7 mm rem mag or......

I have to say that I'm a fan of the older Sako rifles , very well built and dependable , but I also have a very high regard for the Howa made sporters . The first one I owned was a Smith & Wesson labeled M1500 in 338WM . It was very accurate and reliable , I sold it to a buddy that I used to guide with in the mid 1980's . He's still guiding in the BC interior and he still has the S&W 1500 . I've also had a few Weatherby Vanguards in different calibers as well as Howa labelled models . They are probably one of the better rifles out there for the amount they cost , I've never had a problem with any of them , about 11 if I remember correctly . The other brand that comes close in regards to bang for your buck is Savage 10/110 series rifles , the brainchild of Nickolas Brewer . It never gets the respect it deserves . It isn't a pretty rifle , but I've never owned one , and I've owned a lot of them , that wouldn't shoot . Like the Howas , they're boringly dependable and reasonably priced . They both have a good reputation out here with people who carry a firearm a lot on a day to day basis .

AB
 
I might be lucky but I have never had an issue or problem reloading belted cases (using RCBS standard dies). In nearly 40 years of reloading for four .375 H&Hs, two .300 Win Mags. two 7mm Rem Mags and a .458 Win Mag I have never seen this problem. The rifles were two Ruger 77 s, three Steyr Mannlichers, two Sakos, a Parker Hale and a Winchester mod 70
I used to neck size all my cases but when I started hunting in Africa more often, I started full length sizing, because it meant that in an emergency I could let my friends use my ammo or at the end of a safari I could give my unused ammo to the PH.
I found that the commonest reason for discarding many times reloaded cases was cracked necks in .300 Win Mag and early signs of incipient separations in .375 H&H. (despite not full length resizing). This case has a very small shoulder and so does not headspace very well on said shoulder.
Before I go on any hunt I run every round through the rifle from the magazine at the range.
You bring up a good point . On cartridges like the 300 and 375 H&H , you should set up your dies so that the cartridge headspaces on the belt . As you know , the belt was used on these cartridges because of they're long profile and small shoulder areas , in fact , they were the first to do so . I had a Brno 602 in 375 H&H that was hard on brass no matter what I did , nothing ridiculous , but it would show signs of case stretching as you describe after a few reloads .
I also cycle all my hunting ammo through my rifle before going hunting , a very good practice . I've had cartridges , reloads and factory rounds , that had feeding issues . It's annoying when you find out at home , it can have far more serious consequences if it happens in the field , great point .

AB
 
My ideal 7 mm RM would be a tidy Tikka 695. .300 WM rebarrelled would do.

A mate has a 695 in .338 WM wearing a new barrel and it's a cracking rifle. I already have an M 595 in .308. It would be great to have a matching pair.
 
My ideal 7 mm RM would be a tidy Tikka 695. .300 WM rebarrelled would do.

A mate has a 695 in .338 WM wearing a new barrel and it's a cracking rifle. I already have an M 595 in .308. It would be great to have a matching pair.
I do like the idea of this too, have a .223 AI 590 and my 25-45 is a 595, the 695 would make a nice trio
 
Iirc Howa is the top selling rifle brand in Aus or was and with so many sold and so much game here in comparison I would say that the rifles do account well for the brand.
And no wonder too when you see the New Sako prices V the new Howa prices.
Howa is one of the top selling brands in South Africa as well.
 
Not many engraved Blaser / Merkel / Vankfaktur fanboys in these parts John.

I would dearly love to see the faces of the lads if someone turned up with a rifle like that... it would be well worth witnessing. Hours - days even - of merciless pistaking. The poor bugger would be taken to shoot his Precious in the gnarliest darkest toughest pig infested matagouri pit known to man...
 
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Not many engraved Blaser / Merkel / Vankfaktur fanboys in these parts John.

I would dearly love to see the faces of the lads if someone turned up with a rifle like that... it would be well worth witnessing. Hours - days even - of merciless pistaking. The poor bugger would be taken to shoot his Precious in the gnarliest darkest toughest pig infested matagouri pit known to man...
Where can I buy a Vankfactur rifle? Not heard of them and they sound great!
 
The Vankfaktur rifle (a “modern interpretation of 19th Century kitsch” according to the brochure) is only available to Counts, Barons, Princes and pretend aristocrats with more money than sense @25 Sharps. Definitely not available to the plebeian masses that can’t even spell it correctly!
 
The Vankfaktur rifle (a “modern interpretation of 19th Century kitsch” according to the brochure) is only available to Counts, Barons, Princes and pretend aristocrats with more money than sense @25 Sharps. Definitely not available to the plebeian masses that can’t even spell it correctly!
I've never had a Vankfaktur, maybe I should look them up...

In all seriousness though, why liken a disliking of Howa to being posh or somehow snobby? I'm quite happy with my CZ's. It's not about what a gun looks like to someone else or what it costs, it's about how well it functions. It can't be helped that some of the people I respect have had issues with them.
 
I've never had a Vankfaktur, maybe I should look them up...

In all seriousness though, why liken a disliking of Howa to being posh or somehow snobby? I'm quite happy with my CZ's. It's not about what a gun looks like to someone else or what it costs, it's about how well it functions. It can't be helped that some of the people I respect have had issues with them.
I think DK is not necessarily accusing you of snobbery, it’s more of on the part of those who told you they were crap in the first place.
I’m swaying towards a Bergara now, only because the cost of the stock option I was looking at at more than doubled the rifle price. But 7mm RM HMR is not imported to the UK which is the model I’m interested in!! But they do import .300 win mag abs .300 PRC......
 
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That's just typical isn't it! No chance the importer could add one to their next order? It'd be a bit of a wait but possible surely?
 
That's just typical isn't it! No chance the importer could add one to their next order? It'd be a bit of a wait but possible surely?
Apparently it could be a 6-8 month and the RFD didn't seem keen, the wilderness sporter (can't recall excat model) is available but that is only bedded with steel pillars moulded in rather than the full chassis or the HMR, the appeal of the HMR also being the adjustment to get it to fit well.
 
Apparently it could be a 6-8 month and the RFD didn't seem keen, the wilderness sporter (can't recall excat model) is available but that is only bedded with steel pillars moulded in rather than the full chassis or the HMR, the appeal of the HMR also being the adjustment to get it to fit well.
No chance of a Howa barrelled action to fit to your own stock? Still expensive I suppose. Could be made cheaper if you can find a used stock?
 
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