Hunting construction
Soft-point, bonded, partitioned, and monolithic expanding bullets are designed differently. Their intended impact-velocity ranges and use cases come from the bullet or ammunition manufacturer.
THE CARTRIDGE LIBRARY · SPORTING & MATCH RIFLE
7mm PRC
A 7mm-class beltless magnum in Hornady's Precision Rifle Cartridge family. It is a different cartridge from 7mm Remington Magnum.
2A Ledger reference desk · Sources checked October 18, 2026
Read the dimensions
- Overall · min–max
- 3.090–3.340 in
78.486–84.836 mm - Case length · max
- 2.280 in
57.912 mm - Bullet maximum
- 0.2844 in
7.224 mm - Rim diameter · max
- 0.532 in
13.513 mm
Know the exact name
At a glance
- Cartridge family
- Sporting & match rifle
- Bullet specification
- 0.2844 in / 7.224 mmBullet maximum
- Factory examples
- 8 loadsSelected, sourced examples below
- Weight in cited examples
- 154–195 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge
7mm PRC is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 7 mm Precision Rifle Cartridge. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.
PRC, Remington Magnum, and Remington Ultra Magnum are separate 7mm chamberings.
Dimensions: open the exact dimensional drawing ↗. The displayed number is bullet maximum, rather than an assertion that every manufactured projectile or barrel has this exact diameter.
Origins & evolution
Background & development
Hornady introduced the 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge in 2022, positioning it between the 6.5 PRC and .300 PRC. The project applied the PRC family’s interest in long, streamlined bullets to a 7 mm cartridge that would fit a standard long action. It entered a market already familiar with the older 7mm Remington Magnum, but used a distinct cartridge and chamber design.
The early factory lineup included a 160-grain CX Outfitter load, a 175-grain ELD-X Precision Hunter load and a 180-grain ELD Match load. That combination documents the intended overlap of hunting and long-range target shooting. Hornady’s December 2022 announcement of a Ballistic’s Best award also confirms that the cartridge was already a commercial introduction that year. The historical difference is in the design priorities: the cartridge and chamber were arranged around modern heavy 7 mm bullets from the outset, rather than adapting those projectiles to the constraints of an older magnum specification.
Historical sources: Hornady: 2022 introduction context, intended role and original load lineup ↗
Construction changes the story
Loads, variations & specialty offerings
Match construction
Open-tip match and tipped match bullets prioritize consistency and aerodynamics. A match designation does not by itself mean the projectile was designed for hunting expansion.
Specialty offerings
Lead-free, reduced-recoil, and premium long-range products are separate load designs when offered. Compare the exact SKU, bullet weight, test barrel, and intended role rather than relying on a cartridge-wide average.
In the cited 7mm PRC examples, bullet weights are 154, 155, 160, 170, 175, 195 grains. These are the weights actually present in this source selection, not a claim that every possible loading is listed.
Bullet construction background: Hornady: anatomy of a bullet ↗. Exact product descriptions and velocities are cited in the factory table.
From the factory catalog
154 grains
3,030 fps
SST®
160 grains
3,000 fps
CX®
175 grains
2,925 fps
FUSION TIPPED
Compare all 8 cited factory load records
| Maker / product | Bullet mass | Published construction | Muzzle velocity | Test barrel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady80714 | 154 gr 9.98 g | SST® | 3,030 fps 924 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 185 ↗ |
| FederalP7PRCTA1 | 155 gr 10.04 g | TERMINAL ASCENT | 3,100 fps 945 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 52–53 ↗ |
| Hornady80713 | 160 gr 10.37 g | CX® | 3,000 fps 914 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 185 ↗ |
| FederalP7PRCTA3 | 170 gr 11.02 g | TERMINAL ASCENT | 2,950 fps 899 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 52–53 ↗ |
| FederalF7PRCTFS2 | 175 gr 11.34 g | FUSION TIPPED | 2,925 fps 892 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 58–59 ↗ |
| FederalP7PRCELDX1 | 175 gr 11.34 g | ELD-X | 3,000 fps 914 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 52–53 ↗ |
| Hornady80712 | 175 gr 11.34 g | ELD-X® | 3,000 fps 914 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 185 ↗ |
| FederalP7PRCEH1 | 195 gr 12.64 g | BERGER ELITE HUNTER | 2,760 fps 841 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 52–53 ↗ |
Explore the published data
Ballistics you can inspect
Select a legend entry to add or remove its line. Hover or tap a plotted point, or use the position slider. With the graph focused, arrow keys move the inspector. Solid dots identify source points; dashed connectors show estimates between them. Load construction, pressure category, and test setup can differ even at the same grain weight.
Read the original values as accessible tables
7mm PRC: factory velocity downrange
| Exact load | Source | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 154 gr Hornady SST® | Hornady | 0: 3030; 100: 2844; 200: 2666; 300: 2496; 400: 2331; 500: 2173 |
| 155 gr Federal TERMINAL ASCENT | Federal | 0: 3100; 100: 2933; 200: 2773; 300: 2618; 400: 2468; 500: 2324 |
| 160 gr Hornady CX® | Hornady | 0: 3000; 100: 2840; 200: 2686; 300: 2537; 400: 2393; 500: 2254 |
| 170 gr Federal TERMINAL ASCENT | Federal | 0: 2950; 100: 2803; 200: 2662; 300: 2524; 400: 2391; 500: 2262 |
| 175 gr Federal FUSION TIPPED | Federal | 0: 2925; 100: 2762; 200: 2605; 300: 2453; 400: 2306; 500: 2164 |
| 195 gr Federal BERGER ELITE HUNTER | Federal | 0: 2760; 100: 2640; 200: 2523; 300: 2408; 400: 2297; 500: 2189 |
| 175 gr Federal ELD-X | Federal | 0: 3000; 100: 2861; 200: 2726; 300: 2596; 400: 2469; 500: 2345 |
| 175 gr Hornady ELD-X® | Hornady | 0: 3000; 100: 2861; 200: 2727; 300: 2597; 400: 2470; 500: 2347 |
How to interpret the comparison
Changing bullet weight also often changes bullet design and propellant choice. Two curves are comparisons of the listed products, not a controlled experiment proving that bullet weight alone caused the difference. Catalog downrange points are projections under the maker’s conditions; barrel-study points are recorded observations in the study firearm.
Direct answers
Common questions
What is 7mm PRC?
A 7mm-class beltless magnum in Hornady's Precision Rifle Cartridge family. It is a different cartridge from 7mm Remington Magnum.
What diameter does 7mm PRC use?
The cited dimensional standard lists 0.2844 inches (7.224 mm), bullet maximum. This drawing convention is different from a casual caliber nickname.
Are similarly named cartridges interchangeable?
PRC, Remington Magnum, and Remington Ultra Magnum are separate 7mm chamberings.
Are the graph values measured or estimated?
The downrange view uses the exact manufacturer catalog records shown in the source table. Dashed connectors and intermediate inspector values use linear interpolation between the displayed source points. Calculated energy uses the listed bullet mass and velocity.
Does higher energy mean the best load?
Energy is calculated from mass and velocity. It does not establish accuracy, expansion, penetration, pattern density, recoil, or suitability for a particular firearm. Use the exact product documentation and firearm manual.
Trace the facts
Sources & methodology
Compiled by 2A Ledger from the linked standards, manufacturer publications, and identified test records. Checked October 18, 2026. Historical tests and older catalogs retain their original dates; a listing here does not establish current availability.
- SAAMI: dimensional drawing · PDF p. 59 ↗
- Hornady · PDF p. 185 ↗
- Federal · PDF pp. 52–53 ↗
- Federal · PDF pp. 58–59 ↗
- Hornady: 2022 introduction context, intended role and original load lineup ↗
Diameter figures preserve the cited drawing convention. Inch–millimeter conversion uses exactly 25.4 mm per inch. Factory specifications describe the maker’s test setup; your firearm, ammunition lot, temperature, and measuring method can produce different results. This is an educational factory-ammunition reference, not a reloading manual.