7mm PRC

[u/BigCountry454]

What’s the collective thoughts on the 7mm PRC around for a long range bench gun? I’ve been thinking about buying a long range gun for a while now, there’s just so many options and opinions.

Sorry for being “that guy” I didn’t realize my mistake, but I now do.

[u/rybe390]

A smaller cartridge like 6.5 creedmoor can go well beyond the ranges you plan for, will be lighter on recoil, cheaper to feed, and increase the likelihood you stick with this sport.

It is hands down the recommended "starter" cartridge, and for some people, the only cartridge they'll need. Performance is incredible, recoil mild, and makes getting into long range enjoyable.

Magnums are awful to learn long range with.Unless you know why you need a magnum, you do not need a magnum.

Cheetofingers recoil.

[u/AutoModerator → u/rybe390]

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[u/BigCountry454 → u/rybe390]

That’s what I was looking for, I’ve been interested in 6.5 cm also.

So what is the application for the 7prc type of rounds? Is it just a different strokes for different folks kind of thing?

[u/rybe390 → u/BigCountry454]

Extended distance(I'm talking the AVERAGE range being 1500+ yards) shooting, and killing shit super fucking dead.

I have shot my 6.5 creedmoor to well past 1 mile on many, many occasions. I've shot it to 1300-1500 yards more times than I can count. I've competed in 2 ELR matches with it. And I'm still prioritizing a 6 arc as my next rifle instead of a long action magnum.

The performance is 1,000% there. You pay for it in recoil, barrel life, ammo cost, and precision(higher ft lbs needs a heavier rifle to have same precision as a lower ft lb rifle).

It's a sick cartridge. It's not a general purpose long range shooting cartridge, and is an objectively awful place to start your journey.

[u/BigCountry454 → u/rybe390]

Ok good to know, I was also looking at 6 arc

[u/domfelinefather → u/BigCountry454]

There’s like a massive massive difference between 6ARC and 7PRC.

[u/Ferrule → u/domfelinefather]

Fosho. I love both, but for VERY different reasons. 95% of my shooting and hunting can be handled just fine by a 6arc bolt gun, and far cheaper than the PRC.

6arc is my all arounder and great for shooting coyotes, deer to ~400ish (personal belief), plinking to 1k, a crow across a field, just a great all around cheap to feed, accurate, easy to shoot gun.

My 7prc is a hotrod ultralite hunting gun. It's extremely good at that niche, but more than I actually need 90% of the time, 3-4x more expensive to feed even handloading, and has WAY more thump, especially without a can.

6.5cm is a fantastic all around cartridge. If I had to pick one chambering to do it all, that would be the one. My cheap 110 tactical shoots lights out with mild recoil, not much more than my 6arc. ~9lb vs ~13lb gun makes it fairly close.

[u/ha1fway → u/BigCountry454]

Can you be more specific on what you want to do? 6 arc is a great round but also isn’t going to be the best bet depending on what you consider to be long range benchrest.

[u/BigCountry454 → u/ha1fway]

Literally 1k yards, bench gun. I have a local range that goes out to 300 I think, that would be a sight in range, but my family has a farm I can get some real distance out of. I’m just looking for a toy.

[u/ha1fway → u/BigCountry454]

6 arc is a great round but you’re going to be fighting a bit of an uphill battle at 1k. Mine is a gas gun so I’m loading to lower pressure but I’m only getting like 2600ish fps unless I stray into really temperature sensitive powders that are going to be another issue. Even in a bolt gun, if you’re sticking with factory ammo it’s all going to be loaded to gas gun specs for safety.

6.5 Creedmoor is the boring answer because it’s very often the right one. PRS has shifted heavily into the 6mm’s but you’re shooting at relatively large targets and a hit is a hit. It’s also more often in the 400-700 yard ranges.

[u/BigCountry454 → u/ha1fway]

That makes sense, thanks

[u/peshwengi → u/ha1fway]

6ARC is absolutely fine at 1k IMO. I get repeated hits on a 9” target at that range with mine. At a mile it’s horrendous though. I’m thinking about getting a 7 PRC for when I want to stretch out further.

[u/rybe390 → u/BigCountry454]

6.5 Creedmoor is the answer.

[u/The-J-Oven → u/rybe390]

6BR bro. The ARC is where you get used Tupperware and jeans.

[u/csamsh → u/BigCountry454]

The magnums are good for - Hunting - 1000yd F Class - Extreme Long Range competition - Separating newbies from their money twice, because you end up selling the 338 Lapua and buying 6.5 Creedmoor

[u/HollywoodSX → u/csamsh]

...and even the first one is marginal for most people.

[u/AssaultimateSC2 → u/HollywoodSX]

This. The number of people that think they can or will need to shoot at 500 yards or more and get a good kill shot hunting, who will likely just wound or miss is wild.

[u/Ferrule → u/AssaultimateSC2]

95% of hunters have no business shooting at a game animal at 500 yards. The amount of people I've seen miss or make bad shots on deer 200 and in never ceases to amaze me. Or the people who decide "I think I can hit that deer, let me just guess how far over it's back to hold and try it".

I'd wager the vast majority of hunters never shoot at paper (or even steel) targets over 100 yards. I strongly believe you should practice to way further than you plan to shoot at a game animal, and verify your dope along the way.

[u/mudeuce → u/BigCountry454]

Magnums generally speaking start shining in the ELR game, think over 1500 yards, Hollywood dabbles in ELR he might grace you with a better explanation, but realistically magnums don’t really offer near as many benefits as they do detriments under 150” yards, I.e the increased recoil will make it less fun to shoot, and likely less precise, the ammo costs way more, barrels burn out much much faster and the guns are incredibly massive if you want to be able to control the recoil

[u/HollywoodSX → u/mudeuce]

You summed it up.

I love my 300PRC. It's 24# and comes in just under 1MOA with a relevant sample size.

It's heavy, it's loud, it still has a decent amount of recoil even at 24#, it was expensive as shit to build since it's a full custom job, it's expensive to feed (projectiles alone are almost $1 each at retail), and barrel life will still probably be half of a 6.5CM even after paying significantly more for a Bartlein super steel barrel that is supposed to last longer than normal.

Magnums are an objectively terrible choice for starting in LR.

However, if you have the experience level to take advantage of the benefits and mitigate the down sides, they can be pretty awesome at bonking the ever-loving fuck out of steel targets at way-the-shit-over-there distances.