.300 Winchester Magnum vs .300 PRC
Table of Contents
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy wanted to go over two popular .300 cartridges, the
.300 Winchester Magnum and the .300 PRC. Both cartridges fall into the magnum category and are well-known for their accuracy at extended ranges.
Today we will be providing a brief overview of both cartridges while also delving into some of their traits and use cases.
What is .300 Winchester Magnum?
The
.300 Winchester Magnum, often referred to as the
.300 Win Mag, was introduced by Winchester Repeating Arms in 1963. The round is a belted magnum cartridge derived from the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum.
The cartridge has been utilized by law enforcement and military personnel, establishing a reputation for its lethality and accuracy at extended ranges. Loved by snipers, hunters, and hobbyist shooters alike, the
.300 Win Mag cartridge has served a variety of shooters for well over half a century.
What is .300 PRC?
Hornady’s .300 PRC (Precision Rifle Cartridge) is a relatively new cartridge which was designed to serve as an evolution of prior .300 loadings. This non-belted magnum round is derived from the .375 Ruger cartridge, a departure from the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum which has been the basis of other magnum cartridges. Hornady specifically designed the round to be match accurate while simultaneously utilizing heavy projectiles, making the cartridge exceptionally accurate at extended ranges while still carrying a considerable amount of kinetic energy.
While some newer cartridges may seem like a passing fad, the .300 PRC is here to stay and offers excellent performance that will continue to improve upon its solid reputation.
Purchase 300 Win Mag Ammo
Availability of Ammunition
Generally, you will be able to find considerably more ammunition for the
.300 Win Mag than .300 PRC. This is mainly due to the fact that the .300 Win Mag has been around for over half a century while the .300 PRC is a relatively new cartridge. One will be able to find a litany of options for
.300 Win Mag ammunition from a variety of manufacturers while the offerings for .300 PRC are present but decidedly slimmer.
Typical
.300 Win Mag grain weights will range from 150 to 200 grains while the .300 PRC weights will often range from 212 to 250 grains. Aside from common projectile types such as full metal jacket (FMJ) and jacketed hollow points (JHP), one can also find loadings optimized for specific use cases such as hunting and precision shooting. Specialty options such as lead-free copper bullets and Hornady ELD-X and V-Max projectiles also exist which are optimized for uses such as hunting and precision shooting.
Availability of Firearms
As the
.300 Win Mag is an older cartridge, there are more firearms available in the caliber than there are in .300 PRC. A majority of the firearms chambered in the two calibers will be bolt action rifles, typically set up for either hunting use or target use. As far as semi-automatic rifles go, one can find options such as the Omen line from Nemo.
As the two rounds are both magnum cartridges, many of the firearms chambered in either cartridge feature threaded barrels to allow a shooter to utilize muzzle devices to help tame recoil. One would then be able to use a muzzle brake or suppressor to tone down the recoil of either of these cartridges. Some options will even provide a muzzle brake from the factory like Browning or Christensen Arms. At the end of the day, a prospective buyer will have no issue finding a firearm in either caliber and will have multiple options to consider.
Purchase 300 Win Mag Ammo
Usage for the .300 Winchester Magnum and the .300 PRC
The
.300 Win Mag and .300 PRC have the same practical use cases. Both cartridges are well-suited to hunting applications as they will humanely and reliably dispatch big game. The two cartridges are also excellent performers when it comes to precision target shooting.
Both cartridges will excel at distances of over 1,000 yards, often being able to be stretched out even further with proper loads and optimal host firearms. At the end of the day, both cartridges are versatile and will excel in many roles.
Conclusion
All in all, either cartridge will be a good fit for a variety of shooters. Whether you choose the established and long-standing
.300 Win Mag or the newer .300 PRC, you will be well-served. The supply of .300 PRC ammunition and firearms will gradually increase over time, making the round even more viable over time.
Conversely, even though the .300 PRC is becoming more and more popular, the
.300 Win Mag will remain a popular and viable cartridge. Both cartridges are well-supported by the market and will continue to be popular with a variety of shooters. At the end of the day, you really can’t go wrong with either caliber. As always, happy shooting.
Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at sales@trueshotammo.com for more ammo options.
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