Best 7mm PRC Ammo For Hunting Elk, Deer, Bear, & Other Game

The brand new 7mm PRC cartridge has been a gigantic hit among hunters and many people plan on using the flat shooting and hard hitting 7mm PRC for hunting elk, deer and many other species of big game. Here are a few great brands of 7mm PRC ammo that should serve you well afield.

Released in 2023, the brand new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge (sometimes known as the 7mm Hornady PRC or 7mm PRC) is a 7mm magnum cartridge specifically designed to provide a high level of accuracy, great resistance to wind deflection, moderate recoil, and outstanding performance at extended range.

Designed from the start to use heavy for caliber, extremely aerodynamic bullets that deliver excellent performance at long range, the 7 mm Precision Rifle Cartridge generated a lot of buzz straight out of the gate and has rapidly caught on with the hunting community. Indeed, the 7mm PRC may be the most rapidly adopted new cartridge in the last 100 years.

The cartridge uses a standard long action case length and is designed for use in rifles with a pretty fast 1:8″ rifling twist rate. For this reason, it excels when using exceptionally long, high BC, heavy-for-caliber bullets. Specifically, the cartridge is capable of firing long, sleek, & heavy 175 grain and 180 grain lead core bullets as well as 160 grain copper alloy bullets.

The end result is a flat shooting, hard hitting, and wind bucking 7mm magnum cartridge optimized for long-range shooting. Not only is the cartridge great for punching paper and banging steel at long distances, but the 7mm PRC is capable of delivering the goods on game ranging from deer up to elk and moose at longer ranges.

These factors have helped the 7mm PRC become such an incredibly popular centerfire rifle cartridge in such a short time.

Furthermore, the 7 mm PRC cartridge is also optimized for use with a 24-inch barrel (instead of the 26-inch barrel many similar cartridges utilize).

Indeed, the 7mm PRC compares favorably to many other 7mm cartridges like the 7 mm Remington Magnum (7mm Mag), the 7mm Remington Ultra Magnum, the 7 mm Weatherby Magnum, the 7mm Shooting Times Westerner (7 mm STW), and the 28 Nosler in certain areas.

Unfortunately, Hornady is the only company that produces factory 7mm PRC ammunition at this point because it’s so new. However, that will change soon: Federal Premium has announced plans to add the 7mm PRC to their Terminal Ascent lineup. I wouldn’t be surprised to see other companies follow Federal’s lead here soon as well.

Fortunately, there is a decent (and growing) selection of 7mm PRC factory loads specifically designed for just almost any big game hunting situation in the United States or elsewhere in the world. So, regardless of whether you’re using a bolt action a Christensen Arms Ridgeline, a Mossberg Patriot Predator, a Ruger American Hunter, or one of the other 7mm PRC rifles available from other gun manufacturers, there is pretty much guaranteed to be something for everyone on the list below of the best 7mm PRC ammunition for hunting.

I provide recommendations for the best 7mm PRC ammo for hunting elk, deer, pronghorn, black bear, and all sorts of other big game in this article. I’ll also go over the strengths and weaknesses of each individual factory load and so you can select the right ammunition for your specific needs and desires to use on your next hunt.

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Federal Premium ELD-X

Though it often gets overshadowed by the various Hornady 7mm PRC ammo offerings, Federal Premium started offering factory 7mm PRC ammunition loaded with Hornady’s ELD-X bullet in 2023. They currently offer several different chamberings in this ammunition line, to include one offering in 7mm PRC loaded with a 175gr ELD-X bullet.

This is the exact same bullet used in Hornady’s Precision Hunter 7mm PRC offering and the Federal load also has basically identical advertised ballistics.

However, I personally observed this Federal 7mm PRC ammo has a muzzle velocity around 100fps faster than Hornady Precision Hunter ammo using the same 175gr ELD-X bullet in the spring of 2024. The Hornady loads seem to actually deliver velocities 100-200fps slower than advertised, but the Federal ammo is averaging about 2,950fps from a 22″ barrel in my personal testing (which means you’d likely get close to the 3,000fps Federal advertises out of a 24″ barrel).

Not only is this the only current production factory 7mm PRC ammo I’ve found in 2024 using the 175gr ELD-X that’s delivering advertised velocities, but accuracy is excellent with this ammunition as well. Your mileage may vary, but this ammunition shoots well under 1 MOA in my rifle.

All things considered this ammunition has excellent accuracy potential, an almost laser flat trajectory, great resistance to wind deflection, and devastating performance on deer sized game.

The only thing I don’t like about this ammunition is the ELD-X is pretty soft and comes with the possibility of excessive expansion at the expense of too little penetration with a close range shot on really big game.

This bullet is designed to still expand at very low impact velocities (out as far as 1,300 yards depending on exact conditions), so it does have a somewhat soft construction.

Hornady did build the ELD-X with a thicker jacket and the Hornady InterLock ring to help increase weight retention, control expansion, and minimize the chances of core-jacket separation with a closer range shot. Even so, this projectile is not nearly as tough as a copper or bonded core projectile.

For this reason, the ELD-X can sometimes deliver sub-par penetration with a close range shot from some angles on a really big animal (like an elk).

I personally would not hesitate to use this stuff on deer sized game at basically any reasonable range and I’d also feel comfortable using this ammunition on elk (or other really big game) at 200+ yards.

For example, a friend of mine took a bull elk up in Colorado at 800+ yards with a single shot from his 7mm PRC using a 175gr ELD-X. That bull ran just 40 feet after the hit.

Unfortunately, he shot that bull in the evening and didn’t get any good field trophy photos, but it’s the elk on the left in the photo below.

I cannot think of a better cartridge/bullet combination than a 7mm PRC with a 175gr ELD-X for a situation like that.

Since the Federal ELD-X ammo actually seems to be delivering the advertised velocities right now (and the Hornady stuff isn’t), then I’d definitely recommend this Federal loading for all hunters who want to wring all the possible performance out of the 7mm PRC.

• Bullet Type: Hornady Extremely Low Drag eXpanding
• Bullet Weight: 175 grains
• Ballistic Coefficient (G1): .689
• Muzzle Velocity: 3,000 feet per second (3,497 ft-lbs of muzzle energy)

GET FEDERAL ELD-X 7mm PRC AMMO HERE

Also Available at: Brownell’s, Federal, MidwayUSA, Optics Planet, Sportsman’s Guide, and Sportsman’s Warehouse

Federal Premium Terminal Ascent

Federal recently expanded their Terminal Ascent line to include the new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge. Though it’s a somewhat under the radar offering, I think this particular load is a fantastic 7mm PRC hunting ammo offering for hunters searching for a bullet that works great at close range as well as extended range.

This ammunition uses Federal’s Terminal Ascent Bullet, which is an evolution of the old Trophy Bonded Bear Claw that’s been refined to be more aerodynamic and accurate. With a G1 BC of .646, the 170gr Terminal Ascent is not quite as aerodynamic as the Hornady ELD-X, but this projectile still has a very high BC.

The Terminal Ascent is also much more robustly constructed than the ELD-X.

For this reason, I personally prefer the Federal Terminal Ascent over the Hornady ELD-X for hunting bigger game like moose and elk with the 7mm PRC. This bullet will perform great at extended range and Federal claims it will still expand at impact velocities as low at ~1,400fps. Depending on the exact rifle you’re shooting and muzzle velocity you’re obtaining, this means the bullet will still expand reliably out to about 1,200-1,300 yards.

What if you get a shot at extremely close range? Well, the Terminal Ascent has a bonded front core and a solid rear shank to deliver a great balance of controlled expansion and outstanding penetration. So, there’s no need to doubt this bullet will penetrate far enough to reach the vitals if you get an unexpected shot on an elk at 65 yards that’s strongly quartering to you.

That bullet will punch through the shoulder blade and devastate the animals vitals without hardly slowing down in a situation like that.

I’ve had a number of clients who used both the 7mm and .30 caliber version of this bullet with a great deal of success on big bodied African game like blue wildebeest, waterbuck, kudu, sable and eland at close range (inside 100 yards). They all reported the same results: great accuracy, outstanding penetration, and devastating terminal performance.

Likewise, Federal’s 7mm PRC Terminal Ascent ammo will also work great on smaller bodied animals too. This makes it another great option for hunters going after game out west like mule deer or pronghorn who need excellent 7mm PRC ammo for a long range hunting situation.

If this ammunition shoots accurately in your rifle, this load is my #1 recommendation for hunters who need the best 7mm PRC ammo for hunting the whole spectrum of game from deer and antelope up to and including elk and moose.

I’ve had great results with this 7mm PRC ammo at the range. It shot accurately (~1 MOA) and delivered velocities a little faster than advertised from my rifle.

Like Federal’s ELD-X load, their Terminal Ascent ammo also actually seems to be delivering the advertised velocities right now. I’d also strongly recommend hunters take a hard look at this ammo if they want an accurate and hard hitting 7mm PRC ammunition option with really good extended range performance.

• Bullet Type: Terminal Ascent
• Bullet Weight: 170 grains
• Ballistic Coefficient (G1): .646
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,950 feet per second (3,288 ft-lbs of muzzle energy)

GET TERMINAL ASCENT 7mm PRC AMMO HERE

Also Available at: Brownell’s, Federal, MidwayUSA, Optics Planet, & Sportsman’s Warehouse

Hornady Precision Hunter

The 7mm PRC has an almost laser flat trajectory and excellent wind bucking characteristics, both of which are important for delivering excellent long-range performance. Not surprisingly, Hornady includes the 7mm PRC in their Precision Hunter line of factory ammo. As a matter of fact, this was one of the initial factory hunting ammo options for the cartridge.

Loaded with the incredibly aerodynamic Extremely Low Drag eXpanding (ELD-X) bullet, Hornady’s Precision Hunter line line is optimal for western hunters going after game like mule deer or pronghorn antelope who need the very best ammo for an extended long range hunting situation. Using a 175 grain ELD-X bullet with a Heat Shield Tip, that load is a very good 7 mm PRC ammo option for hunters wanting to maximize the extended range performance of the cartridge.

Hornady claims that Hornady Precision Hunter ammunition is held to the same accuracy standards as their Match ammunition and utilizes temperature stable propellants for the most consistent velocity possible. They also claim the ELD-X bullet has the best-in-class ballistic coefficients over their entire trajectory and that their Precision Hunter ammunition also offers match grade accuracy (usually sub-MOA).

This has been my experience. My rifle absolutely loves Hornady Precision Hunter ammo and will consistently shoot under 1 MOA with every box of this ammo I’ve tried over the past year. Indeed, my rifle shoots Precision Hunter ammo more accurately than anything else (Federal’s ELD-X ammo is a close second).

There are two problems hunters need to be aware of before purchasing this 7mm PRC ammunition though.

First, my personal testing in the spring of 2024 revealed that Hornady Precision Hunter factory 7mm PRC loads actually delivers velocities 100-200fps slower than advertised.

That’s not terrible performance, but it definitely falls short of what the cartridge is capable of. This ammo will still perform great under the vast majority of hunting conditions and most hunters will never notice the difference.

However, I’d point hunters looking for the best possible performance at extended range towards the Federal loading with the 175gr ELD-X until Hornady sorts out things on their end and starts producing factory 7mm PRC ammo that’s actually going as fast as advertised.

The other issue with this ammunition is the ELD-X bullet itself.

Like I said earlier, many hunters use the ELD-X bullet on elk each year with a lot of success. I just prefer a tougher bullet for elk sized game (like the Federal Terminal Ascent or Hornady CX also on this list) if a close range encounter is a possibility.

At very high impact velocities (like with a 50 yard chance encounter with an elk), it’s possible the 175 gr ELD-X bullet will expand too rapidly and not deliver adequate penetration to reach the vitals from some angles.

Don’t get me wrong: this is great 7mm PRC ammo and it has been both unfailingly reliable and amazingly accurate for me (I shot my best group out of my Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT with the 175-grain ELD-X). I would not hesitate to use it on deer sized game at basically any reasonable range and I’d feel very comfortable using this ammunition on elk (or other really big game) at 200+ yards.

For instance, I had fantastic results with this ammo when I shot a blackbuck with my 7mm PRC in the spring of 2024.

This is not the ammo to use if you prefer a tougher bullet though. In a situation like that, I’d point you towards either the Hornady Outfitter line with their monometal CX bullet or Federal’s Terminal Ascent line (which uses a bonded bullet).

Likewise, I do not recommend Precision Hunter ammo at this instant for those who want to wring all the performance possible out of the 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge. This is because this ammunition is delivering much slower than advertised velocities right now (in the spring of 2024).

Don’t get me wrong: pushing a super high BC bullet at 2,800fps is still darned impressive, but it does hamstring the cartridge to a certain degree, especially at extended range. Not everybody needs that level of performance, but I recommend Federal’s ELD-X loading right now for those who do.

• Bullet Type: Hornady Extremely Low Drag eXpanding
• Bullet Weight: 175 grains
• Ballistic Coefficient (G1): .689
• Muzzle Velocity: 3,000 feet per second (3,497 ft-lbs of muzzle energy)

GET PRECISION HUNTER 7mm PRC AMMO HERE

Also Available at: Cabela’s, MidwayUSA, Optics Planet, Sportsman’s Guide, and Sportsman’s Warehouse

Hornady Outfitter

Hornady introduced their new Outfitter line of ammunition a few years ago and they added the 7mm PRC cartridge to that lineup soon after releasing the new cartridge. Though there’s not a darn thing wrong with using it on a whitetail deer hunt at home, Hornady markets this 7mm PRC ammo specifically for use on guided hunts in really tough environments like a caribou or moose hunt in Alaska or a kudu hunt in South Africa.

While these aren’t especially heavy bullets by 7mm PRC standards, the 160 grain CX bullets used in this ammunition are extremely tough and are designed for controlled expansion, high weight retention, and deep penetration on large, heavy boned animals like elk and moose. This is high-quality ammunition that also uses nickel-plated case for reliable feeding and corrosion resistance under the most demanding conditions. The primers and case necks are also sealed.

With all those things in mind, it’s easy to see why Hornady advertises their Outfitter 7mm PRC ammo for use on a big hunt that’s the culmination of years of saving and planning. After all, when the chips are down on the hunt of a lifetime, the absolute last thing you need is for your ammo to fail at the moment of truth.

I personally think this load featuring the 160gr CX bullet is some of the best 7mm PRC ammo for elk, moose, or other really big game that’s currently available (Federal’s Terminal Ascent line is excellent too). I personally feel more comfortable relying on this Outfitter ammunition than the Precision Hunter lineup to reliably deliver heavy hitting and deep penetrating performance on really big game at any reasonable range.

That is why I took Hornady Outfitter ammo to Africa in 2023. I used that ammo with wonderful results on impala and wildebeest. Penetration was great, the bullets caused massive damage to the vitals of those animals, and neither went more than 25 yards afterwards.

The CX bullet used in Hornady Outfitter ammunition is lead free, which makes this ammo a good choice for use in states like California. Indeed, this is the only lead free 7mm PRC ammo currently available as a factory load as I type this in April of 2024 (though this will hopefully change soon).

The 160gr CX bullet does not have as high of a BC as the 175gr ELD-X, but it’s still a very aerodynamic bullet. Indeed, with a G1 BC of .596, the 160gr CX has a higher BC than virtually every other lead free 7mm projectile currently available.

Hornady’s 175gr ELD-X shot a little better than their 160gr CX load in my rifle, but I was still getting ~1 MOA accuracy with this bullet. Your mileage may vary, but this ammunition is still more than accurate enough for me to use on a hunt as I’d typically be shooting anyway.

All in all, this loading featuring the 160-grain CX is my favorite 7mm PRC ammunition for use on virtually every species of game in North America as well as stuff like African plains game, red stag in New Zealand, etc.

Note: the CX bullet replaced the older GMX bullet from Hornady and is a tiny bit more aerodynamic, but retains the great terminal performance of the GMX.

• Bullet Type: CX
• Bullet Weight: 160 grains
• Ballistic Coefficient (G1): .596
• Muzzle Velocity: 3,000 feet per second (3,197 ft-lbs of muzzle energy)

GET HORNADY OUTFITTER 7mm PRC AMMO HERE

Also Available at: Brownell’s, MidwayUSA, & Sportsman’s Guide

Nosler Trophy Grade Long Range

Nosler produces 7mm PRC ammo as part of their Trophy Grade Long Range line loaded with their 175gr AccuBond Long Range Bullets. This is the exact same bullet Nosler loads in their Trophy Grade Long Range factory loads for the 28 Nosler cartridge (the 7mm PRC is just shooting that bullet a little over 100fps slower).

Unlike the 175gr ELD-X, the 175 grain AccuBond Long Range bullets used in this loading have a bonded core. On the other hand, the 175gr ELD-X has a slightly higher BC.

Even so, this is still a heavy for caliber, extremely aerodynamic bullet that delivers heavy hitting, flat shooting, and wind bucking performance out to extended range.

All things considered, this AccuBond Long Range bullet is soft enough to deliver devastating terminal performance on game like deer and pronghorn, but is also tough enough to reach the vitals on bigger and tougher game like elk and moose from typical shooting angles.

By the same token, this bullet has a high ballistic coefficient that’s higher than the 160gr CX, very similar to the 170gr Terminal Ascent, and just a little lower than the 175gr ELD-X. I’ve also obtained outstanding accuracy with this ammunition in my rifle.

Federal’s and Hornady’s loads with the ELD-X were a little bit more accurate for me, but the Nosler ammo was still wonderfully accurate in my particular rifle and I’d have no concerns about using this load on big game at extended range. 

Once again, this is another outstanding 7mm PRC ammo for use on all manner of game and under a wides variety of hunting situations.

• Bullet Type: Nosler AccuBond Long Range
• Bullet Weight: 175 grains 
• Ballistic Coefficient (G1): .648
• Muzzle Velocity: 3,000 feet per second

GET NOSLER TROPHY GRADE 7mm PRC AMMO HERE

Also Available at: MidwayUSA & Scheels

Hornady ELD Match

In addition to their Precision Hunter and Outfitter lineups, Hornady also initially launched the 7mm PRC in their Match line. The 7mm PRC Match offering uses a 180gr ELD Match bullet with an insanely high BC of .796. No, that’s not a typo: those 180-grain bullets have a doppler radar verified BC approaching .800!

This is the very definition of a high BC match bullet.

Just like you’d think from the name, Hornady Match ammunition is designed to deliver incredible aerodynamic performance at extreme range, very high levels of accuracy, and consistent muzzle velocity.

Realize that this ammunition is intended for use by target shooters instead of big-game hunters though.

Yes, this ammunition does use exceptionally long and heavy bullets, but they’re not designed for hunting. Some hunters have used the ELD Match bullet with success on deer and elk, but this projectile is not designed for reliable expansion on game.

Instead, these bullets occasionally have a nasty habit of either punching straight through animals without expanding at all, or “grenading” on impact.

I only mention this Hornady Match ammunition in this article because I know hunting ammunition options for the 7mm PRC are still pretty limited and because some hunters absolutely swear by the ELD Match bullets in general. I wouldn’t go hunting with Hornady Match 7mm PRC ammo myself, but realize it’s an option for those who can’t find anything else or who just insist on hunting with match ammunition.

Use this ammunition at your own risk for anything other than punching paper or banging steel though. Hunters wanting to use high BC bullets specifically designed for good terminal performance on game should go with the 175gr ELD-X mentioned earlier in this article.

• Bullet Type: Hornady Extremely Low Drag Match
• Bullet Weight: 180 grains
• Ballistic Coefficient (G1): .796
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,975 feet per second (3,439 foot-pounds of energy)

GET HORNADY MATCH 7mm PRC AMMO HERE

Also Available at: Brownell’s, Cabela’s, Lucky Gunner, MidwayUSA, Optics Planet, Sportsman’s Guide, and Sportsman’s Warehouse

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