind between my 6.5 PRC 147 ELDM and 7 PRC 180 ELDM is less than 2 inches. Not really discernable for most shooters. When you get to 1000 yards, the difference is about 9.5 inches which what gives the 7PRC and edge past 1000 yards since you are about 1 MOA different.

Jay

The 7 shines in challenging wind conditions, like cross canyon shots, or when dealing with gusts in the open desert. Or when you make a bad wind call, something I occasionally am guilty of. It can help a decent shooter make better shots in variable conditions. That is why I say subjectively it bucks the wind better.