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Best cartrige for long range target and also for Elk hunting.
- Thread starter point_blank65
- Start date
Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum
MCOBB2
Well-Known Member
Welcome! You will find there are many good answers so keep that in mind. Lot of guys with great info on here. So I think before answering we need to know how far you want to shoot elk at. I have had both 7 PRC and 300 PRC. Both are long range hammers in my experience. In factory chambers, the PRC's will edge out the win mag/Rem Mag. Barrel life will be similar for all. I'm not sure I would consider any of them a barrel burner. Probably be 1200-1500 shots per barrel. I was in the same boat as you with trying to find a dual use gun. In my opinion, if you plan on shooting a lot long range, all of them will be expensive and abusive. Most hunting rifles are below 12lbs if not 10lbs and with that being said 12lbs or less can be more of a challenge to shoot LR accurately. I'm not saying impossible but it will be more of a challenge. Also not sure how many shots you are sending but either of those can be challenging to find readily available components as well as use a lot of funding to keep feeding quality components such as H1000. If you are planning on shooting 90/10 like you said assuming you are keeping your elk killing under 600 yards, I would lean 6.5 PRC. It uses 10-20gr less powder, quality brass is about .45 cheaper, and a lot more manageable recoil. Like I said, I have my 7 and my 300 but knowing what I on ow now they wouldn't be a first choice for me for a lot of shooting. Just my 2 cents.
Lonewolf74
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 12, 2016
- Messages
- 742
Taking this into consideration I think the 300 prc is your huckleberry. If building a custom rifle and hand loading then many options become as good or better.
Johnny05
Member
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2018
- Messages
- 20
My personal favorite is the 300 win mag. I personally prefer the .308 and larger holes for elk, and with the 300 WM you don't need a brake to comfortably shoot it, both for practice and for hunting. Both of my daughters like the 300 WM and are very good with them. Lots of dies, brass and load data for it as well. Just my 2 cents worth.
Depends on weight of your build. More weight = less recoil. Which is better for long range target shooting. Long range target shooting you're going to want at least a 30 inch barrel and a 20lb rifle. The 300 PRC and 300 Norma are doing really well in the 1 mile paper matches shooting heavy bullets 230, 250 A tips and 245 burgers. Your going to want a 1-8.5 to 1-9 twist barrel.
MagnumManiac
Well-Known Member
Welcome to the forum, fantastic place here.
My advice is this, brushing aside all the hype over the PRC line, there is no REALadvantage to a 300PRC over ANY other existing round, UNLESS you want to run Hornady factory ammo. This is what this cartridge is for, selling ammo. Period.
Now, if you REALLY want to hit way out there at targets and Elk, consider the 300RUM. It is far superior to both 300WM & 300PRC, is housed in the same length action as a PRC and is just as accurate, if not better than a PRC.
Case design is a non issue with the RUM, it just works.
I own 5 300WM rifles, 1 RUM to date, it is grabbed just as often when LR shooting as the 300WM are, so you can see I like it.
Cheers.
My advice is this, brushing aside all the hype over the PRC line, there is no REALadvantage to a 300PRC over ANY other existing round, UNLESS you want to run Hornady factory ammo. This is what this cartridge is for, selling ammo. Period.
Now, if you REALLY want to hit way out there at targets and Elk, consider the 300RUM. It is far superior to both 300WM & 300PRC, is housed in the same length action as a PRC and is just as accurate, if not better than a PRC.
Case design is a non issue with the RUM, it just works.
I own 5 300WM rifles, 1 RUM to date, it is grabbed just as often when LR shooting as the 300WM are, so you can see I like it.
Cheers.
I feel bad, I forgot to mention the 6.8 Western. It is a fantastic LR hunting cartridge. It has a few pitfalls though....
#1. Components can be hard to find
#2. There is not a great support of LR hunting bullets
#3. Hornady is not going to support it with components, so it will be hard for it to survive
Other than that you can expect approx. 1500 rounds out of a barrel. I shot out one myself testing everything under the sun. You can get 165 ABLRs around 3000 fps with the right powder.
#1. Components can be hard to find
#2. There is not a great support of LR hunting bullets
#3. Hornady is not going to support it with components, so it will be hard for it to survive
Other than that you can expect approx. 1500 rounds out of a barrel. I shot out one myself testing everything under the sun. You can get 165 ABLRs around 3000 fps with the right powder.
liltank
Well-Known Member
As a long range benchrest competitor, this is the ticket. To my knowledge, the 300WSM using the Berger 210 VLD has set the benchrest world records for both score and group size at 1000yds. This combo would be more than enough to take Elk. Maybe the only other option on the board for what I have decided is the most efficient magnum would be the 7mm SAUM using 168-180grn bullet. Good luck.
taylorms
Well-Known Member
I guess no one read your comment about the Bergara rifle and factory ammo... If this is your definite route, go with the 300PRC. It should serve your stated purpose well.
liltank
Well-Known Member
Guess I need to pay better attention.
I just read best cartridge for target and hunting.PinwheelX
New Member
From a target shooting side, if you are shooting NRA or CMP matches, recoil is a huge consideration. Barrel life is also important. The 300WSM has been mentioned. It has been popular in F-Class. 280AI would be a suitable choice. A couple that have not been mentioned is 7 RSAUM the USAMU is currently using this for 1000 yd competition. 284 Winchester is a dark horse that can be loaded just short of 7 RM velocity, but you typically will need a longer barrel. If it were me, 7 RSAUM.
liltank
Well-Known Member
300WM is a classic and solid choice. Lots of ammunition options on the shelves.
2BrownDogs
Member
7PRC really is the easy button here. Barrel life difference from all of those cartridges will be negligible. The 7 Rem actually has greater case capacity and actually pushes lighter bullets faster than the 7PRC pushes heavier bullets slower. Some have recommended 280 AI and that's a great cartridge, but it's shooting the same diameter bullet with generally lighter, lower BC. Both the 280 AI and the 7Rem will typically come with 1:9-1:10 twist barrels in factory rifles, and generally aren't designed to shoot the heavy, high BC 7mm bullets on the market today. I haven't run a stability calculator to see where the break point is though, to be fair. Of course you can have a custom 7RM built with a 1:8 twist barrel and a custom throat and it will outrun a 7PRC, but that will cut down your barrel life. I have a 300 PRC, killed two bulls and some deer with it, love it, but there's nothing the 7 PRC with high BC projectiles won't do that the 300 PRC can IMO, and you're dealing with a little more recoil as well.
My 300 PRC 22" barrel shoots 212 ELD-X (.663 BC) at 2820 fps.
I'm putting together a 7PRC right now and expect to shoot the factory 180 ELD-M (.796 BC) at about the same speed, which will equate to less drop at distance, and will be just as lethal on game out to as far as I want to shoot.
My opinion is worth what you paid for it, but I say eliminate barrel life from the equation among those cartridges, and pick the one that best fits your circumstances (factory vs custom, reload vs factory ammo, ratio of hunting vs target, recoil considerations vs weight of rifle for both target and hunting scenarios, etc). I'd pick the 7PRC. Best of luck!
slick Nick
Well-Known Member
Welcome to the forum! As you can see a lot of opinions and well backed up reasons. However you know your area and what can be had on short notice and I'm not sure if your a reloader. That being said If you can try some of these tools from friends etc. I feel that that would help in your decision making process. I have ha great luck with My 300WM out to a mile. I also had a good 280 express a long time ago that was a tack driver. Barrel life will depend on you as pointed out previously.
So look at availability, in the areas you wish to hunt.
How many hunters have gone somewhere and the ammo mysteriously went some where else, can it be replaced for that hunt locally.
Weight of the gun for long hikes and recoil on that gun are to be considered. I don't think you would want to hike anywhere carrying some of my beasts hahaha.
Basically it will come down to YOUR preference in caliber so try a few and look at reload availability etc.
Good luck and enjoy range time.
Like everyone else these are my thoughts right wrong or indifferent.
So look at availability, in the areas you wish to hunt.
How many hunters have gone somewhere and the ammo mysteriously went some where else, can it be replaced for that hunt locally.
Weight of the gun for long hikes and recoil on that gun are to be considered. I don't think you would want to hike anywhere carrying some of my beasts hahaha.
Basically it will come down to YOUR preference in caliber so try a few and look at reload availability etc.
Good luck and enjoy range time.
Like everyone else these are my thoughts right wrong or indifferent.
