Two rounds that are used for hunting big game at long range are the 30-06 and the 7mm PRC. Both these rounds have made their name in the rifle industry, but how do they compare? and is one cartridge better than the other?
Here is the short answer:
The 7mm PRC is a newer cartridge that offers superior ballistics and accuracy over the 30-06. However, the 30-06 has been around for over a century and is still widely used due to its versatility and availability.
Now that we have look at the short answer, we can look closer at each cartridge, their ballistics, their best uses, and see how they compare in-depth.
In-Depth Look at the 7mm PRC
The 7mm PRC was introduced in 2022 by Hornady. It is based on the 300 PRC case, necked down to accept 7mm bullets and slightly shortened. It has a case length of 2.28 inches and a maximum overall length of 3.090 inches, which allows it to be chambered in most standard-length actions.
The 7mm PRC has a reputation for being an extremely accurate and flat-shooting cartridge which is largely due to the high BC bullets which carry their energy very well. Because this round carries its energy so well, it is capable of taking game as large as elk as far as 700 yards.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 7mm PRC with a 175-grain Hornady ELD-X bullet:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2995 | 3585 |
| 50 | -0.2 | 0 | 2925 | 3419 |
| 100 | 0 | 0.4 | 2856 | 3260 |
| 150 | -0.8 | 0.9 | 2788 | 3107 |
| 200 | -2.8 | 1.7 | 2722 | 2961 |
| 250 | -5.9 | 2.8 | 2656 | 2819 |
| 300 | -10.3 | 4 | 2591 | 2683 |
| 350 | -15.9 | 5.5 | 2527 | 2553 |
| 400 | -22.9 | 7.2 | 2464 | 2427 |
| 450 | -31.3 | 9.2 | 2402 | 2306 |
| 500 | -41.2 | 11.5 | 2341 | 2190 |
In-Depth Look at the 30-06
The 30-06 Springfield cartridge has been around since 1906 and has remained popular due to its versatility and wide range of bullet options. It is one of the most popular cartridges in the world and is often considered to be the smallest cartridge capable of taking all game in America.
The 30-06 has a long history and has been used for everything from hunting grizzly bears to long range target shooting. One of the reasons it is so popular is because you can find bullet weights from 110-220 grains. Effectively, the 30-06 can be used to take varmints with light bullets or loaded with heavy bullets to take large game like moose.
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
When it comes to ballistics, the 7mm PRC outperforms the 30-06 in almost every category. The 7mm PRC has a higher muzzle velocity, higher ballistic coefficient, and less wind drift at long ranges. It also maintains its energy and velocity better at longer ranges than the 30-06.
However, the 30-06 has the advantage of being widely available and less expensive than the 7mm PRC. It is also a very versatile cartridge, able to handle a wide range of bullet weights and styles, making it suitable for a variety of hunting and shooting applications.
So, if you want a cartridge that has a little more power to it with the sacrifice of price and recoil, go with the 7mm PRC. If you want a more established cartridge that will be easy to find no matter what and can be used to hunt most game on the planet, go with the 30-06.