Big Game Hunting Podcast - Hunting Africa, North America, & More! · John McAdams

370: 6.5 PRC vs 7mm PRC Caliber Comparison

·43 min·3 clips

George Garner created the 6.5 PRC to meet strict competition limits, choosing a 6.5mm bullet for its unique balance.

Host John McAdams compares the 6.5 PRC and 7mm PRC cartridges using his own ballistic and field data. This episode is a technical analysis for hunters considering either cartridge. McAdams has personally hunted with both rounds and tested numerous factory loads. The 6.5 PRC was originally designed by George Garner of GA Precision for Precision Rifle Series competition, aiming for a flat-shooting, low-recoil cartridge in a short action. Its typical factory loads fire a 143-grain bullet at 2,960 fps or a 147-grain bullet at 2,910 fps. Hornady formally introduced the 6.5 PRC in 2018 after redesigning it from a .300 Ruger Compact Magnum case. The 7mm PRC was announced in late 2022, built from a modified .375 Ruger case to fire high-BC bullets around 3,000 fps. McAdams notes most current 7mm PRC factory ammunition falls 100-200 fps short of advertised velocities, though Federal loads come close. In ballistic comparisons, the 7mm PRC generally offers more retained energy and less wind deflection than the 6.5 PRC, especially with copper bullets. For example, a fast 7mm PRC load firing a 175-grain ELD-X bullet has about 33% more energy at 500 yards than a comparable 6.5 PRC load. McAdams's gel tests showed the 7mm PRC typically creates a wider wound cavity, though a 127-grain Barnes LRX from the 6.5 PRC achieved the deepest penetration. He shares field experiences, including taking a cow moose with a 7mm PRC using 170-grain Terminal Ascent bullets and an axis doe with a 6.5 PRC using a 127-grain Barnes LRX. The 7mm PRC generates about 45% more free recoil energy than the 6.5 PRC from a similar rifle. Estimated barrel life is roughly 1,000-1,300 rounds for both cartridges. Ammo availability favors the 6.5 PRC, with 40 listed factory loads versus 26 for the 7mm PRC, and it is often less expensive. Rifle options are also more numerous for the 6.5 PRC, including more lightweight models. McAdams concludes the 7mm PRC is a versatile all-purpose cartridge for game up to elk or moose, particularly where copper bullets are preferred. He positions the 6.5 PRC as an ultimate short-action cartridge, ideal for lightweight rifles in rough country or for recoil-sensitive shooters. The tone is educational and detailed, grounded in the host's personal testing and hunting experience. This episode is ideal for hunters or shooters seeking a data-driven comparison to inform a rifle or cartridge purchase. Listeners looking for broad hunting stories or non-technical content might find the deep dive too specialized.

As heard by us

A practical cartridge comparison centered on real-world performance, testing, and use case.

John McAdams sets the 6.5 PRC and 7mm PRC side by side and shows where they overlap, then separates them by the jobs each one handles best. The discussion stays grounded in range data, field use, and ballistic gel tests, so the comparison feels practical rather than abstract.

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Why you'd press play

You want a numbers-first look at 6.5 PRC versus 7mm PRC.

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