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Aug 11, 2025
One of our most popular rifle builds – three years running – has been the 7mm PRC. We are excited to share our extensive test results with you! First and foremost, this is a guide and should be treated as such. Lot to lot differences in components, ambient temperature differences, and different rifles can yield drastically different results. Do not attempt any of the processes or procedures shown or described in this guide. Assume any reloading data supplied in this guide to be in error. Always consult multiple sources of manufacturer’s ammunition reloading data before reloading your own ammunition. The content in this guide – in its entirety – is for demonstration purposes only.
ALWAYS START LOW AND WORK UP! USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!
Test Rifle
Bullets:
Case: Hornady
Primer: CCI250
Powders:
All bullets were seated 0.030” off the lands unless otherwise indicated. The rifle was cleaned every 100 rounds (monolithic testing every 50 rounds), with the first 10 rounds fouled with Hornady 180ELD-M and 175ELD-X factory ammo before further testing commenced. Velocity readings were taken with a Labradar chronograph. Updates to this list were taken with a Garmin Xero C1 Chronograph.
After 1100 rounds, factory ammo still produced sub half MOA groups as it did at the beginning of testing with velocity averages within 10fps. Throat erosion measured approximately 0.037”. We were very pleased with the accuracy of this rifle throughout testing. 900 test rounds, without a single round being of the same load, averaged 1.179 MOA per 10 shot groups!
Projected loads are bracketed in green with dark green signifying a potential upper node. Observed pressure signs are highlighted in yellow and red. Shot group pictures correlate with the charge weight charts in that 1 is the lowest powder charge and 10 is the highest powder charge.
Berger 195 EOL Elite Hunter
H1000 and slower powders are the name of the game for this heavy 7mm hunting bullet. If you plan to pair this with your 7mm PRC, give Ramshot LRT a hard look. I wouldn’t pass on N570 or Retumbo either.
Hornady 190 A-Tip Match
If your plan is big BC and long distances, look no further. Hands down my favorite target bullet during testing. Not only did it have the smallest ladder size (0.636MOA with H4831SC) but it also had the smallest average for all ten ladders (0.975MOA). It’s hard to suggest just a few powders as the performance was great throughout, but if I had to narrow it down, I don’t think you’ll be upset with H4831SC or N170!
Berger 190 Hybrid
Berger’s 190 Hybrid does quite well with H4831SC, but really shines with the slower powders like N570, LRT and Retumbo. -0.030” off is a good starting point, but I would experiment with other seating depths to see what’s there.
Berger 184 F-Open Hybrid
Berger’s 184gr bullet is ready to perform! A little tweak to bullet seating depth charged with H4831SC, N560, N165 or Retumbo should be excellent.
Hornady 180 ELD-M
Hornady’s 180 ELD Match is a solid performer. Multiple powder combinations can get you to box ammo velocity. If this is your bullet of choice give Reloader 26, N560 and Retumbo a look!
Berger 180VLD Hunting
On par with the 175 Elite Hunter, the 180VLD Hunting should be a solid choice. Most of the listed powders should work quite well, with IMR 7828SSC standing out on the lower end and Reloader 26, H1000 and Retumbo producing excellent velocities.
Hornady 175 ELD-X
Just like with the 180ELD-M, box speed should be achievable with a number of powders. N560 and Retumbo would be my go-to starting powders for this bullet.
Berger 175 Elite Hunter
This is going to be a hard combo to beat in the mid-to-long-range hunting world, with many powders that should produce great results in the 3000-3050fps range. Retumbo and N560 are what I’d give a first look.
Hornady 166 A Tip
The 166 seemed to struggle more than most in testing. I think playing with seating depth will go a long way to picking up accuracy. It should be a solid performer in the 3050-3150fps range. Stand out powders would be N560, H1000 and H4831SC
Sierra Bullets 175 MatchKing X
Vihtavuori N560 was the obvious powder choice from the results of this test. In the full article we dive deeper into this bullet, found a finished load, verified dope to 1100 yards as well as terminal performance on South Dakota prairie antelope!
Test Rifle Update:
McGuire Ballistics 143gr Copper Rose
The 143 Copper Rose is an impressive bullet! It performed phenomenally with H4350, H4831SC, H1000, and N560. This would be a great bullet choice if you are running a very short barrel or need a ton of velocity. I worked up a load for an 18″ barrel with H4831SC that’s running 3060fps.
McGuire Ballistics 160gr Copper Rose
H4831SC, H1000, Ramshot Grand, take your pick! I am extremely impressed with the performance of this bullet! It’s rare to get a bullet and powder combination that will shoot ladders under an inch, and this did well under an inch…TWICE. On a third powder combo ( H4831SC) they stacked a 5 shot group at 0.263″ with 63.5gr to 65.5gr of powder.
Hornady 160gr CX
I ran the 160CX 0.060″ off the lands. Retumbo and H1000 performed very well. If you’re running a longer barrel N570 shows a lot of promise as well just know you’ll most likely have a compressed load.
Hammer Bullets 141 HBC
I ended up running the 141 HBC 0.075″ off to ensure good contact with two drive bands in the case neck.
WOW! I can see a lot of people overlooking this bullet for a 7mm PRC. Speed kills! The ballistic coefficient is also very close to the 170 HHT. A similar BC with an extra 300fps and less recoil? Sign me up! It’s hard to pick a powder as this bullet produced some of the smallest test ladders of any bullet I have ever tested. Nearly all 5 ladders were sub MOA! Try H4350 and H4831SC, as they both should be extremely forgiving with great speeds.
Hammer Bullets 154 HBC
Pick a powder and go! Four of the five tested had ladders sub MOA and if you take out the odd ball in H4831SC, all five ran sub MOA. I think it’s safe to say the HBC line is quite impressive!
Hammer Bullets 170 HHT
I ran the 170HHT 0.030″ off and it did quite well with N565 and N570. Note again that many of these ladders group quite a bit smaller if we were to throw out the lowest and highest charge weights.
Cutting Edge Bullets 160 Lazer Tipped
While there are a couple spots you could explore loading this at on the top end, it may be pretty picky if pinpoint accuracy is your goal. With a similar design as the 180Max I think the 160 Lazer would also benefit from being loaded well under pressure.
Cutting Edge Bullets 180 Maximus
Between talking with a representative and looking on their website, I somehow missed that Cutting Edge notes: “this projectile prefers slower velocity than usual. Please load down if you are experiencing issues.”
Due to the nature of a pressure ladder test, I wasn’t looking for accuracy but when visible pressure signs occur. If you are looking to run this bullet at top velocity, I believe it has the potential to be a very picky option. Unfortunately I don’t have enough left to do a pressure down ladder test to see where accuracy would increase, but for those wanting to try this bullet, it is more than likely under 2900fps in a 26″ barrel.
Barnes 160 LRX
I ran the 160LRX 0.050″ off the lands. H4831SC is definitely worth a look, but BEWARE! Play it safe with H4831SC as it can be VERY quick to pressure in the 7mm PRC. As a friendly reminder: all components and rifles differ, I wouldn’t recommend loading past 67gr and Barnes load data lists max at 66.2gr. Likewise, I wouldn’t recommend taking H1000 past 69.5gr and Barnes has a published max of 71.1gr.
Barnes 168 LRX
H1000 and H4831SC would be the first two powders I would try with the 168 LRX, loaded 0.050″ off the lands.
In closing, I don’t have a one size fits all recommendation. There are simply too many good combinations outlined above.
As a reminder, lot to lot differences in components, ambient temperature differences, and different rifles can yield drastically different results. Do not attempt any of the processes or procedures shown or described in this guide. Always consult multiple sources of manufacturer’s ammunition reloading data before reloading your own ammunition.
Josh Rittel – Production Manager at TS Customs.
