Grand Island, NE — Hornady has been awarded a contract to provide its 300 PRC ammunition to the United States Department of Defense.
The 300 Precision Rifle Cartridge (PRC), released by Hornady earlier this year, was tested and selected by the Department of Defense for its extended long range sniper program following a rigorous evaluation process that saw the new 300 PRC outperform the 300 Norma Mag as well as several other cartridges in testing past 2,000 yards.
“We’re thrilled to be able to do our part to support our military members by providing a superior cartridge that will enhance their capabilities on the battlefield,” said Scott Javins, Hornady Law Enforcement & Military Product Manager. “Over a 10-year development process, we packed all of our knowledge and experience into designing the 300 PRC as a cartridge that will not only win matches and bring home that trophy elk, but also meet the needs of the best-of-the-best within the Department of Defense. This contract confirms that we’ve met or exceeded their requirements for a new small arms ammunition solution for extended range engagements.”
Starting with the 375 Ruger cartridge case, Hornady built the 300 PRC from the ground up to launch long, heavy-for-caliber, aerodynamic bullets over long distances. Designed for maximum efficiency with common, temperature-stable, magnum-speed rifle powders, the 300 PRC delivers the highest levels of accuracy and aerodynamic performance.
The 300 PRC is commercially available in the Hornady® Match™ line with 225 gr. ELD bullets and the Precision Hunter® line with 212 gr. ELD-X bullets. Both options feature the Heat Shield® tip, which resists drag inducing bullet tip deformation from aerodynamic heating.
The U.S. Department of Defense has also awarded a contract to Barrett Firearms Manufacturing to provide an undisclosed number of MRAD rifle systems chambered in the Hornady® 300 PRC caliber.
That’s horny day ammo is some quality stuff.
So if you’re like me and a bit confused as to what the 300PRC is/can do, here’s some points from Dave Tooley on it.
– The 300 PRC has 5 grain more case capacity than the 300WM and is designed for the longer, heavier, higher BC 30 cal bullets
– The PRC is not belted like the Win Mag, nor is it rebated base/rim like Nosler
– The PRC is a standard .532 magnum bolt face (same as 300 Win Mag) and is a barrel swap to go from a Win Mag to PRC. The Lapua/Norma Mag is .588 bolt face.
– The PRC is supposed to be efficient inside 2000y without having to step up to the Lapua/Norma supermagnum action/expense. To quote Tooley…”80% of the performance…at 60% of the price”.
It does surprise me that the PRC supposedly “out-performed” the 300 Norma given the noted ballistics/projectile/case capacity of the two. Per physics, it shouldn’t be able to “beat” a Norma/Lapua at ELR. I could believe; however, an end-user would be more comfortable with less recoil and perform better.
It probably did not outperform 300 Norma on the ballistic side, it simply might be just a cost effective solution. There are guys who made shots with 300 Norma at 2000 meters and above.
I’ve been keeping up with the “PRC” line of calibers since release. It’s actually a simple mathematical explanation. Yes, it slightly out performs the Norma Mag. The Norma has never been stable with the pressures it exudes and in varying altitudes and temperures. Shame too. Crazy ballistics when stable.
Boo yah to Hornady. They’ve done it again! Hats off. Now, I gotta have one!
It only gets unstable at higher altitudes and Black Hills has fixed that issue with a different powder. 300NM beats 300PRC when it comes to barrel life too. I’ll stay with the field proven 300NM and 338NM over 300 PRC. You want crazy ballistics, then try and run 338NM with the right glass. 338NM might even replace 50BMG in precision long range application. Cannot wait until ASR gets completely online.
So SOCOM chooses 6.5CM for their M110s and Mk20s to be re-barreled at some point. Meanwhile ASR steams ahead with the S/A offering of .308. ASR is also working around .300NM using 215 hybrids while ELR is playing around with .300 PRC. Oh yeah, and some guys have .260. I think my head might fall off keeping track of all these calibers.
I understand there is an ECP waiting in the wings for ASR to transition from 7.62 to 6.5. The 6.5 decision happened so late that ASR would have had to been restaffed so they went ahead with it as it is.
That would make the most sense. A lot of moving parts involved with that one.
Way too many moving parts, IMHO. Is it me of does it seem weird that the mk20 appears to be replacing the large frame HKs that are in inventory? Was FN able to fix the recoil issues with the large frame SCARs to fully implement the MK20 into service? Who designed the fix, was it FN’s handiwork or did HANDL threw his magic touch on it?
Could we please limit the acronym in this conversation? Trying to follow a rather interesting thread then having to decipher a laundry list of obscure initials is frustrating. Thank you.
If you don’t understand the acronyms involved in this conversation, than it has nothing to do with you. Or just use google.
Kudos to Hornady! Talk about a great decade of innovation and winning.
“Starting with the 375 Ruger cartridge case, Hornady built the 300 PRC from the ground up ”
This sentance makes no sense.