7 creed or 7-08ai

[Borisserge]

Hi guys I'm building a lightweight carry gun for stalking, out to distances 250 yards maximum.
I have a short 7mm carbon wrapped barrel, Ti suppressor, carbon stock (either PSE composite @ 23oz or a similar b &c @ 30oz) and a custom action with jewell trigger.
So the question, do I go for 7 creedmoor or a 7-08ai?


Pluses 7cm
Lapua brass with small primer
6.5cm dies neck up (easy to buy off the shelf)
No fire forming

Minus
No factory ammo

Pluses 7-08ai
Lapua Palma brass cheap and easy to buy
Can use 7-08 factory ammo

Minus
Dies aren't off the shelf or cheap
Have to fire form

 

[B23]

Of those two choices, I'd go 7CM. There is such a tiny increase when you improve the 7-08 that for me, just wouldn't be worth it. I think if you want more performance than a 7CM would offer, I'd go with the 284 and neck up Lapua 6.5-284 brass. Also, with any of those choices, if you're building off of a short action, I'd have a extended mag box installed, it'll allow you an OAL of nearly 3.00

 

[XTR]

Why in the world would you go with a wildcat of any kind of a 250 yard gun unless you are shooting BR? Just build a 7-08.

The difference in a 7-08 and a 7-08AI with similar pressures is on the order of 50 to 100 FPS, you gain maybe 3% capacity when you AI a 308 based case. It's already got very little taper.

Shooting to 250 yds there is nearly zero difference, and no difference you can see in field shooting from a 100 yard zero in almost any of the bottleneckd modern rifles. The difference in come up between a 7-08 and a 7mmRM at 250 yards from a 100 yard zero is about 1¾ inch.

A 7-08 will run 140 class bullets at 2900 with out pressure in a mag length configuration. What more do you need. Most hunting bullets don't like impacts in the 3000+ FPS range, they blow up.

Do yourself a favor, build a 7-08. If you really want more build a 284. In a short action with 140s it will out shoot either of the options you have listed.

 

[cjames]

+1 for XTR. I have a 7MM-08 that I made the longest shot on an animal I have ever taken. I shot a spike from my stand that was at my son's stand (he was not in it at the time) at 456 yrds. My stand is on a ridge that I can look down over his direction and keep an eye on him and what he was shooting at. In our part of the country, if you saw what type of thick stuff we hunt in, you'd thank I was bat sh#* crazy for even thinking of a shot like that. My load is a 140 Partition and Varget. It was the last weekend of doe and spike season and a big spike came out and stood broadside. Dropped him in his tracks and the bullet exited. That was also probably the most nervous I have have been in years shooting at an animal. We needed one more deer in the freezer for the year. My rifle is no light weight. Its a trued 700 with a 5.5 Krieger 9 twist in a McMillan stock and IS a shooter. 7MM-08 is hard to beat. I haven't seen one yet first hand that hasn't shot at least MOA and some that have shot WAY under MOA.

 

[Liven The Dream]

7.08 … You don't need more. Fire forming is a time eater ..

 

[284winner]

Keep it simple. Standard 7/08 is pretty simple.

 

[JBT47]

Performance of the two would be very similar. 7-08 would be less time consuming and would be my choice.

 

[FilippoMo]

If you like wildcat cartridges this is an interesting one:https://westtexordnance.com/7mm-saw/
Filippo

 

[Borisserge]

Thank you guys for sharing your insights and experiences.

As I said, it will be a short carry rifle, the barrel will be short, approximately 17 or 18" finished.

It will be used on for deer and red deer.

 

[grovey]

I say go 7-08AI if you want too. Way more hp than a 7mm CM would give you. Although.... the 120gr Nosler bt is a bad azz 7mm bullet , and would be a perfect match for either choice. Perfect big game bullet.

 

[simo hayha]

250yards and lite. 7cm on shortaction

Idd rather neck up then down

 

[Evan]

Given what you describe, why not build a 6.5 Grendel? It REALLY matches your proposed use.

 

[Borisserge]

I love the Grendel in both 6mm and 6.5mm, but I have the barrel sorted in 7mm.

Thoughts on a 7x47L?
I already shoot 6x47L and 6.5x47L

 

[DaveTooley]

As others have said with a barrel that short go 7-08. The older I get the lazier I get. The older I get I find I can do more with less. Don't over look the 120 gr. bullets. They are plenty big for anything in the deer size class. I have a 20" 7-08 IMP shooting 120's @3100 FPS.

 

[dsbw]

XTR summed it up the best, good, logical explanation, just do a damn 7-08, whatever else you may consider in that category will give you meaningless improvement, if any. Even 200 fps (as highlighted by XTR) for those kinda distances are useless gains.

 

[Evan]

I love the Grendel in both 6mm and 6.5mm, but I have the barrel sorted in 7mm.

Thoughts on a 7x47L?
I already shoot 6x47L and 6.5x47L

If that is a new bushing in your dies, then that could be an easy option, but I'd worry a bit about accidentally mixing ammo.

 

[Borisserge]

Not a problem with mixing brass up, as it's all well catalogued and separated.
I would be interested to see how many firing you would get out a box of 100, and barrel life - it sips powder relatively to the -08 case.

 

[AckleymanII]

Family and friends covert many with 24" Remington 7/08's shooting 130g speer btsp with 42g of IMR 4895, Rem case, Rem 9 1/2 At 3000 fps. Tiny groups with magic white tail killing ability....magic! Those that shoot this bullet and load become True Believers!

 

[Zero333]

I'd go with the straight 7mm08 and load it with round nose bullets. Use Spitzer bullets if shooting beyond 250 yards.

 

[troupe]

Keep it 7-08. Very simple with no issues. A good 140 will handle anything you aim at.