7mm PRC is here. SAAMI specs out

[VLD Pilot]

The 7 PRC is on the magnum bolt face. The 284 is on the 308 bolt face. A short fat powder column will almost always be more stable than a long skinny powder column.

Once lapua picks up the 7 PRC, it will be game over for the straight 284 across nearly all disciplines. You'll have the 7mm variants of the 6.5 PRC, which both Alex Wheeler and I have built designs on for, (7mm PRC Primal) (I already have rifles and I'm sure he does too) soon taking over the straight 284's space. Then you'll have the 7PRC picking up the top end among the guys really going for the horse power in benchrest and f-class... and the ease of accessibility which is traditionally provided by hornady, and its a guaranteed lock for the entire LRH community to pick up.

Some guys will see that early. Some will see it late.

... but sure as I write this, that's what we'll see.


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We'll see. Time will tell. The 284 IS a short fat case. Not as fat as the PRC but still considered a short fat case by cartridge standards. That's why it's been so successful. That'll never end. The 6.5 PRC didn't effect the 6.5-284. Very doubtful it'll end the 284s life.

 

[bultinkle]

The 6.5 PRC didn't effect the 6.5-284.

I'm not so sure about that

 

[orkan]

The 6.5 PRC didn't effect the 6.5-284. Very doubtful it'll end the 284s life.

I have no idea how you can reach that conclusion. Almost zero factory rifles are being made in 6.5x284. Conversely, there are more rifles being made in 6.5PRC than almost any other chambering.

There is simply no comparison of what cartridge is being used more that you could have given a worse example of.

 

[VLD Pilot]

I have no idea how you can reach that conclusion. Almost zero factory rifles are being made in 6.5x284. Conversely, there are more rifles being made in 6.5PRC than almost any other chambering.

There is simply no comparison of what cartridge is being used more that you could have given a worse example of.

Not many companies made the 6.5-284 chambering in rifles. I'm simply saying the 6.5 PRC has not decreased interest in the 6.5-284. Sure the 6.5 PRC sure gained popularity simply because not all hunters/shooters reload. Most hand loaders have not lost interest in the 6.5-284 cartridge. Most still realize the 6.5 PRC is just a magnum version of the 6.5-284. Just as the 7PRC won't change many current hand loaders still loading for the 284. Not being a comp shooter personally, the 284 still does everything the 7PRC will do on a non- magnum action. This is what I'm seeing where I shoot and spend time with shooters. I'm sure it varies depending on location.

 

[vancewalker007]

7mm LRM didn't like hitting 3000fps with 180's, and would just barely do that in a 30" barrel, and this cartridge is quite a bit smaller... so I'm not sure what they would have done to overcome that. I'm guessing they haven't overcome it. The numbers being reported are likely from guys that don't like seeing more than 2-3 firings on their brass before they throw it away.

The issue with all the internet talk about all cartridges, is that there's no proper validation of shared results. A few examples.

The internet thinks a 6 Dasher will run a 105 at 3060fps... and technically, it "can." However, those people can never demonstrate longevity of the node, their components, or any aspect of that performance. Meanwhile, my 6 dasher running 105's at 2925, can put 60-80 firings on a set of brass and shoots in the .2' and .3's at the worst.

When everyone was shooting the "new" 7 LRM... there were guys pushing 3100-3200 and reporting that on this very site. Yet I was squirting out 180's from a 30" barrel at barely over 2900fps.

Some people are prepared to make declarative statements of cartridge performance with much less proof than I.

I'm fairly certain the 7 PRC will end up living at 2825-2875 with a 180, in the hands of a handloader with a high requirement of precision and accuracy. I hope I'm wrong and they were able to get the brass strong enough to take more. Though I'm not optimistic. I think the strength of these small 7's will be with 168 to 175 class bullets.


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I have 3 7 LRMS that will easily exceed 3000fps with 180 class Bergers from 2 1:9 26in Brux barrels and 1 1:9 26 Hart. Been shooting them for 9 years. In fact, I was just testing the newer Gunwerks brass (ADG I beleive) as my Hornady brass has all gone to brass heaven using the 180 VLD Hunting bullet over IMR8133 in one of the Brux rifles. My upper node was over 3000fps with no pressure. Maybe you had some slow barrels...? It doesn't seem like this new PRC will match the LRM but I guess we'll have to wait and see.

 

[orkan]

I have 3 7 LRMS that will easily exceed 3000fps with 180 class Bergers from 2 1:9 26in Brux barrels and 1 1:9 26 Hart. Been shooting them for 9 years. In fact, I was just testing the newer Gunwerks brass (ADG I beleive) as my Hornady brass has all gone to brass heaven using the 180 VLD Hunting bullet over IMR8133 in one of the Brux rifles. My upper node was over 3000fps with no pressure. Maybe you had some slow barrels...? It doesn't seem like this new PRC will match the LRM but I guess we'll have to wait and see.

How many firings on the brass? Send me one with the most firings?

 

[VLD Pilot]

The 7LRM was built with 3075-3100 fps expected with 180s. Seems pretty normal to me and in fact 3000 is on the slow side.

 

[orkan]

The 7LRM was built with 3075-3100 fps expected with 180s. Seems pretty normal to me and in fact 3000 is on the slow side.

Sure, and SAUM's with 10gr less capacity (or even less) get 3100fps too according to some around here…

"nO pReShEr!"

lol

 

[vancewalker007]

How many firings on the brass? Send me one with the most firings?

Oh lordy there's no telling how many firings. I think you mean before the flop-over dead. It seemed to vary. If I estimated I'd say 7-10 firings. I usually annealed those every other use. Of course we are talking about the original recipe Hornady made stuff. You loose them because of primer pockets. I'm wondering if this new ADG stuff will be better. Time will tell.

 

[7.62 Gunner]

Sure, and SAUM's with 10gr less capacity (or even less) get 3100fps too according to some around here…

"nO pReShEr!"

lol

Well to be fair that's only if you give it a 40 degree shoulder and a cool name..

 

[vancewalker007]

The 7LRM was built with 3075-3100 fps expected with 180s. Seems pretty normal to me and in fact 3000 is on the slow side.

You can push it up to 3100 but from the 3 I loaded for they didn't show their best accuracy at those pressures. I would image with say RL26 it would be easy to hit 3100. Our rifles seem to like around 3000-3020fps. They've all been super accurate with the 175 ELDX and various Berger's. They flop over Coues bucks great and Elk.

 

[Weatherby Fan]

Oct 14 update with the rest of my testing on the new RCC brass, 67.2-68.4grs of R26


Ok got to the range this morning with the new 7mm PRC, 24.5 inch 1-8 twist #2 contour 5R Benchmark barrel.
New RCC Brass, Reloder 26, federal 215M primers, 175gr Berger Elite Hunters, COAL 3.337"

First 6 shots 63.0grs for zeroing/cleaning between shots, 2882/2861/2869/2855/error/2848

All 3 shot groups to follow

63.0- 2828/2822/2828 same hole
63.5- 2856/2849/2856 .48"
64.0- 2884/2895/2912 .57"
64.5- 2929/2946/2938 .97"
65.0- 2941/2945/2945 2.0"
65.5- OOPS. 2.0"
66.0-3011/3025/3027 1.75"
66.5- error/3033/3027 1.35"
67.0- 3095/3101/3106 .95" No pressure signs
67.2- 3115 - 1 shot
67.4- 3124 - 1 shot
67.5- 3112/3112/3111 .67" group , muzzle jump
67.6- 3116 1 shot
67.8- 3134 1 shot
68.0- 3126/3136/3127 .9" group, noticeable Muzzle Jump
68.2- 3148
68.4- leakage around primer, slight ejector mark, considerable recoil/muzzle jump. I stopped here, I figure as quigley257 found 68.0grs would be max for new RCC brass/R26/175gr Bergers, please start lower and work up.

Overall I thought it was pretty good velocity for a 24.5 inch barrel, it was a pleasure to shoot.

 

[orkan]

Oh lordy there's no telling how many firings. I think you mean before the flop-over dead. It seemed to vary. If I estimated I'd say 7-10 firings. I usually annealed those every other use. Of course we are talking about the original recipe Hornady made stuff. You loose them because of primer pockets. I'm wondering if this new ADG stuff will be better. Time will tell.

Meanwhile I have hornady 7LRM and 6.5LRM brass with over 20 firings on it, and still going strong.

 

[Rick Richard]

Meanwhile I have hornady 7LRM and 6.5LRM brass with over 20 firings on it, and still going strong.

When I had a 7LRM, I could never get over two firings on the Hornady brass before the primer pockets were too loose to hold a primer. I would probably still have that rifle since it was the most accurate rifle I had owned if it were not for the crappy Hornady brass.