What’s going on with the Factory Hornady 7 PRC ammo?????

[Sako300]

I have read and analyzed several chronographed numbers from various shooters from 24 inch proof barrels to seekins 22 inch barrels
Etccc……….
ALL are showing muzzle velocities well below what was published. Most are below 100 fps from published muzzle velocity with sped up barrels.
Wasn’t this the whole entire selling point of the 7 PRC????? Factory ammo shooting 2950-3000 from 175-180 bullets.
Looks like I am going to have to hand load ammo and might even go with the 7rem mag or 7 Saum.
Anymore shooters seeing this???

 

[Sled]

Haven't heard of the issue but I never saw enough benefit to switch from the rem mag.

 

[TxLite]

The first few shipments were having issues with pressure. I had issues with sticking bolts and ejector marks. From what I saw I was not the only one. Recent chrono numbers for the factory ammo make it seem like Hornady has taken their foot off the gas a little bit.

 

[XLR]

I have shot two different brand new 20" barrels (one Benchmark and one Bartlien) and they both chrono at 2750 with around 15 shots down the tube. So they should end up around 2800-2850 with factory ammo after break in.

 

[TxLite]

I have shot two different brand new 20" barrels (one Benchmark and one Bartlien) and they both chrono at 2750 with around 15 shots down the tube. So they should end up around 2800-2850 with factory ammo after break in.

The factory ammo I shot with mine hovered around 2760-2780 in my 18” for the first 20 shots on the barrel, but showed pressure signs. I haven’t revisited to see how much they’ve sped up now that I’m around 150 shots.

 

[rileybassman]

The first few shipments were having issues with pressure. I had issues with sticking bolts and ejector marks. From what I saw I was not the only one. Recent chrono numbers for the factory ammo make it seem like Hornady has taken their foot off the gas a little bit.

Yep I think this is the case... they had some QC issues. I had a few stiff bolts, but I've shot over 100 of their early lot without an issue at this point. 2835 with the eld-m out of a 22" barrel is where it's settled, but some of the early lots approached 2900.

Federal is getting much better speeds with their eld-x so I expect it's not a super optimized powder and other factory loads will improve a little.

Handloading you can improve performance, but it's still such a flat shooting caliber it's just not something I have stressed or chased.

FWIW I have always seen Hornady eld-m be around 100 or so FPS slower then box in the 4-5 calibers I have shot it in.

 

[Sako300]

Any velocity numbers from the prefit Tikka 7 PRC barrels and the factory Hornady 180 eldm or 175 eldx s? Could it be the Hornady brass causing the issues?

 

[Sako300]

Any velocity numbers from the prefit Tikka 7 PRC barrels and the factory Hornady 180 eldm or 175 eldx s? Could it be the Hornady brass causing the issues?

Anyone? Someone has to have some info?

 

[zrodwyo]

The point of the 7 PRC is that you can buy factory loaded ammo with 180 and 175 grain bullets that is going to shoot great for most rifles. Doesn’t hurt that it’s readily available in every gun shop in America.

If speed is important get a 28 nosler.

I have 5 boxes of the first lots of 7 prc and a bunch of boxes of recently made stuff. They are the same for me.

 

[ID_Matt]

Some barrels are fast, some barrels are slow. 22" barrel is going to be slower than a 24" barrel. Ammo manufactures are generally pretty optimistic with velocity, across the board. If you want 2950-3000, my guess is you'll have to handload. You won't get that speed with a SAUM unless you step on it, and the 7PRC is a better design than the 7rem mag.

 

[Dioni A]

It's not factory but my book max load using reloader 26 and a 180 ELDM in a 24-in barrel was going 3040 feet per second.

 

[Sako300]

It's not factory but my book max load using reloader 26 and a 180 ELDM in a 24-in barrel was going 3040 feet per second.

It's not factory but my book max load using reloader 26 and a 180 ELDM in a 24-in barrel was going 3040 feet per second.

Dioni,

That’s with the Tikka Prefit Proof?
Thankyou

 

[Dioni A]

Bartlein that I had made into a prefit. @Sako300

 

[khuber84]

Wrong thread

 

[Reburn]

So......listened to podcast. I highly recommend NOT firing a prc case in any Saum based chamber. Yes headspace is close, case length dimensions are similar. But a 533 chamber base VS a 552(my Saum reamer) is a huge difference. I've accidentally fired an adg 65prc in a 65sherman max once(very similar chamber dimension of what a 65UM would be). The results were not pretty. The upper half the case area forms 95% to chamber. However the lower half and web area above exteactor cut, doesn't form much at all. You end up with a case that's 535 at base, and 543 at the shoulder. I don't know how many firings it'd take to form the base but I'd bet it'd fail before getting fully formed.

Good info but I think you meant to put that here.

The Shoot2hunt Podcast

https://shoot2hunt.com/41-whats-form-have-to-say-about-it/ Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro My Dad bought me my first Sako in 1997, a model 75 chambered in 6.5x55. I've dabbled in customs over the years and tried just about all of them that I could... Always come back to my Sakos and...

rokslide.com

 

[khuber84]

Good info but I think you meant to put that here.

The Shoot2hunt Podcast

https://shoot2hunt.com/41-whats-form-have-to-say-about-it/ Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro My Dad bought me my first Sako in 1997, a model 75 chambered in 6.5x55. I've dabbled in customs over the years and tried just about all of them that I could... Always come back to my Sakos and...

rokslide.com

I sure did. Wtf happened. Lol

 

[LaHunter]

It's not factory but my book max load using reloader 26 and a 180 ELDM in a 24-in barrel was going 3040 feet per second.

You mind sharing how many grains of RL-26? That is the fastest MV I have seen posted with the 180 grain bullets in a 7 prc.

 

[amassi]

You mind sharing how many grains of RL-26? That is the fastest MV I have seen posted with the 180 grain bullets in a 7 prc.

Not me but he said book max, suppose this will be close


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Lone Wolf Rifles]

You mind sharing how many grains of RL-26? That is the fastest MV I have seen posted with the 180 grain bullets in a 7 prc.

I've shot the 180HVLD up to 3174fps out of a 26" barrel with RL26

 

[Lone Wolf Rifles]

This was from a recent lot of factory 175ELDX in a 24" barrel during break in.