7mm WSMor 284 Win?

[LittleJeff]

Been thinking about getting another barrel for my switch barrel rifle. Rifle is a trued Rem 700LA. I have the std. bolt for 6.5-284 and 270 Win Ackley improved and a Pacific Machine bolt for my 300 Win Mag. Been thinking about getting a barrel for a 7mm cartridge. I like to do long range target shooting, would really like to try 1000yds. I'm torn between the 7mm WSM or the 284 Win. I just wish that Lapua or Norma would make some brass for the 7mm WSM. Can Winchester brass be made as good as Lapua and Norma? If I went with 284 Win, I think I would just size up Lapua 6.5-284 brass to 7mm. I'm sure this subject has been talked about so bear with me. If you had to chose, which one and why?
Thanks
Little Jeff

 

[Baron B58]

I would go with the 284 simply because of barrel life and I think it would be the lower recoiling round as well. The 7mm SAUM is also a better round than the WSM in my opinion.

 

[habu]

go with the .284 and the berger hybrid. load with h4831sc, mid 50 gr. you'll get about 2850 fps. +/-. [fed 210m/br-2]

there's no need for the average shooter to run the bullets up over 3000. - learn to shoot in the high master cat. [98%] and then consider something bigger, maybe.

start out with a 32" bbl and whack it back as the throat wears out. - having said that, with the hybrid [7mm, 180] - a tangant ogive bullet, the bullet likes to start at .015 off lands and should shoot to +/- .050 off, maybe more. i have 2 guns shooting the above data - #1 - 561 rds - .005 throat loss [was test gun], #2 - 526 rds - .003 throat loss. at this rate, will shoot the lands out of the guns before the throats wear out. [did that once with a 105 how. - the last 12" of lands disappeared - shot a bit raggedy after that]

get a hornady tapered expander button [7mm] and neck up your 6.5-.284 brass and go for it.

use a bbl with 1-8/1 -9 twt. [i prefer a 1-8.5 brux].

as to wether the saum is better than the wsm is open for dis. the saum is limited to how fast you can run bullet without running into presure problems as compared to the wsm. if you think i jest - why are the guys goin from the 7mm saum to the 270 or 300 wsm, necked up or down to 7mm??? [ok- lets hear the outcry for the above stateement]

both my guns run about .3 moa

have fun.

habu

 

[CZ550]

284 = Lapua Brass =

 

[GLC]

I have all three chamberings mentioned here,7/300 wsm (not the larger 7wsm) I actually agree with Habu, I really like the saum but it will max around 3030 (with a relible load and reasonable brass life) I have a great barrel so this rifle shoots very well, I also have a very good 7/300, I tend to shoot this more here in the UK as the weather is so lousy, the .284 and the Saum are much nicer to shoot than the wsm, on a nice day the .284 will run with the best but when it blows and fishtails the larger magnums rule.

Hope this helps your choice.
Regards
Gary Costello

 

[Larryh128]

I would agree with the brass choice for the 284. Lapua brass will give you a benefit without hours of working on it. I prefer the WSM's because I believe that the only place the short ultra mags will live is in benchrest shooting. They were pretty much an also ran from the start & brass at some point will only be available one time a year during their seasonal run.

 

[Jeffvn]

Hey Gary, its been a long time since we swapped an email. I hope things are going well for you across the pond.

I agree with Gary and Ron regarding the WSM cases versus the .284s and possibly the SAUM. I'm not sure if I were starting over I would opt for 7/300 or the 7/270 but a longer neck than what I have on the true 7WSM would be nice. The SAUM seems to do fine in the more moderate climates where I have been shooting lately, but I can see the argument that the case capacity from the WSM is needed when the weather changes for the poorer.

Ron - I can't disagree with the theory of shooting better before moving up on velocity, but that means that virtually no one would be shooting the WSMs. hmmmm interesting concept for a shooting "league" and for a theory I have on handicapping matches.. but that is for another day..

Personally I think the most accurate node for most of these cartridges is running around 2,820 - 2,850 fps. However, that does not stop me from living above 2,900 fps with my Berger 180s. I know lots of folks are starting to live above 3,000 fps now too. The only negative to living up there is going to be barrel longevity and dealing with a touch more recoil.

I do wish Lapua would make some brass for the WSM. At the last shot show I was told that they are going to make 300 WSM, so that may well be the deciding factor in my choice on the WSM base case. After I burn out what's left of my supply of true 7WSM, of course.

JeffVN

 

[Larryh128]

If Lapua made 300 WSM brass, I would be 2nd in line. I keep hoping.