7mm Rem Mag vs 6.5 Prc

[freddiej]

I will weigh in, if you want either one, I would put a small muzzle brake on the 7MM R/M and be done with it. then the recoil is that of a 243/308 class cartridge and you can have the best of both worlds.. for that matter, put a muzzle brake on your 300 and forget about another caliber.
now I will let the quagmire get all mucked up and I will watch.

 

[BullElk54]

I did a quick calculation to compare recoil of the 6.5 PRC, 280AI, and 7mm Rem Mag. all with identical rifle weight.
- 6.5 PRC, 6.5 mm bullet with 147 gr bullet weight, 3000 fps velocity, 54.5 gr. H4831. = 21.25 ft-lbf recoil.
- 280 AI, .284" bullet with 160 bullet weight., 2939 fps velocity, 55 gr. H4831 = 23.49 ft-lbf recoil.
- 7mm Mag .284 bullet with 160 bullet weight, 2933 fps velocity, 61 gr. H4831 = 25.35 ft-lbf recoil.

Not a significant difference in recoil, though the 6.5 PRC is the lesser recoil producer. A heavier weight rifle will reduce recoil as will reduced velocity. I shoot both a 6.5PRC and 280AI; don't notice a difference in recoil. Both are highly accurate out to 600 yards, as proven at the range and in the field. It is entertaining and interesting to compare new or different cartridges though shoot what you trust and are comfortable using.

 

[jvr]

7 rm. hands down. Shoot a lighter bullet. It's all physics.

 

[Tulsa Reiner]

I went through the same decision between the two and chose the PRC. I'll be mostly hunting deer and elk every couple years as I build points. I've shot both calibers braked and not braked. I will say I really enjoyed the PRC at the range more and shot it better at distance. PRC braked or suppressed is very comfortable and I'm able to follow through better and see impacts.

I agree. I LOVE my 6.5 PRC, and, with a brake, my target remains totally in sight after firing because the recoil is so mild, and I am shooting an 8.25 lb rig (rifle and scope).
Another consideration is the weight of the two rifles, if you are planning on doing a lot of hiking with it in the mountains.

 

[Palix-Dog]

To answer you question...6.5 prc and the 156 gr. Bergers .

I carry one of my 338's and 300 gr bergers when Elk hunting out here in Montana. Just because you never know if the Elk will be at 150 yrds. or 1250 yrds.
Best of luck on your choice !

Rum Man

Or a grizzly at 15 yrds

 

[Scott E Ames]

If recoil is any kind of issue go with the 6.5 and a muzzle brake. The 2 choices you have are nearly identical at the ranges you listed. Don't forget to add a great trigger to the mix. It makes a lot more difference than you will believe until you have tried it. Remember the cartridge doesn't shoot the rifle you do. I know you have read it here a lot but you will never feel the recoil when shooting at game but you can carry bad habits from too much gun club recoil into the field with you.
You will enjoy either choice if you add a brake, good luck.

 

[Far North Hunter]

I agree, but sometimes in the heat of the moment on the mountain staring down a 6x6 elk it is easy to forget to throw plugs in.

Try the sound gear ear protection, Len recommended it and I purchased a set. What a great investment. In the stand you get sound amplification, pop the cap and they do a good job of noise suppression.
On the bench shooting my breaked rifles I wear them as well as muffs. In the stand I wear them alone. Snap shots with the break are not painful to the body or ears.

 

[Another Casual]

When I was choosing between 6.5 PRC, 7SAUM, and 300WSM, I chose the PRC. My rifle weighs about 8.5lbs ready to hunt and is a joy to shoot. If you reload, I have found the cartridge generally easy to load for. With H1000 mine printed excellent groups with 140 accubonds with most charge weights. I think more 6.5 PRC factory loads are coming. Barnes has a sku out for it with their 127 LRX but I don't think its on the shelves yet. I emailed them for some load data and they said they were seeing good results with some powders and should have the factory loads out once they receive their brass shipment.

For me the bullet selection and recoil numbers made the choice for me. I wanted something I would enjoy shooting enough to get a lot of practice in with. If long actions are on the table and you reload, I'd be looking at 280AI as well.

When its all said and done, either of your two options will serve you well so it comes down to factory loads (or bullet selection if you reload), recoil, availability, and personal preference.

 

[Northkill]

This is one of those "I love my rifle, so it's the best" discussions , but for kicks I'll throw in some cents. I've got a 7-LRM (similar to 7-RM). My 16 yr old son got a Christensen Summit Ti last year in 6.5 PRC. An extremely light rifle. Even with his 4-16x50 ATACR on top, its a dream to carry and shoot. (radial brake, but he's changing it out for a side baffle). While my 7-LRM isn't bad at all, it's still big blast and all that. His PRC is so much fun to shoot its about the only thing we've been using for groundhogs this summer. The thing is 1/4 MOA w/factory 147 ELD-M's and simply hits everything its pointed at. He couldn't be happier. And you know, since it's a joy to shoot, he's doing all these long-range varmint shots throughout the year, so he'll be confidant and deadly with it come big game. He's got all this experience to run on and knows his gun. In the end, that's what's going to count for you. Get a rifle you love to shoot, shoot it a lot, and you'll be successful. If you use the right bullets for the job... Go for what you want.

 

[FEENIX]

^This is why I like this forum.^
Real help from real good people.

Thanks! There is no substitute for "real-world experience." We both live in the same small town and I am just trying to help a brother in need. I am sure he will do the same if the shoe is the other way around.

Cheers!

Ed

 

[Ranger Rick]

I'm thinking about purchasing one of these calibers for deer/elk at a max of about 500 yards and wanted to know what people thought about the merits of each caliber and obviously 7mm has alot more factory options and can load a heavier bullet but is the extra recoil worth it at the end of the day when it comes to performance on game and before peoe say anything about a 300 i have had one and cant shoot one as consistently as I'd like do to recoil.

MO,
You have listed probably the leading merit of 6.5 vs 7mm = more Factory options with 7mm Mag. Reloading will level the field. I have both a 6.5PRC (2 years) & 7mm mag (40 years), IMO some other merits are: less recoil for the 6.5PRC, but the 7mm mag has less recoil than a 300 win mag. Do you want a lightweight mountain rifle? The less recoiling 6.5 PRC wins. If you're OK with an 8# plus rifle, I'd favor the 7mm for elk. An effective recoil pad and stock design do matter. Seven years ago, I bought a Tikka T3x .270 for my elk mountain rifle. I like Tikka and it too is an elk killer.
What about bolt throw? I'm comfortable with the 7mm's LA, and LA chambering is generally more consistent than SA chambering. However, SA throws are nice. I have an X-Bolt with its 60 degree rise in 6.5 Creedmoor and its bolt throw is sweet.
However, I use my 7mm only for elk with 23 one-shot kills. It has shot so good (700 BDL), that when I do check its accuracy, I shoot it 2 or 3 times. I use hearing protection at the range. Recoil on an elk kill is something I've never noticed. I have not witnessed a 6.5 PRC during hunting, but I have seen a good hunter take 4 shots with a 6.5CR to kill an elk at under 100 yards. A 6.5PRC out powers a 6.5CR. IMO, "at the end of a day," the 7mm mag is a solid performer.
Have any outfitters weighed in?

 

[Ranger Rick]

Thanks! There is no substitute for "real-world experience." We both live in the same small town and I am just trying to help a brother in need. I am sure he will do the same if the shoe is the other way around.

Cheers!

Ed

FEENIX, I've read several of your posts, and you're a great contributor. I'd enjoy meeting you some day. RR from Boise (a town that's been ruined by growth & liberals without any real-world experience).

 

[archeratlrg]

I think this really comes down to the stock and the condition of the recoil pad for the 7mm RM. I have a circa 1976 Weatherby Vanguard 7mm RM that I acquired as a Deluxe model with the original recoil pad. It was BRUTAL. Only gun that has ever left a physical, black and blue, bruise on my shoulder (granted, I went through over 40 rounds that day). I have since switched the stock out from that beautiful wood stock to a very functional B&C stock that I cleared the barrel channel out on to float the barrel. Night and day difference. It is now very pleasant to shoot and I can go to the range and work through three different sets of seating depth checks without issue.

I don't think you need a brake on the 7mm RM to make it more pleasant. A good stock with a reasonable, and still soft, recoil pad will make a huge difference.

As a custom stock maker for 50 years I have been saying the same thing about stock design. That, and 90+%of those shooting factory stocks are shooting one that's too long for them. That leads to much greater felt recoil. After shooting the 7mm Rem mag for over 50 years I'm kinda partial to it but have many others as well. I run my 7 Rem right at 3075 with a 175 gr pills. Never needed more than 1 shot with it on elk.

 

[West Calamus]

I'm thinking about purchasing one of these calibers for deer/elk at a max of about 500 yards and wanted to know what people thought about the merits of each caliber and obviously 7mm has alot more factory options and can load a heavier bullet but is the extra recoil worth it at the end of the day when it comes to performance on game and before peoe say anything about a 300 i have had one and cant shoot one as consistently as I'd like do to recoil.
[/QUOTE 6.5 PRC and here's why. The prc's and creedmoore's are not necessary superior cartridges to all the old standby cartridges but the chambers. twist rate and magazine length on the production rifles are more compatible to shooting the heavier, higher BC bullets that we are all switching over to. The 300 PRC will not out shoot my 300 win mag but I handload to get the right jump in the leade and had to extend my magazine. Ammunition availability may be a consideration.