Pushing the limits of .30 caliber bullets is what the 300 Norma Magnum and 300 Precision Rifle Cartridge (PRC) were designed to do. If you want to dominate the distances, you’re in the right place comparing and contrasting the 300 Norma vs. 300 PRC.
By the end of the article, you’ll know which cartridge is better for your shooting needs based on recoil, trajectory, cost, and several other factors.
300 Norma Compared to the 300 PRC
We should expect many similarities between these two cartridges. Both are designed for long-distance shooting competitions and are loaded with identical (or similar) bullets.
But as we’ll soon see, a few significant differences make one cartridge better than the other.
Let’s start with the cartridge specifications to see how similar these rounds are and the subtle differences that significantly impact either one’s performance at the range.
Cartridge Specs
As expected, these .30 caliber magnum cartridges have similar specifications, but we should pay close attention to the minute variations.
The 300 Norma Mag is based on the .338 Norma Magnum, whereas the 300 PRC is based on the .375 Ruger.
Both fire bullets with a diameter of 0.308. The neck diameter of each round only varies slightly (0.342 in for the 300 Norma Mag; 0.341 in for the 300 PRC).
The difference in base diameter is a critical distinction between the two. The 300 Norma has a base diameter of 0.585, meaning it needs a larger bolt face than what’s commonly used in hunting rifles. However, the 300 PRC has a base diameter of 0.532 in. It doesn’t need the larger bolt face, so it’s much simpler to transition a hunting rifle to the 300 PRC cartridge from traditional hunting cartridges, such as the 300 Winchester Magnum.
The 300 PRC has a longer case length (2.58 in vs. 2.493 in) and overall length (3.7 in vs. 3.618 in) than the 300 Norma Mag. The 300 Norma Mag has a larger case capacity (104.2 grains H2O vs. 77 grains H2O).
Lastly, the 300 Norma Mag’s maximum pressure (63,817 psi) is less than that of the 300 PRC (65,000 psi).
Now, let’s see how these variations in cartridge specifications affect the real-world performance of each cartridge, starting with the amount of recoil each one creates.
Recoil: 300 Norma vs. 300 PRC
Felt recoil is the energy (kick) a shooter feels when they pull the trigger of a firearm. Several factors determine felt recoil, such as gun weight, the shooter, and bullet weight. Felt recoil is a fickle term as it varies from shooter to shooter. In contrast, actual recoil is a scientific measurement of the force (ft-lbs of energy) a specific round generates in a particular firearm.
Shooters often prefer less recoil (yes, I know the macho men claim they don’t care about recoil, but we all know the truth). That’s why you’ll regularly see a muzzle brake on a precision rifle, which reduces the recoil as much as possible without sacrificing the bullet’s effectiveness.
A cartridge with lower recoil is easier to handle and tends to be more accurate. It’s also more enjoyable to fire because you don’t have a sore shoulder after a few rounds downrange.
The 300 Norma Mag typically has recoil energy of about 25.9 ft-lbs. When the bullet’s muzzle velocity or weight increases, that energy can skyrocket to as much as 35.5 ft-lbs.
The 300 PRC typically has around 22 ft-lbs of recoil energy when firing a 225 grain Hornady ELD Match (ELD-M) out of a Barrett MRAD bolt-action rifle weighing 14.5 pounds.
The 300 PRC wins this section because it imparts lower recoil onto the shooter’s shoulder.
Trajectory
The trajectory is the bullet’s flight path to the target measured in inches of bullet drop. Due to gravity, it’s an arch. Long-range shooters prefer a flat-shooting round. The flatter the trajectory, the easier it is to be accurate at long distances since you don’t have to compensate as much for bullet drop.
Both cartridges have a flat trajectory because they’re designed for long-range target shooting. But which is the flatter?
When sighted in at 200 yards, a 300 Norma Mag 215 grain Berger bullet drops around -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 instances, the 300 Norma Magnum will have a flatter trajectory than the 300 PRC. The 300NM wins this section.
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