The market is flooded with various cartridge options, and deciding which one to choose can be difficult. In this article, we will compare two popular cartridges: the 300 PRC and the 6.8 Western. We will examine each cartridge’s characteristics and compare them to help you make an informed decision.
Here is the short answer:
The 300 PRC is a long-range cartridge designed for precision shooting and hunting for big game animals such as moose or bison. The 6.8 Western, on the other hand, is a more versatile cartridge that is better suited for hunting game like elk at long range.
Now that we have looked at the short answer, we can look closer at each cartridge, their ballistics, and how they compare in-depth.
In-depth look at the 300 PRC
The 300 PRC was introduced by Hornady in 2018 and is based on the 375 Ruger Magnum necked down to use a 30-caliber bullet. It is a long-range cartridge designed for precision shooting and hunting large game at long range.
The 300 PRC uses heavy bullets, typically weighing between 200 and 230 grains, which provide the high muzzle energy required for taking down large game. If you are going after big game like moose, bison, elk, or grizzly bear, the 300 PRC is a good cartridge to look at.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 300 PRC with a 212-grain ELD-X bullet:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2860 | 3850 |
| 50 | -0.2 | 0.1 | 2790 | 3663 |
| 100 | 0 | 0.5 | 2720 | 3483 |
| 150 | -1 | 1.1 | 2652 | 3310 |
| 200 | -3.2 | 2 | 2585 | 3145 |
| 250 | -6.7 | 3.1 | 2518 | 2986 |
| 300 | -11.6 | 4.4 | 2453 | 2833 |
| 350 | -17.9 | 6.1 | 2389 | 2686 |
| 400 | -25.7 | 8 | 2325 | 2545 |
| 450 | -35.2 | 10.4 | 2263 | 2411 |
| 500 | -46.4 | 13 | 2202 | 2282 |
In-depth look at the 6.8 Western
The 6.8 Western is a new cartridge introduced by Winchester in 2021 as a long range hunting cartridge that outcompetes other cartridges like the 7mm Rem Mag. It is a cartridge that is perfect for hunting large game like elk at long range due to its ability to maintain its energy as it has high BC bullets.
The 6.8 Western has the upside of being a lighter recoiling cartridge that still has a lot of power. Compared to most other cartridges around its case size it shoots higher BC bullets, has less recoil, and has better overall ballistics. However, the downside is that the 6.8 Western is that it is not a well-established cartridge and is thus hard to find or expensive.
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
The 300 PRC and the 6.8 Western are two very different cartridges designed for different purposes.
The 300 PRC is going to have more energy than the 6.8 Western as it has a much larger case. Additionally, the 300 PRC uses heavy bullets, typically weighing between 200 and 230 grains, while the 6.8 Western uses bullets weighing between 165 and 175 grains.
When it comes to long range shooting, the 6.8 Western is the better cartridge. It has roughly the same if not slightly better long range ballistics whilst having less recoil. Additionally, the 6.8 Western shoots higher BC bullets that will be better at cutting wind and carry energy far better than the 300 PRC.
The 300 PRC has more recoil than the 6.8 Western making it harder to shoot for smaller framed shooters or those who will be shooting for long periods of time. The 300 PRC is also a more established cartridge that is easier to find and produced by more companies.
Cost wise the 6.8 Western beat the 300 PRC slightly. Because of the smaller case size and smaller bullet size, the 6.8 Western is about 50 cents cheaper per shot. However, both of these rounds will still cost upwards of 3 dollars a round.
Conclusion
The 300 PRC is a round better used for hunting large game animals at long range. The 6.8 Western is better for elk sized animals at long range, long range shooting and will cost slightly less than the 300 PRC.