Are the new Hornady cartridges necessary?

[MD Driver]

I’m guessing many of us react to the constant stream of new Hornady cartridge designs with “oh sheesh, what now?” Sure….capitalism, freedom of choice, vote with your checkbook….good with all of that, and spent a career in the Air Force to help protect such things. Still, is a 6.5 PRC from a Creedmoor, a 7mm PRC from a REM Mag, and a 300 PRC from a Win Mag, worth all of the promotion, hype, and acclaim? Granted, the REM Mag and Win Mag are older and not as super-duper, but more chamberings to concern ourselves about?

I really like them as a company and am a good customer, so no hate or slamming from me. Just wondering about the rest, though?

 

[PerH]

Seeing how many of them were developed in the 1920s by DWM i thinks its repetion all over again fpr the most part.

7,65x73
8x73
9,3x70
All on the .404 case full lenght .

 

[R.M.C.]

I think you're either in the "gotta have the new best thing" crowd or you're not. I'm not, I like my 30.06 and my .375 H&H . I certainly don't begrudge anyone who wants lots of different calibers, it's just not my thing . I do wonder how available ammo for some of these calibers will be if they're not a big hit. Probably not that big of an issue for reloaders though. To each his own.

 

[R.M.C.]

Seeing how many of them were developed in the 1920s by DWM i thinks its repetion all over again fpr the most part.

7,65x73
8x73
9,3x70
All on the .404 case full lenght .

Yep, same stuff with a different stamp on the brass.

 

[revturbo9967]

I think these new offerings are going in the same route as archery equipment. New bows have not changed much in the last 7-8 years. They’re all fast and quiet. These companies would not be selling much for equipment if they didn’t try to come up with something new and fancy each year. Hornady is doing the same I believe. Release a new cartridge every few years to spice up the selection and make profits.

 

[SaintPanzer]

Promotion? Sure. Acclaim? Maybe. But as I've said elsewhere:

I have an M1903 Mannlicher, in of course, 6.5X54 (1903).
I have a .30-06 (1906). I sometimes use 220 grain round nose bullets (1903).
There's my 9mm Luger, which was 1904, but everyone thinks 1908.
There's my .45 ACP, famous for 1911.
There's my 9.5X57 Mannlicher (1910).

Someone once asked me if I'd be willing to try a .300 H&H Magnum? I'm not sure I'm ready for something that modern. Seems to be a little flash, maybe even gimcrack...

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I am with @R.M.C. : I think it likely you're either in one camp or the other.

Some of my most cherished guns: a Remington 141 in .35 Remington, a Savage 340 and 24 chambered in .30-30, a Savage in .300 Savage (likely going to Africa in June), and a Ruger 77 in .300 WinMag. Guess which camp I'm in?

 

[Puddle]

I figure More Fun for Everyone.

With Hornady, I know I can find factory ammo if I don't handload, and a pile of bullets if I do.
Other cartridges from other suppliers? Not so much...

 

[Albert GRANT]

The PRC cartridges are more aimed at the long range shooting community- both competition and "hunting". They are designed around using long, heavy for caliber bullets, with high BC's- they have longer necks than the 7RM, 300WM, etc to better stabilize the bullets in the case (with a lot still sticking out) for correct bore alignment- at least that's the theory anyway. Chambers are also throated longer. I bought the 6.5PRC because I had my son shooting a cheap 6.5 creedmoor when he was little and it was time to move up. Happened to get a very fortunate swap out deal in which I basically got the new PRC for free. That's pretty much the only reason we have it, but it works pretty darn good. Shooting 500yds with it is easy. Is it going to be traded out one day for a 6.5x55 in a classic rifle? More than likely. I do not shoot long range competition or shoot at animals are extreme range so I have no real need for the claimed advantages, for the most part. What I do like about these new cartridges is the availability of heavy for caliber bullets in the general market now for us to use in anything we can make them work.

 

[Flewis]

Yea, I’m trying to keep mine down to under 70 different cals, have owned close to 90.

 

[Hogpatrol]

No different than back in the past when Remington and Winchester were battling it out with new cartridges. I prefer the new cartridges but still watch the old black and white reruns.
Edit: I feel a lot of cartridge selection is predicated on whether or not one is a reloader or just shoots factory ammo.

 

[0002S]

Are they needed? No

If you already own a 6.5mm, 7mm or 30 cal magnum you aren't really going to gain anything tangible hunting results. The main advantage are, you are able to seat larger weight and better BC bullets farther out in the case.

I own and have harvested game with the 300 PRC and 6.5 PRC. I also own and hunt with 6.5 WM, 7mm RM and 300 Weatherby. I've used the 300 WM on a few occasions when a rifle has been loaned to me.

The animals didn't know the difference between them, with a properly placed shot.

If I owned none of the above I would choose the PRC route and get the 300 PRC. It is a hammer for every nail. It is the best 'all-around' of the three.

I don't have experience with the 7 PRC (haven't seen one in the wild yet except at shows), but I don't see it being any different in the other two, except for 7mm.

The 6.5 PRC is substantially better than the 6.5 Creedmoore. I am not a Creedmoore fan for hunting, but that's me. I think the 6.5 Creedmoore is a better hunting round in the 120-130 gr range. The 6.5 PRC has not problem with any of the bullet weights in 6.5.

I find the 300 and 6.5 PRCs are very easy to reload.

I do believe that the 6.5mm, 7mm and 300 PRC are here to stay. I do not believe they will be a fad. I expect the 7mm and the 300 to be the most popular. I'll be interested to see if Hornady does a .415 or .454 and makes a higher BC hunting round.

 

[Jäger_Ivo]

Are you a hunter? Well, no.
Are you a Benchrest or F-Class competition shooter? Compare ballistic curve, drop, wind drift.
They are amazing cartridges for long range target shooting. That's what they were designed for. Cartridges specifically designed for the highest levels of accuracy and aerodynamics. However, the barrel lasts less.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I’m guessing many of us react to the constant stream of new Hornady cartridge designs with “oh sheesh, what now?” Sure….capitalism, freedom of choice, vote with your checkbook….good with all of that, and spent a career in the Air Force to help protect such things. Still, is a 6.5 PRC from a Creedmoor, a 7mm PRC from a REM Mag, and a 300 PRC from a Win Mag, worth all of the promotion, hype, and acclaim? Granted, the REM Mag and Win Mag are older and not as super-duper, but more chamberings to concern ourselves about?

I really like them as a company and am a good customer, so no hate or slamming from me. Just wondering about the rest, though?

@MD Driver
People are after the latest newest fangled wizzbang or dud because advertising tells them they need it and will do what the older supposed old cartridges won't. Capitalism must keep the wheels turning by introducing new stuff or we would still all be driving model T's.
Companies now are trying to fill imaginary gaps in caliber line ups that just don't exist or make something more enticing to fit certain laws. The old 38-55 will do what the 358 buckhammer will but its old and ain't got that flashy name. Good on them for trying as these new toys introduce more shooters to the joys of hunting and keep the wheels turning in business. Us older people know old works and slot of the new are just reinventing the wheel but with a different tyre.
Imagine if they introduced some of the old wildcats like the 6.5 Barnes QT. The ideal ultra long range round launching a 200gn 6.5mm projectile at 2,800fps. The BC would leave the little 143gn floundering at 800yds.
Just the thoughts of a conservative old fart that's love early 20th century cartridges.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I think you're either in the "gotta have the new best thing" crowd or you're not. I'm not, I like my 30.06 and my .375 H&H . I certainly don't begrudge anyone who wants lots of different calibers, it's just not my thing . I do wonder how available ammo for some of these calibers will be if they're not a big hit. Probably not that big of an issue for reloaders though. To each his own.

@R.M.C.
At times being a reloader won't help either. Take the 350 legend. To reload it you need powders like Adi 2205,or 2400, lilgun, 296 and H110.
All unobtanium in Australia so you are stuck with factory ammo only unless you have a supply of powder. Primers fall into the same category.
Bob

 

[Flewis]

One thing almost always happens when these cartridges fail, every one must have one. Look at the prices of those fails.

 

[Albert GRANT]

@MD Driver
People are after the latest newest fangled wizzbang or dud because advertising tells them they need it and will do what the older supposed old cartridges won't. Capitalism must keep the wheels turning by introducing new stuff or we would still all be driving model T's.
Companies now are trying to fill imaginary gaps in caliber line ups that just don't exist or make something more enticing to fit certain laws. The old 38-55 will do what the 358 buckhammer will but its old and ain't got that flashy name. Good on them for trying as these new toys introduce more shooters to the joys of hunting and keep the wheels turning in business. Us older people know old works and slot of the new are just reinventing the wheel but with a different tyre.
Imagine if they introduced some of the old wildcats like the 6.5 Barnes QT. The ideal ultra long range round launching a 200gn 6.5mm projectile at 2,800fps. The BC would leave the little 143gn floundering at 800yds.
Just the thoughts of a conservative old fart that's love early 20th century cartridges.
Bob

Bob,
You know what the new wiz-bang cartridge back in the day was? The 35 Whelen....... LOL, sorry couldn't help it!

 

[Flewis]

My buddy’s always ask what new cartridges I’ve bought now. After I tell them they say why and I always have the same answer. Because I didn’t have one!

 

[MD Driver]

Great discussion guys, thanks so much for your thoughts! I’m glad that we’re pretty much the same, “let’s see how this goes” types of folks. Magazine articles, celebrity hunter videos, etc made me wonder if this PRC trend was actually that monumentally better than the stuff we’ve been using. Will be an interesting thing to watch.

Best.

 

[Frank375]

Some of the old cartridges are necessary but I have trouble finding any.