Had a conversation with a friend about rifle calibers specifically the 7prc. He said that when he went to Mexico a few years back to hunt Muleys that the ranch managers/guides would not let them use "PRC" calibers. He said that they told him that it had something to do with the ballistics. But they keep a 28 nosler there for them to use if they did not want to bring their rifle from home.

I wonder if they were equating prc = match ammo. I could understand that concern. Just wondering what y'all's thoughts.

Sounds like ignorance or lost in translation.

No doubt that is a prime example of as mentioned above ignorance or translation issues. Though you may also be on to something with they automatically equate a PRC shooter to just using factory match ammo. I can personally show what some hand rolled 160gr Barnes TSX's do to whitetail as well as pigs, it is devastating!

Ya I fairly confident that they did not want match ammo and when some brought a precision rifle cartridge(prc). The translation was match ammo. And when you are headed across the boarder spending lots of money you don't take chances with mis communication.

7mm PRC is my favorite weapon to use on elk and mule deer. I know of 2 TA OB guys that killed elk past 500 yds this year. Seems like they are misinformed or are using the match ammo as a crutch. It is a phenomenal weapon.

Or maybe they hear PRC and think "here's another guy that's going to take a shot at a distance he has no business taking" - similar to 6.5 Creedmoor?

More of a prejudice towards the folks shooting it (some not all) than the actual caliber. Because those rounds carry plenty of power and outside of the match ammo topic mentioned above, it really makes zero sense…

Here we go again…. There are heaps and heaps of dead animals that prove "match" ammo is not the boogeyman everyone makes it out to be.

Sounds like ignorance all around.

Will it work yes, are there better options out there, yes.

I can eat chicken tortilla soup with a fork but a spoon is probably a better option; some will say no a fork is best then turn the bowl on its side and sip the rest out.

It's funny that people won't bat an eye when someone talks about shooting animals with Hornady SSTs, but suddenly you're shooting animals with the rifle equivalent of a field point arrow when you use an ELDM.

There are hundreds of post kill photos, many with pictures of (what remains of) the vitals of animals killed with "match" bullets that give good terminal performance.

6.5mm results

6mm results

.223 results (there are a few dead moose in there)

Quiz time:

Which one of these photos is from a 7mm PRC (taken from this board) and which is from a .223 rem (taken from a linked thread above)? Both are whitetails. Please abstain if it's your photo I used.

Ignorance and lost in translation for sure.

Having said that it's not that big of a deal....out to 300 yards the difference is negligible. Really only see those significant differences past 1000 yards and then the rifles usually outshoot the shooters.

Ethical hunting distance becomes more important than the ability to group at long range.

I'm personally not a fan of the "gimmicky" rounds myself. I don't own 6.5, PRC, ABC, XYZ….or any of that. That's a personal fear of obsolescence and has nothing to do with ballistics. If someone gave me a free 7 PRC, I'd take it with a smile.

If you are into the newer rounds, the 7 mag kills pretty well, so why the hell a 7 PRC wouldn't do the job, I can't manage to figure. I'd say anyone that berates these for performance reasons is just being difficult for the sake of being difficult. 6.5, 6.8, 7, 28….they are going to perform very well and kill just as dead.

Entrance side devastation due to hydrostatic shock, and the which is really what I believe is key to killing game! When a cartridge achieves greater than a certain velocity the bullet is able to perform as designed. For me 3000fps is the target velocity for all of my big game rifles, however the result below was only 2750 with a 160gr TSX. Premium hunting bullets allow for greater probability of reliable bullet action at further distances/reduced velocities. Can a match grade bullet open up and result in absolute carnage, no doubt they can and do do it. However, as Murphys law is ever present when investing thousands and tens of thousands sometimes on hunts. Choosing a premium bullet designed to expand and create devastating wound channels under sometimes less than optional situations is what i rely on. Also these outfitters see more hunters and animals shot than many of us ever see. I know several outfitters and landowners who flat out refuse to allow the use of match bullets period but they are up front with it.

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Ethical hunting distance becomes more important than the ability to group at long range

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I agree with this but ethical hunting distance varies depending on the person. No way I would let my 10 year old shoot over 100 right now because she's not ready. I know several grown men that I wouldn't trust over 100 either - because they hunt once a year and don't ever shoot a rifle, and/or are known for wounding/missing animals.

As you mentioned, ringing a steel plate at 500 yards over and over doesn't mean you're ready to smoke a deer at that distance. It does prepare you for how your gun will perform at those ranges and enhance your ability to shoot better at more traditional hunting distances. Just like shooting my bow, I'll practice out as far as I can but only consider my effective range to be 20 yards or so less than the max I practice too. Same with a rifle - I've shot out over a thousand but no way I am shooting a whitetail over 250-300 yards.

Now an Aoudad or a pig and I am sending it, no questions asked.

6.5 Creedmoor, 143gr ELD-X (precision hunter), 163 yards, 152lb sow (opposing shoulder)

ttha_aggie_09 said:

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6.5 Creedmoor, 143gr ELD-X (precision hunter), 163 yards, 152lb sow (opposing shoulder)

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And the internet hoards will cry "SEE, it didn't even blow out the far side and leave a massive hole for a blood trial! This is unethical! 6.5 Bleedmore sucks!!!!"

I'll just roll my eyes and keep stacking the meat in my freezer.

Exactly! It's a shame she died right there and didn't run, just like the other pig I shot that week. Tracking skills are getting rusty…

6.5 PRC is a 264 Short Mag.

140+ grain bullet going 3000 fps is an elite killing tool. In my opinion is has the best attributes in a short action caliber that i could find. It will be my hunting caliber for everything smaller than an elk for a long time.

The issue with all the match ammo is they have thin jackets and the bullets fragment at high speeds and don't exit. There is chaos inside the body cavity, but without an exit there is not much blood trail. They kill DRT most of the time. But some don't. I have had a few ELDX bullets do this at 2950fps with shots inside 100 yards. Everything at 6.5 creed velocities (further down range) The bullet typically holds together. A solid copper or bonded bullet solves this.

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Will it work yes, are there better options out there, yes.

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In regards to match bullets…

Nah. Hornady EldM, among others (Lapua Scenars, Sierra TMKs) are fantastic hunting bullets.

It's going to take time, but old school bullet mentality will eventually die away. Hopefully.