Practical difference between 7-08 and 6.5PRC

[4IDARCHER]

Anyone compare these two cartridges side by side?
I was pretty set on getting a 6.5PRC but now comparing it to the good ol’ 7-08 I am having a hard time going with the 6.5? I am looking for a light weight rifle that is mostly for mulie, goats and ibex (if I ever draw) but that can also solidly step up into elk if need be. I am absolutely not into ultra-long range shooting at game (although I carried a .308 professionally in another life) and really anything that can stretch out to 500 yrds will cover 99.9 shots in the field. As a predominantly bow hunter I feel pretty silly if I can’t get much, much closer than that, so 500 yards in the field and 600 yards on the range will most likely be my max.

Comparing the two cartridges against each other I used Hornaday’s website as it is the only factory loaded PRC data I could find and want to try and keep the playing field level and I seldom handload anymore.

On the 6.5 PRC the 143gr ELD-X is moving out at 2960 and zeroed in at 200yards it drops 36.2in at 500 yards where it is carrying 1604 ft/lb of energy.
Compared to the 139gr SST Superformance load in the 7-08 it is leaving the barrel at 2950 and zeroed in at the same 200 yards it drops 39.6in at 500 yards where it has 1308 ft/lb of umph.

I guess what I am asking is “Am I missing anything”? For the ranges I am looking for is there any practical advantage to the 6.5, and does any ballistic advantage make up for the fact that (even in the superformance line and other hotter factory loads) there is more choices to find the best accuracy?

 

[huntsman22]

You'd be better off comparing the 260 or 6.5 creed to the 7/08

 

[4IDARCHER]

You'd be better off comparing the 260 or 6.5 creed to the 7/08

Why? I know those 2 are more of a short action non magnum faced cartridges but in terms of bullet weight and speed the 7-08 and the PRC seem very close. Now BC and SD do come into play somewhat but I am wondering how much in those first 500 yards (and usually much closer) also diameter might matter sum with large differences but I do kind of think the difference between the 7mm bore size and the 6.5 bore diameter especially after expansion would not be enough to matter.

 

[KurtR]

under 500 i think pick the one that makes you happy the animals will be dead either way and wont know the difference

 

[wind gypsy]

I agree that you could be happy with either. 7/08 should recoil less and has more ammo options now.

Did you look at wind deflection #'s? That is more important than being a few inches flatter.

 

[4IDARCHER]

under 500 i think pick the one that makes you happy the animals will be dead either way and wont know the difference

I think although both will work the availability of the 7-08 is winning me over unless I hear of a reason for the PRC that I am not thinking of. I can't really imagine a situation that I couldn't get closer than 500 yards away from any animal on the planet.

 

[wannakillabigbull]

Honestly the 270 is ballistically nearly identical to the 6.5 PRC, more so than the 7mm-08. For Hornady precision ammo the 270 is 145 grains at 2970 fps and the 6.5 PRC is 143 grains at 2960 both in a 24" barrel. The 6.5 holds onto that energy better downrange but probably not enough to notice. All three are good choices but I would go with the 7mm-08, or if you want a little more oomph, the 270. Super easy to find rifles and ammo for either the 7mm-08 or 270.

 

[KurtR]

If its me i pick the 6.5 but i reload and would want to shoot the 147 or even the new 155 bergers. If i run the 7-08 it would be the 162 amax or what ever the equal in the eldx line would be. I dont think there is really a right or wrong or better or worse answer. you just have to pick what tickles your fancy

 

[IChaseCoues]

Either will work great for that purpose but I would recommend stepping up to the 160 class bullets in the 7-08 for best performance past 300 yards. The PRC should have less wind deflection and plenty of energy for an elk at 400 yards. I ended up building a 7-08 for Coues hunting a few years ago but when the next barrel is chambered up it will be in a .264 Raptor which is a .264 SAUM Improved since it is a better hunting round in my opinion.
Drop compensation is just math but wind deflection compensation is an art, and I'm no artist!

 

[belly-deep]

I’d say out to 500 yards there isn’t much difference. If you had a rifle in each that was properly set up, either would work to satisfaction.

That said, the PRC is the more powerful round. You’re comparing the 7mm Superformance load, which is about the best on-paper load out there. Not really a fair comparison though.

 

[huntsman22]

as the second post in this thread indicates.......

 

[Jon Boy]

I was going back and forth between the 7mm08 and 6.5 creed for a while. it was between a 147 eld at 2700 fps or the 162 eld at 2700 fps. I went with the 7mm08. The PRC is a little bit of a different animal than the creed though.

 

[howl]

Assuming adequate performance with the lighter bullet, you'd want to compare a lighter projectile in the 6.5 to heavier in the 7mm. And I'll third or fourth suggesting comparing the wind drift.

 

[elkeaterco]

I was comparing these two rifles as well. I ended up going with a Kimber hunter in 7-08 $559 from murdochs on a flash sale. I mostly hunt elk and being able to shoot the 162 amax decided it for me. I shoot roughly the same distance you're talking about and having more frag on target cannot hurt. Lots of great articles talk about the efficiency of the round with that bullet. Either will do the job. I like simple and easy and the ability to buy a box if out of state/country after shit hit the fan.
This was a good read.
7mm-08 Remington

Jake

 

[Team4LongGun]

Reviving this....any more recent data or experience worth sharing? Interested to hear-

 

[Stomat]

Why? I know those 2 are more of a short action non magnum faced cartridges but in terms of bullet weight and speed the 7-08 and the PRC seem very close. Now BC and SD do come into play somewhat but I am wondering how much in those first 500 yards (and usually much closer) also diameter might matter sum with large differences but I do kind of think the difference between the 7mm bore size and the 6.5 bore diameter especially after expansion would not be enough to matter.

The 6.5 prc is more of a short action magnum than anything, similar to what others are stating better comparison is 6.5 prc vs 7mm wsm both are short action magnums or 7mm08 vs 6.5 creedmoor or why don’t you do a combo with a 7mm creedmoor alittle bit of a wildcat if you are into reloading and doing super custom stuff still 28 cal and you get the efficiency of the the creedmoor neck angle or you could swap it to a ackley improved cartridge to answer your question with comparable velocities the 6.5 cm and 7mm08 are so extremely close out to 600 yards it’s differences are marginal unless you swap powders/projectiles/ primers but won’t be anything significant just comes down to preference man and right now it comes down to availability of ammo and components

 

[SomeJackassOnAForum]

139 sst has a BC of 0.486.

143 gr ELDX has a BC of .623.

6.5 will keep you in a better spot for wind holds, and is getting there with a lot more energy.

Might as well just shoot the 143 eldx in 6.5 CM though, since it gets to 500 yds with 44" of drop, 1308 ft lbs of energy, and the same wind-slipping characteristics.



Edit, holy Zombie thread Stomat...

 

[Stomat]

still apples to oranges 139 is lighter for a 7mm and a different design with the sst compare it to a similar bc in 7mm like the 162 eldx to let the true differences show between the caliber and if you remember the polymer on the sst will start melting at the distance where the eldx polymer will not, it wouldn’t make sense to compare the efficiency of a bullet purely based on projectile weight it wouldn’t be a fair test

 

[Wrench]

It's 500 yards. Unless you hunt in 50mph 90* winds.....its so close it doesn't matter. You could add the 243 and 308......and it still wouldn't matter. An inch or 3 makes little difference once the quarry is bigger than a mouse.

With that said, you don't hear many 708 guys complaining about 708s.

 

[Short Track]

7mm-08 Nosler partition damage is extensive, but the exit hole is a pencil. So not much blood. My rule of thumb once you shoot, never take your eyes off the animal.