7x64?

[Manu]

Hello, it is very difficult to speak badly of a good caliber; no doubt you will not be mistaken.
Keep in mind, if you choose Sellier & Bellot ammo, you will have the benefits of a 7 x 57; instead, with RWS you will notice that you shoot a magnum.
Good choice.

Best regards.

Manuel.

 

[Coolhand]

You won't be sorry. The 7x64 is pretty much all I use. Factory ammo is a bit scarce down here but I scored some Sako loaded with 170gr Hammerheads.
Accuracy was acceptable for a hunting rifle. My rifle is a 1959 GK Mannlicher half stock and as is typical of Mannlicher's, long throated.
Handloads with N560 and Norma 170gr Vulcan's has produced groups 1MOA. The 156gr Norma Oryx has been excellent as is the 162gr RWS Kegelspitz.
I tried the 140gr Woodleighs, excellent bullet but this barrel does not like them and I prefer heavier bullets anyway.
Where I hunt,we have 16x12 inch steel plate which is set at 350 yards. Aimming at the top of the plate, results in a hit 10/10 even in a stiff breeze.
I would imagine that in the UK, components are readily available and I would advise to stick with the 'good stuff.' I have found that Sellier & Bellot brass in7x64 a bit iffy, RWS and Norma are brilliant but expensive here, Sako brass has been VG as well.
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[Markfox]

I use a Mauser M03 in 7x64 for everything from fox to Muntjac -Reds

i find it prefers heavier bullets

factory ammo is no issue from RWS or Geco

 

[Heym SR20]

I have always liked the 7mm calibres. They just get the job done without a lot of fuss. I have a 7x57 as I have the Rigby on long term loan, but if i ever have another bolt action rifle it will be the 7x64. I also have its rimmed sister - the 7x65r.

I am always surprised that the 7x64 is not more popular in the UK. It has been around as long as the 270 and IMHO is much nicer to shoot. And it's long ballistically efficient bullets don't cause big damage on closer range shots, but really do the job down range.

And it will do anything you need a rifle to do this side of a 375 or 416.

 

[Dave881]

Thanks for all the info guys, it's really interesting to hear everybody's opinions on this cartridge, it's also interesting that no has said not to get one, I think that says a lot. I would be interested to know the twist rate in the sauer 202 barrel as I wanted to stay in the 140-150gr weight range. Thanks again for all the info.

 

[Heym SR20]

Thanks for all the info guys, it's really interesting to hear everybody's opinions on this cartridge, it's also interesting that no has said not to get one, I think that says a lot. I would be interested to know the twist rate in the sauer 202 barrel as I wanted to stay in the 140-150gr weight range. Thanks again for all the info.

cant speak for the 202 per se, but the 7x64 is designed to work with every thing from 123 up to 173 gn. There is usually fast enough twist and long enough lead to stabilise long heavy for calibre bullets. And if it stabilises those it will be fine for lighter bullets.

 

[Manu]

Thanks for all the info guys, it's really interesting to hear everybody's opinions on this cartridge, it's also interesting that no has said not to get one, I think that says a lot. I would be interested to know the twist rate in the sauer 202 barrel as I wanted to stay in the 140-150gr weight range. Thanks again for all the info.

I would risk that the stretch mark is 1:10

Mine is .375 caliber and brings that step.

Best regards

 

[Kalahari]

I have always liked the 7mm calibres. They just get the job done without a lot of fuss. I have a 7x57 as I have the Rigby on long term loan, but if i ever have another bolt action rifle it will be the 7x64. I also have its rimmed sister - the 7x65r.

I am always surprised that the 7x64 is not more popular in the UK. It has been around as long as the 270 and IMHO is much nicer to shoot. And it's long ballistically efficient bullets don't cause big damage on closer range shots, but really do the job down range.

And it will do anything you need a rifle to do this side of a 375 or 416.

Been around quite a bit longer than the 270, nobody really needed the 270 because the 7 x 64 was there first and I believe it is a better cartridge.

David.

 

[stephentri]

Any one know why the 7x64 is not a popular caliber

 

[Pine Marten]

Any one know why the 7x64 is not a popular caliber

It is, it's quite possibly the most popular hunting cartridge in mainland Europe, just not in the UK. I suspect the reasons are just historical: if you look at most of our most popular ones, the .308, .243, .270, they're all American, introduced after WW1. I think British manufacturers such as Rigby were evolving along the same path as European and especially German ones until then (hence the popularity of the 7x57/.275 and 6.5x54MS for a while). Then that all stopped abruptly.

 

[scrumbag]

Any one know why the 7x64 is not a popular caliber

A phew of the "good" metric calibres aren't popular and I reckon it is more to do with a cultural and language barrier than anything.

Historically

"What's a mm? I think in Inches"

8x57 - German military round and rifles not chambered but UK manufacturers to a large extent. Also "nasty" round used by the German Militar
7x57 - Boer military round so not nice. Not made by UK makers but look how well it did when rebranded as 275 Rigby
7x64 - Only really a sporting round developed out of WWI
9.3x62 - Too close to 375 H&H

Also, language wise. In the days pre-internet and less use of English abroad, when the UK gun building trade died and .303 Brit rifles where no longer being sporterised, the American's made cartridges and guns with data and literature in English and measurements people understood.

Why work on getting a load of sales material worked up from French / German / Spanish to English when the American's print it off and the average useless UK importer can speak / write to them in English...?

No brainer really. Convenience for lazy importers.

Scrummy

 

[Island]

Thanks for all the info guys, it's really interesting to hear everybody's opinions on this cartridge, it's also interesting that no has said not to get one, I think that says a lot. I would be interested to know the twist rate in the sauer 202 barrel as I wanted to stay in the 140-150gr weight range. Thanks again for all the info.

I would risk that the stretch mark is 1:10

Mine is .375 caliber and brings that step.

Best regards

I would be very surprised if the twist rate is as slow as that.

Standard twist for the 7x64 is 1:8.66"

 

[Manu]

I would be very surprised if the twist rate is as slow as that.

Standard twist for the 7x64 is 1:8.66"

I always mention it and I will do it again,
I am an apprentice in ballistics issues.
I was reading and I saw that European calibers such as 7 x 64 have 1: 8 or 1: 9 stretch marks.

You are right, I appreciate the learning.

Best regards.

 

[Wiltsire Ron]

I’ve a 202 in 7x64 Dave and always been very happy; I’m using 139g SST driven by RL17, but take the point it could be a bit light. I keep meaning to load something heavier that would also suit boar and will let you know how I get on...

 

[Dave881]

I’ve a 202 in 7x64 Dave and always been very happy; I’m using 139g SST driven by RL17, but take the point it could be a bit light. I keep meaning to load something heavier that would also suit boar and will let you know how I get on...

Hi, how are your grouping with the SSTs? Would be interested to know the velocity you get if you know it too as I would be looking to load 140-150 grain. Thanks for the reply its great to hear from people with experience.
Dave

 

[booradley]

The .280 Remington is "dead" to all intents. Which is a huge pity as it is a far, far better cartridge than the .270 WCF.

7MM has a much larger selection of heavy for caliber bullets. Other than that it’s a wash between the .270 Winchester and .280 Remington if you reload. If you don’t reload advantage goes to the .270.

 

[scrumbag]

7MM has a much larger selection of heavy for caliber bullets. Other than that it’s a wash between the .270 Winchester and .280 Remington if you reload. If you don’t reload advantage goes to the .270.

That seems pretty much true.

 

[ARCHERFOREVER]

Hi Dave, just surfing some Sauer threads and seen this....did you get the 7x64 barrel after all ?????

 

[smokey]

Hi everyone,
I have been thinking about dropping down to one calibre for all of my deer stalking and have been considering the 7x64. From what I have read it's a good all round cartridge and for me it's one I can get a barrel in for my sauer 202. I don't really want to change from the 202 synchro xt that I have as I find it fits me perfectly and I am very confident in it. Does anyone on here have much experience with 7x64 in general and does anyone use it in a sauer rifle? Any info would be greatly appreciated. As I side question, I reload so how easy is it to find cases and how is 7mm for shops stocking a choice of bullets?
Thanks
Dave

i used one a lot in Europe on wild boar late 70s early 80s no problem at this time i moved to south Africa and used one on all deer sized Antelope and Bok.
RWS cone points and H mantels were amongst the best and most consistent bullets i ever used. Getting cases is dead easy just order from Franconia Jagd in Germany its a German 270win - 280 rem and as good as both super accurate in my Saur 90 best blueing i have ever seen on a rifle it had a Pecar 4x-10x scope on i had to sell it to a German Boer whose farm we shot on in SWA/ Namibia i do not think we would have got out alive with out selling it in .

 

[Scipio]

Any one know why the 7x64 is not a popular caliber

I think it once was, in most of europe actually, just like the 7x57 once was too. Even today i think it is a fairly common cartridge to see in gun shops, or on the ammo shelves or with hunters in central and eastern europe, and in germany too. When i lived in Italy it was not uncommon either.
In the states, or markets dominated by the US, the 270 and 280 as well as the 30-06, probably was the choice of most hunters, looking to pretty much do what the 7x64 can do, so making a break through there was probably tough for the x64. Being german post two lost world wars probably didnt help much either.

Now Why it then lost popularity in the parts where it was once popular i think is a very good question, but besides better marketing and the general dominance of american made cartridges in the last maybe 30-40 years, even in europe, i dont know.

Personally i am in the exact same position as Heym, - i have a 7x57, and at the distances i hunt i dont need the extra power and recoil of the x64.
But if i was to buy a kipplauf and shoot in enviroments where longer shots wouldnt be uncommon then the 7x64 ,or its rimmed cousin, the 7x65r would likely be my choice. And if i could only have one hunting rifle for all european game and hunting enviroments it likely would too. Well that or the 7x57.

Between the 7x64 and 7x57 two i guess It depends largely on if one thinks the trade off of a litte more reach and power is worth the extra recoil and powder consumption.
But with range finders now being in existence, the worth of those 20-30 meters extra of flat trajectory for what most would probably consider a fair bit more recoil is probably less than what it used to be. Then again the increased KO power might be worth the rest of it, but someone like @Heym SR20 might have more in field experience and ability to evaluate that than me tbh.