Choosing the right caliber can be overwhelming, given the numerous options available and town round that are among popular choices for long range shooters and hunters alike at the 6.5 Creedmoor and the 7mm PRC. However, these two rounds are seldom compared in depth, so in this article, we’ll examine the features, ballistics, and performance of both calibers to help you make an informed decision.
Here is the short answer:
The 7mm PRC has a flatter trajectory and more energy at longer ranges than the 6.5 Creedmoor, making it a better option for long-range hunting. However, the 6.5 Creedmoor is a more popular cartridge that is cheaper to shoot and easier to find. Additionally, the 6.5 Creedmoor has more ballistics data and a wider range of bullet weights available.
Now that we have looked at the short answer, we can look in-depth at each cartridge, their ballistics, and see how both cartridges compare in-depth.
In-Depth Look at the 7mm PRC
The 7mm PRC was developed by Hornady in 2022, primarily for long-range hunting and shooting. It is based on the 300 PRC, necked down to accept a 7mm bullet, and shorted slightly. Because this cartridge shoots a 7mm bullet rather than its 30 caliber parent case, it is capable of shooting high BC bullets that are far more accurate at long range.
The 7mm PRC is a good cartridge for hunting at long range because it carries its energy very well. Additionally, you may notice that the 7mm PRC has less drop and wind drift than most other 7mm magnum counterparts which is, again, another reason it is a good cartridge for long range shooting.
The downside to the 7mm PRC is that it shoots at such high velocity and has such high chamber pressure that it would not take long to burn out the barrel on your rifle. The other downside to the 7mm PRC is that it is not very mass-produced and is therefore hard to find or expensive to shoot. And, adding on to the earlier statement about barrel burnout, would make it hard to find a replacement barrel when/if your barrel burns out.
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 6.5 Creedmoor
The 6.5 Creedmoor is a newer but popular cartridge, developed by Hornady in 2007. It was designed for long-range shooting and excels at just that while maintaining a low recoil and high energy retention. The 6.5 Creedmoor is based on the popular 308 Winchester cartridge necked down to accommodate a .264 caliber bullet.
The 6.5 Creedmoor is a particularly popular cartridge for smaller-frame shooters and hunters due to its lower recoil. The 6.5 Creedmoor is also a very versatile cartridge that can be used for anything from hunting game as small as Antilope to game as large as elk and long-range shooting competitions.
The only real world issue you could run into with the 6.5 Creedmoor is either not being able to find ammo due to how popular the 6.5 Creedmoor is.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 6.5 Creedmoor 140-grain soft point bullet:
| 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 Comparison
The 7mm PRC and 6.5 Creedmoor are both excellent cartridges for long-range shooting and hunting, but they have some significant differences.
Firstly, the 7mm PRC is a more powerful cartridge than the 6.5 Creedmoor due to its heavier bullets and larger case compacity. This lends the 7mm PRC better for hunting larger game animals at longer ranges. The 7mm PRC also has less drop and less wind drift than the 6.5 Creedmoor which is going to make it a more consistent cartridge to fire at long range.
Second, the 6.5 Creedmoor is a more popular cartridge than the 7mm PRC. This means that the 6.5 Creedmoor costs less per round, ammo will be easier to find in most cases, assuming there is not a shortage in ammo, rifles will be easier to find, and replacement parts will be more popular.
Lastly, the 7mm PRC produces more recoil compared to the 6.5 Creedmoor due to its larger size and higher velocity. This means the 6.5 Creedmoor is more comfortable to shoot and allows for faster follow-up shots.
Conclusion
Overall, the 7mm PRC is a great cartridge for those looking for long-range shooting and big game hunting, while the 6.5 Creedmoor is better suited for shorter ranges and small to medium-sized game hunting. It ultimately comes down to personal preference and intended use.