Handloading 7mm PRC

Bleeb

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Sep 8, 2025
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Does anyone here shoot a 7mm PRC? If so, hopefully some of these handload combos will be of use.

Two years ago I bought a lefty Savage UL 7PRC in a pinch to go elk hunting, after I sold my 340 Weatherby prematurely. A buyer just had to have it now, so....

I only had a couple of weeks with it to get familiar with it before the season, so I used the factory Hornady PH 175 ELD-X cartridges, which shot really well out of the 22" Proof Research barrel. I took a nice 7x7 bull elk at quite a distance, but the ELD-X disintegrated at the lower terminal velocity.

So last year I ran a load with the 175gr Nosler ABLR pushed by 69.4gr N565 at 2920fps. Very accurate and a better projectile IMHO. I shot Noslers exclusively out of the 340 Weatherby. Unfortunately, elk and I did not cross paths.

This year I switched to copper solids, specifically the Patriot Valley Arms Cayuga 151gr. The G7 BC of these are insane, at 0.310, which I have confirmed out to 750 yards (I have my own range). I haven't decided upon whether I like the 68.5gr. H4831sc load, or the 69.2gr Norma MRP load. Both loads are HOT, very accurate, and are flying at ~3150fps. I caution anyone to work up to loads with these volumes of powder. I use Peterson brass, and my latest loads use CCI 250 primers.

400 yard manhole target with H4831sc load:
151C LR H4831sc 68.5.webp


Interested to hear from any 7PRC shooters here.
 
Great data! I'd stick with the Norma MRP for better temperature stability if you're hunting elk, consistency is king. How does that short 22" Proof barrel feel offhand?
 
You lost an elk to a disintegrating ELD-X? That’s rough! For your hot loads, are you seeing any primer cratering or ejector marks with the CCI 250s, or is the Peterson brass holding up pressure fine?
 
You lost an elk to a disintegrating ELD-X? That’s rough! For your hot loads, are you seeing any primer cratering or ejector marks with the CCI 250s, or is the Peterson brass holding up pressure fine?
No, the elk dropped like a sack of potatoes, but no significant pieces of the bullet was found, and there was no exit hole:
IMG20231030184324.webp

I have primer cratering, but it's not an indicator of overpressure. It's a feature of the HUGE firing pin hole of the Savage 110 UL bolt head, and occurs with even the lightest of loads. The Peterson brass is excellent, and I have some on their 10th reload.
 

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