Favorite 7mm?

[GooseGestapo]

Well, funny you should ask…(op)..
Just this afternoon, I took three of my four 7’s to check/reset the zero’s. (Two went to Wyoming last month and were sighted for 300yds. (Saw a lot of elk, but didn’t get a shot….(sigh). Oh well…
(7-30Waters, Contender Carbine w/21” bbl; Ruger RSI in 7x57; REM Mod.7, 7mm08; Remington M700 in 7mmRemMag (RemArms circa 2021).

After resetting the scope on the REM M-7 in 7-08, I fired three shots. I thought that two had gone off the paper. Adjusted scope (2.5-8x VariX-III) for 100yd zero and fired a single round before range was called “cold”. This is what I found on the target:


Well, here’s an update…
Second photo is what it does to a deer… note the exit wound.

Not bad for a 7lb carbine! This is undoubtedly the best it’s ever shot. The amazing thing is that it’s Hornady factory OFB range pickups, using a Midway 150gr Spt Blem’s (I suspect they’re Hornady over-runs for another company). I seated them just off the lands with H4350. They aren’t spectacularly fast, just 2,600fps. My “hunting” load was with Reloader #17, and run 2,800fps. Just 300fps slower than my 7mag with IMR7828… which has a 26” bbl…
Just had to share. Some celebrity (P.T.Barnum or W.C.Fields iirc) once said it “ain’t bragging, if ya done it…”.

 

[troy fairweather]

Well, funny you should ask…(op)..
Just this afternoon, I took three of my four 7’s to check/reset the zero’s. (Two went to Wyoming last month and were sighted for 300yds. (Saw a lot of elk, but didn’t get a shot….(sigh). Oh well…
(7-30Waters, Contender Carbine w/21” bbl; Ruger RSI in 7x57; REM Mod.7, 7mm08; Remington M700 in 7mmRemMag (RemArms circa 2021).

After resetting the scope on the REM M-7 in 7-08, I fired three shots. I thought that two had gone off the paper. Adjusted scope (2.5-8x VariX-III) for 100yd zero and fired a single round before range was called “cold”. This is what I found on the target:

View attachment 1184374
Not bad for a 7lb carbine! This is undoubtedly the best it’s ever shot. The amazing thing is that it’s Hornady factory OFB range pickups, using a Midway 150gr Spt Blem’s (I suspect they’re Hornady over-runs for another company). I seated them just off the lands with H4350. They aren’t spectacularly fast, just 2,600fps. My “hunting” load was with Reloader #17, and run 2,800fps. Just 300fps slower than my 7mag with IMR7828… which has a 26” bbl…
Just had to share. Some celebrity (P.T.Barnum or W.C.Fields iirc) once said it “ain’t bragging, if ya done it…”.

5-6 years ago I got some of the midway 150 sp blems, looks like they were ment for the 7wsm since the cannalure was in the perfect spot for the 7wsm c.o.a.l. Bought them on a wim there were stupid cheap like $7-$8 -100. Really regret I didn't get a few thousand because they shoot very well out of the 4 7mms I've tried them in. Shot a few deer and they worked great.

 

[1948CJ2A]

I wanted to show the coolness both of the 7x57 Mauser and the 7x57 Ackley Improved just to the right of it without the label above.

 

[Japle]

Several years ago, I decided to build an all-around hunting rifle that would handle everything from prairie dogs to moose.
I settled on the .280 Ackley Improved. I found a Remington 700 in .270 and sent it to ER Shaw for a 21" medium, spiral-fluted barrel. I had them install a muzzle brake that would accept a .30 cal suppressor I have.
I added an oversized bolt handle, lapped the bolt and had it Cerakoted gold, just for looks. I bedded the action in a camo stock and mounted a Nikon 4.5-14X scope.
This turned out to be an exceptionally accurate rifle, pushing the ELD-X 162 gr bullet at near max velocity.

 

[troy fairweather]

View attachment 1184510
I wanted to show the coolness both of the 7x57 Mauser and the 7x57 Ackley Improved just to the right of it without the label above.

Here is my 7x57ai built by John van Patten, 09 Argentine ,24" # 2 Douglas air gauged barrel, Carlo walnut. I really need to get some better pictures and use the rifle more but still have a few things to finish on it like bedding and a full rust bluing.







Some pics of the stippling I did on the stock, not classy like checkkering but very Comfy and good grip.

 

[1948CJ2A]

Also, if you look at the 7mm Rem Mag and the 7mm Weatherby Mag side-by-side, you'll notice that both cartridges have almost identical lengths but the Weatherby has a longer neck and more aggressive "Venturi" shoulder. The longer neck allows for longer bullets to be seated into the case without encroaching on overall powder capacity. To me, that's the area where the 7mm-08 falls short... on the heavier/longer bullets (kinda like the 308 - 30-06 comparison).

 

[1948CJ2A]

Here is my 7x57ai built by John van Patten, 09 Argentine ,24" # 2 Douglas air gauged barrel, Carlo walnut. I really need to get some better pictures and use the rifle more but still have a few things to finish on it like bedding and a full rust bluing.

View attachment 1184532


View attachment 1184533

Great post! Man... you gotta get that beauty out in the sun and post some of those pics here! Looks great... love the style, wood and the barrel band. I'm building a 9.3x62 safari (and possibly light DG) rifle and am wanting to do a barrel band like that.

 

[troy fairweather]

Great post! Man... you gotta get that beauty out in the sun and post some of those pics here! Looks great... love the style, wood and the barrel band. I'm building a 9.3x62 safari (and possibly light DG) rifle and am wanting to do a barrel band like that.

I just threw the band on to try it out, it's a nice made band and is very slim and clamps on tight. Won't fit over a barrel with most front sights tho.

I'm waiting for my 9.6x62 barrel from shaw, I'm building it on another 09 Argentine sporter I picked up to go along with the 7x57ai. Still not sure how I want the gun, either do the same stock like the ai or go with a glass/carbon stock I won't fell bad hunting with in the brush.

 

[1948CJ2A]

I just threw the band on to try it out, it's a nice made band and is very slim and clamps on tight. Won't fit over a barrel with most front sights tho.

I'm waiting for my 9.6x62 barrel from shaw, I'm building it on another 09 Argentine sporter I picked up to go along with the 7x57ai. Still not sure how I want the gun, either do the same stock like the ai or go with a glass/carbon stock I won't fell bad hunting with in the brush.

Sounds like a cool build. Mine was a Smith-Corona 1903 A3 sporter that I sent to J.E.S. reboring and had them rebore the existing barrel and rechamber to 9.3x62. I had them do a similar job for a 35 Whelen build several years ago and was happy with the result.

I've heard the 09 Argentines are highly desirable. Don't have one myself...

 

[.308 Norma]

To me, that's the area where the 7mm-08 falls short... on the heavier/longer bullets (kinda like the 308 - 30-06 comparison).

I agree. The thing is though, I "stepped up" to a 30-06 after 20 some odd years of using "heavy enough" bullets in a 308 Winchester for big game hunting. I could say my wife did the same thing when she "stepped up" to a 7mm Rem Mag after 20 years of using "heavy enough" bullets in her 7mm08s. That wouldn't be exactly true though - my wife "stepped up" to a 7mm Rem Mag because she wanted to have a semi-custom big game rifle of her own, and the Model 70 she found to have customized just happened to be chambered for the 7mm Rem Mag. Even at that, all she ever uses for big game in her 7mm Rem Mag are 160gr Speer Grand Slams at 280 Remington (or 7mm08 "+P") velocities.

 

[Hookeye]

Always thought the 7mm TCU was interesting, but maybe just a little underpowered for what I want.
The 7mm 08 is good, but maybe too much.
Wonder when somebody is going to neck down the new .400 Legend to 7mm

 

[troy fairweather]

Sounds like a cool build. Mine was a Smith-Corona 1903 A3 sporter that I sent to J.E.S. reboring and had them rebore the existing barrel and rechamber to 9.3x62. I had them do a similar job for a 35 Whelen build several years ago and was happy with the result.

I've heard the 09 Argentines are highly desirable. Don't have one myself...

John van Patten rebored a Remington 1903 to 358 norma mag for me when I was 12 ish for a elk hunt me and my dad were going on, parents got divorced and never did the hunt. Dad did the work on the rest of the gun, wish I still had it. The if I do a belted mag medium bore again probably be a 375 h&h.

 

[WisBorn]

I agree. The thing is though, I "stepped up" to a 30-06 after 20 some odd years of using "heavy enough" bullets in a 308 Winchester for big game hunting. I could say my wife did the same thing when she "stepped up" to a 7mm Rem Mag after 20 years if using "heavy enough" bullets in her 7mm08s. That wouldn't be exactly true though - my wife "stepped up" to a 7mm Rem Mag because she wanted to have a semi-custom big game rifle of her own, and the Model 70 she found to have customized just happened to be chambered for the 7mm Rem Mag. Even at that, all she ever uses for big game in her 7mm Rem Mag are 160gr Speer Grand Slams at 280 Remington (or 7mm08 "+P") velocities.

The Mrs could have done much worse than the 7rm, but not much better in my opinion....

Twenty plus years and no lost game with my Weatherby MarkV in 7rm.

 

[troy fairweather]

I always thought growing up the 7mm Imperial/Canadian magnum was pretty cool, Remington pretty much stole the design for the rum. The Ackley magnums were pretty cool, he even had different levels of magnums. The sako magnums are nice and still a bit popular around there homeland. Rcbs even had some cool cartridges, even a improved 7x57 with a shorter neck and °35 shoulder. Can't forget about the Gibbs rounds to, there definitely a bunch more 7mms that could be added to the lisg.

 

[Hookeye]

Always thought the 7mm TCU was interesting, but maybe just a little underpowered for what I want.
The 7mm 08 is good, but maybe too much.
Wonder when somebody is going to neck down the new .400 Legend to 7mm

Looks like they did w the 6.8 SPC.
Next step up would be a 7mm BR.

Took me a while to remember LOL

 

[1948CJ2A]

John van Patten rebored a Remington 1903 to 358 norma mag for me when I was 12 ish for a elk hunt me and my dad were going on, parents got divorced and never did the hunt. Dad did the work on the rest of the gun, wish I still had it. The if I do a belted mag medium bore again probably be a 375 h&h.

That's too bad you never got to do the hunt with that rifle. The 358 Norma Mag has always piqued my interest; definitely a little more thump than my Whelen. I think the 358 Shooting Times Alaskan takes it to another level.

 

[1948CJ2A]

I always thought growing up the 7mm Imperial/Canadian magnum was pretty cool, Remington pretty much stole the design for the rum. The Ackley magnums were pretty cool, he even had different levels of magnums. The sako magnums are nice and still a bit popular around there homeland. Rcbs even had some cool cartridges, even a improved 7x57 with a shorter neck and °35 shoulder. Can't forget about the Gibbs rounds to, there definitely a bunch more 7mms that could be added to the lisg.

Yep; I kinda left it to what was in the Hornady reloading manual for 7mm caliber. The catchall "other 7mms" is for the odd-balls.

Was there a 7mm Gibbs? Seems like that would be pretty much a twin to the 280 AI these days. I've only seen 3 Gibbs variations in person (240, 250, & 300).

 

[troy fairweather]

Yep; I kinda left it to what was in the Hornady reloading manual for 7mm caliber. The catchall "other 7mms" is for the odd-balls.

Was there a 7mm Gibbs? Seems like that would be pretty much a twin to the 280 AI these days. I've only seen 3 Gibbs variations in person (240, 250, & 300).

There was pretty much a Gibbs for each bore size, the 7mm probably holds a few grains more powder then the Ackley, there necks are very short normally under caliber length. Gibbs don't do well with heavy bullets because the short neck and they take up powder space, a heavier flat base bullet like a 175 partition may do fine but the Gibbs do well with light bullets. I know the 30 Gibbs can get 300wm speeds with bullets 150 grains and less. The Gibbs maybe interesting today to shoot copper bullets since most shoot light for caliber to keep the speed up.

 

[dieselchief]

7mm has been always a fav. from 7rem mag to 280 to 7mauser to 7 30. still shoot a 7 30 and a worn out 7 mauser....

 

[LoonWulf]

There was pretty much a Gibbs for each bore size, the 7mm probably holds a few grains more powder then the Ackley, there necks are very short normally under caliber length. Gibbs don't do well with heavy bullets because the short neck and they take up powder space, a heavier flat base bullet like a 175 partition may do fine but the Gibbs do well with light bullets. I know the 30 Gibbs can get 300wm speeds with bullets 150 grains and less. The Gibbs maybe interesting today to shoot copper bullets since most shoot light for caliber to keep the speed up.

Throat them long in a 3.7" action and i bet you could get some oomph with the 160-180 class bullets.
My 1-9 280ai actually shot the 190Atips well, but they were way down in the case.

 

[troy fairweather]

Throat them long in a 3.7" action and i bet you could get some oomph with the 160-180 class bullets.
My 1-9 280ai actually shot the 190Atips well, but they were way down in the case.

The 7Gibbs neck is only like 1/4" long so long bullets may get a bit Wonky, think the 7 will push a 175 mid 2900s with a hot load, not bad for a 06 case.

 

[LoonWulf]

The 7Gibbs neck is only like 1/4" long so long bullets may get a bit Wonky, think the 7 will push a 175 mid 2900s with a hot load, not bad for a 06 case.

Thats true, its kinda a stubby little neck....

 

[GooseGestapo]

What’s the big deal with short necks? My 7mm08 comes within 200-250fps of my 7mmRemMag with just over half as much powder. The 7-08 has only a 20”bbl vs 26” for the 7mag.
With H4350 or RL17, the ‘08 seated to magazine length (2.835”) has only the tapered back of the Speer 160btspt below the case neck and is only lightly compressing the powder. Darn near perfect if you ask me…

The big 7mm actually has a 1/2” air space with most powders, except for WC860 which fills to the neck @80.0gr….
Only a 175gr bullet base “intrudes” into the air space, but doesn’t reduce useable capacity.
The real advantage of the longer neck and Loooong free bore of the Weatherby is that it reduces bore erosion.

 

[BreechFace]

@GooseGestapo

There are a couple of reasons for wanting sufficient neck engagement on a projectile. One being to provide good neck tension and the second a longer neck engagement ensures that the projectile is lining up with the chamber and rifling and not cocked at an angle.

An old rule of thumb was to have at least a caliber length (the caliber of the projectile) of neck engagement. However, there are cartridges that don’t follow this rule much in their loadings and they still shoot, but it is something to be aware of.

It is also more crucial with long for caliber projectiles as misalignment gets exaggerated with length of projectiles. This is also why when loading for precision great care is taken when seating projectiles, some precision shooters opting for specialized projectile seaters with great precision in their runout.

 

[GooseGestapo]

@GooseGestapo

There are a couple of reasons for wanting sufficient neck engagement on a projectile. One being to provide good neck tension and the second a longer neck engagement ensures that the projectile is lining up with the chamber and rifling and not cocked at an angle.

An old rule of thumb was to have at least a caliber length (the caliber of the projectile) of neck engagement. However, there are cartridges that don’t follow this rule much in their loadings and they still shoot, but it is something to be aware of.

It is also more crucial with long for caliber projectiles as misalignment gets exaggerated with length of projectiles. This is also why when loading for precision great care is taken when seating projectiles, some precision shooters opting for specialized projectile seaters with great precision in their runout.

75 yrs ago, I would have agreed with you. However, with our more precise, tighter tolerances with regards to lathes, reamers, and tool machining, it’s a moot issue.
Look at all the newer cartridges such as Creedmoor, PRC. ECT. They all have shorter necks, and deeper throats to accommodate longer seated, longer high B.C. Bullets.