Hornady Match 6.5 PRC 147 Grain ELD-Match
Ammo Reports Team
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Long-range target shooting and precision competition |
| Bullet Type | ELD Match (polymer-tipped match bullet) |
| Bullet Weight | 147 grain |
| Case Material | Brass |
| Primer Type | Boxer (size not verified) |
| Packaging | 20 rounds per box |
| Typical Price | Check current prices at the retailers below. |
| Closest Competitors | Federal Gold Medal Berger 6.5 PRC 130 gr Hybrid, Berger Ammunition 6.5 PRC 156 gr EOL Elite Hunter, Lapua Scenar-L 6.5 PRC 136 gr OTM |
Component identification: case material and Boxer system are cross-checked against exact-product listings. Official Specs below separately identifies what is verified in manufacturer sources; unconfirmed primer sizes are not inferred from the cartridge name.
Official Specs
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Hornady | Hornady product specifications |
| Cartridge | 6.5 PRC | Hornady product specifications |
| Muzzle Velocity (fps) | 2910 | Hornady product specifications |
| Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs) | 2764 | Hornady product specifications |
| Bullet Weight | 147 gr | Hornady product specifications |
| Bullet Type | ELD Match (polymer-tipped match bullet) | Hornady product specifications |
| BC G1 | 0.697 | Hornady product specifications |
| BC G7 | 0.351 | Hornady product specifications |
| Manufacturer SKU | 81620 | Hornady product specifications |
| UPC | – | Not found in verified official manufacturer sources |
| Case Material | – | Not found in verified official manufacturer sources |
| Primer | – | Not found in verified official manufacturer sources |
| Reloadable | – | Not found in verified official manufacturer sources |
| Test Barrel | 24 inches | Hornady product specifications |
Official figures identify Hornady Match 6.5 PRC 147 gr ELD-Match, item 81620. A dash means not found in verified official manufacturer sources. Calculated values appear only in the separately labeled extended ballistics table.
Manufacturer: Hornady. Detailed source records are retained in the editorial verification log.
Ballistics Table
Official manufacturer data for 81620. Trajectory uses a 200-yard zero and 1.5-inch sight height. The factory table ends at 500 yards.
| Yards | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lbs) | Trajectory (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2910 | 2764 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 2775 | 2514 | 1.5 |
| 200 | 2645 | 2283 | 0.0 (zero) |
| 300 | 2518 | 2069 | -6.5 |
| 400 | 2395 | 1871 | -18.4 |
| 500 | 2275 | 1689 | -36.5 |
Key takeaway: Use the official figures to identify the factory load. The extended calculation below provides a separate comparison to 1000 yards; it does not establish an effective hunting range or replace measured rifle data.
Calculated comparison – not manufacturer data: Muzzle to 1000 yd in 100-yd steps. Inputs: 2910 fps, 147 gr, G1 BC 0.697; 200-yd zero; sight height 1.5 in. Assumed atmosphere: 59°F, 29.92 inHg station pressure, sea level, 0% humidity; level fire, no wind. Point-mass G1 calculation with py-ballisticcalc 2.3.1; spin drift and Coriolis are not included. Differences from factory rows reflect model and condition differences.
| Yards | Calculated velocity (fps) | Calculated energy (ft-lbs) | Calculated trajectory (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muzzle | 2910 | 2764 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 2773 | 2510 | 1.5 |
| 200 | 2641 | 2276 | -0.0 |
| 300 | 2512 | 2059 | -6.5 |
| 400 | 2387 | 1859 | -18.5 |
| 500 | 2265 | 1674 | -36.6 |
| 600 | 2147 | 1504 | -61.5 |
| 700 | 2032 | 1348 | -94.0 |
| 800 | 1921 | 1205 | -134.9 |
| 900 | 1814 | 1074 | -185.2 |
| 1000 | 1712 | 956 | -246.0 |
The ELD-Match Bullet Design
The ELD-Match (Extremely Low Drag – Match) bullet was developed by Hornady specifically in response to a real-world problem discovered through Doppler radar testing: at high velocities, conventional polymer tips deform from aerodynamic heating, degrading the bullet’s BC mid-flight and introducing trajectory inconsistency. Hornady’s solution was a Heat Shield tip made from a thermoplastic material that resists deformation even at the elevated temperatures generated during flight, maintaining the bullet’s ogive geometry from muzzle to target.
The 147 gr weight represents the heaviest standard ELD-Match offering in 6.5 PRC and is optimized for rifles with twist rates of 1:8″ — which is the standard twist rate found in most production 6.5 PRC barrels. The AMP bullet jacket is manufactured to tight concentricity tolerances, and the secant ogive profile is designed to maximize the ballistic coefficient while remaining compatible with standard magazine lengths. This is a match-grade target bullet, not a hunting or terminal-performance design — its construction prioritizes flight stability and consistency over controlled expansion.
Best Uses
Good fit:
- Precision rifle competitions (PRS, NRL, F-Class) where shot-to-shot consistency is the primary requirement
- Long-range target shooting at distances from 300 to 1,000+ yards
- Target shooters comparing factory match ammunition; ELD Match is not designed for controlled hunting expansion
- Shooters building a load development baseline for a 6.5 PRC rifle who want factory ammunition with known, tight tolerances
- Situations where barrel twist rate is confirmed at 1:8″, ensuring proper stabilization of the 147 gr projectile
Not the right tool for:
- Close-range or brush hunting where controlled expansion and immediate energy transfer are priorities — purpose-built hunting bullets (ELD-X, AccuBond, etc.) are better suited
- Semi-automatic or gas-operated rifles that may not cycle reliably with heavier match-grade loads
- Budget-conscious shooters doing high-volume training — at $3.00/round, this is a precision tool, not a practice round
- Rifles with twist rates slower than 1:8″, which may fail to adequately stabilize a 147 gr projectile
Reliability Notes
No structured submissions yet.
From manufacturer documentation and open-source reporting: Hornady’s Match-grade production line is widely described as applying stricter case selection criteria than standard commercial ammunition, including sorting by internal capacity, wall thickness, and concentricity. The ELD-Match bullet is seated to consistent overall length, which is relevant for shooters who measure COAL against their chamber’s lands. No recalls or safety notices associated with this load were identified in available data. These notes reflect manufacturer claims and open-source information — not independently verified structured submissions.
Competitors
A published match-load comparison in the same cartridge is Winchester Match 6.5 PRC 140 gr MatchKing HPBT.
| Load | Weight | Bullet | BC G1 | Muzzle Velocity | Price/box | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Gold Medal Berger 6.5 PRC 130 gr | 130 gr | Berger Hybrid OTM | ~0.640 | ~3,000 fps | ~$54–$62 | Lighter, faster; same precision tier |
| Berger Ammunition 6.5 PRC 156 gr EOL | 156 gr | Berger Elite OTM | ~0.720 | ~2,750 fps | ~$65–$75 | Heavier option; premium price |
| Lapua 6.5 PRC 136 gr Scenar-L | 136 gr | Scenar-L OTM | ~0.658 | ~2,900 fps | ~$70–$80 | Premium brass; highest price tier |
| Nosler Match Grade 6.5 PRC 140 gr | 140 gr | Custom Competition HPBT | ~0.612 | ~2,910 fps | ~$52–$58 | Budget-friendly match option |
| Barnes Precision Match 6.5 PRC 140 gr | 140 gr | OTM (open tip match) | ~0.595 | ~2,900 fps | ~$55–$65 | Lead-core match ammunition; not a lead-free hunting substitute |
| Hornady Precision Hunter 6.5 PRC 143 gr | 143 gr | ELD-X | ~0.625 | ~2,960 fps | ~$44–$52 | Same manufacturer; hunting-focused, lower price |
Note: Velocity and BC figures for competitor loads are drawn from published manufacturer data where available and open sources where not — confirm current specs before purchase. The Hornady Precision Hunter 143 gr ELD-X is included as a same-brand alternative at a lower price point for buyers whose primary use is hunting rather than competition.
Price Reality
Ammunition Depot and Sportsman’s Guide list the same Hornady item 81620, 20 rounds per box. Check each retailer for current price, availability, shipping and any membership conditions.
Where to Buy
Both store offers below refer to Hornady Match item 81620, UPC 090255816204, 20 rounds. The Sportsman’s Guide feed uses an inconsistent Precision Hunter title; product identity is checked by item number and UPC.
Affiliate links. These do not influence ratings, data, or any editorial content on this page.
FAQ
Does the ELD-Match bullet expand reliably enough for hunting, or is it strictly a paper-punching bullet?
Hornady classifies this as Target/Match ammunition. Match accuracy does not establish controlled expansion on game. For a purpose-built hunting load in this cartridge, compare Federal Premium 6.5 PRC 143 gr ELD-X.
How does the 147 gr weight compare to the more common 140 gr loads in 6.5 PRC?
Weight alone does not determine retained velocity, wind drift or accuracy. Compare the exact bullet and factory loading. For example, Winchester Match 6.5 PRC 140 gr MatchKing HPBT is cataloged at 3030 fps, while Hornady item 81620 is listed at 2910 fps. Hornady publishes G1 0.697 and G7 0.351 for its load.
What barrel length does Hornady use to test this ammunition, and how does that affect my results?
Hornady specifies a 24-inch test barrel and 2910 fps for item 81620. The published table uses a 200-yard zero. Actual velocity depends on the rifle and conditions; a fixed loss per inch of barrel is not verified for this load.
Is this the same load used by competitive PRS shooters, or is there a more popular choice in that community?
The 147 gr ELD-Match in 6.5 PRC has a strong following in the Precision Rifle Series community, though it competes directly with the Federal Gold Medal Berger 130 gr Hybrid and Berger factory loads. The 147 gr is often preferred by shooters running longer-range stages where wind deflection becomes a significant variable, while the 130 gr loads offer a flatter trajectory at mid-range. There is no single dominant factory load in PRS – many competitors ultimately move to custom handloads once they have established a baseline. This Hornady load is a legitimate competition choice and a practical starting point for shooters not yet handloading.
Is 6.5 PRC ammunition subject to any lead-free or restricted-use regulations I should be aware of?
This load contains lead and is not a lead-free option. Federal Premium 6.5 PRC 120 gr Trophy Copper uses a copper bullet; check applicable certification requirements before selecting ammunition for a restricted hunt.
Why does one retailer call this Precision Hunter?
The retailer listing uses that name, but its manufacturer number 81620 and UPC 090255816204 identify Hornady Match 6.5 PRC 147 gr ELD-Match. Hornady Precision Hunter 143 gr ELD-X is a different product, item 81621. This page combines the two store offers for 81620.
