7mm middle weight hunting build

[delivery_boy]

greetings all,

I'm taking the plunge into my first hunting gun build and i'm doing it a little differently. Rather than start with a new action I've hunted (pun intended) high and low for a classic and today i took delivery of a Tikka LSA 55 chambered in 22-250. The rifle itself is in poor condition, the finish on the stock is quite deteriorated but the timber is solid. The metalwork is poor but the rifle is complete.

I have also picked up a 23 1/2" match grade stainless 7mm 1:10" twist barrel blank in rem sporter no2 profile, my experience with my 7-08 and .284W rifles tells me the 1:10" twist will shoot anything from 120gr to 175gr bullets

My question relates to chamberings. given that the rifle is currently 22-250 it makes sense to chamber the new barrel in a similarly length cartridge with a .4728 case head dimension. so the question is...

What cartridge should i consider?

I would say the. 6.5 Grendel necked up to 7mm would be too short for the magazine (smaller case head) and i suspect a 7BR may have feeding issues also. I've thought of necking up some new Lapua 22-250 brass and using bushing dies, but 6.5X47 necked up could also fit the bill and be easier to expand. Either case should be capable of driving 120-150gr bullets at reasonable velocities.

I guess i'm looking for advice from someone whose hunted with a light weight 7mm who can share some experience.

thanks in advance, Delivery_boy

EDIT: Oops, I should have mentioned that here in Australia the main game targeted with this gun will be goats and pigs at ranges to 200y

 

[jonbearman]

I would think an easier route would be the 7mm08 . It is just a .308 necked down to 7mm. It has plenty of knock down power and it is so easy to make.

 

[mmcu]

A second vote for the 7mm-08.

 

[hogpatrol]

A second vote for the 7mm-08.

Make that 3 votes.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

I'll add to that, but tweak it a bit.....I did the same thing, but chambered in 7mm-08 Ackley 40*, and the results just about duplicate the ballistics of my pet .270 Win, but does it with ten grains LESS powder.



Use the Barnes 120gr TTSX, and you'll be set for anything that walks there.
(Shown with 120gr NBT and 130gr NBT)

 

[357Mag]

Dboy -

Howdy !

How 'bout some " strange " .... ?

.35 Rem can be readily necked-down to 7mm, using a ( Redding ) 7 X 64 Brenneke case " forming " die.
The 2 cases have very similar case taper rates, and stock shoulder angles.

The final 7mm wildcat ( I call " 7MUP " ) has a case lg of 1.920" vs 1.912" lg of the .22-250.

I have trial formed this wildcat, and can tell you it forms as-easy-as squeezing butter in your hand ( very, very low forming effort ).

A " perch" is used, to enable entry of the .35Rem cases into the longer form die. The perch is made froma stock .308 shell holder, a flat head machine screw w/ head diam < .460"; and a jam nut ( the latter 2 probably 1/4 - 20 ).

The perch is snapped inot-place on the press arbor ( mine's a Rockchucker ), and any excess threas protruding beneath the shellholder; get positioned in the primer ram slot of the arbor ( primer arm removed ).

Brass to be formed is place atop the perch, and the press arm operated to advance the cases up-into the die.

7mm cases emerge from the die in net shape, w/o much thickening of the neck walls.

A comparison of case specs shows that the neck lg of 7 X 64 is within a couple 'thou of being exaclty the same as .35 Rem neck Lg.
That is within many loader's case trim allowance.

.35 Rem brass CAN still be had (locally, it's Winchester-brand ).

" 7MUP " would have case capacity of close to 51gr H2O, and thusly would be a tad smaller in capacity than a 7 -08, or a 7mm wildcat
off of .300 Savage brass.

.35 Rem rim diam is funtional w/ a standard .308 bolt face ( my .22-35 wildcat worked just fine in my Wichita WBR 1375 action, which has an
M-16 style extractor ).

" 7MUP" requires NO custom dies, and no custome reamers. The 7 X 64 form die is a stocked item @ Redding, and perhaps also places like
Sinclairs. IT'd be a no-brainer wildcat for a shooter already set-up for ( with ) .35 Rem brass.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[GSPV]

My friend/gunsmith Mike Ezell and I have discussed the 7-47 Lapua some. There was also a thread on it a while back as an F Class cartridge.

I am thinking about rebarreling my Tikka T-3 in it for the same purpose you are...and all around hunting rifle.

The question that I have is feeding from the magazine. In my case, it will be short action AICS mags.

I may also try it out in place of the 7 Shehane that I use in my varmint match rifle since we never shoot over 500 yards.

Best,

 

[Changeling]

I would consider the game you are going to hunt first, if it's nothing larger than sheep, goats and pigs I would sell the 7mm barrel, and get a good 6mm barrel (25/26 "). Neck down the 250 cases to 6mm and have a fantastic rifle for rabbits to Roos with great accuracy potential, but that's just me. Even better you could build a 6mm-250 AI.

If you really want to stick with 7mm Rick in Oregon had a great suggestion. However if you decide to go up North (Australia) and hunt the BIG Buffalo’s you will need more gun than the 7mm.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[L.Sherm]

7mm-08 or 7mm-08AI will get it done for what you need

 

[delivery_boy]

Thanks for the replies gentlemen,

Mtge 7-08 is a great cartridge and one I enjoy shooting and loading for. I already own a Tikja T3 varmint stainless chambered in 7-08 and it shoots bullets from 120gr Vmax up to 162gr Amax under 1/2 moa. My first instinct when i bought the 7 mm 10" twist blank was 7-08 but the project gun is in 22-250 and I was concerned about magazine and action length, even loading lighter flat base bullets.

I'll make up some dummy rounds using a 250 savage , a 6.5x47 and a .7-08 case and compare them to the magazine length.

Otherwise the. 6.5x 47 case and bushing dies might be the simplest option.

The .35 Remington looks interesting, case length should be about right for the action but I fear the availability here of quality 6.5x47 cases and its small primer may tip the scales that way

Thanks again Delivery_boy

 

[bheadboy]

?? why not a 6.5 x 250 sav/22-250 case. could go AI, buy Redding 22-250SI dies and have a smith open the neck to 6.5mm etc.

I know this is similar to the 6.5 creedmore but I am thinking th 40 degree AI shoulder with higher capacity.

Bob

 

[delivery_boy]

?? why not a 6.5 x 250 sav/22-250 case. could go AI, buy Redding 22-250SI dies and have a smith open the neck to 6.5mm etc.

I know this is similar to the 6.5 creedmore but I am thinking th 40 degree AI shoulder with higher capacity.

Bob

I plan to stick to 7mm for a couple of reasons. I can share bullets, neck bushings, neck turning gear and powders with two of my other rifles, a 7-08 and a .284w but mainly because the 7mm barrel I bought cost me $300 Australian. To put that into perspective a finished barrel from the same manufacturer here cost $815 Australian so it was cheap!

I had previously been thinking about slow twist a 6BR shooting 70-80gr bullets but I'm going to let the action/magazine length and 7mm barrel set the parameters and work with them.

Thanks for the suggestions though, there are many cartridges that will do the job for this purpose but I need to stick around the 7mm, 2.3-2.4" COAL framework to suit the barrel and action I will be using

Delivery_boy

 

[357Mag]

Dboy


G'Day on ya !

For info: .35 Rem utilizes the standard- size " large rifle " primer.


Another possible 7mm wildcat would be " 7 Creedmoor " ( 6.5 Creedmoor as the parent brass ).
Basically, you'd be wildcatting on a fore-shortened .308 case.

It's All good !


With regards,
357Mag

 

[CSM19Z5M]

Nothing wrong with anything said in this thread but I have to tell you I have killed countless deer and elk over the years with a custom 7mm Rem Mag. I have never lost an animal .......... ever with that cartridge. Yes, it has a belted case but so what. It's a hunting rifle and you can't go wrong with it. Lots of bullets to chose from too. I hit a big bull at 400+ yds a few years back and he went down where he stood. Likewise, I have shot lots of mule deer at 100-200 yards and, if you are a decent shot, there is very little damage to the meat. I have hunted with a 300 Win Mag too but much prefer the 7 Mag because it doesn't hurt you like the 300 does. Sometimes, the old standard is one of the best and I will always consider it my number one hunting caliber. Good luck to you.

 

[delivery_boy]

Nothing wrong with anything said in this thread but I have to tell you I have killed countless deer and elk over the years with a custom 7mm Rem Mag. I have never lost an animal .......... ever with that cartridge. Yes, it has a belted case but so what. It's a hunting rifle and you can't go wrong with it. Lots of bullets to chose from too. I hit a big bull at 400+ yds a few years back and he went down where he stood. Likewise, I have shot lots of mule deer at 100-200 yards and, if you are a decent shot, there is very little damage to the meat. I have hunted with a 300 Win Mag too but much prefer the 7 Mag because it doesn't hurt you like the 300 does. Sometimes, the old standard is one of the best and I will always consider it my number one hunting caliber. Good luck to you.

Thanks for the reply CSM19Z5M

i'm sure the 7RM is a great hunting round, If I ever felt i needed more grunt than my .284Winchester the 7RM would be my choice but at this stage i'm looking for a step down from my 7-08.

Delivery_boy

 

[onelastshot]

My choice would be a 7-57 Mauser. Wide range of bullets, brass is easy to find and ammunition is moderately priced. I've used a Ruger single shot on deer and off for thirty plus years and killed more deer with that rifle than all my others combined.

 

[Rustystud]

Since Spring I have built three 7mm/08s, one 280 Rem, one 280AI, and one 7mm Remington mag all have shot groups sub .3s with Barnes Tipped Triple Shocks, Nosler AB, and Swift Sciroccos.
All with Muller Works #3 Sporters, #4 Sporters, #4 Sporter, 20" to 26" 1:8.7, 5R.

Nat Lambeth

 

[CJ6]

greetings all,





I would say the 7 IHMSA would be too short for the magazine (smaller case head) and i suspect a 7BR may have feeding issues also. I've thought of necking up some new Lapua 22-250 brass and using bushing dies, but 6.5X47 necked up could also fit the bill and be easier to expand. Either case should be capable of driving 120-150gr bullets at reasonable velocities.

The 7mm IHMSA is based on the 300 Sav. it has the the same .473 bolt face.

 

[delivery_boy]

greetings all,





I would say the 7 IHMSA would be too short for the magazine (smaller case head) and i suspect a 7BR may have feeding issues also. I've thought of necking up some new Lapua 22-250 brass and using bushing dies, but 6.5X47 necked up could also fit the bill and be easier to expand. Either case should be capable of driving 120-150gr bullets at reasonable velocities.

The 7mm IHMSA is based on the 300 Sav. it has the the same .473 bolt face.

You are correct, I see my error and will correct my original post

I confused the 7 IHMSA with the .220 Russian case used in the 6.5 Grendel, another case I considered.

Delivery_boy

 

[nastynatesfish]

I'd just stick with the 7-08. I have 2. Built one off a 338ein mag savage hog hunter and shoot 162-180 bullets out of it. Throater it long for them. I built a 7-08 out of a ruger m77 243. It shoots great! No feed issues, it shoots best at book oal.
Far right is the old hog hunter

Ruger