7mm options
- Thread starter Sprocker101
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Monkey Spanker
Well-Known Member
You may find that you FAC is a little more restricted than you think. You should probably check exactly what you can or can't have? For instance, if it states 7mm then you would not be allowed a .280 even though it is the same calibre. Much the same as authority to purchase a 7.62mm would not allow you to get a .308 even though they are effectively the same. There are still a good few 7mm variants though! A long action with a heavy bullet would probably suit best?
MS
MS
enfieldspares
Well-Known Member
I agree with MS. Your licencing department won't have any problems with changing it. that for sure. And FWIW .280 Remington was formerly known as 7mm Remington Express just as 6mm Remington was formerly known as .244 Remington. Ditto any .275 Holland & Holland or .275 Rigby is a 7mm. But as MS says if your acquisition says 7mm then that's it.
I load 7mm Rem Mag for some friends. I own and hunt with 7x57R, (had a 7x57 Mauser), 7mm-08 (3 of them), .280 Rem, and 7x64 (3 of them). Since you have a 6.5x55, might as well jump over the 7x57 and 7mm-08. 7mm Rem Mag is more than needed for any deer, until you get past 300 yards, and 25% more recoil than the 7x64. If you are shooting elk, moose, large bears and wild boar, then 7mm RM is good, but at that point, might as well go to a .30-06 or .300 Win Mag for the heavier bullets constructed for just that.
.280 Rem and 7x64 are plenty for deer, elk, and moose, and very flat shooting, with a lot less recoil than a 7mm RM or .300 magnum. And the rifles are more trim and lighter weight, which is good for stalking. Since 7x64 is easier to buy ammo in the UK, that is my suggestion. You can always load it mildly to 7x57 and 7mm-08 performance. There are some really good bullets in the 150, 154 and 160-gr weights, high BCs and all kinds of constructions.
But if you really want a versatile cartridge which has the big bullets for big game, go .30-06 - 20% less recoil than the .300 Win Mag and will shoot a 200-gr bullet through most critters. If you are a sheep hunter who has the ability to milk the slight ballistic superiority of a 160-gr bullet out of a 7 pound 7x64, you might go that way, but you would also have the ability to do the same job with a 165-gr or 180-gr bullet from a .30-06.
.280 Rem and 7x64 are plenty for deer, elk, and moose, and very flat shooting, with a lot less recoil than a 7mm RM or .300 magnum. And the rifles are more trim and lighter weight, which is good for stalking. Since 7x64 is easier to buy ammo in the UK, that is my suggestion. You can always load it mildly to 7x57 and 7mm-08 performance. There are some really good bullets in the 150, 154 and 160-gr weights, high BCs and all kinds of constructions.
But if you really want a versatile cartridge which has the big bullets for big game, go .30-06 - 20% less recoil than the .300 Win Mag and will shoot a 200-gr bullet through most critters. If you are a sheep hunter who has the ability to milk the slight ballistic superiority of a 160-gr bullet out of a 7 pound 7x64, you might go that way, but you would also have the ability to do the same job with a 165-gr or 180-gr bullet from a .30-06.
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enfieldspares
Well-Known Member
Was there not, many years ago, an article about a bullpup bolt action in that calibre. Not a modified EM2 I'd add but a purpose made bullpup bolt action.
exactly why i had my slot to acquire state .260" /6.5mm and no cartridge designations (and same on Ammo Holding) tho i was a good boy and didn't buy a 6.5-.338 LM
A nice little cartridge, but why go to the considerable work and expense involved in acquiring a custom reamer, case-forming etc when the 7mm-08 provides a bit more performance with 140s and equally good precision, all other things being equal? If one had to have a small 7mm with that performance level, the 7mm BR with a suitably throated chamber is of a similar size to the .280/30 British but has dies and chamber reamers available. Obtaining brass is a simple one or two-pass expansion of 6mm BR Norma case-necks and the Lapua 6BR case is a proven high-quality and very strong number.
Reiver Boy
Well-Known Member
.284 Win ? ballistically the same as the .280 Rem but with more room to seat those high BC projectiles, I'm getting 3000fps with 162 Amax in a 26" barrel using RL17. Makes a formidable hunting rig (for the hill).
A Guy Out West
Well-Known Member
.280 ai
xavierdoc
Well-Known Member
I was in the same position as the OP, having asked for and been given a "7mm" slot but also knew I wanted a .284Win for long range target (and maybe deer/vermin etc.)
I made sure my certificate stipulated both separately in calibres allowed and ammunition.
A 7mmWSM filled one slot; I'm still waiting for the .284Win to be finished by the gunsmith...
Reiver Boy
Well-Known Member
I finished mine about 6 months ago, so far my only complaint is having to neck up the Lap 6.5 284 brass and neck turn, I just found it a pain in the backside. Other than that it does exactly what it said on the tin, F Class performance and pinky nail groups with one of the worlds finest long range hunting bullets.
Please can you provide details of the rifle, length of barrel amd chamber spec. I was also looking at the .284 but dont want to neck size. Also looked at the shehanne as my preferred rifle builder has the reamer.
What 7mm bullet do you refer to as one of the worlds finest long range bullets?
Reiver Boy
Well-Known Member
Rem 700 Long action, Border (Birmingham) 26" 8.5 twist. McMillan A5 stock, Timney Calvin elite tigger, badger bottom metal, AI mag, SL7 suppressor, 20 MOA rail, .284 standard chamber spec to min tolerance, Lap brass, 162 AMAX (obviously i was kidding about it's world class long range hunting ability, only a very irresponsible man would hunt with such a thing). I almost went shehanne myself but with RL17/RS60 available I did not see much benefit.
Hindsight, probably would have stuck with the Rem DM system (its a Rem DM action) over the badger and AI as its flush, just did not like the thought of milling sections of the stock out to accommodate the mag catches.
The dies I have where off the shelf... admittedly a far away and dusty one. Two passes through two forming dies from a .308 to 280/30. I could not find a reamer for love nor money but it is in hand so to speak.
Why not have one its the last gasp of our British wpns industry to remain independent, and it very nearly made it.
trichinosis
Active Member
The 7mm rem mag is going to have significant muzzle blast with a 24" inch barrel and some recoil, too, depending on rifle weight. You lose some velocity as is normal for cartridges with a big can and small calibre but probably not to any amount that matters unless you are a dedicated long range shooter.
Surely a nice cartridge for a more-or-less dedicated mid to long range rifle. If you are looking for a multi purpose rifle you are also going to use on driven hunts I'm not sure what sort of advantage you would really have over a bit milder 7mm.
Surely a nice cartridge for a more-or-less dedicated mid to long range rifle. If you are looking for a multi purpose rifle you are also going to use on driven hunts I'm not sure what sort of advantage you would really have over a bit milder 7mm.
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