7MM Rem Mag vs. 7 PRC

[Tagsoupchef]

Any experience with these two. Looking at a getting a new rifle and curious if yall like one or the other better. Thanks.

[teanawayslayer]

Never owned a 7 mag. Have a 7prc and have zero complaints

[Mtnwalker]

Depends on what rifle you're leaning towards and what you want to do with it. A rem mag can be made to do anything a prc can with the right twist rate, mag length and reloads. But if you're looking at factory ammo in a factory rifle, I'd go prc personally. Especially if you're interested in stretching its legs a bit. Just a better case design and more efficient factory specs

[elkaholic123]

Or, add 28 Nosler to the mix! 

[birdshooter1189]

I have a 7 mag, it's a great solid rifle.  Never shot 7mm prc, but know friends who have them.

7mm mags are more plentiful because they have been around longer. The chamber and twist rate are generally optimized for ~140-160gr bullets.

7mm prc chamber and twist rate is generally optimized for new extra long/heavy bullets.

It is often argued that 7mm prc is better optimized for "long range", but the 7mag is a very proven round to 1000+ yds.  With either round you will be holding over for bullet drop.  You will just be using slightly different numbers. 

[birdshooter1189]

I currently have my 7mm mag listed for sale.  Reason for selling is I have a 300 winmag that I have a stronger sentimental attachment to, and I don't need both.

Not sure if it matches what you are looking for, but here it is:

https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,285180.0.html

[Stein]

Headspacing of the shoulder and a beltless case would be enough for me to chose the PRC.  Throw in the twist rate and ability to stabilize longer, heavier bullets and it would be a no-brainer.  On paper they are really close, but I think there is a much bigger gap, especially if you reload and shoot past 500 and don't already own a 7 rem mag.

[Crunchy]

I have both.  Just finished putting the custom 7PRC together a month or two ago.  Performance wise not a huge difference.  7mag shoots 168 bergers at 2940 and the PRC shoots 180 bergers at 2970

[brew]

Not trying to hijack the thread but what about meat damage ?  I shoot 160 grain nosler partitions out of my 7 mag and it is manageable.  I've seen critters shot with that PRC and it's devastating...although I'm sure people have horror stories of the 7 mag.  Can you get more of a bonded bullet in those PRC's as opposed to those poly tipped ?

[Mtnwalker]

Not trying to hijack the thread but what about meat damage ?  I shoot 160 grain nosler partitions out of my 7 mag and it is manageable.  I've seen critters shot with that PRC and it's devastating...although I'm sure people have horror stories of the 7 mag.  Can you get more of a bonded bullet in those PRC's as opposed to those poly tipped ?

Meat damage is a product of shot placement and bullet choice. Zero difference between rem mag and prc in this department, they are both .284's burning similar amounts of powder. High BC "match" type bullets commonly ran in the PRC kill things really dead really well but they can also get a little messy with bad placement. You could absolutely run a NP in the PRC if you wanted to and vice versa

[hunter399]

Not trying to hijack the thread but what about meat damage ?  I shoot 160 grain nosler partitions out of my 7 mag and it is manageable.  I've seen critters shot with that PRC and it's devastating...although I'm sure people have horror stories of the 7 mag.  Can you get more of a bonded bullet in those PRC's as opposed to those poly tipped ?

Meat damage is a product of shot placement and bullet choice. Zero difference between rem mag and prc in this department, they are both .284's burning similar amounts of powder. High BC "match" type bullets commonly ran in the PRC kill things really dead really well but they can also get a little messy with bad placement. You could absolutely run a NP in the PRC if you wanted to and vice versa

Shot a deer with my 7mag years ago.
Shot placement was off a bit ,hit both front shoulder.(Perfect broadside)
I basically cut the front legs off with the hide,while skinning.
It was BAD.
Can't remember for sure, believe it was a nosler BT bullet. 150 grain.
Loaded above max charge. 100-150 yards.

Shot placement is everything.

[b23]

Any experience with these two. Looking at a getting a new rifle and curious if yall like one or the other better. Thanks.

They have essentially the exact same case capacity and are basically ballistic twins.  Throated the same and both with the same twist and length barrel neither has any advantage over the other.

Not sure if any of the premium brass companies make 7 Rem mag brass so maybe brass quality favors the 7 PRC.

If you want to shoot the high BC heavy for caliber .284/7mm bullets and you want something you can buy off the shelf at your local shop then a 7 PRC will be what you want because I don't think anyone builds a 7 Rem mag with a fast enough twist to shoot the high BC heavies.  If you only plan to shoot up to the 160's flip a coin and pick whichever one is in a rifle you like best.

I'm sure Karl will flip me *censored* for saying this but I'm no fan of anything with a belted case so, for me, I'd go 7 PRC just because I hate anything with a belted case. 

I don't have either but I do have a 7mm Blaser mag which looks nearly identical to the 7 PRC and many years ago I had a 7mm Weatherby mag that was a beautiful rifle but oofff the worst shooting POS I've ever owned.  If the PRC would have been out before I had my Blaser built it would have been a 7 PRC instead since brass for the Blaser is become nearly impossible to get.

[CaNINE]

I have a 7 Rem Mag with a 26” Krieger 8 twist. I’m pushing Berger 180 hybrids at 2950. So as others have said with the right set up the RM and PRC are equal.  It put a serious thumping on a big Montana mule deer last week.

[Magnum_Willys]

There is no reason not to go 7Prc unless you reload and are worried about clickers from a Sammi chambering which can be fixed with a cleanup from different reamer.

[MeatMissile]

The bullet is the same with both, so performance on game will be the same.

Rifle manufacturers that chamber both will use the faster twist and reduce the need to have several batches of 7mm bores with varying twists.  Check Remington’s site if you don’t believe me.  Oddly enough, the old 1:9 twist stabilizes 180gr bullets just fine.

Having a belt doesn’t mean you have to use it. The 7mm Rem Mag has plenty of shoulder.

7mm Rem Mag brass has a bit more case capacity.

Logistics of the established 7mm Rem Mag are hard to ignore when it comes to brass availability.