Thread: All round NZ hunting - 6.5 PRC or 7mm Short Mag

Purely considering ballistics and performance on game, would a 6.5 PRC or 7mm Short Mag (if you can get one) be your choice for all round NZ hunting calibre to start off with. This includes bush hunting as well as Alpine hunting and all sizes of game.

Originally Posted by Longbow

Purely considering ballistics and performance on game, would a 6.5 PRC or 7mm Short Mag (if you can get one) be your choice for all round NZ hunting calibre to start off with. This includes bush hunting as well as Alpine hunting and all sizes of game.

For me 7mm 100%. BCs on the 6.5s dont compare quite yet and the high bc bullets are typically softer so i prefer a heavier projectile going slightly slower. Id do a 7mm SAUM with 180s probably. Plus you have a marginally wider channel with a 7mm anyway so thats a perk.

Perks of the 6.5 are mainly recoil reduction and availability of factory ammo.

Both are more than enough for a pretty reasonable distance here.

Better is dependent on your goals and how important each attribute is.

6.5 PRC in a 22 inch barrel 2950-3000fps with a 147 ELD M - Muzzle Energy 2937ftlbs @700yards 2105fps 1445ftlbs
7 RSAUM in a 22 inch barrel 2800-2850fps with a 180 ELD M - Muzzle Energy 3246ftlbs @700 yards 2078fps 1725ftlbs

The Saum would have 1moa more drop at that range and 0.1moa less wind drift at that range. So as you can see both are very similar in everything except the SAUM has a bit more energy. I personally keep my projectiles of that 3000fps plus range typically as i find going slower usually means more consistent results in close but im sure plenty of guys have run the 147s in a prc in close without issue.

The 153 atip has better bc and at the moment better availability tho not in factory ammo.
Just run the numbers with todays atmosphere at near sea level and at 700y there isnt much advantage.....its not till you get out past what one should be thinking about shooting living things that they really shine.

I've dropped from a 30cal shooting 178gr at 3k braked to the prc shooting 153gr at nearly 3k suppressed.
Reasons.
Less recoil
Less noise
Less wind drift
Factory ammo
Mainly so my Son can shoot it and we can carry one rifle instead of 2.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

The 153 atip has better bc and at the moment better availability tho not in factory ammo.
Just run the numbers with todays atmosphere at near sea level and at 700y there isnt much advantage.....its not till you get out past what one should be thinking about shooting living things that they really shine.

I've dropped from a 30cal shooting 178gr at 3k braked to the prc shooting 153gr at nearly 3k suppressed.
Reasons.
Less recoil
Less noise
Less wind drift
Factory ammo
Mainly so my Son can shoot it and we can carry one rifle instead of 2.

yes but I'm not sold the A Tips are a great projectile yet. The video by Gunwerks on YouTube is dubious at best and Pronghorn are very light bodied similar to Cham. plus energy difference still remains the whole way if comparing the the 180 eld. But for you having your son shooting it makes the recoil a big factor. Sounds a great all rounder.

Greetings Longbow,
Your choice depends more on availability and your personality than any miniscule difference in performance should such exist. If you lust after the latest whizo rifle then the 6.5 PRC will likely ring your bell. If however if your road is a path less travelled and you delight in something a little different then the 7mm SAUM might do the trick although you may need to nave a rifle built. If the latter think hard about the twist so you can shoot the longer and more pointy projectiles.
Enjoy the decision process. There are no wrong decisions.
Regards Grandpamac.

Just buy a 7mm remmag standard 24" barrell cut 6" off throw an over barrel supressor on it and you will have a bushpig capable of shooting 7-800 yds if required. Better BC's in 7mm as others have said

I came down from 7RM to 6.5-284. RM was great though more gun than I needed. 6.5 gives me option to more easily shoot it bare (moderate recoil) making it quite handy. PRC bit handier as goes better in shortish barrel and bit more capacity than 6.5-284

I had the choice between 6.5PRC & 7mmSAUM. Went with saum, stoked I did. Specifically as an all-rounder for NZ

162gr eldx at 2960

Are you wanting a short action rifle ? or does this not matter?. As Far as the 6.5 prc goes it a very pleasant rifle to shoot and there is factory ammo available as well as factory rifles. If your not hand loading then its an even better choice . If your hand loading then a Saum might be the ticket ,it will have abit more grunt because of its ability to fire heavier bullets .Though as Cam pointed out there is not much in it , but it will be a build your own unless you find a good second hand one. If your not wanting to go the magnum way but wanting something similar to a Saum then have a think about the 280 Ackley .Its available in factory rifles and ammo and its not far behind the 7mmRM but with out the extra powder /recoil . Like Grandpamac said there are no wrong choices .
On a side note Cam have you shot anything with the Atips yet and if so how did they go?? .

Get a 284, job done

Just watchec a video by Ron Spomer comparing these and the 280 ai and a couple of others. The 270 WSM shooting 150 grain bullets out performed them all for NZ conditions the new 6.8 shooting 165,s would be ideal I reckon.

After 20+ years shooting a 25-06 and 4 years a 6.5 CM, no one can convince me that a 6.5PRC / 6.5-284 is not 'enough' for all NZ game animals.
So if that's the case why even bother about stepping up to 7mmSAUM?.
The 6.5PRC is all you need as you want reliable killing power not excessive... plus it has less recoil, less powder burnt, and availability of factory ammo.

Re the Atips.

I haven't shot any living thing with them yet and there is not much info out there yet from those that have but I am fairly confident they are going to work well.

And if not then there is always the 157 berger and the eldm and x.

Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by hotsoup

I had the choice between 6.5PRC & 7mmSAUM. Went with saum, stoked I did. Specifically as an all-rounder for NZ

162gr eldx at 2960

Hi Hotsoup

What twist rate did you go with for the saum?

Cheers

AMac

Originally Posted by AMac

Hi Hotsoup

What twist rate did you go with for the saum?

Cheers

AMac

1-8 @AMac