Two cartridges with very similar ballistics and often used for the same tasks are the 30-06 Springfield and the 6.5 PRC. But which cartridge is better? The much older and proven 30-06 or the newer and more developed 6.5 PRC. In this article, we will look at both these cartridges and review them in-depth to see which is better and why.
Here is the short answer:
The 30-06 is a much older cartridge with a proven track record at being capable of taking game as large as bison to as small as antelope. The 6.5 PRC is a much newer cartridge that does not have as much energy as the 30-06 but has better long range ballistics.
Now that we have looked at the short answer, we can look closer at each cartridge, their ballistics, and see how each cartridge compares in-depth.
In-Depth Look at the 6.5 PRC
The 6.5 PRC (Precision Rifle Cartridge) is a relatively new cartridge, introduced by Hornady in 2017. It was designed as a long range hunting and target shooting cartridge that uses long slender 6.5mm bullets ideal for cutting through wind and retaining energy at long range. Coupled with the large 300 PRC case shorted down to fit in a short action, you have the 6.5 PRC.
This round has gained a lot of popularity in recent years because it has great ballistics, great energy retention, moderate recoil, and is used in short action rifles. This makes for a rifle that is lightweight, capable of taking game as small as deer to as large as moose, and can be used for long range shooting.
There are two main downsides to the 6.5 PRC: One is that it is a newer cartridge and therefore finding ammo or rifles chambered in the 6.5 PRC can be challenging. The other downside is that because of the high chamber pressure and velocity at which this round shoots it is prone to burning out barrels quickly.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 6.5 PRC with a 140-grain Accubond:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2750 | 2351 |
| 50 | -0.1 | 0.2 | 2647 | 2177 |
| 100 | 0 | 0.8 | 2546 | 2014 |
| 150 | -1.2 | 1.7 | 2447 | 1861 |
| 200 | -3.8 | 3.1 | 2350 | 1717 |
| 250 | -8.1 | 5 | 2256 | 1582 |
| 300 | -14.1 | 7.4 | 2163 | 1455 |
| 350 | -21.9 | 10.3 | 2073 | 1336 |
| 400 | -31.7 | 13.7 | 1985 | 1225 |
| 450 | -43.5 | 17.5 | 1899 | 1121 |
| 500 | -58 | 22.1 | 1816 | 1025 |
In-Depth Look at the 30-06 Springfield
The 30-06 Springfield is an iconic cartridge that has been in use since its introduction in 1906. It was designed as a military service cartridge and saw use as the main service rifle caliber in both World War 1 and 2 in the model 1903 Springfield and M1 Grand rifles.
Well over 100 years later, the 30-06 is still used today to hunt game as large as bison to as small as deer and everything in between. The 30-06 is beloved for the fact that it can be used with bullet weights from 110-220 grains. This allows it to have the capability of many different cartridges all in one.
There are some downsides to the 30-06 such as the fact that it does have quite a bit of recoil which can be hard for some shooters to handle. Additionally, it does not provide the flat trajectory and lower ammunition costs that some of the more modern cartridges such as the 300 Win Mag can.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 30-06 with a 180-grain bullet:
| Range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2700 | 2913 |
| 50 | -0.1 | 0.2 | 2584 | 2668 |
| 100 | 0 | 0.9 | 2470 | 2439 |
| 150 | -1.3 | 2 | 2359 | 2225 |
| 200 | -4.2 | 3.7 | 2252 | 2026 |
| 250 | -8.8 | 6 | 2147 | 1842 |
| 300 | -15.3 | 8.8 | 2045 | 1671 |
| 350 | -23.8 | 12.1 | 1945 | 1512 |
| 400 | -34.6 | 16.2 | 1848 | 1365 |
| 450 | -48.1 | 21.2 | 1756 | 1232 |
| 500 | -64.6 | 27 | 1667 | 1111 |
In-Depth Comparison
The 6.5 PRC and the 30-06 Springfield are two very different cartridges with distinct strengths and weaknesses.
In terms of ballistics, the 6.5 PRC has a flatter trajectory and less drop at longer ranges than the 30-06 Springfield. However, the 30-06 Springfield has a larger bullet diameter and more energy at shorter ranges, making it a better choice for hunting larger game.
When it comes to versatility, the 30-06 has the 6.5 PRC beat. Because the 30-06 has a wider range of bullet weights it can be used for more tasks. On the other hand, the 6.5 PRC is good at a few different scenarios but lacks the bullet weights range to be good at most or all like the 30-06.
Regarding recoil, the 6.5 PRC has a moderate recoil that is easy to manage, while the 30-06 Springfield has a bit more recoil that some shooters may find uncomfortable over extended shooting sessions.
Availability and cost wise the 30-06 is the better choice. The 6.5 PRC has not been around as the 30-06 so it has not had as much time to be established. This leads to a higher price per shot, harder to find ammo, and harder to find rifles and rifle parts.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the 6.5 PRC and the 30-06 Springfield are both excellent cartridges with their distinct strengths and weaknesses. The 6.5 PRC is a newer cartridge with excellent long-range capabilities, while the 30-06 Springfield is a more versatile cartridge that has been in use for over a century.