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?