When Hornady describes the 300 PRC as an “intelligently crafted Twenty first century magnum cartridge,” it’s exhausting to not learn that as a dig at .300 Win. Magazine. followers.
As maybe the preferred .30-caliber magnum of all time, the Win. Magazine. is the PRC’s direct competitors. But it surely’s not a Twenty first-century creation. It wasn’t designed for the high-speed low-drag bullets so fashionable as we speak, and as I’ve written elsewhere, its chamber design leaves one thing to be desired. If the Win. Magazine. isn’t “intelligently crafted,” Hornady implies, what does that say about its aficionados?
I’ll minimize that line of pondering brief and get again to the query at hand: in the event you’re on the lookout for a .30-caliber magnum to chase elk or moose, do you have to go along with the tried-and-true .300 Win. Magazine. or the extra refined 300 PRC? Hold studying to search out out.
Ballistics
The ballistic distinction between these two cartridges begins with the case. The .300 Win. Magazine. is predicated on the .338 Winchester Magnum (which was itself derived from the .375 H&H Magnum). The case size is 2.62 inches, which boasts a 94-grain capability, and the general size is 3.34 inches.
The 300 PRC case, however, is predicated on the 375 Ruger cartridge, which supplies it a shorter size (2.58 inches). Nevertheless, the broader case truly has extra capability (99 grains), and the neck design permits the bullet to be seated farther exterior the case, so the general size can be barely longer (3.7 inches).
What does all this imply? It means the PRC solves what many thought-about one of many Win. Magazine’s greatest deficiencies: the brief neck requires the bullet to be seated too far down within the case (particularly with heavy bullets), which cuts down on how a lot powder may very well be stuffed in. The PRC, however, can accommodate heavy-for-caliber, high-BC bullets that buck the wind and keep velocity higher than these used within the .300 Win. Magazine.
To match bullets of comparable weights, a 200-grain .300 Win. Magazine. leaves the barrel going about 2,800 fps, which delivers 3,500 ft.-lbs. of vitality. The 300 PRC, however, throws a 212-grain bullet a bit of sooner–nearer to 2,900 fps–which bumps the muzzle vitality close to 3,800 ft.-lbs. of pressure.
It’s straightforward to see the PRC’s baseline benefits on this apples-to-apples comparability, however most .300 Win. Magazine. hunters don’t use these heavier 200-grain capsules. As a substitute, they go for one thing like these 180-grain .300 Win. Magazine. masses, which use a Nosler Accubond bullet that boasts a decent 0.507 BC and leaves the muzzle at 3,000 feet-per-second (fps). With a 100-yard zero, it’s solely dropped 11 inches at 300 yards, 45 inches at 500 yards, and at that longer distance has drifted 16 inches with a ten mph crosswind.
That’s a strong stat line, however as soon as once more, the PRC has it beat. These 212-grain 300 PRC masses go away the muzzle a bit of slower than the .300 Win. Magazine. at 2,860 fps, however the heavier bullet means they’re carrying an additional 250 ft.-lbs. of vitality, which is what hunters must be involved about. These 212-grain bullets are designed with a BC of 0.663, which implies they drop about two inches much less at 500 yards but in addition transfer 4 inches much less with that 10 mph crossbreeze.
Most significantly, the PRC has retained 10% extra of its unique vitality than the .300 Win. Magazine. at 500 yards. At that distance, the .300 Win. Magazine. has retained about 50% of its unique 3,597 ft.-lbs. of vitality whereas the PRC has retained 60% of its 3,850 ft.-lbs (over 2,200 ft.-lbs.). Meaning a greater shot at a fast kill with hydrostatic shock, even at these prolonged ranges. The PRC pushes its benefit even additional at ranges past 500 yards, however since most hunters by no means take a shot previous that distance, that is the info we embrace right here.
.300 Win. Magazine.
Muzzle Velocity (fps)
Muzzle Power (ft.lbs.)
Drop at 500 Yards (100-Yard Zero) (in)
300 PRC
Muzzle Velocity (fps)
Muzzle Power (ft.lbs.)
Drop at 500 Yards (100-Yard Zero) (in)
165g Mono
3110
3543
38
165g Mono
3182
3709
38
180g Accu.
3000
3597
37
180g BPT
3117
3814
38
190g OTM
2850
3426
41
190g CX
3000
3797
36
200g TA
2810
3506
41
212 ELD-X
2860
3850
38
225 ELD-M
2810
2945
39
A side-by-side comparability of the ballistic information between the .300 Win. Magazine. and the 300 PRC. These numbers will change barely relying on bullet design and muzzle velocity, but it surely’s straightforward to see how the PRC good points a bonus utilizing heavier bullets.
MeatEater’s Garrett Lengthy, who has intensive expertise each searching and taking pictures competitively with these cartridges, in contrast them to completely different generations of Ford engines.
“A 212-grain .30-caliber bullet popping out of a 300PRC is a very completely different animal than a 180 out of a 300 Win. Magazine.,” he stated. “The way in which it cuts the air, powder effectivity, and inherent accuracy traits make the 300 PRC much like the brand new Ford Powerstroke 6.7 HO, and the 300 Win. Magazine much like the 7.3. It is dependable, but it surely’s outdated, it is sluggish, and one thing goes to crack or seize up in the event you attempt to sustain with newer know-how.”
In fact, the overwhelming majority of hunters don’t kill animals at 500 yards (or, let’s be sincere, shouldn’t). Followers of the .300 Win. Magazine. level out that you want to stretch the space to not less than 500 yards to see a lot measurable ballistic enchancment, and even then, a misplaced animal is extra seemingly attributable to unhealthy taking pictures than insufficiently highly effective ammunition.
All of that’s true, however even at nearer distances, accuracy issues–and the PRC is extra prone to ship in that class. The 300 PRC’s chamber was designed utilizing the newest ballistic developments, considered one of which was to reduce the space between the free bore (the portion of the barrel between the chamber and the rifling) and the bullet. Generally known as “throat slop,” this distance is 0.007” for the .300 Win. Magazine. however solely 0.0008” for the PRC. Chopping that distance helps make sure the bullet enters the rifling straight on every shot, which is why the PRC has a a lot better repute for accuracy at any distance.
The ballistic distinction between these choices is smaller than PRC bros would have you ever consider, but it surely’s sufficient to offer the newer cartridge the clear edge.
Shootability
Gun writers like to nerd out about minute ballistic variations, however the common hunter cares simply as a lot about shootability. A sizzling new cartridge gained’t do you a lot good in the event you can’t afford it or it leaves you with a bruised shoulder.
Within the latter class, the .300 Win. Magazine. has the PRC beat. The Win. Magazine.’s elder statesman standing implies that yow will discover it at each sporting items retailer within the nation, and it’ll solely value you between $30 and $60 for a field of searching ammo. Halfway USA affords 91 Win. Magazine. choices, the most affordable of which hover round $1.70 per spherical. For his or her half, Sig Sauer’s choices vary from $25 per field for fundamental searching rounds to $75 per field for his or her Platinum Hunter sequence.
The PRC is way extra widespread now than even only a few years in the past, and there’s a superb likelihood your native sporting items retailer carries just a few choices. However you gained’t discover practically as massive a range both in individual or on-line, and what’s accessible begins on the excessive finish of the ammo spectrum. Halfway solely affords 13 choices, the most affordable of which is $2.76 per spherical.
I wouldn’t characterize the PRC as prohibitively costly–you will get a field for about $60. However for most folk, it’ll be powerful to afford a lot vary ammo with out reloading.
On the recoil entrance, these two cartridges are extra evenly matched. I’d describe each as “stout.” Hitting with about 25 ft.-lbs. of recoil vitality, the .300 Win. Magazine. delivers about as a lot recoil as most hunters would favor to shoot. The target information that exists on the PRC signifies that the newer cartridge delivers just a bit bit extra. This is sensible. The PRC is firing a heavier bullet about the identical pace, which implies, all else being equal, it’s going to hit with extra pressure.
My expertise with each cartridges bears this out. Capturing them aspect by aspect in comparable weapons, the PRC appears to kick extra. It’s not a lot, but it surely’s noticeable. A muzzle brake is a superb thought for both cartridge, particularly in a light-weight searching rifle. Even higher, a suppressor with a brake on the tip of it.
Versatility
For these new to Caliber Battles, “versatility” refers back to the vary of animals a cartridge can hunt in addition to its different potential functions. On paper, the PRC has an edge on this class as effectively.
Handloaders can load the Win. Magazine. with bullets starting from 110 grains to 220 grains, however the overwhelming majority of manufacturing facility choices fall within the 168- to 180-grain vary. The PRC additionally has lighter 165-grain choices, but it surely actually shines within the heavy-for-caliber classes. You’ll discover extra choices in Hornady’s unique 212 grains, however different firms load bullets as heavy as 245 grains.
Virtually talking, this implies the PRC can compete with the Win. Magazine. on smaller, deer-sized animals but in addition supply heavier bullets for particularly massive or harmful recreation. And no matter weight you select, the PRC will most likely be loaded with higher-BC bullets and be extra correct at lengthy distances, as well.
Talking of long-distance, the PRC was initially designed for aggressive shooters, so it shines in that software as effectively. Whereas the Win. Magazine. has additionally been used on this class (to not point out as a sniper spherical for the U.S. army), the PRC’s superior ballistics make it a extra widespread alternative for PRS and different types of competitors.
And the Winner Is…
I can really feel the .300 Win. Magazine. followers getting heated, however earlier than you head right down to the feedback, let me say this: within the discipline, you’re unlikely to note a lot distinction in any respect between the .300 Win. Magazine. and the 300 PRC. Except you’re taking pictures at critters from extraordinarily lengthy ranges (like, past 800 yards), the PRC’s benefits most likely aren’t nice sufficient to be a hunt’s deciding issue.
I say “most likely” as a result of the PRC’s benefits are actual. It hits tougher, shoots flatter, and is extra correct. That may make the distinction on a 400-yard shot…but it surely most likely gained’t. Extra seemingly, you didn’t decide the space accurately or the wind shifted or the animal spooked. These two magnums are each able to taking something North America has to supply, and within the case of the Win. Magazine., it has a six-decade monitor document to show it.
However the numbers don’t lie, and the PRC gained two out of the three classes. For that motive, except you’re actually pinching pennies, I believe the PRC is a better option.
