6.5 PRC and 300 PRC, or just the 7 PRC?

jonyork

jonyork

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
3   0   0
Location
Ottawa
Hi Folks,

I was contemplating purchasing two new rifles this year. 6.5 PRC and 300 PRC for hunting, and some range time.

But with the newly announced 7 PRC, am I better off to wait till next year and see who chambers one and just get that?

I figured a 6.5 PRC and a 300 PRC would just about cover everything from coyotes at distance to grizzly up close, and all the variations of range I likely would shoot on animals ever in my life (so sub 400 yards)

But would the one 7 PRC do everything just as good/better than the 6.5/300 PRC combo?

Thanks for your input!
 
Just buy a good long action with magnum bolt face receiver and make one of what ever caliber you want at the time. IBI makes prefit spin on barrels with a barrel nut to make removal, install simple.
Have what ever caliber barrel, 3 min swap. Same receiver, same scope, same stock, same trigger.
7 PRC and 300 PRC are same large action, while the 6.5 PRC is technically a short action, you can build ir in the long action, and have the ability to load long bullets with no mag limitations. I think you could even use the same magazines for all 3.
Set up the 6.5 PRC now and enjoy it, while you wait for the 7 PRC, and then add that flavour as well. Approx $1K gets u a good IBI barrel. Even send IBI an email and see when they might have the 7 PRC available.
 
Settle down.
Every single one of these new "make me buy" chamberings are not giving you anything over existing chamberings that are common with lots of factory and reloading support that you won't find with these new buy me cartridges.
You are shooting 400 yards, calm down, these new chamberings perform better then existing 120 year old stuff at 800 yards+, 400 yards there are many 260 to 308 that will do the exact same job.
 
The 7PRC is a bit of ballistic masterbation that will take while to get brass, dies, etc for. Just buy the 300PRC, which will perform like a custom throated 300WM. Or buy a 28Nosler. Or just buy a 6.5 PRC. The difference between the performance is negligible compared to the difference between hundreds of rounds of practice and a few dozen.
 
300 PRC or a longer throated 300 Win. Ammo is more available. 30 cal components seem to be more available.

I have a 28 nosler, 300 PRC, and the 300 win. Go with the PRC
 
Ammo and brass for 6.5 PRC is difficult to come by. I've found 300 PRC ammo here and there but still not enough to care. It also outrageously expensive, I've found Weatherby ammo for less. You may end up buying two new rifles this year and waiting another year or two just to shoot them.

Hornady already can't make enough 6.5 PRC to satisfy demand, the odds of seeing any 7mm PRC anytime soon is slim to none.

And as mentioned, they aren't doing anything drastically better than anything else. If I wanted a spicy 7mm to do everything and the plain old 7-mag wasn't cool enough or expensive enough, .28 Nosler. If I wanted something lighter than that I would get a 6.5 Creedmoor. If I wanted to shoot a grizzly I'd get a .338.
 
I’m not going to buy any of the PRC offerings but it’s hard to argue against a medium-large 7mm for an all around rifle.
 
remington jim said:
jonyork :
I was contemplating purchasing two new rifles this year. 6.5 PRC and 300 PRC for hunting, and some range time.

PERFECT ! I have both and i think there a GREAT pair to have ! jmo RJ

Forget the 7 PRC its too long for a short and too short for a long ! :popCorn:
Click to expand...

Geez a gun/cartridge guy like yourself should know by now that the PRC cartridges are nothing short of awesome, the 7 PRC will be no exception, it will probably become quite popular with the long range target shooting fraternity as well as the hunting community.

I ordered a reamer so if you have a Tikka magnum LA kicking around it should work perfect.
 
I'm all for new offerings in our discipline. But the areas that the PRCs cover have already been oversubscribed, IMHO.
But, if you have a pining for something different, I say "fill your boots" Buy one of each. :) :) Dave.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DGY
As stated above, with rifle availability, but ammo and components being in short to non-existent supply, the new PRC's are going to be an issue to feed.
And for sub-400 yards, the 260/6.5CM/6.5x55 and 308/30-06 will work, but may not be as exciting as the latest and greatest. Feeding these rifles won't be an issue either.
As for the 7mm's...the 7mm-08/280/7mm Rem Mag will provide you with everything you need in a great caliber that works great on almost all game in North America (not to mention world wide), and rifles, ammo and/or components are not going to be an issue.
While there is nothing wrong with wanting the newest, latest and greatest, there are the current realities to consider. And wanting two rifles is always fun and exciting; getting the middle compromise can be a wise decision, and use the extra $ for hunting trips. (Me...I have all 3! 6.5, 7mm and 30, but also have 338 and larger. LOL) Tough choices only you can decide.
Best of luck in your endeavour!
 
I have a 6.5 PRC in the Savage UL with the proof barrel. It is a wonderful cartridge and that rifle is lights out with it. I run guns from all the manufacturers and the Savage UL holds its own for sure.

The 6.5 PRC recoil is truly mild. Super accurate in my N of 1 study;)

Reloder 26 will get you to 3050fps with 140/142 class bullets in my experience with excellent accuracy. Brass is hard to find but that will get better. Lots of places have Hornady loaded ammo whic is pricy but the brass will get a few loads out of it… and more if you anneal.

You won’t regret a 6.5 PRC!
 
I have built/bought quite a few "pairs" of rifles, but prefer the "pair" to do something significantly different, to me a 6.5 PRC and .30 PRC do essentially the same thing... in the same sort of circumstances, sure you can shoot heavier 180/200 pills in the 30, but the end result on game probably won't be significantly different from a 140 in the 6.5. In this case a 7mm is probably the way to go. However, if you don't mind doing something a little different a .35 or .375 PRC coupled with the 6.5 does do something significantly different. 140 Accubonds in the 6.5 and 250 Partitions in the .35 or 270 SP's in the .375 will fill a separate niche. I have several similar "sets," Ruger No.1-A .303 Brit/No.1-S .45-70; Ruger M77 RLS 7X64/M77 RLS .358 Win; Ruger K77R 6.5 RM/K77R 350 RM; Ruger K77R 7.62X57/K77R .358/375 Ruger... also I guess would be a Ruger M77 RSM .375 H&H/RSM .458 Lott.

A pair of rifles can be a good way to go, if you avoid too much duplication in the pair... otherwise, split the difference.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DGY
After thinking over the 7 PRC a bit more I have to agree with what remington jim is saying, the case should have been longer.
 
Only the OP can answer his question based on his intended use.
He didn’t mention if he reloaded, that certainly changes the options.

I’d imagine the 6.5prc would cover most hunting scenarios. Unfortunately its maxed out with ~150gn bullets. Either way its plenty for medium sized game, probably lacking in lead for very large animals.

The 300prc certainly doesn’t do the same thing as a 6.5prc. The 300 is a boomer of a cartridge built to fire the largest of the 300gn projectiles.

The 7prc looks like its also a boomer. I figured the 7prc would have been a 7mm version of the 6.5 prc but instead Hornady went with a much larger case. It’ll certainly have the capability for long range and any North American game. Question is how long you want to wait for components.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom