The 300 PRC caliber: The modernized 300 WM.

In 2018, Hornady officially unveiled the .300 PRC. Unlike older calibers, which often evolved through successive adjustments, such as the .300 Winchester Magnum, which resulted from a simple neck-down of the .338 Winchester Magnum, the .300 PRC was designed from the outset with a very specific approach:

300 PRC on the left, 300 WM on the right

The goal is to propel heavy projectiles of 200 grams and more as quickly as possible while maintaining the usual attributes of a .300 Winchester Magnum rifle, namely a similar length (a few millimeters longer) and the same base diameter. This will allow for the rebarreling of a .300 Winchester Magnum rifle to increase its performance by converting it to .300 PRC.

Hornady also made a very clear observation: the .300 Winchester Magnum is one of the most common and popular magnum calibers, but when it was created, the needs were not those of 2024… The heaviest projectiles when it was created in 1963 weighed only 180 grains and had rather unaerodynamic shapes, and this magnum belt was more of a marketing ploy to withstand pressures than a genuine physical necessity. In short, at the time, they wanted to offer a .30-06 Special Gravity Rifle with just more energy, and it worked.

300 WM on the left, 30-06 SPRG on the right

But today, with firing distances having drastically increased thanks to laser rangefinders, ballistic applications, and heavier, more effective projectiles, the 300WM is clearly not optimized for these modern needs. Of course, it works at long range, but there are simply better options available elsewhere… such as the 300 PRC.

This is how the .300 PRC caliber is built on a case without a magnum belt in order to optimize the powder volume in the case and avoid problems associated with the use of a magnum belt such as reduced case life and a greater risk of case rupture above the belt.

The case has been shortened to allow these long projectiles to exit the case more freely and to free up space within it. This is all done to propel heavy bullets with high ballistic coefficients, such as the 208gr ELD-M or the 225gr ELD-M. This design allows for high velocities (between 850 and 950 m/s) with bullets weighing over 200 grains.

Example of a cross-sectional view of three .30 caliber rifles firing the same 230gr Berger hybrid projectile, with the overall length of the ammunition at the maximum of their respective CIP standards. It's easy to see why the .300 PRC performs so well: Optimized internal volume!

The ballistic performance of the 300 PRC.

225 gr ELD-M 26” barrel = 880 m/s (N565 powder)

225 gr ELD-M 32” barrel = 930 m/s (N565 powder)

This level of performance allows for ballistics extremely close to those of a .338 Lapua Magnum while limiting operating costs. This is largely due to the use of projectiles that are significantly less expensive than .338 caliber projectiles.

The icing on the cake is that the 300 PRC recoils much less than the 338LM, thanks to lighter but very ballistically efficient projectiles.

The adoption of the .300 PRC by the US Department of Defense is proof of its performance and reliability. In 2019, the US military selected this caliber to equip some of its next-generation sniper rifles. This official adoption significantly boosted the caliber's reputation and inspired many sport shooters to take an interest in it.

Without a doubt, the 300 PRC will carve out an important place for itself in the world of TLD worldwide.

Effective range .300 PRC

Very close to the effective range of a 338LM, as evidenced by the attached ballistic curves:

26” Canon 300 PRC 225gr ELD-M 880m/s VS 26” Canon 338LM 300gr Berger hybrid at 830m/s

The .300 PRC now offers an alternative to the high-performing but very expensive .338 Lapua Magnum. Many future long-range shooters are sure to turn to this caliber! With quality cases available, affordable projectiles, and impressive performance, this caliber is guaranteed to gain popularity!