6.5 PRC vs 7mm PRC

The pronghorn buck was a good one. I had not seen him since mid-summer, three months ago, and had decided he left the country. But now, in late September of 2024, I was watching him through my binoculars at 500 yards.

Hunting the speedster of the prairie is always a challenge. On this mid-fall day in southeastern New Mexico, the tough part was getting inside a reasonable shooting distance. Despite the fact that the new Model 2020, Springfield Boundary rifle chambered in 6.5 PRC was in my hands, long distance shooting with any caliber is not to be taken for granted. Having hunted big game over the last few months with both the 6.5 PRC and the 7mm PRC, I have gained an appreciation for both cartridges.

Basic Differences Between 6.5 PRC vs 7 PRC

Below, a basic comparison of Hornady’s Precision Hunter ammunition showing the 143-grain ELD-X bullet for the 6.5 PRC, and a 175-grain ELD-X bullet for the 7mm PRC. I have taken big game with both of these calibers and specific ammo.

Ballistic Performance

Both the 6.5 PRC and the 7mm PRC are fairly similar rounds, with similar velocities. The larger case of the 7mm PRC has more powder capacity and therefore more velocity, and greater recoil to push a heavier bullet. Otherwise, they both have comparable ballistic performance.

In terms of energy, we see bigger differences between these cartridges. For example, at 500 yards the 6.5 PRC will have basically 1,530ft-lbs of energy as compared to 2,140ft-lbs of the 7mm PRC.

Bottom line both have very similar performance when it comes to hitting targets out to 500 yards and beyond. Significant differences show up in the terminal performance on a game animal when it comes to ft-lbs of energy, along with felt recoil. Obviously, there is less energy and less felt recoil in the 6.5 PRC compared to the 7mm PRC.

Thoughts on the 6.5 PRC and 7mm PRC for hunting

Back to my earlier story. The pronghorn buck was very focused on does that were across the fence in my hunt zone.  That was a good thing, because where he was standing at the time was out of this zone. Before long however he found a way to the does’ and my side of the fence heading straight for his harem. By doing this the buck actually shortened the distance to my position. Once there he slowed and stopped.

Hunting with 6.5 PRC

I was already in a stable shooting position and estimated the range around 250 yards, a chip shot for the 6.5 PRC if I did my part. Taking a deep breath to settle my nerves, I found the crosshairs through the Leupold VX-6 HD, 3-18×44 scope, settling them just behind the right shoulder and pressed the trigger. At the shot the buck turned to his left, stepped a few yards, and was down.

The 143gr ELD-X bullet from Hornady had done its job well. The velocity of the 6.5 PRC resulted in a complete pass-through on the antelope. The results were almost instant, and certainly clean and ethical. The buck was more than I had hoped for and as always, I gave pause to respect and appreciate this speedster of the prairie.

I went on to harvest a very nice Texas whitetail buck with the 6.5 PRC in October of this year with almost identical results except the whitetail was at only 150 yards as compared to the pronghorn at 250 yards. For hunting mid-sized big game, 6.5 PRC is an excellent choice and would really come into its own for distances beyond the 400-yard mark.

Not to say 6.5 PRC ammo can’t take larger class big game, all it takes is the right bullet and proper shot placement. But day in and day out I would probably choose the 7mm PRC for heavier big game.

Hunting with 7mm PRC

7mm PRC ammo with its greater down range energy is ideal for say elk, kudu, wildebeest and the like. Utilizing the Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT in 7mm PRC, I took over 12 head of plains game in multiple South Africa provinces this past July and August. Game taken ranged from the tiny Duiker up to Kudu and everything in between. Using a quality muzzle break brake or suppressor I found that felt recoil is negligible.

Having used both calibers now in two different makes of rifles, I would have to say I would prefer the 7mm PRC as an all-around hunting big game hunting cartridge given its greater energy. But that is just a personal opinion and without a doubt both are superb hunting cartridges.

Long-Range Target Shooting/Competition

First off, I must say this category is really outside of my area of expertise. But my gut feel is that for general long-range target shooting, say up to 1,000 yards the 6.5 PRC may well be a better choice, primarily because of the probable increased barrel life and lower recoil the 6.5 PRC provides. In addition, simple economics means that the 6.5 PRC is most likely going to be the least expensive of the two when comparing similar loads.

In a nutshell, the 6.5 PRC offers nearly the same performance on a steel or paper target, again with less recoil and better economics.

History of the 6.5 PRC and 7 PRC Cartridges

In 2018, Hornady released the 6.5 PRC followed by the 7mm PRC in 2022. These cartridges are very similar in a lot of ways. Both are distantly related to the .375 Ruger, and they both are intended to be long-range cartridges. Obviously, they are both in different calibers with different case sizes.

The parent case for the 6.5 is the .300 RCM (Ruger Compact Magnum) necked down to 6.5mm. Aside from a new round for long-range shooting, another key goal was feeding and functional reliability in a short-action rifle. The 6.5 PRC case, with a short, fat powder column, has a design associated with accuracy.

There are currently more than a dozen manufacturers producing 6.5 PRC rifles, which have in turn been showing up in the hands of hunters, long range target shooters, and competitive shooters alike.

The 7mm PRC was introduced in 2022 and is something of a middle-ground offering between the smaller 6.5 PRC and the larger .300 PRC. The 7mm PRC is a long action cartridge and provides for longer distances that rivals the 6.5 PRC but also takes advantage of the high ballistic coefficient and heavier bullet weight of 7mm projectiles.

Essentially, the 7mm PRC is ideal for hunting at longer-than-average ranges because of its high ballistic coefficient. The projectile has higher velocities and more down range energy than what you will find in most cartridges of the same caliber.

Currently at least 10 mainstream companies offer rifles in the 7mm PRC chambering. That level of production is a good indication that the cartridge is here for the long run.

Conclusion

Both the 6.5 PRC and its bigger brother, the 7mm PRC have generated lots of interest from the firearms world these days. When looking for a medium sized big game or target cartridge with low recoil but good long-range performance, 6.5 PRC will serve you well. If you prefer a “one cartridge does all” approach from whitetail to moose, then the 7mm PRC will be the optimum choice.

In the end you may find me in the hunting field with either!