300 wsm vs prc build help

[bghunter20]

Alright bear with me here as there will be multiple questions in this post. I'm moving back to Alaska this summer and wanting to do my first build vs buying factory and have been doing tons of research on the subject. I'm looking to build a lighter weight gun that can kill everything up there effectively with the brown bear being a once maybe twice ordeal. I've pretty much narrowed down my choices to either a 300 wsm or prc. My first question is what is the shortest barrel length I can get away with for both and still take game 600+ yards out of each. Shooting that far is never my first choice but I'd rather have the capability than not. I'd really like a 20 in barrel because it will be suppressed but I understand 22 is more likely for the PRC. I'm planning on running hammer bullets since I've had so much success with them but won't limit myself to them if there are better options with what I'm looking to accomplish which brings me to my next question. If I go the 300 wsm route can I accomplish what I want in a short action or do I need to step up to a long action like I've seen some do. I'm more attracted to the 300 wsm due to the short action and a little less recoil but I don't fear the PRC by any means and if I need to run a long action anyway then I don't see a reason to not go the PRC route unless there's something I'm not educated on. Any help and advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[johnmyers]

PRC

 

[Rifleman97]

Do you reload? Lapua just started making WSM brass recently, adg makes great brass for it as well. PRC really likes the 26 inch barrels so if you want a 20, WSM doesnt lose out on nearly as much. In a 20 inch barrel I wouldn't be surprised if the WSM actually outperforms the PRC, if not it would be really close since faster powders are used in it like 4831, varget, etc. The PRC will probably want the slower burners like H1000 and the like, of which you will never get a full burn in such a short barrel. 22 inch is a bit better but wanting a short rifle you'd be best off with the WSM or even a 30-06 which would be slower than a PRC but not by much, plus great factory ammo support.

If it were me, I'd choose the WSM. But 20" barrel would just about rule out anything magnum outside of a WSM or similar efficient magnums IMO

PS: if you go WSM, get a long action, not a short action. Then you can seat long bullets out further and still eject loaded rounds if you go on a hunt and don't see anything. Then if down the road you decide you didn't like the WSM you can easily just swap barrels for a PRC, Nosler, win mag, etc etc. Swamplord has some pics you can find of long throated WSM's with I think berger 215's or something in that range. And get a 9 or 10 twist if you want to reload for the heavies like 212 Barnes bore rider (which doesn't need a custom throat) or 215 bergers (which would prefer a long throat) and stick with a 10 twist if you want to shoot 150's through 190's regularly. I wouldn't bother with anything slower than 10 personally

 

[Kernal1984]

My 7prc is 20" and I'm sending a 180eldm at 2850, that puts me at approximately 2000fps at 600yds. Have no experience with the wsm.

 

[Rifleman97]

My 7prc is 20" and I'm sending a 180eldm at 2850, that puts me at approximately 2000fps at 600yds. Have no experience with the wsm.

That's actually slower than I was expecting, that's about what I get out of my 30-06 with a 24 inch and 178 eldx
EDIT: i realize now you said 7mm and not 300. Makes a difference. Even still, WSM can burn the majority of it's powder in 20 inches, the 300 PRC is a good 6-8 inches from being in the same boat. Why waste the extra powder? Especially with 300 wsm being such a great round

I'm finding a lot of people when searching the subject of 20" barrels are getting 2900+ without pressure signs in a 20 inch barrel.

sources:

Short Barrel (20”) 300WSM Question

Has anyone on here had a short barrel 300wsm? I’m rebarreling a rifle and want to go with a 20-22” barrel. I want to shoot 190vlds or 200eldx and get 2800fps or better. Do you think this is feasible? Thanks.

www.longrangehunting.com

https://www.longrangeonly.com/forum/threads/short-barreled-300wsm-velocities.10495/

towards bottom of second link page Kimber7man reports getting 2900fps out of norma factory 180gr ammo

https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/300-wsm-barrel-lengths.352344/post-3558675

This guy claims 2960fps out of a 175.

Take this all with a grain of salt but overall it seems the 300 WSM, on average, is faster than you are getting out of your PRC for the same ish weight bullets.

EDIT: I did see after typing all this that you meant 7 and not 300 PRC, but I would still imagine the PRC to be about equal to the WSM in speed, at least within 50fps, but burns much less powder, less recoil, easier to find accurate loads for, and can be loaded really long with no fancy mods in a standard length action. I will be leaving the links for people that want an idea of WSM speed in shorter barrels

 

[quandary]

Killed my first Moose with a 300WSM out of Browning BLR. It was a nice handy little rifle. But for your use case and picking between the two I'd go 300PRC. I built mine with a 22" barrel which I used in Alaska this year. With a TBAC Ultra 7 on it. If you are concerned about carrying it through the Alders you could do your build on a Hunt26 or XLR Element 4.0 Magnesium with a folder butt stock. Plan to switch out the butt pad on either of those running without a break.

I run 200 gr Lazers (Cutting Edge Bullets) at 2875fps or 215 Bergers at 2830fps both with H1000 in Lapua brass. You can kill stuff with the Bergers out to 1,200/1,300 yards or more maybe 700 yards with the CEBs to 700ish with those loads.

 

[fseaman.js]

I shoot a 300 WSM and 308/26-Nosler, a bit longer than a 30 Nosler. The 30 PRC is between. I shoot lots of other 30 cal but not important.

In my limited experience and not having lived in Alaska or taken moose or brown bear just other smaller critters...

Since both can do the job which is "better" is so difficult.

Ammo availability? PRC vs WSM. What will be on the shelf there. If you plan on reloading there, availability is not so much an issue. Just your initial supply. Last time I was at the GS and sporting goods stores WSM had more options on the shelf.

Other than that, 20" or 22". If you really want 20" go WSM, of you are OK with 22" go PRC.

Probably no help at all but you know.

 

[fseaman.js]

Killed my first Moose with a 300WSM out of Browning BLR. It was a nice handy little rifle. But for your use case and picking between the two I'd go 300PRC. I built mine with a 22" barrel which I used in Alaska this year. With a TBAC Ultra 7 on it. If you are concerned about carrying it through the Alders you could do your build on a Hunt26 or XLR Element 4.0 Magnesium with a folder butt stock. Plan to switch out the butt pad on either of those running without a break.

I run 200 gr Lazers (Cutting Edge Bullets) at 2875fps or 215 Bergers at 2830fps both with H1000 in Lapua brass. You can kill stuff with the Bergers out to 1,200/1,300 yards or more maybe 700 yards with the CEBs to 700ish with those loads.

This.

 

[K.E.C. Darkside]

Get a 338WM, most come with 22" barrel.
Just a thought.

 

[Plinker147]

300 WSM would be my choice for short barreled light weight hunting gun. I believe it is the best all around choice for a short barreled mag. It will give you the distance your looking for.

To me 300 PRC is a big thumper on both ends, and not the best choice for light weight short barrel.

 

[ka30270]

I would take a serious look at building a WSM on a Tikka action with a 8 twist barrel. Then you could run the 212 Barnes LRX Bore Rider.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Full custom, 30 cal, handloading, 20-22" looking for max performance? 300 Norma Improved.

 

[7mm man]

You can't go wrong with either, but the 300 WSM can handle bullets 200gr+ and if you were to build off a short action that can handle 3.125 COL you can take advantage of a short action but still push them at a reasonable velocity. I also agree with ka30270, that is a smart way to go too.

 

[Dragoon300]

In a 20" barrel why waste the powder and powder capacity? Especially with powder cost and availability. If this what you want go WSM. And why do any kind of improved, just more unnecessary work for mediocre performance in a 20" barrel. A nice well built custom rifle will be worthwhile, quality rifles do fit, feel, and function better when done right.