I have been piddling with a 7mm BR for several years with the idea of using it as a hunting round on whitetail deer and hogs. After my triple bypass surgery in 2018 I needed, at least for a while, a lower recoiling load. Everything came together this year and I got to take it on three hunts during the recent season for deer here in Texas, and my grandson took it hunting last weekend.
I have got multiple hunting loads worked up, with my two favorites being a 120 gn Nosler BT behind 31.4 gn of H322 (2696 fps @ the muzzel) and a 140 gn Berger 140 VLD Hunting behind 31.5 gn of H4895 (2554 fps @ the muzzel). Both of these loads have consistently produced sub 1/2" 5 shot groups off sand bags on a bench.
I have also got a plinking load that consist of a 110 gn Speer TNT Varmint behind 31.1 gn of H322 (2672 fps @ the muzzel). It too will produced sub 1/2" 5 shot groups; even got a sub 1/2" 10 shot group one afternoon.
The rifle I put together consist of a Kelby Atlas action combined with a Kreiger #4 Heavy Sporter and a Trigger Tech trigger all supported by a MDT HNT 26 Chassis. It is all topped off with a Steiner Predator scope.
To say I am very pleased with the outcome is an understatement. Three deer, three shots, three kills, with the last being a trophy quality Texas coastal buck. The buck was at 185+ yards and a heart/lung shot did the trick. I took the shot and was pretty confident that I hit where I was aiming, but the buck took off like a sidewinder rocket, ran a big loop around a small grove of weesatch, and came running right towards us before he piled up at 50 yards. He hit the ground so hard that you could almost feel the ground shake. My hunting buddy said he was squirting blood out the exit hole right before he piled up in front of us. I was using the Nosler load on this buck. My buddy son's scored the buck at 185+, and we are going to get that confirmed by the taxidermist.
Hopefully the attached pic will prove my belief that you don't need a cannon if you choose the right load and place it where it needs to be. (Note: the other two deer, a small 10 point buck and a doe, were neck shots at 85 to 100 yards; both DRT.) I have got several interchangable barrels in 30 BR and 6.5 x 47 Lapua that go with the Atlas action. Having already taken antelope with the 6.5 x 47 Lapua; I plan to utlize the 30 BR next season.
I have got multiple hunting loads worked up, with my two favorites being a 120 gn Nosler BT behind 31.4 gn of H322 (2696 fps @ the muzzel) and a 140 gn Berger 140 VLD Hunting behind 31.5 gn of H4895 (2554 fps @ the muzzel). Both of these loads have consistently produced sub 1/2" 5 shot groups off sand bags on a bench.
I have also got a plinking load that consist of a 110 gn Speer TNT Varmint behind 31.1 gn of H322 (2672 fps @ the muzzel). It too will produced sub 1/2" 5 shot groups; even got a sub 1/2" 10 shot group one afternoon.
The rifle I put together consist of a Kelby Atlas action combined with a Kreiger #4 Heavy Sporter and a Trigger Tech trigger all supported by a MDT HNT 26 Chassis. It is all topped off with a Steiner Predator scope.
To say I am very pleased with the outcome is an understatement. Three deer, three shots, three kills, with the last being a trophy quality Texas coastal buck. The buck was at 185+ yards and a heart/lung shot did the trick. I took the shot and was pretty confident that I hit where I was aiming, but the buck took off like a sidewinder rocket, ran a big loop around a small grove of weesatch, and came running right towards us before he piled up at 50 yards. He hit the ground so hard that you could almost feel the ground shake. My hunting buddy said he was squirting blood out the exit hole right before he piled up in front of us. I was using the Nosler load on this buck. My buddy son's scored the buck at 185+, and we are going to get that confirmed by the taxidermist.
Hopefully the attached pic will prove my belief that you don't need a cannon if you choose the right load and place it where it needs to be. (Note: the other two deer, a small 10 point buck and a doe, were neck shots at 85 to 100 yards; both DRT.) I have got several interchangable barrels in 30 BR and 6.5 x 47 Lapua that go with the Atlas action. Having already taken antelope with the 6.5 x 47 Lapua; I plan to utlize the 30 BR next season.
