For those who like 7mms

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Picture, as promised above. This is after getting it back from Tumbleweeds, who rechambered it in .280 Ackley Improved.

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My only experience with a 7mm is in .280 Remington.
I haven't owned one in a while, but plan to get another.
My first 3 deer were with a NEF Handi Rifle in that caliber.

I think I'll either go that route or get a .280 AI eventually. I like having something not many others have.
If you enjoy the less common a 7X64mm Brenneke might catch your interest as it has mine. Born in 1917 it's the original 7mm long action cartridge with a standard barrel rifling twist rate of 1:8.66".
 
I like my 7mm-08. I bought it on a whim when I lost a 30 06 (long story). It was 2 days before hunting season and I needed to get sighted in and the shop owner basically told me it was better than everything else. Lol. :D

Not to derail this but since we are talking 7's and we have some of our resident ballisticians on this thread, off the cuff what "should" be the best bullet weight for an 18"bbl with 1:8.5 twist. That's relatively fast for a 7-08 with 1:10's being most common no?

I was wondering if the 1:8.5 would handle the heavier loads better being faster rifling. Example 120gr-140gr for 1:10 and 140gr-150+gr for 1:8.5 ? Just wondering if I'm even close to being on the right thought path. I have never stretched it out beyond 100 yards and I do remember 150gr Federal shooting the best in it but I've only tried 3 different kinds, 139gr interlocks and 140gr partitions. The Federal 150's were best though. Partitions were a total no-go. Probably have no business buying them ever again the way they grouped, or didn't.:D

I did grab a couple boxes of 120gr NBT to try but I just dont know if I'm going too low in weight for the 1:8.5 twist. I figured since I had a really short 18" bbl I could use the added velocity using 120's. I already know I'm way overthinking it, I'm just curious about it more than anything really
 
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Have you personally chambered & fired factory 280 Remington ammunition in a rifle chambered for 7X64mm Brenneke?
yes some will work, there could be some chamber differences in who makes the reamer. If they don't chamber you can run a loaded 280 in a fl die with the expander removed.

All 280 rifles I've seen I'll shoot 7x 64 just fine. The x64 is a little longer case the 280 case is a bit flatter at the shoulder. The x64 I think holds about 1 grain more with that 40° shoulder.
 
I like my 7mm-08. I bought it on a whim when I lost a 30 06 (long story). It was 2 days before hunting season and I needed to get sighted in and the shop owner basically told me it was better than everything else. Lol. :D

Not to derail this but since we are talking 7's and we have some of our resident ballisticians on this thread, off the cuff what "should" be the best bullet weight for an 18"bbl with 1:8.5 twist. That's relatively fast for a 7-08 with 1:10's being most common no?

I was wondering if the 1:8.5 would handle the heavier loads better being faster rifling. Example 120gr-140gr for 1:10 and 140gr-150+gr for 1:8.5 ? Just wondering if I'm even close to being on the right thought path. I have never stretched it out beyond 100 yards and I do remember 150gr Federal shooting the best in it but I've only tried 3 different kinds, 139gr interlocks and 140gr partitions. The Federal 150's were best though. Partitions were a total no-go. Probably have no business buying them ever again the way they grouped, or didn't.:D

I did grab a couple boxes of 120gr NBT to try but I just dont know if I'm going too low in weight for the 1:8.5 twist. I figured since I had a really short 18" bbl I could use the added velocity using 120's. I already know I'm way overthinking it, I'm just curious about it more than anything really
1-9.25 was the 7mms twist, it kinda went up and down over they years. With that twist you can shoot any 7mms that the 7-08 will shoot at reasonable speeds. The 160s are about it with the 7-08, it can shoot heavier but does not quite have the powder capacity for them. Unless going after big stuff like moose and elk there's not much need to use more then 140, they work very well in 7mms. Lighter are fine just have to watch the speed.
 
yes some will work, there could be some chamber differences in who makes the reamer. If they don't chamber you can run a loaded 280 in a fl die with the expander removed.

All 280 rifles I've seen I'll shoot 7x 64 just fine. The x64 is a little longer case the 280 case is a bit flatter at the shoulder. The x64 I think holds about 1 grain more with that 40° shoulder.
Is "Yes some will work", an affirmative you've personally done this? Which brands & loads of 280 Remington factory ammunition are among the "some will work" in your experience?

ETA: Chuck Hawks disagrees with you.

https://www.chuckhawks.com/eur_na_cartridges.html

Although not actually interchangeable, the 7x64 and .280 cartridges look so much alike one could easily be mistaken for the other. They can launch the same weight 7mm bullets at about the same velocity when loaded to the same maximum average pressure.

There's fairly universal acknowledgement functional brass for 7X64mm Brenneke can be formed from 280 Remington, 270 Winchester, and / or 30-06 Springfield brass, as well as acknowledgement starting load data for the 280 Remington can also be used as starting load data for 7X64mm Brenneke and 7mm-06 cartridges. And that's all I've ever otherwise seen published.

I don't and haven't owned a firearm chambered for 280 Remington and probably never will, and for me I don't plan to ever try firing factory 280 Remington ammunition in any of my firearms chambered for 7X64mm Brenneke ammunition.
 
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Is "Yes some will work", an affirmative you've personally done this? Which brands & loads of 280 Remington factory ammunition are among the "some will work" in your experience?
I shot some Remington corlokt 280 in a pre war German sporter I had. It could have just been the chamber spec back then was a little different then more modern ones.

Every 280rem rifle I had shot the 7x64 perfect.
 
I shot some Remington corlokt 280 in a pre war German sporter I had. It could have just been the chamber spec back then was a little different then more modern ones.

Every 280rem rifle I had shot the 7x64 perfect.
While waiting for a more definitive response I added to my earlier post. You may wish to see what I added.

What information source did you consult to be able to make this statement with zero qualifiers?

You can shoot 7x64 in 280rem, I'd like to get one again, maybe mauser will bring the m18 in it over here or sauer.
 
There maybe some head space difference tho it seems to work I'd really only do it in a crf action to hold the case to the bolt if there is to much headspace. I read once the headspace may seem more then it is since 7x64 is not sammi the spot they measure for head space is not the same as the 280.

You really need 270 or 280 brass to make 7x64 06 length cases will stretch some when sized but not a from what I've seen.
 
There maybe some head space difference tho it seems to work I'd really only do it in a crf action to hold the case to the bolt if there is to much headspace. I read once the headspace may seem more then it is since 7x64 is not sammi the spot they measure for head space is not the same as the 280.

You really need 270 or 280 brass to make 7x64 06 length cases will stretch some when sized but not a from what I've seen.
That might be a function of the 30-06 Springfield brass used, the Chuck Hawk article link is just one source for that info.

I'd really be hesitant about blanket statements that aren't congruent with more widely published information but that's just me. Obviously YMMV, to each his own.

I don't plan to reform any brass for 7X64mm Brenneke as I've stocked up on what must be pull down Nitrex primed 7X64mm Brenneke brass with the Speer headstamp for my handloading efforts with this cartridge.

https://americanreloading.com/en/7x64/711-7x64-brenneke-speer-primed-nickel-100ct.html

It's not Lapua or Norma or anything European but I'm willing to give it a try especially considering it's primed.:)
 
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Why the good deals on brass always got to be nickel cases lol. For hunting there just fine, but if trying to get some life out of them it's not really possible. The ppu 7x64 ammo was cheap, don't know what it is now. I've seen it for under$15 a box.
 
I bought some of the PPU 7X64mm Brenneke 140 grain PSPBT ammo for $11 / box of 20 in 2019.

The nickeled brass potential shorter life doesn't bug me in this case at that price at AR, I can get enough to last a long time. Next thing we know there'll be a run on it just for the primers to punch out & resell.

BTW there's 25% off ATM with the code 25brass. It's in small print at the top of the web page but here's a better link with all the current promo codes.

https://mailchi.mp/americanreloading.com/los-bullets-and-rifle-brass-in-stock
 
7mm08. Ive taken deer, elk, bear, antelope and coyotes with a 1948 Rem 722 I rebarreled in 1989. Last year got myself a new Barrett Fieldcraft in 708 and have a 3rd one in the works on a Rem Model 7 action. Why so many you may ask? For grandkids and daughterinlaw after I try them out for a year or so.

I also use a 270 on big game.
 
've never fired any other 7mm and want to try a 7mm mag but everyone says recoil is worse than 30-06? Well see!
I consider the recoil of my 7 mag X-Bolt extremely moderate, maybe equivalent to a 20 gauge with target loads. The rifle itself is on the lighter side.

As noted, stock design and particularly the pad are IMO critical. It’s pad is super squishy and really moderates the felt recoil. I’m 5’”7” and could shoot mine a hundred rounds no problem
 
Nineteen years ago, I bought a Ruger Model 77 MKII ("1 of 150"), chambered in 7x64 Brenneke (as others have noted, a .280 Remington look-alike, both in terms of ballistics and cartridge configuration). It's the only 7mm rifle I've ever owned and I like it a lot. It has a B&L "3000 Elite", 2x7-powered scope mounted on it. For deer hunting in Michigan and Pennsylvania, I prefer 175 grain bullets. My Model 77 (having the 3-position safety I much prefer) groups just under 2 inches, from a rest @ 100 yards, using factory ammunition.
 
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