When it comes to long-range shooting, hunters and shooters have a variety of options to choose from. Among the popular calibers, the 7mm PRC and the 300 Win Mag stand out as two of the best options. Both rounds are known for their accuracy and long-range capabilities, making them ideal for hunting and competitive shooting. In this article, we’ll compare the 7mm PRC and the 300 Win Mag, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each.
Here is the short answer:
The 7mm PRC and the 300 Win Mag are both excellent long-range cartridges that offer impressive ballistics and accuracy. However, the 7mm PRC has a slight edge in terms of accuracy and recoil, while the 300 Win Mag is a more versatile and popular cartridge with a wider range of ammunition options.
Now that we have looked at the short answer, we can look in-depth at each cartridges best uses, their ballistics, and how they compare in-depth.
In-Depth Look at the 7mm PRC
The 7mm PRC is a new cartridge that was released in early 2023. Developed by Hornady and based on the 375 Ruger magnum case shortened to 2.280 inches and necked down to accept bullets with .284-inch diameters, However, the 7mm PRC still keeps the .532-inch diameter of the case.
In terms of terminal performance, the 7mm PRC is renowned for its capacity to retain energy across long distances as well as inflict dramatic knockdown power on game animals like deer and elk. Additionally, this cartridge’s increased sectional density enables it to penetrate deeper into dense hides prior to expansion thus further enhancing wounding potentiality.
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 300 Win Mag
The 300 Winchester Magnum is renowned for its outstanding power, and in recent times has become increasingly popular amongst hunters. Since its inception back in 1962, this caliber has been highly regarded due to both the performance it delivers as well as its reliable nature.
The 300 Win Mag is known for its versatility mainly due to its wide range of bullet weights from 150-220 grains. This makes it an ideal cartridge for hunting different types of game, from medium game to large big game. The 300 Win Mag is often considered to be one of the best big game hunting cartridges as it has enough energy to effectively take large game, but not so much power that it causes a lot of bloodshot meat.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 300 Win Mag with a 180-grain soft point bullet:
| Range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2960 | 3502 |
| 50 | -0.2 | 0.1 | 2852 | 3250 |
| 100 | 0 | 0.7 | 2746 | 3013 |
| 150 | -0.9 | 1.6 | 2643 | 2791 |
| 200 | -3.1 | 2.9 | 2542 | 2582 |
| 250 | -6.6 | 4.5 | 2443 | 2385 |
| 300 | -11.6 | 6.6 | 2346 | 2200 |
| 350 | -18.2 | 9.2 | 2252 | 2027 |
| 400 | -26.5 | 12.3 | 2160 | 1864 |
| 450 | -36.6 | 15.9 | 2070 | 1712 |
| 500 | -48.8 | 20 | 1982 | 1570 |
In-Depth Comparison
When comparing the 7mm PRC to the 300 Win Mag, there are a few key differences to consider.
The 7mm PRC has about the same power as the 300 Win mag at close range but maintains energy at long range far better than the 300 Win Mag. This makes for a better long range shooting and hunting cartridge. However, the 300 Win Mag does have the ability to shoot a heavier bullet which will yield more close-range energy than the 7mm PRC.
When it comes to price and availability, the 300 Win Mag is a vastly more popular cartridge that has been around a lot longer than the 7mm PRC. The 300 Win Mag is also costs far less than the 7mm PRC and is far less likely to experience barrel burnout.
Rifle weight and size is also a big difference between these two rounds. The 300 Win Mag is a standard-length cartridge that is while the 7mm PRC is a short-length cartridge. Because the 7mm PRC is made for short-action rifles, it generally comes in a rifle that weighs less and is more compact.
Another factor to consider is recoil. The 300 Winchester magnm has about 5 more foot-pounds of recoil than the 7mm PRC therefore it would be harder to control if you are shooting for long periods of time or if you are a shooter more sensitive to recoil.
The last thing to consider is the versatility of each cartridge. The 7mm PRC is very specific for hunting big game at long range. The 300 Win mag, on the other hand, has a wider array of bullet weights that can be used to hunt a wide array of game.
Conclusion
Both the 7mm PRC and the 300 Win Mag are excellent long-range cartridges that offer impressive accuracy and ballistics. The 7mm PRC has an edge in terms of accuracy, recoil, and energy retention, while the 300 Win Mag is a more versatile cartridge with a wider range of bullet options and is easier to find.