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What's the best 7mm Cartridge?
#6088476
12/17/15 02:51 AM
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ltsheets
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So I've decided that the next rifle I have built will be 7mm variant. I'm leaning 28 Nosler, 7mm STW, or a good ole 7mm mag. I'm open to any and all suggestions. It will be for both steel shooting out to 1000+ yards and hunting. I just want to hear any and all opinions of the pros and cons of any 7mm cartridges you guys like. Thanks in advance.
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Re: What's the best 7mm Cartridge?
[Re: ltsheets]
#6088499
12/17/15 02:59 AM
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Joined: Jan 2011
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Revoman
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28 Nosler will be my next. Have a 280 but sure hankering for the 28, dang sure don't need it. Montana Rifles are building them in an all stainless hunting rifle.
Call'm an Kill'm
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Re: What's the best 7mm Cartridge?
[Re: ltsheets]
#6088510
12/17/15 03:02 AM
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Joined: Sep 2006
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caddokiller
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Do you reload? How heavy will the rifle be?
The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.- Thomas jefferson
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Re: What's the best 7mm Cartridge?
[Re: ltsheets]
#6088530
12/17/15 03:08 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
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J.G.
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Every one of them will do what you want to do. I love my custom 7 Rem Mag shooting 180 Bergers. If I were building a new rifle today I would look seriously at the 28 Nosler, simply because of case geometry. I wouldn't be surprised of it has the lowest ES of all of them.
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Re: What's the best 7mm Cartridge?
[Re: ltsheets]
#6088575
12/17/15 03:25 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 623
280AI
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Re: What's the best 7mm Cartridge?
[Re: ltsheets]
#6088676
12/17/15 04:03 AM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,506
kmon11
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All good choices listed and would throw in the 280AI, surprised the member that chose that as their name didn't recommend it.
Have had the STW and though it is a good round somewhat limited brass supply would have me thinking about it for a new purchase.
In wildcats the 300win mag necked down Is a good one. But the old 7mm RM has been getting it done for a long time
lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true Mainstream news might be fun to watch
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Re: What's the best 7mm Cartridge?
[Re: ltsheets]
#6088683
12/17/15 04:11 AM
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,016
SingleShot85
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I loathe long actions so 7mm-08 and .284 get my vote w a 168
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Re: What's the best 7mm Cartridge?
[Re: SingleShot85]
#6088689
12/17/15 04:17 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,173
J.G.
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Can't hold as much powder in a short action. Day to day I carry one of the short actions. But when the need arises I am happy to break out the 7 Rem Mag. Pushing a 180 gr north of 3k tends to mean cycling is no hurry, because one shot and it's over. But when I do hit steel with it emptying a full mag, I notice a fraction of a second more cycling time. I'll never understand loathing a long action.
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Re: What's the best 7mm Cartridge?
[Re: ltsheets]
#6088710
12/17/15 04:42 AM
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Posts: 18,954
ChadTRG42
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Re: What's the best 7mm Cartridge?
[Re: ltsheets]
#6088713
12/17/15 04:45 AM
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Dien
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I'm getting a 7/300 Norma Mag improved made. Should sling the new Bergers around 3200fps
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Re: What's the best 7mm Cartridge?
[Re: ltsheets]
#6088735
12/17/15 05:10 AM
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Yes I reload and my target bare rifle weight would likely be 8-8.5lbs so the total weight scoped would be about 10 lbs or less for when I want to carry it hunting.
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Re: What's the best 7mm Cartridge?
[Re: ltsheets]
#6088739
12/17/15 05:19 AM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 29,608
Sneaky
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7 Allen Mag.
But in a more practical rig, I would go with a 28 Nosler. I have and love an STW, but i think the Nosler ought to be close in performance and a bit better in other areas.
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Re: What's the best 7mm Cartridge?
[Re: J.G.]
#6088746
12/17/15 05:53 AM
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Sneaky
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Can't hold as much powder in a short action. Day to day I carry one of the short actions. But when the need arises I am happy to break out the 7 Rem Mag. Pushing a 180 gr north of 3k tends to mean cycling is no hurry, because one shot and it's over. But when I do hit steel with it emptying a full mag, I notice a fraction of a second more cycling time. I'll never understand loathing a long action. I don't get it, either. There's a price to pay for performance, and I'll gladly pay it. In respect to the length of an action, it's hardly any sacrifice.
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Re: What's the best 7mm Cartridge?
[Re: ltsheets]
#6088791
12/17/15 11:08 AM
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postoak
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Is the 7mm RUM obsolete now?
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Re: What's the best 7mm Cartridge?
[Re: ltsheets]
#6088821
12/17/15 12:09 PM
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dee
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For what you listed the 7mm-08 will be perfectly fine. If you plan on shooting a lot the majority of the la rounds are going to be hard on the barrel.
"A vote is like a rifle; it's usefulness depends on the character of the user" Theodore Roosevelt
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Re: What's the best 7mm Cartridge?
[Re: postoak]
#6088845
12/17/15 12:31 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 29,608
Sneaky
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Is the 7mm RUM obsolete now? No. It has its following. It's just so overbore that it won't do anything the rest of the hot sevens won't do, without a much longer barrel than most are willing to have, and with more powder to burn, more muzzle blast, etc.
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Re: What's the best 7mm Cartridge?
[Re: ltsheets]
#6088897
12/17/15 01:21 PM
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HWY_MAN
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So I've decided that the next rifle I have built will be 7mm variant. I'm leaning 28 Nosler, 7mm STW, or a good ole 7mm mag. I'm open to any and all suggestions. It will be for both steel shooting out to 1000+ yards and hunting. I just want to hear any and all opinions of the pros and cons of any 7mm cartridges you guys like. Thanks in advance. Your asking allot from one rifle, maybe too much.
Yes! A Weatherby does kill them deader.
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Re: What's the best 7mm Cartridge?
[Re: HWY_MAN]
#6088957
12/17/15 01:59 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,173
J.G.
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Really? I've got four rifles that will do that work.
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Re: What's the best 7mm Cartridge?
[Re: J.G.]
#6088977
12/17/15 02:13 PM
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HWY_MAN
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Really? I've got four rifles that will do that work. Yes really! If you want to sit there and throw 180's at everything, but your not going to run 115's and 125's worth a chit. Wasn't it you who was talking about building a rifle around one bullet? Not everybody wants to lob 180 grain pencil's.
Last edited by HWY_MAN; 12/17/15 02:20 PM.
Yes! A Weatherby does kill them deader.
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Re: What's the best 7mm Cartridge?
[Re: HWY_MAN]
#6089012
12/17/15 02:40 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,173
J.G.
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So you're not a handloader?
I can load for any bullet weight I want. I'm quite sure my 1:8.5 twist will run 120 gr bullets if I want it to. But why casturate a prized stud horse? And before you tell me sometimes you want a high speed bullet for varmints, I have a .223 and a .22-250 for that.
But you didnt say a word in the last post about ammo. You said it was asking alot of one rifle. That is simply not true. And yes the lightest weight hunting rifle you can find can be set up to hit what ever a guy wants at 1000 yards. All he has to do it put the right scope on it and feed it good ammo.
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Re: What's the best 7mm Cartridge?
[Re: ltsheets]
#6089037
12/17/15 02:55 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15,645
QuitShootinYoungBucks
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I agree one rifle will do all that. I also agree that two rifles would make more sense. A big seven, even at 10 lbs, isn't going to be fun to sit behind for 50+ rounds at the range banging steel. And a 7mm-08 at 500, 600 yards on a sheep or elk in some wind might not be the best choice either.
https://web.archive.org/web/20170223065011/http:/www.rrdvegas.com/silencer-cleaning.html
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Re: What's the best 7mm Cartridge?
[Re: ltsheets]
#6089044
12/17/15 02:59 PM
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Guys, I already have a custom 6.5x284 that weighs around 15lbs which is my primary steel shooter for practice as it's very comfortable to shoot. I want a big 7 to shoot steel occasionally but more so to be my heaviest hitting rifle for hunting. I have a custom 300wsm but after getting a 270wsm, I kinda don't want 2 wsm rifles and want something that's going to hit harder than that 300wsm anyway. Hope this helps clarify.
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Re: What's the best 7mm Cartridge?
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#6089049
12/17/15 03:02 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
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ChadTRG42
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My question is this- Why do shooters/hunters automatically go to the biggest rounds possible in a given caliber (7mm in this case) when they mention long range. Shooters assume you HAVE to have a big magnum to reach out that far.
When you build a 28 Nosler/7RUM in a hunting weight rifle, you will get maybe 3 shots before you heat up the barrel enough to need to let it cool. This does not allow you to get proficient with the rifle enough to be effective at longer range targets. If you add a thicker barrel, then it will help get a few more rounds down range to practice with, but them it becomes less practical.
Now, take a 7mm-08 and push a 162 grain A-max or 168 Berger VLD to 2650-2700 fps. You can get many practice rounds in without heating up a barrel too bad. If you can get a round on target, the 162/168 bullet will do it's job on animals out to as far as you can shoot. I field calls all the time with people wanting a 300 RUM or 7 RUM because they need to shoot out to 1K yards. If you are asking to get to 1K yards and have never done so, the last round I am going to recommend is a huge over bore magnum round for you to get there. You can not learn how to get out that far fast enough before you heat up a barrel and have to stop shooting. If you don't the rifle will start walking around on you. A 7 Mag is fine, with a heavy enough barrel. I do love a good 300 WM and 7 Mag. But have the rifle set up where you can shoot it enough without having rounds walk on you after 3-4 rounds, i.e. heavy barrel.
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Re: What's the best 7mm Cartridge?
[Re: ltsheets]
#6089063
12/17/15 03:10 PM
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ChadTRG42
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Ok, you posted that while I was typing. If you want hard hitting, that equals bullet weight. For example, my 300 WM. I shot the 190 grain SMK for many years in competitions. The 190 SMK hits pretty hard at 3050 fps. When Hornady came out with their 208 A-max a few years ago, I was so excited and went to that bullet. This 208 at 2950 fps hit even harder on steel at longer ranges than the 190 SMK. Then they came out with the 225 BTHP. I'm pushing this large pill at 2911 fps in my 29" 300WM. With the huge BC of the 225 BTHP and at 2911 fps, it hits even harder than the 208. My point is, as you increase in weight, you also gain in BC. So the down range energy has a noticeable increase. I'd vote 300 WM.
But, if you want a 7mm bullet, look into the new Berger 195 BTHP. I've run the numbers and it is truly a game changer for this bullet. The huge .755 G1 and .387 G7 BC is HUGE!!! I'm running my 300 WM with 225 BTHP with a .352 G7 BC, and it works great. The 195 can be pushed faster and with a higher BC. So this means less drop, less wind drift, and more energy on target at longer ranges.
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Re: What's the best 7mm Cartridge?
[Re: ltsheets]
#6089069
12/17/15 03:12 PM
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I get what you're saying chad. Don't think of this as me thinking I need such a big rifle just to shoot 1000 yds as I'll never shoot an animal at that distance. I will be using my 6.5x284 for extensive long range practice and have already had it on steel at 700. I just want a rifle that has the punch to hunt anything I want in North America including bears should I travel or elk in grizzly country. That's why I want a rifle to be no more than 10lbs scoped. I'd probably look at a 5 contour fluted to help with barrel cool down but wouldn't mind needing to wait for it to cool between groups when practicing.
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