Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 7 PRC Factory vs Handloads

I'm getting 2,850 with factory 175 ELDX in a 21" bartlein 8 twist. suppressed. Barrel has less than 100 rounds down it so it may speed up a bit. will update once I get to 150 or so. not shooting as frequently so it might be a few months...

Primer choice in the reload? And would anyone know what Hornady uses ?

Using Feds in mine. One thing I noticed right away between Hornady and ADG, the ADG brass, as expected, WAY more consistent in seating both primers and bullets. The ADG is really nice to load! Just remember if using ADJ, treat it like military brass and start with lower powder drops. ADG states this.

All of my reloads have been with Fed 215M...

That's impressive based on what I'm seeing and a few others are reporting. I'm at about 150 rounds in mine so don't expect to see much change going forward. I seem to recall others talking about velocity in Hornady factory ammo varying somewhat, and pulled bullets from different lots of same ammo appearing to use different powder. Makes me wonder if Hornady is still getting their ammo dialed in and are changing things up a bit. That might explain some of the velocity variations being reported.

Whew! It’s been a heckuva thing trying to go with boxed ammo for my 7PRC’s. After trial and error stemming from inconsistency in individual cartridges, from 25 different boxes, of Horn 175gr eldx ammo. I gave up and went to reloading my own.

The boxed 175 eldx ammo gave an average of 2767 FPS out of my 22” Seekins Element and 2828 FPS from a 24” tube on a Fierce rifle. I could reshoot another seven x 2 randomly selected cartridges, and my average speeds would change dramatically. What’s dramatically? 35-65 FPS spreads depending on what box I plucked a cartridge out of. Screw that!

I took my once fired Hornady brass. Did a FL resize. Shoved CCI #250 primers into them and poured 70gr of H-1000 down the hatch. Why 70 grains to start? I read several articles from on-line gun rags to forum post where guys were landing on 70grains as the sweet spot and without signs of pressure using 175’s.

I also decided to start fresh by dumping the idea of using 175gr eldx bullets. Instead I loaded up Berger 168gr VLD Hunting bullets. I also had 50 cases of new ADG brass land during this time that I also loaded up.

I PM’d my support staff of one - Jordan, to help me decide where I should start the powder load in the heavier ADG cases. The weight of Hornady cases was 233.6 compared to 244.6 for the ADG. Jordan, suggesting a 3.3 grain reduction in powder used in the Hornady cases as a start.

70 grains H-1000 in the Horn cases gave me speeds out of the Seekins rifle of 2838.5, 2832.5, 2844.6, and 2819 with an average of 2833.0 FPS

70 grains with the same above, but out of the Fierce rifle gave up 2907, 2,923, 2886, and 2891 with an average of 2902.3 FPS

No pressure signs. No tight bolt handle lift. No flattened primers. All good! Accuracy was good. It probably would have been great, if I didn’t have the sun directly in my scope, and I was paying closer attention to being precise in my shooting more so than looking for speed signs and pressure issues.

The ADG brass using same 168gr Berger bullet got 66.7 grains. Then 68.0 grains. Then 69.0 grains of H-1000.

Speeds for the Seekins rifle 66.7 gr. 2674.5 FPS. 68.0 gr. 2766.2 FPS 69 gr. 2810.0 FPS

Speed for the Fierce rifle. 66.7 gr 2754.0 FPS. 68.0 gr. 2823.0 FPS 69.0 gr. 2898.5

Zero signs or indicators of any pressure at these loads.

Chrono’d off the Garmin. Which, if you haven’t ordered one. You should. It’s awesome!

I bumped the next load of H-1000 into the ADG cases to 69.4 which should put me right in there, or there about’s. I hope to get a chance to shoot them tomorrow and be done with it.













My thoughts, whatever they might be worth. If you’re going to own a 7 PRC. You should probably be prepared to roll your own loads to maximize its potential.

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Holy cow - sounds like the 7 PRC really put you through the ringer. You've more patience than I - I'd of punted long before. I think I'm really close to being dialed in with mine at 100 factory rounds and around 50 reloads.

I just loaded a batch with RL26 in ADG brass to compare accuracy and velocity to H1000, but could be perfectly content with my last go at 67 gr H1000 and 180 ELDM at 2830.

Was thinking the 7 PRC would be a step up from my 7 SAUM burning 5 gr more powder, but that doesn't seem to be the case. If my sub-1/2 MOA is consistent, I'm happy where I'm at with 180's at 2800-2850

That's the short answer to a very long discussion!

Still following - keep the info coming!

After digging up and out of my pit of issues. I see the promise of daylight just a shovel load away with the 168 Vld’s and H1000.

I’m glad I stuck with it. The two other rifles I use for hunting bigger furs are damn heavy to pack around. Both the Element and Fierce rifle are so much easier to hunt with without feeling like I’m giving up shooting distance for less weight.

I’d agree. You getting 2800-2850 fps for 180’s is a nice place to land. Now the next question is after reading the disturbing thread about Hornady Eldx horror stories. What knowledge does a guy need to lock away in his brain for field shooting at game animals near and far using Eldx or M bullets.

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LRAB’s work! As you already know, they are designed for LR shots. That’s where they shine, when impact velocity is slowed down. Closer shots? Meh,,,there's plenty of stories, good and bad, on their killing at close distances.

After 20 plus years of me being all about shooting the older Barnes TSX bullet on deer/elk with great satisfaction. I switched to Abonds, maybe 15 years ago.

The Accubond is my favorite bullet to hunt with. I just didn’t realize it wasn’t considered very sexy because of its low BC, until I started hanging around this damn place. 😳

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I've been following the ELDX thread with interest though they haven't been on my list to hunt with. In my 6.5 CM, the 143 ELDX shoots tighter than the 136/139 Scenar or 142 ABLR, but I've only hunted with the Scenar and ABLR.

I do have a few 175 ELDX's I bought here on the 'fire and will play with them at the range, but likely won't hunt with them. I have 1 box of 180 ELDM's I'm currently using for load development and would consider hunting with them. I have hundreds of 175 ABLR and 180 Scenars that will be my primary hunting bullets.

I am in the same boat. With as many 175 ABLR's and 180 Senars as I have, I don't feel like I am too far behind the 8 ball. The ABLR's have worked perfectly for me on elk. I can't hardly stand the thought of messing with the load.

I watched a 180 ELD launched at 2930 fps from a 7WSM penetrate 4' of bull moose and exit on a 35-yard nearly frontal shot. That gave me some confidence in the bullet's ability to hold together and penetrate.

I gotta admit I am interested in trying it on that account. Thats about max brutalness you can inflict on a bullet.

The M's are sounding better than the X's.

On anything there's a trade off though. If it's penetrating 4' of moose, at 35 yards, while started at 2930 fps, what will expansion be like on a "big" buck's 18" (+/-) chest on a rib shot at 400 yards? Everything's a trade off...

Yeah, I think Hornady is experiencing some issues with inconsistent lots of powder. Same with their 6.5 PRC loads.
I'm gonna start shooting the 180's to see what I get out of them.

Heck if I get a bull tag next year I might just slum factory ammo...

Just finished another range session - went to 67.5 H1000 with the 180 ELDM in new ADG brass. Magnetospeed showed 2872 fps, no visible pressure signs, and this at 100:



Then moved to RL26 with the 180 ELDM in new ADG brass. Magnetospeed showed:

64 gr 2832 fps
65 gr 2849 fps
66 gr 2895 fps
67 gr 2956 fps w/ light ejector marks and just a hint of stiff bolt lift - hardly noticeable.

About pissed myself watching the group develop with the 65 gr load



Best accuracy seems to be around 2850 with both powders, though RL26 is capable of getting 2900-2950 with 1/2 MOA accuracy. Recoil is notably more with RL26 above 64 gr - enough that back of trigger guard is popping my middle finger. I hadn't noticed that previously with the H1000 loads.

Another 150 ADG cases arrived today...

WOW! That has to make you happy! Excellent speed for the 22" barrel and man, you cannot have much to complain about how both powders are shooting! Very nice.

I'll bet there are going to be a few copycats following your lead on this data. Great shooting.

In a word - DONE!