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There’s no real definition as to what “magnum” means when it comes to rifle cartridges, but as far as 0.30-calibers rifle cartridges are concerned, “magnum” generally means a cartridge that’s more powerful than the 30-06 Springfield. That gives us almost a dozen popular 0.30-caliber magnum cartridges to choose from. The most popular is the 300 Winchester Magnum. It’s one of the best long-range hunting cartridges and a great rifle cartridge for elk hunting. But a lot of shooters are becoming interested in the 300 PRC, and they’re wondering if it might be a better option than the 300 Winchester Magnum. So, let's break it down.
300 PRC vs 300 Win Mag: Table of Contents
What should you consider if you are trying to decide between the 300 Winchester Magnum (right) and the 300 PRC?
Velocity Comparison of 0.30-caliber Magnum Cartridges with a 200-grain bullet
The Most Important Considerations When Deciding Between a 300 PRC vs 300 Winchester Magnum
Rifle and Ammo Cost/Availability
Ballistic Coefficient
300 PRC vs 300 Winchester Magnum for Big Game Hunting
Cartridge/Action Length and Recoil
300 PRC vs 300 Winchester Magnum, Which Way to Go?
Best Loads for the 300 PRC and 300 Winchester Magnum
FAQs
Related: 300 Win Mag vs 30-06—Battle of the Big Gamers
Velocity Comparison of .30-caliber Magnum Cartridges with a 200-grain bullet
Before we dig deep into the differences between the 300 PRC vs 300 Winchester Magnum, let’s look at how they stack up against the 30-06 Springfield and other popular 0.30-caliber magnums, in terms of their common muzzle velocities with a 200-grain bullet.
With all these offerings shooters can have a 0.30-caliber magnum rifle cartridge that’s short and fat, long and slender, or somewhere in between. Ballistically, the 300 Winchester Magnum and the 300 PRC are very similar, and just slightly better than average, so, if you’re struggling with which one to get, here's a look at the things should you take into consideration.
The Most Important Considerations When Deciding Between a 300 PRC vs 300 Win Mag
When it comes time to choose a rifle cartridge, muzzle velocity is not the only consideration. To make the best informed decision that will suit you and the way you hunt, you need to consider other things too. Things like ammunition cost and availability, the ballistic coefficients of the bullets used by each cartridge, how the cartridges compare for hunting, and even the action length of the rifles and the amount of recoil they generate.
Rifle and Ammo Cost/Availability
I believe the first thing to consider is whether you’re going to handload for your new 0.30-caliber magnum rifle cartridge. Currently, a major online retailer – MidwayUSA – lists more than 90 factory loads for the 300 Winchester Magnum and only a few more than a dozen for the 300 PRC. That’s a tremendous difference, and it matters when you’re trying to find the load your rifle likes and that best suits the game you’re hunting. On the other hand, if you’re going to reload your own ammunition, it’s not that big of a deal until you’re on an elk hunt in New Mexico and the airline loses your handloaded ammo. You’ll also find that 300 PRC brass will cost about 3% to 4% more than 300 Winchester Magnum brass.
Ballistic Coefficient
Because SAAMI specifies a rifling twist rate of 1 in 8.5 for the 300 PRC, it can handle – better stabilize – bullets that are longer and have a higher ballistic coefficient (BC). This is where the 300 PRC has a distinct advantage over the 300 Winchester Magnum, which has a SAAMI specified rifling twist rate of 1 in 10. It’s something to keep in mind, if you purchase factory 300 Winchester Magnum ammunition, the manufacturer will have designed it to work with a 1 in 10 twist, and if you handload for a factory 300 Winchester Magnum rifle, you’ll have to use bullets designed to work with a 1 in 10 twist.
However, if you have a custom rifle built for either cartridge, you can specify the rifling twist rate you want in your custom barrel, and then you can handload whatever bullet you want. This sort of levels the playing field, but because of the 300 PRC’s larger powder capacity it will be able to push those heavier, higher BC bullets just a little bit faster. This means at extreme distance you’ll see less drop and less wind drift, and both are important when shooting into the next zip code.
300 PRC vs 300 Win Mag for Big Game Hunting
If you’re looking for a magnum 30 for big game hunting, there are some other things you need to consider. Those ultra-high BC bullets the 300 PRC can handle are mostly match or target bullets. With a good big game bullet, like the mono-metal 190-grain Hornady CX, you can expect a muzzle velocity of about 3000 fps out of the 300 PRC and about 2900 fps out of a 300 Winchester Magnum. At practical shooting distances, I don’t think a forensic pathologist could tell any difference in terminal performance between the two. However, if you want to reach way the hell out there to whack your mule deer or elk, the 300 PRC is going to have a slight advantage.
If you strive for a bullet impact velocity of 2000 fps, the 300 PRC will take you to about 650 yards with the 190 CX bullet. Out of the 300 Winchester Magnum, the same bullet will drop to a speed of 2000 fps at around 600 yards, so the 300 PRC gives you about 50 yards more reach. The reason the 2000 fps impact velocity is important is because that’s the velocity mono-metal bullets like the Hornady CX need to impact at to show measurable bullet upset. Similarly, this 50- to 75-yard velocity advantage the 300 PRC has vs the 300 Winchester Magnum will apply to almost any good big game bullet.
Cartridge/Action Length and Recoil
Manufacturers load 300 Winchester Magnum ammunition to a SAAMI-specified maximum overall length of 3.34 inches. This means it will fit in standard-length rifle actions—the same size rifle action that works with the 30-06 Springfield. On the other hand, manufacturers load 300 PRC ammunition to a SAAMI specified maximum overall length of 3.7 inches. It is a long cartridge, and in some model rifles it requires a longer action/magazine.
When it comes to rifle cartridges, everything is a tradeoff. You can design a cartridge that’s more powerful and that will work better with heavier, longer, and higher BC bullets, but with that will come extra recoil. Out of a rifle of the same weight, the 300 PRC will recoil with around 6% to 7% more force. However, because some 300 PRC rifles are heavier the recoil impulse will most likely be so similar you’ll not be able to tell a difference.
Related: The Best Long-Range Hunting Cartridges
300 PRC vs 300 Win Mag: Which Is Better for You?
When you consider the totality of the differences between the two cartridges, I’m of the opinion that if big game hunting is your primary consideration, the 300 Winchester Magnum is a better choice. Even if you’re a big game hunter that wants to dabble in long range precision – target – shooting, I still think the 300 Winchester Magnum the better option. At sensible shooting distances the 300 Winchester Magnum will kill big game just as well as the 300 PRC. And, for recreational long range shooting, there’s not enough difference to justify regulation to a cartridge for which there are limited factory ammunition options available. Also, there are more 300 Winchester Magnum rifles, in more different styles to choose from too.
Read Next: 30-06 vs 300 Winchester Magnum
However, if you want a rifle that will allow you to perform as well as possible at extreme long range, when ringing steel, punching paper, or while hunting, then the 300 PRC is one of the best rifle cartridges you can choose. Partly because it has a slight ballistic advantage over the 300 Winchester Magnum, and partly because if you’re serious about long-range shooting you’ll be handloading, and the limited factory ammunition issue will not matter. And finally, it’s also partly because most manufacturers ideally configured the rifles they offer in 300 PRC for precision long-range shooting.
Best Loads for the 300 PRC and 300 Winchester Magnum
Because you can use both cartridges for such a wide array of big game animals, from pronghorn antelope to moose, and because both cartridges are viable for long range competition, choosing a single best load for both is not only difficult, but also nearly impossible. At Field & Stream our focus is primarily on hunting, and both the loads we’ve selected should be able to serve any big game hunter well, no matter if he is after a whitetail or a Lord Derby Eland.
300 Winchester Magnum
Federal’s 180-grain Trophy Copper load uses a lead-free, mono-metal bullet with a 2960 fps muzzle velocity that’s legal for hunting from coast to coast in the United States. The bullet is also rugged enough to withstand high velocity impact on close range shots, but it has a BC of 0.523, which means with a 100-yard zero it will drop less than four feet at 500 yards and still impact with enough velocity for full bullet upset.
300 PRC
With the Barnes 208-grain VOR-TX Long Range load for the 300 PRC, you get a bullet with a BC of 0.633 that is 100% lead free. This means it is legal for big game hunting nationwide. With a muzzle velocity of 2860 fps this bullet is still traveling at more than 2100 fps at 500 yards. At that distance it will fully upset on impact and with the rifle zeroed at 100 yards the bullet will drop less than four feet below your line of sight.
Related: 7mm Rem Mag vs 300 Win Mag
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is a 300 PRC bigger than a 300 Win Mag?
The 300 PRC cartridge is longer than the 300 Win Mag. It’s also slightly faster and shoots longer bullets with higher ballistic coefficients. But both cartridges shoot 0.30-caliber bullets.
Q: What is 300 PRC good for?
The 300 PRC cartridge is longer than the 300 Win Mag. It’s also slightly faster and shoots longer bullets with higher ballistic coefficients. But both cartridges shoot 0.30-caliber bullets.
Q: What is the best 300 caliber cartridge?
It really depends on what your goals are. The 300 Winchester Magnum is well suited to big game hunting anywhere in the world. It is easy to find factory ammo for the 300 Winchester Magnum and it’s relatively cost-effective to shoot. Other 0.30-caliber magnum cartridges can provide slight advantages, with maybe a shorter overall length, or the ability to shoot higher BC bullet, but the 300 Win Mag offers a good balance of everything.
