300 PRC

[Punxsy Guy]

I am posting this because i would like hear opinions on this cartridge, 300 PRC. I have lots seen great results out of the 6.5 PRC , but i want to know more about the 300 PRC. I plan on doing 300 PRC build this winter if i find a gunsmith that will chamber me one. I got turned onto this because i was talking to this one barrel maker and he said it shot like a lazer at a f class match he took it too. I know now your probably thinking that its only one guy. Well this guy that is a barrel maker and well renowned for what he knows and how good he is, I'm going to take his word on it. I also like it cause it doesnt have a belt.

Things i would like to know.

1. Is hornady selling brass for it yet?
2. Do you know a gunsmith that is chambering 300prc
3. Whats your thoughts on it.
4. Any info will greatly be appreciated about this cartridge.

 

[wboggs]

I am posting this because i would like hear opinions on this cartridge, 300 PRC. I have lots seen great results out of the 6.5 PRC , but i want to know more about the 300 PRC. I plan on doing 300 PRC build this winter if i find a gunsmith that will chamber me one. I got turned onto this because i was talking to this one barrel maker and he said it shot like a lazer at a f class match he took it too. I know now your probably thinking that its only one guy. Well this guy that is a barrel maker and well renowned for what he knows and how good he is, I'm going to take his word on it. I also like it cause it doesnt have a belt.

Things i would like to know.

1. Is hornady selling brass for it yet?
2. Do you know a gunsmith that is chambering 300prc
3. Whats your thoughts on it.
4. Any info will greatly be appreciated about this cartridge.

It is a large cartridge with much longer case than the 6.5. SAAMI has specs on it and it looks like it was designed for long range using a heavy high BC bullet. It will take a long action. It looks to me like it will have a much shorter barrel life than the widely used .300 WSM and not be a good competition round. I would like to see the internal capacity and suspect it will be substantial.
I have seen no brass for it.
Bill

 

[FrankG]

It’s a awesome round in my opinion. It’s slightly longer than the .300wm. 3.700” o.a.l.

I’m running it in a new F open class rifle I built in springtime. I do believe Hornady released it thru SAAMI so loaded ammo etc....should be available anytime.

We have the chamber reamer at work as we did make pressure and velocity and accuracy test barrels for Hornady. Same reamer I used in my rifle. Nice throat and neck design. I made no alterations to it.

In a F class gun.... the .300wm, .300WSM and the .300PRC are going to be about the same barrel life wise. I’m going to say 1000 rounds and you will be pulling the barrel on any of these for F class use.

Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels

 

[kyreloader]

Frank,

What kind of velocities with the 230g Bergers in this chambering (300 PRC)?

 

[wboggs]

It’s a awesome round in my opinion. It’s slightly longer than the .300wm. 3.700” o.a.l.

I’m running it in a new F open class rifle I built in springtime. I do believe Hornady released it thru SAAMI so loaded ammo etc....should be available anytime.

We have the chamber reamer at work as we did make pressure and velocity and accuracy test barrels for Hornady. Same reamer I used in my rifle. Nice throat and neck design. I made no alterations to it.

In a F class gun.... the .300wm, .300WSM and the .300PRC are going to be about the same barrel life wise. I’m going to say 1000 rounds and you will be pulling the barrel on any of these for F class use.

Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels

Thanks for your insights. When Frank Bartlein talks, I listen. Are you at liberty to give us performance parameters? It will be interesting to know what it will do.
Bill

 

[Ringostar]

Curious how it differs from their 300 RCM.

 

[FURMAN]

Curious how it differs from their 300 RCM.

It is basically a 30-375 Ruger. The 300 RCM is a short mag.

 

[jspivey97]

Im interested to see performance numbers as well. I have no plans on jumping on the 6.5 prc but this might be worth a look.

 

[FrankG]

Frank,

What kind of velocities with the 230g Bergers in this chambering (300 PRC)?

I haven’t loaded any of the Bergers. I’ve loaded and shot the 225 ELD-M’s and the 230 SMK and shot them at the same time. Same powder charge/lot of powder and same primers. In my gun they both gave an honest 2900fps. Just over at like 2906fps. I’ve tried Fed 210M primers and CCI200’s. The CCI’s primers dropped the SD’s to 6.5. The Fed primers SD’s where like 13.

From a 100 yard zero.....to 800 yards it was 16minutes up, 19.375 at 900 and 22 minutes to a 1k. Both bullets where giving me right around 1/4moa for vertical at a 1k. Both loads will clean the F Class target without blinking an eye.

I had the rifle out at Quantico SSS a little over a week ago. Got to shoot it with the class out there and the guys got to try it as well. The specific range we we’re on for some qualification shooting didn’t have targets past 700 yards. I dialed 13 minutes up on the scope. From the cold clean bore shot it hit point of aim from the first round. Shot the 225’s only that day. Every guy that shot the gun I had them dry fire it first (built on a Barnard action) so they could get a feel for the trigger as it’s set at 15oz. Every guy hit the target with every single round.

I’ll post some pic’s of the rifle and round when I get back home tomorrow night.

Later, Frank

 

[FrankG]

Thanks for your insights. When Frank Bartlein talks, I listen. Are you at liberty to give us performance parameters? It will be interesting to know what it will do.
Bill

Thanks Bill!

It’s Frank Green though. Not Frank Bartlein. That’s Tracy’s last name.

 

[wboggs]

Thanks Bill!

It’s Frank Green though. Not Frank Bartlein. That’s Tracy’s last name.

Sorry for the name mix up. I have one of your barrels, 7.5 t 5r chambered for the 6.5 PRC that will shoot less than 0.3moa when the shooter does his part.
Thanks for all the info your provide this site.
Bill

 

[shoot4fun]

Things i would like to know.

1. Is hornady selling brass for it yet?
2. Do you know a gunsmith that is chambering 300prc
3. Whats your thoughts on it.
4. Any info will greatly be appreciated about this cartridge.

1. Not yet but soon.
2. Dave Tooley
3. Numbers I've seen say it is better performer with the 230 Berger (what I shoot in 300WM) and I won't have to worry about the belt.
4. Lots of info out there, especially over on Sniper's Hide.

Subjectively, because I have too few rounds thru mine at this time, I really like the 6.5PRC but these two differ greatly. My 300 WM barrel is beginning to show signs of waning and I would readily switch to 300PRC if indeed the numbers prove out.

 

[wboggs]

1. Not yet but soon.
2. Dave Tooley
3. Numbers I've seen say it is better performer with the 230 Berger (what I shoot in 300WM) and I won't have to worry about the belt.
4. Lots of info out there, especially over on Sniper's Hide.

Subjectively, because I have too few rounds thru mine at this time, I really like the 6.5PRC but these two differ greatly. My 300 WM barrel is beginning to show signs of waning and I would readily switch to 300PRC if indeed the numbers prove out.

What topic on Sniper's Hide? I searched and could not find it. Thanks
Bill

 

[FURMAN]

The 30 Nosler is a better designed case. The SAAMI throat is much better in the 300 PRC. If I were building a custom rifle and I would go 30 Nosler and have in throated appropriately or get my own reamer made. If I were going to shoot a factory rifle all else being equal I would rather have a 300PRC.

 

[shoot4fun]

What topic on Sniper's Hide? I searched and could not find it. Thanks
Bill

Sent a PM.

 

[FrankG]

The attached pic.....on the left is a .300wm with a 200gr. Nosler BT bullet. On the right is the .300PRC of course. That has a 225gr. Hornady ELD-M bullet.

Even though the shoulder is a little shorter on the PRC it has less body taper and is slightly bigger in diameter.

Later, Frank

 

[FrankG]

Here is a pic. of my F open rifle. Manners F class stock, Barnard action. Barrel is at 32" and the contour is 1.350" x 5.000" str. taper to 1.100" at the muzzle. 5r rifling and 1-9 twist.

 

[Steve Blair]

It’s a awesome round in my opinion. It’s slightly longer than the .300wm. 3.700” o.a.l.

I’m running it in a new F open class rifle I built in springtime. I do believe Hornady released it thru SAAMI so loaded ammo etc....should be available anytime.

We have the chamber reamer at work as we did make pressure and velocity and accuracy test barrels for Hornady. Same reamer I used in my rifle. Nice throat and neck design. I made no alterations to it.

In a F class gun.... the .300wm, .300WSM and the .300PRC are going to be about the same barrel life wise. I’m going to say 1000 rounds and you will be pulling the barrel on any of these for F class use.

Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels

Frank,

I've burned several F-Open .300 WSM barrels using Berger 230 Matchkings and H4831SC. My barrel life is a consistent 1500 rounds. My load averages ~2865 fps and is a near full pressure charge. A .300 WM or .300 PRC, loaded to similar pressures, would not make 1500 rounds. Downoaded to the same velocity as .300 WSM, maybe. The barrels were Brux and Krieger, but my experience with your barrels chambered in .284 Shehane is that they show approximately the same life as Krieger and Brux.

 

[FrankG]

Frank,

I've burned several F-Open .300 WSM barrels using Berger 230 Matchkings and H4831SC. My barrel life is a consistent 1500 rounds. My load averages ~2865 fps and is a near full pressure charge. A .300 WM or .300 PRC, loaded to similar pressures, would not make 1500 rounds. Downoaded to the same velocity as .300 WSM, maybe. The barrels were Brux and Krieger, but my experience with your barrels chambered in .284 Shehane is that they show approximately the same life as Krieger and Brux.

Hey Steve, I'd agree with ya in saying 1200-1500 as being tops for barrel life. The data I have for ammunition test barrels for Pressure and Velocity is that .300WSM, .300WM etc....that they are pulling the barrels from service right at or just shy of 1k rounds. Accuracy test barrels usually go a little longer. This is due to the wear in the throat and it effects pressures and velocities. Running box ammo and having to hit a set of numbers they can no longer rely on the barrels for data in terms of P&V. Us being handloaders we can chase the throat and bump the load etc....so usually we can get a little more out of the barrels. By the time you are hitting the 1k round mark though I feel you are on borrowed time.

A good example even though it is night and day different is .50BMG barrels. If it's straight up accuracy test barrels our barrels will make 5K rounds but if the Gov't is doing pressure and velocity testing they are pulling the barrels around 2500-3000 rounds. The accuracy might be there but again if they are collecting pressure and velocity data and due to the throat wear the barrels have a shorter life in that regards with shooting box ammo/reference ammo. It gets to the point they cannot rely on the barrels for the data due to the wear.

Later, Frank

 

[Steve Blair]

Hey Steve, I'd agree with ya in saying 1200-1500 as being tops for barrel life. The data I have for ammunition test barrels for Pressure and Velocity is that .300WSM, .300WM etc....that they are pulling the barrels from service right at or just shy of 1k rounds. Accuracy test barrels usually go a little longer. This is due to the wear in the throat and it effects pressures and velocities. Running box ammo and having to hit a set of numbers they can no longer rely on the barrels for data in terms of P&V. Us being handloaders we can chase the throat and bump the load etc....so usually we can get a little more out of the barrels. By the time you are hitting the 1k round mark though I feel you are on borrowed time.

A good example even though it is night and day different is .50BMG barrels. If it's straight up accuracy test barrels our barrels will make 5K rounds but if the Gov't is doing pressure and velocity testing they are pulling the barrels around 2500-3000 rounds. The accuracy might be there but again if they are collecting pressure and velocity data and due to the throat wear the barrels have a shorter life in that regards with shooting box ammo/reference ammo. It gets to the point they cannot rely on the barrels for the data due to the wear.

Later, Frank

That's not quite my experience. I was still shooting cleans with over 50% X count at 1k with 1500 rounds on the barrels. After 1500, they would copper foul and accuracy degrade before sixty rounds were fired, rendering them unusable in F-Open. Throat erosion was approximately the same as .284 Shehane, ~.001-.002" per 100 rounds fired. The .300 WM barrels I shot in the eighties with 190 Sierras were kaput between 800 and 1000 rounds. I chronograph loads after almost every match, using leftover rounds in a lot. Velocity is usually not a problem but precision falls as the throat erodes, requiring one or two seating adjustments, as you mentioned.

By contrast, the three Bartlein 5R 6BR barrels I've burned did not exhibit coppering. They gradually lost precision, despite adjustment, retiring around 2000-2200 rounds. Those were full loads of H4895 with Berger 105 Hybrids. The difference may be that long bearing surface 230 Hybrids have a greater tendency to copper, but that's just speculation. Your points regarding pressure test barrels are very likely correct. My comments were referencing the thread topic, F-Open shooting.