With the new craze about the PRC family of cartridges marketed by Hornady, is the big brother of the bunch, the 300 PRC the top new .30 caliber cartridge? I took a deep dive into it, to see what all the fuss is about.
What is a 300 PRC?
The 300 PRC caliber is a new cartridge that was introduced in 2018 by Hornady. It is a rebated rimless bottlenecked centerfire rifle cartridge. The 300 PRC was designed to provide superior performance to the existing 300 Winchester Magnum, 300 Remington Ultra Magnum, and 300 Weatherby Magnum cartridges.
Not only superior performance ballistically, but also more efficiency, better use of modern powders and high ballistic coefficient bullets, and longer brass life for reloaders.
300 PRC Cartridge Specifications & Dimensions
| Specification | Measurement / Detail |
|---|---|
| Parent Case | .375 Ruger (Necked down) |
| Action Length | Magnum Action (Requires 3.700″+ magazine) |
| Bolt Face | .532″ (Magnum) |
| Bullet Diameter | .308″ (30 Caliber) |
| Max COAL (Overall Length) | 3.700″ |
| Case Length | 2.580″ |
| Optimal Twist Rate | 1:8″ or 1:8.5″ (For 212gr+ bullets) |
The 300PRC uses a 375 Ruger cartridge case as its parent case, which is necked down to .308″ (7.8mm) caliber and then fire-formed to minimize body taper. This results in less body taper, which provides more uniform brass wall thickness and improved concentricity. These design features result in increased accuracy potential and less brass stretching during reloading. The 300 PRC has a longer neck than the 300 Winchester Magnum, which allows it to better utilize the powder capacity of the case and results in more consistent pressures thanks to more consistent neck tension. In theory, the longer neck also protects the throat of the barrel more from fire-cracking.
The 300 PRC is capable of propelling a 200 grain bullet at 3,000 feet per second (fps) with muzzle energy exceeding 5,000 foot-pounds (ft-lbs). This makes it an ideal cartridge for long range shooting and hunting. The 300 PRC is also a very versatile cartridge, as it can be used for a wide variety of game animals, and it packs quite a punch. It is more than enough caliber for anything wild that can be found on the American content.
300 PRC Brass
Because the 300 PRC was a Hornady design, with big marketing behind it, it quickly gained success after Hornady released it. Obviously Hornady first produced brass for it, but then Lapua, ADG and Peterson started manufacturing 300 PRC brass. It has now become quite readily available, although the are still some supply shortages because of the large demand for this new cartridge. The ADG and Lapua are my favorite brands to use, but your chamber and die specs need to be right, as they can easily show chamber spec problems.
Why a New Cartridge
300 PRC in Summary
Overall, to quickly summarize this cartridge, for me the 300 PRC is the perfect practically usable cartridge that is good for ELR or extreme long range shooting too. Yes there are better dedicated ELR cartridges, like the .375 Cheytac, .408 Cheytac, 33XC and 37XC, but those are way too expensive to reload for, rifles and actions that are too big and heavy and recoil too hard to use in most other practical situations like hunting too. The 300 PRC on the other hand, beats out the .338 Lapua in ballistics at long range, with a lower felt recoil, and can be used in normal long action magnum hunting rifles.
300 PRC Ballistics
When we take the factory loaded Hornady 300PRC 225gr ELD Match ammo, which provides for a very conservative 2810fps muzzle velocity from their 24″ test barrel, and we calculate the ballistics of that bullet, combined with the excellent .391 G7 BC, we can see that this bullet is still traveling at a whopping 1763fps at 1000 yards, still well above the tested 1360fps minimum terminal velocity that the ELD-M bullets have been tested to, add to that the more than 1500 ft/lbs energy still carried by the bullet at that distance, this truly is the ultimate long range hunting bullet if you ever wanted to take down an Elk at 1000 yards.
300 PRC Ballistics & Trajectory Chart (212gr ELD-X)
Based on Hornady Precision Hunter 212gr ELD-X (G1 BC: .673) fired at 2,860 fps with a 100-yard zero.
| Range (Yards) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lbs) | Drop (Inches) | Drop (MOA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 2,725 | 3,495 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 300 | 2,468 | 2,868 | -11.6 | -3.7 |
| 500 | 2,226 | 2,332 | -40.8 | -7.8 |
| 700 | 1,997 | 1,878 | -92.0 | -12.5 |
| 1000 | 1,680 | 1,328 | -221.4 | -21.1 |
300 PRC Load Data
The 300PRC works well with the H1000, H4831 and Retumbo powders from Hodgdons, the RL-25 and RL-26 from Alliant and the N560 powder from Vihtavuorri, being able to give muzzle velocities from around 2600 fps to 3200 fps with 180gr to 250gr .30 caliber bullets. Work up your desired 300 PRC load data before buying components with our LoadForge internal ballistics calculator. Check the manufacturers recommended minimum and maximum load data variables provided for your choice of powder.
300 PRC for Hunting
The 300 PRC is a great round for hunting, in fact, it can be argued that the 300PRC is the best long range hunting caliber when comparing velocity, bullet energy, recoil and cost at long distance. It has excellent accuracy and terminal performance, making it a great choice for hunters. The 300 PRC is also a very versatile round, capable of being used for both long-range and short-range hunting. The ultimate long range Elk killer cartridge if there ever was one.
For African hunters, this big boy will take down an Eland with ease, and even a buffalo with correct shot placement, although technically, a minimum .375 caliber size is required for most buffalo hunts.
Do You Have The 300 PRC Bolt Sticking Problem?
The 300 PRC clicker problem—also known as “bolt click” or “bolt stick”—occurs when the bolt becomes difficult to lift or exhibits a “click” sensation after firing. This issue is not caused by typical pressure signs but is rooted in the dimensional mismatch between the chamber and reloading dies at the 0.200” line (web area) of the case, as correctly identified and diagnosed by forum user Alex Wheeler.
Causes:
- Chamber and Die Mismatch: The standard chamber reamers for the 300 PRC have slightly larger dimensions at the 0.200” line than most factory dies. After firing, cases expand in this web area but aren’t resized sufficiently by the typical dies, leading to brass that remains slightly oversized, which results in bolt sticking or a noticeable click sound when closing the bolt.
- Insufficient Sizing at the Web: Regular dies like the LE Wilson die don’t reduce the diameter at the web area enough, causing tight fitting and resistance when chambering or extracting rounds.
Solution:
- Rechambering with a Custom Reamer: Custom reamers by Alex Wheeler are designed to have a slightly larger diameter at the 0.200” point, reducing excessive brass expansion. This step alone can minimize the bolt sticking issue but may not completely eliminate it if it already was present in the brass, but will with new brass and the right fl-sizing die.
- Using a Redding Type S Full-Length Die: Switching to a Redding Type S FL die or Hornady Custom Grade full length sizing die provides the necessary additional sizing at the web area. One shooter reported that the Redding die sized the brass about 0.0015-0.002” more than the Wilson die, completely eliminating the click.
- Rechamber and Die Compatibility: Combining Alex Wheeler’s reamer and a tight factory die like the Redding Type S ensures that the case dimensions at the 0.200” line are properly controlled, resolving the issue entirely.
For 300 PRC shooters experiencing this issue, consider reaming the chamber with Alex Wheeler’s reamer and using a Redding Type S Full-Length Die to ensure proper fitment at the 0.200” line, solving the bolt click problem and ensuring smooth operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 300 PRC was designed specifically for long range precision shooting, while the 300 Win Mag has been around for much longer and was originally designed for hunting. The 300 PRC has a slightly higher velocity than the 300 Win Mag, but the difference is small. However, the 300 PRC has a much longer effective range than the 300 Win Mag, due to its superior ballistics.
If you’re looking to do some serious long range shooting, then the 300 PRC is the better choice. However, if you’re just looking for a good all-around cartridge for hunting and shooting at shorter ranges, then the 300 Win Mag is a perfectly fine choice.
When reloading your own ammunition, because of the fact that the 300 PRC is a non-belted case whereas the 300 Win mag is a belted magnum case, you will get more reloads out of your 300 PRC brass than the 300 Winchester Magnum brass before you get case-head separation.
Yes, as many .300 win mag proponents protest, the old 300wm can be made to achieve similar ballistics to the 300 PRC with a custom long freebore chamber and a fast twist barrel, but then you are going full custom to compete with a factory chambering. If going full custom, you might as well go for the newer 300 PRC, which will give you more brass longevity and better factory ammunition options if you need them in a pinch.
The 300 PRC and 300 Norma Mag are two of the most popular choices for long-range shooting. Both cartridges are capable of delivering exceptional accuracy and power, but there are some key differences between them.
The 300 PRC was designed specifically for precision rifle competition, while the 300 Norma Mag is a more versatile all-purpose cartridge. The 300 PRC has a slightly shorter overall length, which gives it a slight advantage in terms of magazine capacity. It also has a slightly higher ballistic coefficient and slightly less recoil than the 300 Norma Mag.
The 300 Norma Mag is a more powerful cartridge, with a higher muzzle velocity and energy. It’s also better suited for hunting applications, as it can effectively take down large game animals at long range.
So, which cartridge is right for you? It depends on your specific needs and preferences. If you’re looking for the ultimate in precision and accuracy, the 300 PRC is a great choice. If you need more power and versatility, the 300 Norma Mag is a better option. Whichever cartridge you choose, you can be confident that you’re getting one of the best long-range options on the market.
The 300 PRC and 300 WSM are two of the most popular choices for long range shooters. It really depends on what you’re looking for. If you want a more powerful cartridge no matter the sacrifice, then the 300 PRC is a great choice. However, if you’re more into efficient, effective and lower recoiling cartridges, then the 300 WSM is a good alternative.
The 300 PRC requires a true magnum-length action. Because it has a maximum Cartridge Overall Length (COAL) of 3.700 inches, it will not fit in a standard long action (which typically maxes out around 3.340 inches). You must ensure your receiver and magazine box are cut for magnum lengths.
The 300 PRC generates heavy recoil. In a standard 9-pound hunting rifle, it produces roughly 30 to 35 ft-lbs of free recoil energy. Because it pushes massive 212gr to 225gr bullets at high velocities, a highly efficient muzzle brake or a quality suppressor is strongly recommended to keep the rifle manageable.
The expected precision barrel life for a 300 PRC is between 1,000 and 1,500 rounds. Burning 75 to 80 grains of slow extruded powder per shot results in rapid throat erosion, especially if the barrel is subjected to long, rapid strings of fire.
With premium hunting bullets like the 212gr ELD-X, the 300 PRC retains over 1,500 ft-lbs of kinetic energy well past 800 yards. This makes it an incredibly capable cartridge for taking large, heavy-boned game like elk and moose at extreme distances, provided the shooter has the skill to make the shot.
Ultimately
I personally love the new .300 PRC, and think it is the best all-round .30 cal cartridge chambering, and I have added on to my rifle arsenal to cover the long-range and large game hunting requirement. Read more about the full PRC cartridge family.
AJ Deysel is a competitive rifle shooter in the PRS and NRL Hunter series, a lifelong hunter, and a recognized ballistics specialist whose load development expertise has been featured by industry leaders like Hornady. He is the founder and lead editor of LoadDevelopment.com. Read more about AJ or view our Editorial & Testing Guidelines.
Every recoil chart I’ve seen puts the PRC recoil WAY above the WSM ??