7mm hunting rifle

[germanlongbow]

280 AI without a doubt. Great performance with mild recoil. Scott

 

[4xforfun]

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.

Sorry...gotta call you on that one....the real answer...1800 fps. See paragraph 9 on link.


http://www.bergerbullets.com/Cartridges/30%20Cal/308%20Win/308%20Win%20-%20Hunting.html

 

[yukonal]

I think you're starting to get all wrapped up in these 7MM cannons. Go back to your opening question, and take a good look at the 7MM-08. It has/does everything you want. I've built 2 in the last 3 years, and have killed alot of BG animals with the 708.

My lightweight has a 22"- #1 Lilja in a Bansner stock. I'm sure you'd be happy with a 708, you can't get much simpler. I also resized .308 Lapua for the brass.

 

[wvuredneck09]

agreed, however are u able to shoot the long vlds in you 7-08 short action?

 

[effendude]

Everything has a price. IMOH, for hurling heavy for caliber, high BC bullets at longer ranges for hunting, a magnum case/velocity is required. Even my SA cartridges are built on long actions so I can make the most of case capacity and feed the long, high BC bullets. Build a 7mm Rem Mag for simplicity, a STW or RUM for more style points, or a WSM/RSAUM for efficiency. Build a .284 Win. or 7-08 if you want a std. caliber but use a long action. The weight won't make a difference when you are carrying it.

Realistically, you will get less than 1000 rounds through any magnum before accuracy starts to fall off dramatically. That is alot of hunting! Barrels are cheap!

Scott

 

[yukonal]

agreed, however are u able to shoot the long vlds in you 7-08 short action?

140 VLD's are working in the mag just fine. No need to go any bigger in a 708.

If you want bigger, just build a 7 Rem Mag and be done with it...

 

[dummy]

7mm rem mag seems to be the ticket.

 

[Clark]

I have long guns lying around I can hunt deer and antelope with; 19 Badger,.222, .223, 22-250, 6mmBR, .243, 25/35, 250/3000, 257 Robert Ackley Improved, 260Rem, 6.5x55, 270, 7x57mm, 7mm Rem mag, 30-30, 303Sav, 300Sav, 7.62x39mm, 308, 7.5Swiss, 30-06, 300WM, 303Brit,7.62x54R, 8x57mm, 338WM, 44mag, 45acp, 45Colt, .410, 45/70, and 12 ga.

I am now hunting long range, and my emphasis in order of importance is now:
1) 7mmRM
2) 270
3) 257RAI
4) 243

I can kill any broadside animal at 500 yards with the 270.
I want to reach out to 600 yards reliably, and that is why I will build an number of 7mmRemMag rifles in 2012.

 

[yukonal]

Clark--

I think that pretty much says it all. I'm going to build a 6BR, then a "heavier" 7 Rem Mag, and if they turn out nice, everything else is going down the road. One little hitter, and one big hitter...

What Glass, and what bullet are you using with the 7 Mag?

 

[effendude]

Al, Remember who you are talking to. 2 rifles in the entire arsenal? I know better. ;D

Did you go to Texas yet? I leave for Sonoran Mule Deer Weds. Outfitter called yesterday, hunter \this week has turned down 180 and 190" bucks each day waiting for 200"!
Scott

 

[wvuredneck09]

sign me up for a 190" mule deer, agreed that you cant just have 2 guns, maybe 2 in each caliber but not just 2.

 

[yukonal]

Al, Remember who you are talking to. 2 rifles in the entire arsenal? I know better. ;D

O.K., so I got a little carried away...

Still, I could thin out the herd a little. Good luck on the mulies. Don't forget the horseshoe. ;D

 

[yukonal]

Al, Remember who you are talking to. 2 rifles in the entire arsenal? I know better. ;D

Did you go to Texas yet? I leave for Sonoran Mule Deer Weds. Outfitter called yesterday, hunter \this week has turned down 180 and 190" bucks each day waiting for 200"!
Scott

Scott--took me a few minutes to figure it out. Did you kill the big bad wolf? AR'd a 'yote early this week up at Princeton.

OP--7 Rem Mag still has my vote. 168 Bergers, and it's off to the races.

 

[joemax]

In short actions with bullets up to 162 amax/168 bergers in length and max of 500 yards or so, the 7-08 or AI version is my choice. For longer ranges and/or longer bullets the 7rsaum is my choice. If pressed to choose only one, I would get rid of my 7-08. When contemplating cartridges for hunting, barrel life is not usually a factor that influences my decision. Barrels are replaceable and with care a barrel used primarily for hunting will last an awful long time.

 

[stapher1]

A 280 AI would be a great choice. Put in a 140 gr bullet and it will do anything a 7mm mag will do and with a 168 gr it'snot enough difference to worry about. Give it a lighter charge and tone it down to a standard 280 in power. 8)

 

[TheSnake]

A 280 AI would be a great choice. Put in a 140 gr bullet and it will do anything a 7mm mag will do and with a 168 gr it'snot enough difference to worry about. Give it a lighter charge and tone it down to a standard 280 in power. 8)

When hunting paper, I agree with this but when hunting game, I do not. Using a 168gr Berger as the bullet and a minimum of 1800 fps as mentioned earlier in this thread, an increase of 150fps MV extends your maximum range by 110 yards. Or if you prefer, a 100fps increase by 75 yards. When hunting out past 600, it does make a difference. I realize the OP mentioned 500-600 as his preferred range, but I would hate to miss out on a real nice Elk because I couldn't get there from here. I do agree that with lighter bullets they are more equal.

 

[wvuredneck09]

what are people actually getting, SAFELY, out of the 284,280AI,7 Mag and 7RSAUM with the 168 bergers? long action, only want numbers from people who load this bullet in these rounds, please no hearsay. I would still like to hears others opinions though. Thanks for all of the input.

 

[oldroper]

what are people actually getting, SAFELY, out of the 284,280AI,7 Mag and 7RSAUM with the 168 bergers? long action, only want numbers from people who load this bullet in these rounds, please no hearsay. I would still like to hears others opinions though. Thanks for all of the input.

I have one question in some of your other posting you have 7WSM and 300mag. Have you chronograph the 7WSM with 168gr for some real world velocity or even the 300mag.

I had the 284 and 280AI build to what I like vs how you may build one and if your trying to choose base on velocity I'm not sure that's the right approach.

I wish you luck

 

[wapiti25]

Out of a 25" barrel I have chrono'ed 3050 and that is not max with the 168 berger, 7mm Rem Mag. That is good to 700 yds at 7000 ft elevation. My gun will shoot 3" groups at 500 yds any day, and it weights 8lbs ready to hunt. GunWerks ammo has 3070 ft/sec on the box.

 

[effendude]

I had a customer this fall shooting a Tikka T3, 24" bbl 7mmRem Mag with the Best of the West Ammo, 168 VLD that was doing 2800 fps, 5 shots over the chrono had an ES of 3 fps. I was impressed with the ES considering the $60 box of 20 rounds had 3 different brand case headstamps in it. The ammo shot well back to 400 yards, but the bullet was seated way down into the case.
Scott