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7mm SAW and 7mm 08 Ackley

It’s summer but I guess I’m resurrecting old thread anyways.

Anyone shooting the 7mm SAW? I just finished building mine to prove it out for NRLH competitions. Barrels a shooter but definitely not getting the advertised velocities of some. 45-46 gr of h4350 is netting ~2700 with the 166 a tip. Might need to try a shorter bullet or a double based powder as there’s no pressure signs but also no room for more juice.
If the rifle is still new, your speed should increase a fair amount after 150-200 rounds. While the 160 class bullets are efficient. They don’t eclipse the performance of the 140 VLD until nearly 1000yds. You may be wise to trade some BC for speed and reduced recoil for the NRLH matches. Otherwise, just let the barrel speed up and don’t worry too much about it. That 100fps won’t make any significant difference down range anyway
 
The 140gr VLD shot well in my first 600 yard F-Open match.
Stevens 200 with 22" factory sporter barrel in 7mm-08AI.
Actually had to take 1/2 - 3/4 minute out of my scope from where where my ballistic calculater predicted.
My issues were me.
First time shooting prone. First time shooting that far. First time shooting a match. First time trying to figure out wind flag vs mirage.
Shot a 173, 173-1X, 173-2X.

I was happy.
 
maybe should have put this on the straight 7-08 thread but was curious if anyone knows the theoretical velocity nodes for the Berger Hunting VLD 140?
Thanks
 
I looked at them for a 7mm short action build. and it would
have been a toss up, Instead I wild catted a 284 Winchester
by shortening it to near ,308 length. It givers me a much
larger boiler room, and combined with a longer throat. I can
push a 183 SMK to 2820, but the accuracy load is 2770. It's
my SA284
 
maybe should have put this on the straight 7-08 thread but was curious if anyone knows the theoretical velocity nodes for the Berger Hunting VLD 140?
Thanks
Will be difficult to make a general assumption, without knowing your specific rifle.... but from what I’ve noticed most bullets tend to like very similar speed zones. That does not mean that they are optimized for the cartridge or that a certain cartridge can achieve the said velocities, etc.

The Berger manual anticipates that ~2800fps is regularly achievable with a myriad of powders from a 24” barrel, and an OAL of 2.800”. Assuming that pressure signs develop at their “max” charges, I would anticipate 2720-2750 to house a nice node without excessive pressure. If your rifle is showing pressure there, then 2660-2680 should find you the next node down.
 
maybe should have put this on the straight 7-08 thread but was curious if anyone knows the theoretical velocity nodes for the Berger Hunting VLD 140?
Thanks
Mine seemed to like the 2,830 fps range.
Again mine was an AI with 22" sporter barrel.
H414, the 4350s, and PP2000MR all were able to achieve that.

The speed demon for me was RL17. 2,916 fps. But not quite as accurate.

Those were accuracy nodes, not max charge.
 
My 700 VLS with a 24" barrel made 2,862 fps with a five shot SD of 7.9 shooting the Berger 140 VLD hunt over H4350. 1/2" group at 100 yds.
 
I looked at them for a 7mm short action build. and it would
have been a toss up, Instead I wild catted a 284 Winchester
by shortening it to near ,308 length. It givers me a much
larger boiler room, and combined with a longer throat. I can
push a 183 SMK to 2820, but the accuracy load is 2770. It's
my SA284
Did the same thing a few years back. I think i ended up a little shorter then a .308 case but still love the idea. I have been running mostly 150-160 gr stuff right around 3000. Just a great idea that im surprised more have not done.
 
I looked at them for a 7mm short action build. and it would
have been a toss up, Instead I wild catted a 284 Winchester
by shortening it to near ,308 length. It givers me a much
larger boiler room, and combined with a longer throat. I can
push a 183 SMK to 2820, but the accuracy load is 2770. It's
my SA284
Strangely enough, I was just thinking about this the other day. I'm assuming you just ran a .284 reamer in short. Did you also simply shorten a .284 FL die? I haven't measured, but it would be a fair piece to remove.
 
Strangely enough, I was just thinking about this the other day. I'm assuming you just ran a .284 reamer in short. Did you also simply shorten a .284 FL die? I haven't measured, but it would be a fair piece to remove.
Old thread I missed......

I used the SAMMI reamer and short stepped it. First FL die was
just cut short then honed to match the chamber cast. A little
slight of hand allowed me to use the 7/08 LEE collet die for neck
sizing, which I continue to use. Testing for a 400 yard deer match
then match results on the heart target. !83 SMK, Ramshot Hunter,
BR2 primer. I blew a couple and put me out of the running.
 

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I ran a 7mm-08AI in a prs rig for several years. Ran primarily varget and 4350 with 162 amax/eld or 168 sierra (very underrated bullet) in a 4gv krieger finished at 22". It shot solid for 6k rounds and I limped it along for another 1500rds. It is still shooting solid but when it got hot would start stringing off.
This is some really good info
 
@Mulligan this version pushes the shoulder back at the neck junction like an SLR as opposed to blowing it forward at the body junction in the AIs. The result (based on my 6SLR data, which is made the same way) is a case with effectively the same capacity as the parent but with a greater shoulder angle. The advantage here is no fire forming. AI's get slightly more capacity with the added fire forming step. This version you size new brass and load.
Is there a benefit for the steeper shoulder?
 
I looked at them for a 7mm short action build. and it would
have been a toss up, Instead I wild catted a 284 Winchester
by shortening it to near ,308 length. It givers me a much
larger boiler room, and combined with a longer throat. I can
push a 183 SMK to 2820, but the accuracy load is 2770. It's
my SA284
Did you use a SA build for your wild cat 284? What is the COAL? Did you load from a magazine or single feed?
 
Is there a benefit for the steeper shoulder?
Less case growth, somewhat improved barrel life, and the general consensus is that cases with higher shoulder angles are somewhat more accurate. Take a look at all the popular bench rest rounds, they all have 30 to 40 degree shoulders.

For most of us, less case growth and probably more barrel life.
 
Did you use a SA build for your wild cat 284? What is the COAL? Did you load from a magazine or single feed?
This wild cat of mine was made for single feeding in a Savage 12 PTA.
Coal is 3.170 with a .240" throat and the 183 SMK's. Ejecting a loaded
round just clears the port and a non starter for magazines. However, JGS
made me a reamer with a .140 throat to work with magazine rifles. My buddy
Ethan Lam is thinking about this cartridge for a PRS build, and thus the new
reamer.....Latest testing with IMR/Enduron-4451 let me shout a 4 shot group
of 5/8th inch at 500 yards with the183 SMK's at 2804 FPS. The follow up
group to confirm was just under one inch. .....Last 4451 test.

I know the original intent of this thread was for the Saw and the 08 Ackley but
building off a shortened 284 Winchester case gives you the use of 3 more grains
of powder in a .308 length case and still be able to use the 308 bolt face.
 

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I have a Howa 1500 308" with factory 22" thin barrel.
It is good shooter to 600 yards on 3MOA target.

I am bit spoiled with hitting steel at 1000-1200 yards.

I am considering rebarreling the Howa in 7mm rifle while using the same bolt face.
Thus, things to be considered:
7-08, 7-08AI and 7-SAW chambering with long lead chambering for the heavies
Highest 7mm BC Match bullets that can fit in a max COAL with no-binder plate magazine of 2.955"

I do not like fireforming cases unless the cream of wheat method is good enough.

What do you recommend?
 
I do not like fireforming cases unless the cream of wheat method is good enough.

What do you recommend?
Straight .284 with as long as throat you can use with your mag length.
Even with seating bullets deeper. the .284 will surpass the 7/08 and SAW.
 

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