7 PRC or 28N, I'm pulling my hair out!

[jmad_81]

I've had both a 28N and a 7PRC. The 7PRC was a lighter rifle with a 22" tube and was running a suppressor on it. The 28N was really heavy and no fun to pack around in the woods. I've now shot out the 7PRC and am literally losing sleep at night trying to figure out if I go back to a 22" 7 PRC, or try a 22" 28N. Both would run a suppressor and be in about a 9 lb rifle with the scope.

My main goal is a nimble packable rifle that pushes a 175 ABLR or 180 VLD above 2900 fps. I think that if I push the 7 PRC, I can get there or close to it, and I figured with the 28N I would be closer to 3,000 with either of those bullets but would be burning roughly 10 more grains of powder to get there. I'm not sure what the recoil difference would be, but the 7 PRC in that light of a rifle is pretty dang pleasant, but a bit of a challenge to keep a target in the scope.

Do you guys think that the 28N would be much harder to keep sight picture with the additional recoil or do you think there would be much difference? Do you guys feel my velocity goals are reasonable between the two? If I can safely get more velocity, I'd certainly take it! I really think it's six of one and a half a dozen of the other when whatever bullet hits a bull elk down the range.

What do you guys think?

This was the 7PRC. I really, really liked the feel of it.

 

[str8meat]

Shoot what you shoot best

 

[IdahoCTD]

7-300prc? Its between the 2 in capacity. My buddies shoots 195's 3000fps in a 26" barrel. 28's tend to be pretty hard on barrels. I'd bet you'd be close to 3000fps with 180's in a 22".

 

[SJB358]

If you are stuck on those two Jake, I'd like opt for the 7 PRC, like Idaho Shooter said, the 28 is a race horse for sure, but what isn't that uses that much powder. I have shot and been around quite a few 28's and like the performance, but my Mashburn which splits the difference from a 28 and 7 Rem/7 PRC is kinda my happy place. The 7/300 PRC, 7-300 Win, etc are in the same category. In todays elk hunting, for me, the Mashburn and similar has all I want shooting 175/180 class bullets, the BC is plenty high on most and even with a 22" barrel I think I could be in the 3000 range pretty comfortable with any of them, plus I am getting to point I don't wanna carry more than about 8 to 8 1/2lbs up the mountain for my style of hunting. After using the 7 for a number of years now it has made most of my other stuff second fiddle.

 

[xphunter]

I would stay with the 7mm PRC, even if you are a shade slower than your goal.
Longer throat life & less recoil

I have a 18" 7mm-300 PRC (Specialty Pistol) with a 190 Berger Hybrid @ 2753 fps

 

[Guy Miner]

I've had both a 28N and a 7PRC. The 7PRC was a lighter rifle with a 22" tube and was running a suppressor on it. The 28N was really heavy and no fun to pack around in the woods. I've now shot out the 7PRC and am literally losing sleep at night trying to figure out if I go back to a 22" 7 PRC, or try a 22" 28N. Both would run a suppressor and be in about a 9 lb rifle with the scope.

My main goal is a nimble packable rifle that pushes a 175 ABLR or 180 VLD above 2900 fps. I think that if I push the 7 PRC, I can get there or close to it, and I figured with the 28N I would be closer to 3,000 with either of those bullets but would be burning roughly 10 more grains of powder to get there. I'm not sure what the recoil difference would be, but the 7 PRC in that light of a rifle is pretty dang pleasant, but a bit of a challenge to keep a target in the scope.

Do you guys think that the 28N would be much harder to keep sight picture with the additional recoil or do you think there would be much difference? Do you guys feel my velocity goals are reasonable between the two? If I can safely get more velocity, I'd certainly take it! I really think it's six of one and a half a dozen of the other when whatever bullet hits a bull elk down the range.

What do you guys think?

This was the 7PRC. I really, really liked the feel of it.
View attachment 25511

I've loaded a 22" 7 PRC to just over 2900 fps with both Retumbo and LRT. Both were accurate loads.

I think that a 22" 7 PRC makes one heck of a hunting rifle - and I agree that yours looks terrific!

Regards, Guy

 

[JD338]

Jake,
The 7 PRC or 7-300 PRC/ 7-300 Win Mag would be the ticket. I believe the 28 Nosler is a fantastic round with a 26" barrel. It would just be a barrel burner in a 22" barrel

JD338

 

[xphunter]

I've had both a 28N and a 7PRC. The 7PRC was a lighter rifle with a 22" tube and was running a suppressor on it. The 28N was really heavy and no fun to pack around in the woods. I've now shot out the 7PRC and am literally losing sleep at night trying to figure out if I go back to a 22" 7 PRC, or try a 22" 28N. Both would run a suppressor and be in about a 9 lb rifle with the scope.

My main goal is a nimble packable rifle that pushes a 175 ABLR or 180 VLD above 2900 fps. I think that if I push the 7 PRC, I can get there or close to it, and I figured with the 28N I would be closer to 3,000 with either of those bullets but would be burning roughly 10 more grains of powder to get there. I'm not sure what the recoil difference would be, but the 7 PRC in that light of a rifle is pretty dang pleasant, but a bit of a challenge to keep a target in the scope.

Do you guys think that the 28N would be much harder to keep sight picture with the additional recoil or do you think there would be much difference? Do you guys feel my velocity goals are reasonable between the two? If I can safely get more velocity, I'd certainly take it! I really think it's six of one and a half a dozen of the other when whatever bullet hits a bull elk down the range.

What do you guys think?

This was the 7PRC. I really, really liked the feel of it.
View attachment 25511

Throat life (what we typically call barrel life) is NOT dependent on barrel length.
The life of the throat and the beginning of the rifling of a barrel, will be dependent upon several things, but barrel length is not one of them.

You already have had both the 7mm PRC and the 28 Nosler in rifles.

The 28 Nosler will have more recoil than the PRC in a 9 pound rifle.

How much more? I am not qualified to answer that question.

What do you want more????

Meeting and going beyond your MV desires with the 175-180 class bullets with a given, that your throat life is going to be shorter, and recoil impulse is going to greater?

Possibly meeting or falling below your described MV desires with the 175-180 class bullets, but your throat life is going to last longer than a 28 Nos will, and your recoil impulse is going to be less?

The 175 ABLR has a lower minimum impact velocity compared to a 180 VLD (Guessing Berger???).

I would want a Berger to have at least 1800 fps impact velocity, but would much rather have it at least 2000 feet per second, to guarantee it performs well.

Since this is for hunting, what is your max hunting distance?

 

[jmad_81]

If you are stuck on those two Jake, I'd like opt for the 7 PRC, like Idaho Shooter said, the 28 is a race horse for sure, but what isn't that uses that much powder. I have shot and been around quite a few 28's and like the performance, but my Mashburn which splits the difference from a 28 and 7 Rem/7 PRC is kinda my happy place. The 7/300 PRC, 7-300 Win, etc are in the same category. In todays elk hunting, for me, the Mashburn and similar has all I want shooting 175/180 class bullets, the BC is plenty high on most and even with a 22" barrel I think I could be in the 3000 range pretty comfortable with any of them, plus I am getting to point I don't wanna carry more than about 8 to 8 1/2lbs up the mountain for my style of hunting. After using the 7 for a number of years now it has made most of my other stuff second fiddle.

I took a long look at the 7 Mashburn! I know a few guys that really like them as well.

7-300prc? Its between the 2 in capacity. My buddies shoots 195's 3000fps in a 26" barrel. 28's tend to be pretty hard on barrels. I'd bet you'd be close to 3000fps with 180's in a 22".

I looked at going that route as well! Left 28N, Center 300 PRC, Right 7PRC. I thought it looked really close to the 28N but I couldn't find much info about it on the web. I kind of really like the idea of the 7/300 PRC if it really is between the two. It just looked very close to a 28N to me so I figured there was no reason to reinvent the wheel.

 

[jmad_81]

Throat life (what we typically call barrel life) is NOT dependent on barrel length.
The life of the throat and the beginning of the rifling of a barrel, will be dependent upon several things, but barrel length is not one of them.

You already have had both the 7mm PRC and the 28 Nosler in rifles.

The 28 Nosler will have more recoil than the PRC in a 9 pound rifle.

How much more? I am not qualified to answer that question.

What do you want more????

Meeting and going beyond your MV desires with the 175-180 class bullets with a given, that your throat life is going to be shorter, and recoil impulse is going to greater?

Possibly meeting or falling below your described MV desires with the 175-180 class bullets, but your throat life is going to last longer than a 28 Nos will, and your recoil impulse is going to be less?

The 175 ABLR has a lower minimum impact velocity compared to a 180 VLD (Guessing Berger???).

I would want a Berger to have at least 1800 fps impact velocity, but would much rather have it at least 2000 feet per second, to guarantee it performs well.

Since this is for hunting, what is your max hunting distance?

I think were tracking along the same line of thought.

I shoot all the time at the range on the farm out to 1,200. In reality though, I don't think I've ever shot a big game animal over 700, and I can count on one hand the number of animals I've taken over 600. At this point how far I'm willing to shoot is extremely dependent on the environmental situation at the time, and my ability to get closer. But for the sake of putting a number on it, let's say 800.

 

[xphunter]

I think were tracking along the same line of thought.

I shoot all the time at the range on the farm out to 1,200. In reality though, I don't think I've ever shot a big game animal over 700, and I can count on one hand the number of animals I've taken over 600. At this point how far I'm willing to shoot is extremely dependent on the environmental situation at the time, and my ability to get closer. But for the sake of putting a number on it, let's say 800.

With your old 7 PRC data, what was the bullet (Brand, weight, model), and what was your MV?
Also, what elevation are you hunting at?

 

[jmad_81]

With your old 7 PRC data, what was the bullet (Brand, weight, model), and what was your MV?
Also, what elevation are you hunting at?

My old PRC had the Unknown Munitions +P throat in it and was also a 22" barrel. I'm not expecting to get the same speed out of a normal 7 PRC. I was running the 180 VLD at 2940 and the 175 ABLR at 2960. I hunt anywhere from 700' to 8,000'.

 

[IdahoCTD]

The 300wm is about 94grs of capacity, 300prc is about 97grs, the 28 Nosler is 103, and I think the 7prc is is about 84. I would bet a +P throat on a 7prc has about the same barrel life as a 7-300wm or 7-300prc because your cutting out half of the rifling height for a half inch or so.

A 26" 7-300wm will shoot 180's in the upper 3100's. 3000fps in a 22" should be fairly easy.

 

[xphunter]

My old PRC had the Unknown Munitions +P throat in it and was also a 22" barrel. I'm not expecting to get the same speed out of a normal 7 PRC. I was running the 180 VLD at 2940 and the 175 ABLR at 2960. I hunt anywhere from 700' to 8,000'.

With the 180 grain Berger at only 2775 fps with 4634 feet elevation, has an impact velocity at 800 yards of 1927 fps

A 175 grain ELD-X at 2900 fps (Very same DA) as above has an impact velocity of 2013 fps at 800 yards

 

[jmad_81]

The 300wm is about 94grs of capacity, 300prc is about 97grs, the 28 Nosler is 103, and I think the 7prc is is about 84. I would bet a +P throat on a 7prc has about the same barrel life as a 7-300wm or 7-300prc because your cutting out half of the rifling height for a half inch or so.

A 26" 7-300wm will shoot 180's in the upper 3100's. 3000fps in a 22" should be fairly easy.

Thanks for that capacity data. That gives me a bit of perspective and I've always kind of liked having something a little different. I'll do some reading this evening and see if I can figure a reamer configuration out.

With the 180 grain Berger at only 2775 fps with 4634 feet elevation, has an impact velocity at 800 yards of 1927 fps

A 175 grain ELD-X at 2900 fps (Very same DA) as above has an impact velocity of 2013 fps at 800 yards

Isn't that pretty dang cool. It's really amazing how far bullet technology has come in the last 20 years. I really love shooting the higher BC bullets, the numbers can really change in your favor big time compared to some of the bullets I grew up shooting.

 

[jmad_81]

I've loaded a 22" 7 PRC to just over 2900 fps with both Retumbo and LRT. Both were accurate loads.

I think that a 22" 7 PRC makes one heck of a hunting rifle - and I agree that yours looks terrific!

Regards, Guy

Thanks Guy. It quickly turned into one of my favorite rifles. I shot it a lot and took it on a few hunts. It packed really nicely, was a joy to shoot, and I never felt under gunned.

 

[Guy Miner]

Thanks Guy. It quickly turned into one of my favorite rifles. I shot it a lot and took it on a few hunts. It packed really nicely, was a joy to shoot, and I never felt under gunned.

It's funny - a long time ago I was told that I didn't bring enough gun to elk camp. I had a 7mm Rem Mag with 175 gr Nosler Partitions loaded to 2900+ fps (yes we could do that back in the dark ages). One shot, one bull elk. He only walked a few faltering steps after the hit which went right through the boiler room.

Later I watched a hunting partner drop an Alaskan grizzly with a single 140 gr Barnes from about 80 yards. Anymore I think the 7's are capable of handling anything in North America. I like 7's and 30's equally but shy away from the 30 cal magnums anymore just because of all that recoil & muzzle blast. The 7's are just a bit less obnoxious and I handle them better.

Guy

 

[xphunter]

I took my 7 mm Dakota XP to South Africa, and use the 180 grain Berger hybrid. I wasn’t real impressed with it. I have moved away from using a Berger on game. I know a lot of people use them in our satisfied, but for me, it just has too many inconsistencies.
I found out also to be true In Berger 6.5 Cal Vld‘s as well

 

[xphunter]

It's funny - a long time ago I was told that I didn't bring enough gun to elk camp. I had a 7mm Rem Mag with 175 gr Nosler Partitions loaded to 2900+ fps (yes we could do that back in the dark ages). One shot, one bull elk. He only walked a few faltering steps after the hit which went right through the boiler room.

Later I watched a hunting partner drop an Alaskan grizzly with a single 140 gr Barnes from about 80 yards. Anymore I think the 7's are capable of handling anything in North America. I like 7's and 30's equally but shy away from the 30 cal magnums anymore just because of all that recoil & muzzle blast. The 7's are just a bit less obnoxious and I handle them better.

Guy

I have taken more than handful or of elk with the performance level of a 7 mm 08 rifle with 140 grain partitions