7mm hunting rifle

[wvuredneck09]

I am going to build i light hunting setup with a manners stock/stiller action/26" stainless barrell (prob. krieger) light contour. My biggest question is which 7mm round? I love the ballistics of the 168-180 grain bergers and will likely use one of these. Here are the ones on my list, what do you all think? One in particular has always interested me but i here little about it, the 7-08

7MM WSM
7mm RSAUM
280 (formed from lapua 30-06, maybe AI)
284 (formed from lapua 6.5-384)
7mm-08 (formed from lapua 308)

May even look into 6.5-284, 260 remington, 6.5x47

Will be hunting mostly whitetail but would like to use on elk sized animals out to 500-600 yards. 1/2 moa will do but 1/4 would be awesome haha.

 

[5spd]

7mm-08 is the 2nd one I am building. I was tossing up .260 rem/.270/6.5 x47/.280, but wanted in on a SA, so it won out over the others. Not a problem with moose & elk on my last one I did for my son.

 

[deadlyswift]

My vote would be the 7mm-08! For Elk I can't speak on facts just Theroy...I would think with a well placed shot with the right bullet there would not be a problem with Elk out to 500yd. For Whitetail and Hog's It is now my dedicated Cal. of chocie!

What's not to like about the7mm-08? Great ballistics, great barrel life, less recoil, Inherently accurate, non feeding issues, and the list could go on!

 

[wvuredneck09]

I agree about the 7-08 just didn't know if the extra power of the 280 (7-06) would be worth it, never have shot one to know what the recoil is like, barrel life wouldn't be that much worse and components are still easy to find, of course the same goes for the 284. short action would save me a few oz. but is not going to make or break anything.

 

[MrMajestic]

Many are shooting the 7mm RSAUM now on long range sports. I didn't look it up but I think the '08 would be a little slow with the 180's. I believe 2950 fps is obtainable with the RSAUM. My build from Bartlein is due any day now(27" Sendero contour on a 700LA) so this info is just from my research. Of course game animals require shot placement firstly however if a half ton 6X6 presents itself at 600 yds. a little extra energy would help!

 

[wvuredneck09]

I agree but the RSAUM and WSM brass can be a pain to get right and they are also barrel burners.

 

[kennyg]

+1 for the 7 SAUM! Almost done putting mine together

 

[huffmanite]

What!!!!!!! No 7x57 mauser shown as a potential cartridge. Just kidding, although it is a good cartridge for what you intend to hunt.

 

[dennisinaz]

Redneck- I have used most of those you listed. I have killed elk with 708 and 260 Rem. Both will work. I think the 708 is a little better elk round. I used 154 Hornadys. Never shot one over 300 yards with it though. The 260 shot an elk at 450ish but didn't drop it. Don't remember where it was hit but the elk was already wounded so I was just trying to get it down. I was using 140 GSs in the 260.

I'm not trying to rain on your party but if you want a light contour, you don't want a 26" barrel. I wouldn't go more than 22"-23" with a light contour. I have no problems shooting at 500-600 yds with the 22" barrels both of mine use. A 180 Berger is going to be tough in a short action- Maybe with a Wyatts box etc you might get away with it but i doubt it.

I have a 260 AI and 6.5-284. The 260 is a short action and the 6.5 is long action. I don't shoot 140 VLDs in the short action. I use 140 SGKs or 108 Lapuas mostly. The long action lets me use whatever I want. Even my heavy 6.5 is only 25".

Hope this helps.

 

[wapiti25]

Berger wants the Hunting VLD to impact at 2000 ft/sec. I built my rifle a 7mm Rem Mag using the 168 vld which shoots real good at 3050 ft/sec out of a 25" Krieger barrel.

 

[M700]

Highly recommend this article on the 7mm WSM as a long range hunting rifle - posted right here on this forum:

http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek064.html

Also, not a thing wrong with the good old 7mm Rem mag. Of course the WSM essentially duplicates it for velocity. Took a good size Wyoming bull on a backcountry trip with a single 175 gr Nosler, sent via a light and handy (and inexpensive) 700 ADL:

 

[wvuredneck09]

thanks for all the great info and I will read that article for sure. Only reason I was wanting to go 26" on the barrel was for velocity but with either mag that shouldn't be an issue and a 22 might be in order to keep the gun light and "pointable"

 

[bheadboy]

REdNeck,

I have gone the route you are and my experience is the following, the 280AI was my choice for a number of years following the 300wm for many years, all on 700 trued with Hart bbls and hightech stocks, all shooting .300-.400 with handloads.

then i decided to go lighter weight (after heart surgery) and this is my suggestion

Read my postings on the 7-08AI i have just completed a years test and you will get the full story -- but the conclusion is the following

7-08AI 24"bbl fluted 9 twist Hart trued 700, hightech stk lup 4.5x14 50mm and it weighs a hair over 7lbs.

140nbt or sbt shoot into .300's at 3030fps (all you need for long deer) and the 160's go into the high 2800's, more than enough for elk etc.

Mind you this preformance is from a 24"bbl, with H414 at 50.2gr from my chamber, very close to the 280AI from a 26"bbl.!!!!

RL17 is good but h414 has a slight edge in my rig, i use R/P brass so the loads you get with Lapau would most likely be lower but the velocity in the same 3025-3060 fps for 140s

Bob

 

[wvuredneck09]

Bob, love the thread, and also enjoyed the bulletin on the 7WSM rifle. Both amazing rigs, really all good choices it seems.

 

[p-man]

I would suggest that you look seriously at the 280 Ackley Improved - Go to Kenny Jarrett's website for Jarret Rifles - his personal favorite (along with Chub Eastman) is the 280AI - you literally get 7mm Mag performance without the recoil. I have 13 rifles and two of those are the 280AI - if I had to have only one caliber to do it all, this is it. My observation in comparing the standard 280 and the improved version is that the Ackley chamber really comes into its own with heavier bullets such as the 160 grain - so you have the capability to work up lighter weight deer rounds and heavier weight elk rounds with the same gun. Suggest 8.5 - 9 twist. Commercial brass is available from Nosler but I have no problem fireforming my own from standard 280 brass. Have fun putting this project together.

 

[bheadboy]

P-man has a point - however-

i have owned 2 280AI s and both were very accurate and handled 140-160 in the 7mmrem mag velocity range from a 26in bbl.

THe surprise to me is the 7-08 AI giving within 70-80 fps for the same bullet from a 24in bbl with 10gr less powder than the 280AI.
Kenny also has lots to say about the 7-08AI he does use 20bbl but my experience is the 24 makes the 7-08 AI a real winner allowing for slower powder to do its work giving higher velocity.

Bob

 

[normmatzen]

O.K! I'll mention the 7 X 57 Mauser!

I am almost done with my VZ24 action, military barrel sporter. The gunsmithing is done, just have to finish the stock. I did it because I could! I like stuff I build myself, even tho I had a gunsmith cut and head space the barrel as well as blue it. I changed to a Bold trigger , modern safety to use with a scope and jeweled the bolt. Bought a nice Pentax 1.5-6 scope with reticle that matches the ballistics of 7mm 140 gr (I'm partial to Pentax, have many Pentax system cameras), so I should be good to go. By the way, I mounted the barrel after head spacing in the unfinished stock and 100 yd slightly over 1 MOA was the result. After finishing and glass bedding, I believe I will have a great hunter.

The old 7X57 can safely be loaded heavier than the American loading manuals advise, check the European loads. 7-08 loads are possible.

That said, probably a better solution would be the 7-08. Essentially the same cartridge/bullet but less hassle with a build and a short action can be used.

 

[wvuredneck09]

Okay, the engineer in me came out and heres the results in a chart, still confused, to close to call. All values for 168 Berger Hunting VLD


Caliber MV (ft/sec) Drop @ 600 10 MPH @ 600 ft*lbs @ 600 Brass/100 Prem. Brass Over Bore
7-08 AI 2800 80.1 inches 21.9 inches 1444 43.98 71.99 L 890
280 AI 2900 73.9 inches 20.8 inches 1566.4 39.58 119.99 L 1110
284 Win 2900 73.9 inches 20.8 inches 1566.4 63.98 121.49 L 1050
7 WSM 3100 63.2 inches 18.9 inches 1825.8 68.98 83.98 N 1260
7 RSAUM 3100 63.2 inches 18.9 inches 1825.8 71.99 ??? 1170
7 Rem Mag 3000 68.2 inches 19.8 inches 1693.7 59.98 129.99 N 1330

MV= estimate based off of some info on this site and ammoguide
Drop/Wind/energy = JBM ballistics
Brass = all midway winchester brass except RSAUM which is remington
Prem. Brass = all midway Lapua(L) or Norma(N) brass per 100 all require forming other than 7 Rem Mag
Overbore= index number comparing water cap. to bore and may pred. barrel life

The only thing I can say is it seems that the best bang for my buck might be the 7-08AI but requires alot more brass work than the 284. Eliminate the 7 Rem Mag based off of this info and the 7WSM shows no adv. over RSAUM but I cant find norma brass in 300 SAUM which i have read is out there.

 

[deadlyswift]

Good research! Based on your numbers. If it was me I would take the 7-08AI and the 280AI and flip a coin! ;D

If you have not looked already check these two site's out for brass. Both usually offer better prices on brass than Midway.

http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/index.html

http://www.brunoshooters.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=BSS

 

[cliffe]

hey redneck, how can you list a 7 rem. mag at 3000fps and the 7rsaum at 3100? a good 7mm just by the numbers is a 7mm gibbs . anything a 7mm ackley does, it can do FASTER...... cliffe