30 Nosler vs. 300 PRC: Nosler or Hornady?

The 30 Nosler vs. 300 Precision Rifle Cartridge (PRC) debate often springs up among long-distance shooting and hunting enthusiasts. This only makes sense, as the magnum cartridges are frequently touted as two of the best to have been developed in recent decades.

Is either of these rounds better than the other? Let’s compare their real-world performance to see if one genuinely is!

What’s the Difference Between 30 Nosler and 300 PRC?

While these two cartridges are both designed for long-distance shooting, they also have some significant differences from one another. Let’s begin by examining differences in their physical specifications, followed by their recoil, trajectory, ballistic coefficient, and several other key aspects.

Cartridge Specifications

Despite sharing the same application and 0.308” diameter bullet, the 30 Nosler and 300 PRC differ in several key aspects.

The 30 Nosler is based on the 300 Remington Ultra Magnum, while the 300 PRC is based on the 375 Ruger. The 30 Nosler has a neck diameter of 0.344”, while the 300 PRC’s neck is narrower by 0.003”. The 30 Nosler’s base diameter is 0.550”, and the 300 PRC is again narrower, this time by 0.018”.

Despite having narrower dimensions (or, more accurately, because of its narrower dimensions), the 300 PRC has the longer case: 2.580”, as opposed to 2.556”.

Thanks to its long projectile, the 300 PRC dwarfs the 30 Nosler in overall length: 3.700”, which is over 1/3” longer than the 3.340” 30 Nosler.

The 30 Nosler's case capacity is 89.8 grains H2O, significantly higher than the 300 PRC's 77 grains. Even so, the cartridges share the same 65,000 psi maximum pressure.

Let’s examine how these specs affect actual performance, beginning with how much recoil each cartridge typically has.

Recoil

It’s the first thing any cowboy wants to know about an unfamiliar shootin’ iron: how hard does she kick, hoss?

Less recoil is always preferable. It enhances comfort and minimizes the degree to which “muzzle flip” jerks your crosshairs off target.

Rather than base our comparison on felt recoil, which is subjective and therefore incomparable by nature, we base it on free recoil energy. That’s an objective measurement whereby recoil is determined by four factors: projectile weight, propellant weight, muzzle velocity, and firearm weight.

The recoil energy of the 300 PRC is about 36 ft-lbs (212 grain bullet, 2,860 fps muzzle velocity, 8-pound rifle). The 30 Nosler has about 31.58 ft-lbs recoil energy (205 grain bullet, 3,009 fps muzzle velocity, 8-pound rifle).

By that measure, the 30 Nosler has slightly less recoil and wins this section.

Trajectory

A bullet’s trajectory is its path after exiting the muzzle. We measure trajectory in terms of bullet rise and drop, as it resembles an arch.A flat trajectory is preferable for firing across longer distances, as it allows the shooter to make fewer compensations for gravity and wind drift.

The following scenarios are generalizations. A cartridge's trajectory varies from load to load, so you might have a different experience if you were to fire these rounds at the range.

A 300 PRC 212 grain ELD-X bullet drops -38.3” at 500 yards when sighted in at 200 yards. A 190 grain CX bullet drops -36.0” at 500 yards when zeroed at the same range.

A 30 Nosler 210 grain AccuBond bullet drops -34.6” at 500 yards when sighted in at 200 yards. A 180 grain AccuBond bullet drops -32.5” at 500 yards when zeroed at the same range.

The 30 Nosler’s flatter trajectory wins this section.

Accuracy: 300 PRC vs. 30 Nosler

The 30 Nosler and 300 PRC are extremely accurate cartridges. Match grade loads offer sub-MOA (minute of angle, where 1 MOA = 1" at 100 yards) accuracy.

It’s crucial to understand that accuracy is more a function of the shooter and shooting platform than it is of the cartridge. The ammo and rifle pairing, environmental conditions, trajectory, recoil, and shooter’s skills all play key roles in determining how much accuracy a cartridge can exhibit.

Bearing all of that in mind, it’s still fair to declare the 30 Nosler the more accurate round. Its flatter trajectory does simplify long-distance shooting, and its (slightly) gentler recoil further facilitates fast, accurate fire.

Ballistic Coefficient

Ballistic coefficient (BC) reflects how efficiently a bullet resists wind drift and overcomes frontal air resistance. It’s a numeric representation of how aerodynamic a bullet is. A higher BC is preferable, as it indicates a bullet with a more predictable trajectory. Generally speaking, a heavier, sleeker bullet has a higher BC.

The 300 PRC has a G1 BC ranging from .600 to .800, which is relatively high. It’s comparable to the elite sniper 338 Lapua Magnum cartridges.

The 30 Nosler has a G1 BC ranging from .507 to .730; respectable, albeit inferior to the 300 PRC. The 300 PRC therefore takes this section.

Stopping Power: 30 Nosler vs. 300 PRC

“Stopping power” is nearly impossible to define. It means different things to different shooters. To complicate the issue further, shot placement matters more than stopping power. A poorly placed shot with a powerful cartridge can be far less effective than a well-placed shot with a weaker round.

For brevity, let’s assume penetration depth, wound column diameter, and kinetic energy transfer are the primary factors determining stopping power. The 30 Nosler has a slight advantage over the 300 PRC according to this metric, and wins this section as the result.

Hunting Capabilities

These cartridges are designed for long-range big game hunting. Both are capable of instantly anchoring mule deer, elk, moose, and bear.

Both are too powerful for varmint or coyote hunting, however. A whitetail is the smallest animal you’ll want to harvest with these cartridges. Otherwise, you’re wasting a lot of meat and pelts.

Neither cartridge is intended for medium game animals and can take the same big game animals, so this section is a tie.

Cost & Availability

What’s the point of owning the gun and cartridge if you can't find or afford the ammo? That’s why you should always consider cost and availability before adopting a new cartridge.

Both cartridges are niche, expensive, and difficult to find. In my experience, the 30 Nosler is just a little bit rarer and costlier – enough so that the 300 PRC takes this section, at least.

Reloadability

Reloading is an excellent way to craft the perfect round for your firearm and save money on factory loads. The initial investment in supplies and equipment deters most folks. However, when you reload, you can create higher-quality ammo for less and enjoy total control over most of the process.

These cartridges are not as popular as the 308 Winchester or 223 Remington. There are comparably less reloading information and supplies available for them.

This section is a tie. From a reloading standpoint, neither cartridge has a leg up on the other.

Ballistics

The team at Ammo.com has gathered ballistic data for each cartridge for you to compare.

30 Nosler Ballistics

Note: This information comes from the manufacturer. The actual ballistics obtained with your firearm can vary considerably from the advertised ballistics. Also, ballistics can vary from lot to lot with the same brand and type load.

300 PRC Ballistics

Note: This information comes from the manufacturer. The actual ballistics obtained with your firearm can vary considerably from the advertised ballistics. Also, ballistics can vary from lot to lot with the same brand and type load.

Take a deeper dive into 300 PRC ballistics.

30 Nosler Brief History

The 30 Nosler was conceived as the ultimate .30 caliber cartridge for a standard-length long-action rifle. It is Nosler’s third cartridge design. According to the Oregonian company, the 30 Nosler’s muzzle velocity surpasses that of the .300 Weatherby Magnum.

The 30 Nosler never really gained traction among hunters and long-range shooters. Although its introduction in 2016 is still recent, I don’t foresee it ever taking off like the 308 Winchester or even the 338 Lapua Magnum.

300 PRC Brief History

The Hornady 300 PRC is specifically designed for long-range precision shooting. Hornady developed the cartridge to fire the long, aerodynamic, and high-BC .30 caliber bullets elite long-range shooters want.

Hornady rolled out their new cartridge at the 2019 SHOT Show. It had received SAAMI approval in August the year prior.

Although the 300 PRC is still somewhat obscure, it is becoming more popular in the long-range competition circuit. Its garnering some attention from USSOCOM as well.

Parting Shots

Now that you’ve finished reading our 30 Nosler vs. 300 PRC comparison, you know that the 30 Nosler won four sections (recoil, trajectory, accuracy, and stopping power). Two sections were tied (hunting and reloading). The 300 PRC won two sections (BC and cost/availability).

Despite the 30 Nosler’s apparent supremacy, it would seem that the market has taken more kindly to the 300 PRC. If you do choose the 30 Nosler, prepare for a harder time finding ammo.

Frequently Asked Questions

The team at Ammo.com has gathered and answered some of the most commonly asked questions regarding 243 Win vs. 223 Rem.

What are the advantages of 30 Nosler over 300 PRC?

The advantages of the 30 Nosler over the 300 PRC are lower recoil, flatter trajectory, more accuracy, and more stopping power.

How does the 30 Nosler perform compared to the 300 PRC in terms of ballistics and accuracy?

The 30 Nosler outperforms the 300 PRC in terms of ballistics and accuracy.

How does the 30 Nosler perform compared to the 300 PRC for long-range shooting?

The 30 Nosler's trajectory is flatter than that of the 300 PRC, making it arguably better for long-range shooting.