The family of PRC (Precision Rifle Cartridge) rifle cartridges are relatively new. They were developed by Hornady using the 375 Ruger case. The concept (similar to Remington using the Jeffery case to develop the Ultra Mag family of cartridges) was to use a Beltless case so the case did not headspace on the belt of the case. The difference in this development was the design of the case. The case is designed so that long and sleek bullets that have a very high ballistic coefficient (like Berger bullets) could be loaded in the case without the bullet being seated deep in the powder column. Sure, there are other cartridges that have similar performance (Like the Nosler 26, 27, 28 and 30), but the PRC family of cartridges really shine down range without the blast and recoil. I have shot all of the PRC cartridges and recently shot a good nine-point buck in Indiana with a 6.5 PRC using a Hornady factory 143 gr ELD-X. My Swarovski range finding scope had him at 276 yards. The buck traveled 40 yards before tipping over. Last year I acquired a Browning X Bolt II Speed in 300 PRC. The 300 PRC is WAY stouter than the 6.5 or 7mm PRC. Although you could hunt elk with a 6.5 or 7mm PRC, I think the 300 PRC would be another excellent elk round. I recently loaded Berger 245 gr Hunter Elite bullets behind Retumbo powder. Pushing that bullet around 2700FPS gives plenty of killing energy for elk, even at 500 yards! I am in the process of loading the 7mm PRC with Nosler 168 gr long range accubond bullets and Hornady’s 175 7mm bullets. Should be able to push them over 3000 feet per second. This will be my go-to for next year’s deer hunt. The 6.5 PRC is dead nuts accurate, and the 300 PRC will shoot those BIG bullets into ¾” groups. Can’t wait to see how the 7mm PRC performs!
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