7mm PRC vs .270 Win — Best Bush Hunting Rifle

As others have said 7mm PRC is a great cartridge but where you see it's true performance is at extended ranges, beyond 300y. That performance also comes at a cost too, as it is $100 a box and limited by it's factory ammunition availability as it's relatively new still.

For your parameters I would go with a 16-20" 308 rifle, it is hard to beat.

I have a 7PRC rifle but I don't use it unless I know I am going to be shooting beyond 200y. For 100y and in, when I'm hunting blacktails in coastal forests and visibility is limited by rain, fog and dense forest, I use a 44mag typically.
I do have other options at hand I sometime use as well.
 
While I wouldn't necessarily choose either as a bush hunting rifle, both could do most if what you are asking of it over the range you have stated, for the animals identified. For the odd 500 yard shot on elk, I would prefer a little more velocity and energy at that range for good penetration and expansion on this tenacious animal, than that of the 270 Win (400 yards becomes marginal for retained energy for elk with many ammo makes).

But as with any cartridge/rifle combination, the ability of the shooter to reliably place that bullet in the vitals is the most important consideration.
You really need to decide what animals you will hunt the most often, and in which environment/habitat type that will identify the average sot distance presented, so that you can better decide which cartridge will provide you with sufficient retained velocity and energy to provide consistent, quick, clean kills. (The old standards for retained energy with cup and core bullets for deer/black bear was 1000 ft lbs, moose at 1500 ft lbs, and elk/bison/grizzly bear at 2000 ft lbs. Today's standard with mono metal bullets has reduced elk to 1500 ft lbs of energy.) You also need to retain 1900 fps for reliable expansion for most bullets.

For example, the recommendation for the 308 Win and 30-06 will do this out to 400 yards, but not 500. The 300 Win Mag will get it all done.
Research your desired cartridges for their performance, and your recoil tolerance level.
 
BlackRam said:
While I wouldn't necessarily choose either as a bush hunting rifle, both could do most if what you are asking of it over the range you have stated, for the animals identified. For the odd 500 yard shot on elk, I would prefer a little more velocity and energy at that range for good penetration and expansion on this tenacious animal, than that of the 270 Win (400 yards becomes marginal for retained energy for elk with many ammo makes).

But as with any cartridge/rifle combination, the ability of the shooter to reliably place that bullet in the vitals is the most important consideration.
You really need to decide what animals you will hunt the most often, and in which environment/habitat type that will identify the average sot distance presented, so that you can better decide which cartridge will provide you with sufficient retained velocity and energy to provide consistent, quick, clean kills. (The old standards for retained energy with cup and core bullets for deer/black bear was 1000 ft lbs, moose at 1500 ft lbs, and elk/bison/grizzly bear at 2000 ft lbs. Today's standard with mono metal bullets has reduced elk to 1500 ft lbs of energy.) You also need to retain 1900 fps for reliable expansion for most bullets.

For example, the recommendation for the 308 Win and 30-06 will do this out to 400 yards, but not 500. The 300 Win Mag will get it all done.
Research your desired cartridges for their performance, and your recoil tolerance level.
Click to expand...

And therein lies the problem with some of today’s new wonder cartridges and people extolling the virtues of flatter and faster is better.

Seems folk only like to concentrate on those two numbers (speed/trajectory) lately and fail to realize or have forgotten that energy is also an equal part of the overall ballistic/terminal equation.

I often wonder why people choose the speedsters over the older standbys in heavy brush or timber where reasonable or sane ranges are the norm (??). Those hotrod calibers ie; the CM’s or PRC’s are barely getting warmed up at the 400 and under mark, as they were designed in reality to retain their numbers over longer ranges. Meanwhile, the (shall we say FUDD) cartridges are at their best in under that range.

As been said.. know your game and max yardage, then pick the appropriate caliber. ‘Cause, sometimes, newer, flatter or faster isn’t always better..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom