Hey all, I’m new to the channel. This year, I harvested a bull elk and mule deer with my Bergara 300 PRC and 6.5 PRC. Now I’m considering adding another rifle, somewhere between both cartridges. I’ve been looking at the 6.8 Western and 7 PRC.
The 300 PRC and 6.5 PRC are great, but the 6.5 feels a bit light for elk( will still use it for deer), and the recoil on my Bergara Wilderness Ridge 300 PRC is pretty heavy. I’m looking for a versatile elk/mule deer rifle with less recoil but still enough power for longer shots. I prefer rifles around 9-10 lbs, and my average shot over the last five years in the units I hunt has been between 300-700 yards.
What are your thoughts on the 7 PRC or 6.8 Western, or is there another cartridge you’d recommend?
I just ordered a banish 30 and plan on putting it on this gun as well.
The 7PRC would do the trick, but you might first try the backfire recoil pad on your 300. Would save you hundreds if it makes the recoil more manageable.
I have the recoil pad on my 6.5, and am getting another one for the 300. What rifles in 7prc? I’m looking at the seekins ph2 or the browning xbolt speed SR or the bergara sierra (kinda want to try a new rifle as my other 2 hunting rifles are Bergara)
I have the Crest Carbon in 7PRC and it is a nail driver. Only negative (outside of LoP for me specifically) is that the barrel heats up fast and it goes from a 3/4MOA gun to a 1.5-2 MOA gun when shooting the hot barrel. So, for me this rifle is a hunting only rifle.
I am a Savage 110 fan, but it is always a crap shoot as to whether the 110 you get is a shooter or not. All mine have been, but who knows…
Is Fierce or Springfield Arms 2020 in your price range? If not, you could go CVA Cascade.
I’d add the Ultradyne Apollo LR was a game changer for me to reduce the recoil and allows me to see my impacts.
6.8 W and 7 PRC are very close to each other ballistically, not really a big difference. Both of them have their negatives, the 6.8 just isn’t supported by many gun manufacturers and ammo makers. The 7 PRC just seems to have so much drama associated with it.
Either would work fine
Two other cartridges to consider. 7 mm Remington Magnum, and the 280 Ackley.
The 7RM is a well validated elk killer since the 1960s when it was introduced. It’s mature. There are lots of loads for from different companies, different bullet styles, etc. It’s going to give you performance extremely close or equal to the PRC
The Ackley gives performance close to the Magnum, or you can lighten it up a bit and have a much milder recoiling cartridge. Plenty of people use them for Elk also. Spomer and Von Bendikit swear by it.
Options are certainly limited if you’re wanting to reach 700 yards. I really like maintaining 2,000fps of bullet velocity at target to help the bullets expand well.
This image shows some options and their max effective range. Obviously some are too small for elk, but still have a long effective range.
For me, three options jump out. 7 PRC, 300 Win Mag, and 280AI.
For what you’re describing, it sure sounds like 7 PRC is a fit. But it’s still a LOT of recoil. More than most people shoot well.
If you could reduce the mex distance to a still very reasonable 640 yards, there are 280AI loads that would be fantastic.
If you go 300 Win Mag, do yourself a huge favor and get the reasonably priced and fantastic Sako S20 and use the Sako ammo in it. Great combo.
I’d go with the 7 PRC especially if you have a silencer. I made probably the worst shot I’ve ever made(not proud of it,zero was way off) on my first elk this year still a bang drop.
Fierce carbon rival. With a silencer it feels like a 6.5 creedmoor
Hornady 150 Eldx at 3125 fps gives 2000 fps / 1358 foot pounds at 700 yards.
Nolser 168 ABL or Berger 168 at 2950 fps gives 2000 fps / 1558 foot pounds at 650 yards.
Hornady 150 Superformance and 162 Eldx are good loads on the shelf as well.
Good luck
I have all of the calibers people are listing. If you are looking at a factory rifle I would suggest the Browning 7 prc Hells Canyon. Mine shoots factory Hornady Precision Hunter 175 ELDX at .58 moa groups on my second trip to the range. First trip was not so good but after a good cleaning it shoots good. I can’t make a fair comparison to my .280 AI as it is a custom build. But both are good and the AI doesn’t kick as hard as the REM Mag. Hope you find what you are looking for.
@backfire Jim, why with all other cartridges do you use their best set of data but for the 6.8 western you don’t. The data you show doesn’t show what this cartridge can actually do and makes it seem so much less than it really is.
With Winchester expedition long range getting a velocity of 2930 at 5,000 ft. Elevation this rounds maintains 2000fps out to 780 yds.
