When it comes to choosing a cartridge for hunting or long-range shooting, there are several factors to consider, including velocity, energy, accuracy, and recoil. In recent years, two cartridges that have gained popularity are the 7mm PRC and the 6.8 Western. While both cartridges have their strengths and weaknesses, they offer unique benefits to hunters and shooters. In this article, we will provide an in-depth comparison of the 7mm PRC and the 6.8 Western to help you determine which one is right for your needs.
Here is the short answer:
At close range, the performance of these two cartridges is pretty much identical. However, at long range, the 7mm PRC holds its energy better and maintains ever so slightly better ballistics.
Now that we have looked at the short answer, we can look in-depth at each cartridge, their ballistics, and how they compare in-depth.
In-Depth Look at the 7mm PRC
The 7mm PRC, or Precision Rifle Cartridge, was introduced by Hornady in 2023. It is based on the 300 PRC case shortened and necked down to 7mm. The cartridge is designed for long-range shooting and hunting medium to large game, such as elk and moose. The 7mm PRC offers high velocity, excellent accuracy, and energy retention at extended ranges.
This high velocity, combined with the high ballistic coefficient of the 7mm bullets, results in excellent long-range performance. The cartridge also has a relatively flat trajectory, making it easier to compensate for wind and drop at extended ranges.
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 6.8 Western
The 6.8 Western is a new cartridge developed by Winchester in 2020. It is based on the 270 Winchester Short Magnum case, necked down to 6.8mm. The cartridge is designed for hunting with excellent terminal performance on game such as deer, elk, and moose.
The cartridge offers good accuracy and energy retention at long range The 6.8 Western also has a relatively flat trajectory, making it easier to compensate for wind and drop at moderate ranges. This round has low recoil compared to most other cartridges in its class, however, it does still have a fair bit of recoil that can be hard to control.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 6.8 Western with a 160-grain Winchester Accubond LR:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2970 | 3134 |
| 50 | -0.2 | 0.1 | 2893 | 2973 |
| 100 | 0 | 0.4 | 2817 | 2819 |
| 150 | -0.9 | 1.1 | 2742 | 2672 |
| 200 | -2.9 | 2 | 2669 | 2531 |
| 250 | -6.2 | 3.1 | 2597 | 2396 |
| 300 | -10.7 | 4.5 | 2526 | 2267 |
| 350 | -16.5 | 6.2 | 2456 | 2143 |
| 400 | -23.8 | 8.2 | 2387 | 2024 |
| 450 | -32.7 | 10.5 | 2319 | 1911 |
| 500 | -43.2 | 13.2 | 2253 | 1803 |
In-Depth Comparison
When comparing the 7mm PRC and the 6.8 Western, there are several factors to consider.
Ballistically, the 7mm PRC has more energy over long range. This leads to it having less drop, less wind drift, and more velocity along with higher energy. This means the 7mm PRC is better for hunting at long range.
Recoil-wise, the 7mm PRC has more recoil than the 6.8 Western but by only about 3-5 foot-pounds of energy. So for those who are more sensitive to recoil the 6.8 Western is the better choice.
As far as which cartridge is more popular, the 6.8 Western has a slight edge. The 6.8 Western has been around longer than the 7mm PRC, therefore, it has had more time to be chambered in rifles.
When it comes to ammunition cost, the 6.8 Weastern has the 7mm PRC beat by about 20-30 cents. The average price of a 7mm PRC round is 2.85 to 320 a round while the average cost of the 6.8 Western is 2.50 to 3 dollars per round.
When it comes to versatility, the 7mm PRC is the better round. The 7mm PRC is in a much more common 7mm bullet which means that is can shooter a larger range of bullet weights leading to a higher degree of versatility.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, the choice comes down to personal preference. The 6.8 Western is more available and more popular than the 7mm PRC. But the 7mm PRC has better ballistics than the 6.8 Western so it is better for big game hunting and long-range shooting.