Pushing the bounds of .30 caliber bullets is what the 300 Norma Magnum and 300 Precision Rifle Cartridge (PRC) had been designed to do. If you wish to dominate the distances, you’re in the appropriate place evaluating and contrasting the 300 Norma vs. 300 PRC.
By the tip of the article, you’ll know which cartridge is best to your capturing wants primarily based on recoil, trajectory, price, and a number of other different components.
300 Norma In comparison with the 300 PRC
We should always count on many similarities between these two cartridges. Each are designed for long-distance capturing competitions and are loaded with equivalent (or related) bullets.
However as we’ll quickly see, just a few important variations make one cartridge higher than the opposite.
Let’s begin with the cartridge specs to see how related these rounds are and the delicate variations that considerably impression both one’s efficiency on the vary.
Cartridge Specs
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As anticipated, these .30 caliber magnum cartridges have related specs, however we must always pay shut consideration to the minute variations.
The 300 Norma Magazine is predicated on the .338 Norma Magnum, whereas the 300 PRC is predicated on the .375 Ruger.
Each hearth bullets with a diameter of 0.308. The neck diameter of every spherical solely varies barely (0.342 in for the 300 Norma Magazine; 0.341 in for the 300 PRC).
The distinction in base diameter is a crucial distinction between the 2. The 300 Norma has a base diameter of 0.585, that means it wants a bigger bolt face than what’s generally utilized in searching rifles. Nevertheless, the 300 PRC has a base diameter of 0.532 in. It doesn’t want the bigger bolt face, so it’s a lot less complicated to transition a searching rifle to the 300 PRC cartridge from conventional searching cartridges, such because the 300 Winchester Magnum.
The 300 PRC has an extended case size (2.58 in vs. 2.493 in) and total size (3.7 in vs. 3.618 in) than the 300 Norma Magazine. The 300 Norma Magazine has a bigger case capability (104.2 grains H2O vs. 77 grains H2O).
Lastly, the 300 Norma Magazine’s most strain (63,817 psi) is lower than that of the 300 PRC (65,000 psi).
Now, let’s see how these variations in cartridge specs have an effect on the real-world efficiency of every cartridge, beginning with the quantity of recoil each creates.
Recoil: 300 Norma vs. 300 PRC
Felt recoil is the power (kick) a shooter feels after they pull the set off of a firearm. A number of components decide felt recoil, comparable to gun weight, the shooter, and bullet weight. Felt recoil is a fickle time period because it varies from shooter to shooter. In distinction, precise recoil is a scientific measurement of the drive (ft-lbs of power) a selected spherical generates in a specific firearm.
Shooters usually desire much less recoil (sure, I do know the macho males declare they don’t care about recoil, however everyone knows the reality). That’s why you’ll recurrently see a muzzle brake on a precision rifle, which reduces the recoil as a lot as doable with out sacrificing the bullet’s effectiveness.
A cartridge with decrease recoil is less complicated to deal with and tends to be extra correct. It’s additionally extra satisfying to fireplace since you don’t have a sore shoulder after just a few rounds downrange.
The 300 Norma Magazine sometimes has recoil power of about 25.9 ft-lbs. When the bullet’s muzzle velocity or weight will increase, that power can skyrocket to as a lot as 35.5 ft-lbs.
The 300 PRC sometimes has round 22 ft-lbs of recoil power when firing a 225 grain Hornady ELD Match (ELD-M) out of a Barrett MRAD bolt-action rifle weighing 14.5 kilos.
The 300 PRC wins this part as a result of it imparts decrease recoil onto the shooter’s shoulder.
Trajectory
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The trajectory is the bullet’s flight path to the goal measured in inches of bullet drop. As a consequence of gravity, it’s an arch. Lengthy-range shooters desire a flat-shooting spherical. The flatter the trajectory, the better it’s to be correct at lengthy distances because you don’t need to compensate as a lot for bullet drop.
Each cartridges have a flat trajectory as a result of they’re designed for long-range goal capturing. However which is the flatter?
When sighted in at 200 yards, a 300 Norma Magazine 215 grain Berger bullet drops round -610.5 inches at 1,500 yards, whereas a 300 PRC 225 grain Hornady ELD-M has a bullet drop of -776 inches at 1,500 yards.
In most cases, the 300 Norma Magnum may have a flatter trajectory than the 300 PRC. The 300NM wins this part.
Accuracy: 300 PRC vs. 300 Norma Magazine
Accuracy is one other fickle time period that’s not quantifiable. It is dependent upon the rifle, bullet, shooter, and capturing situations. So as to add to the insanity, it’s additionally affected by recoil and trajectory.
Each cartridges are ridiculously correct (sub-MOA outcomes at 100 yards are anticipated), so this part is a tie as a result of it is going to in the end come right down to the shooter. In the event you’re a bit recoil-sensitive, you’ll probably be extra correct with the 300 PRC. In the event you don’t thoughts a little bit extra recoil, then the flatter trajectory of the 300NM will profit you extra.
Ballistic Coefficient
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Ballistic coefficient (BC) measures how effectively a bullet resists wind drift and slices by means of the air. Put one other method, it’s a numeric illustration of a projectile’s aerodynamic capabilities. A excessive BC is most popular as a result of the bullet will minimize by means of the air extra effectively.
Typically, an extended, heavier bullet may have a better BC because it takes extra drive to maneuver the flight path of a heavier projectile than a lighter one.
Since each cartridges hearth a .30 caliber projectile in related weights, we must always count on related ballistic coefficients. For instance, a Hornady 300 PRC 250 grain A-Tip Match has a excessive ballistic coefficient of 0.878. The Barnes 245 grain Excessive Outer Limits (EOL) has a BC of 0.807.
A 300 Norma Magazine 230 grain Berger Hybrid OTM Tactical has a G1 BC of 0.717. The Norma 230 grain Hybrid Goal has a BC of 0.743.
As a result of the 300 PRC takes benefit of heavier projectiles, its bullets can have a better BC than the lighter 300 Norma Magazine bullets.
The 300 PRC narrowly wins this part.
Stopping Energy: 300 Norma vs. 300 PRC
For long-distance goal capturing, stopping energy doesn’t matter. On prime of that, stopping energy is a virtually unimaginable time period to outline. Does it imply penetration, gap dimension, quantity of injury created to important organs, power transferred to the goal, or the entire above?
I’d argue it’s a mix of every thing, however stopping energy doesn’t matter as a lot as correct shot placement for long-range searching. A poorly positioned shot within the foot with a extra highly effective spherical is much less efficient than a well-placed shot to the vitals with a much less highly effective spherical.
Each cartridges don’t lack stopping energy and are greater than able to taking practically any massive sport animal within the USA. The 300 PRC and 300 Norma Magazine carry sufficient power downrange (500+ yards) to kill massive sport animals ethically.
Nevertheless, the 300 Norma will usually have extra stopping energy than the 300 PRC, so it wins this part.
Searching
Although these cartridges had been designed for long-range capturing, they’ve additionally discovered a spot within the palms of huge sport hunters within the discipline. Whereas the 300 Norma Magazine has some ballistic benefit, it has a big draw back that many hunters can’t look previous. The rifles aren’t available, are costlier, and are usually heavier than 300 PRC rifles.
Each cartridges are overkill for predator searching, so that they’re primarily restricted to long-range big-game searching, the place you’re lugging the rifle up and down mountains. I don’t learn about you, however I positive don’t wish to lug a heavy gun round all day whereas searching.
The 300 PRC narrowly wins this part.
House Protection: 300 PRC vs. 300 Norma
I hardly ever suggest utilizing a rifle cartridge for self-defense (though 5.56 NATO and 300 BLK are first rate choices), however I particularly don’t suggest these two long-action magnum cartridges. The chance of over-penetration is method too excessive, endangering your loved ones and neighbors, plus bolt-action rifles are a lot too gradual to function in a high-pressure scenario comparable to a house invasion. They’re additionally extremely loud on the vary; neglect about firing them inside, as that’s a one-way ticket to deafness.
Nevertheless, in case you don’t personal a shotgun or pistol and should select between the 300 PRC and 300 Norma Magazine, go together with the 300 PRC, because it’s barely much less highly effective (endangering fewer individuals) and has much less recoil (making follow-up photographs barely extra manageable).
This part is a tie, as I don’t suggest both cartridge for residence protection.
Value & Availability
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I’ll preserve this quick since we’ve already touched on pricing and availability. The 300 PRC has extra moderately priced rifle and ammo choices. Whereas some 300 PRC rifles, just like the Ruger Precision, price a few thousand {dollars}, you could find others, just like the CVA Cascade XT, for lower than one thousand {dollars}. A “low-cost” 300 Norma Magnum rifle will probably price you many thousand {dollars}.
There are additionally extra choices for 300 PRC ammo, which lowers the worth per spherical and makes it simpler to seek out.
The 300 PRC wins this part.
Reloading
Handloading and reloading rounds will lower your expenses on ammo in the long term, however it prices extra initially, as you have to buy all of the reloading tools and provides.
You received’t have a lot of a alternative for critical shooters if you wish to outperform manufacturing facility ammo. Manufacturing unit masses are nice for searching, however when capturing competitively, you’ll want each benefit you will get, and you’ll fine-tune every spherical to carry out completely out of your rifle when handloading.
Each cartridges might be reloaded, so this part is a tie.
300 Norma vs. 300 PRC Ballistics
We’re lastly on the portion of the article all the info lovers have been looking for: the ballistics charts! The crew at Ammo.com has gathered the ballistics of every cartridge into easy-to-read charts so you’ll be able to shortly evaluate them.
300 Norma Ballistics Charts
300 PRC Ballistics Charts
In the event you simply can’t get sufficient of 300 PRC ballistics, take a look at our in-depth article!
300 Norma Transient Historical past
The 300 Norma Magnum is a comparatively new cartridge launched in 2012 by Norma Ammunition. The .338 Norma Magnum (a wildcat cartridge of the 338 Lapua Magnum) is its guardian cartridge necked down to simply accept .30 caliber bullets.
Upon its launch, it shortly gained recognition as a prime contender in aggressive long-distance rifle capturing circles. Then, the US Particular Operations Command (SOCOM) picked the MK22 Superior Sniper Rifle chambered in 300 Norma Magnum as one in every of its major sniper rifles, making certain this cartridge could be round for a few years.
Learn extra right here: 300 Norma vs 300 PRC: Dominating Distances With .30 Caliber Cartridges
