The seven mm itch

[alberta boy]

This ^

 

[John Gryphon]

Sadly we have very few gun shops within reasonable strike and all the ones I called either don’t stock 7mm Rm or they are expensive. I have a Lee loader in 7mm rm and will do some more work with it to try and get a reasonable load. I keep the gun at my mums in Scotland so it doesn’t come out too often so the ammo price isn’t a complete killer (just annoying!)

Stick with it mate,one day the finest beast will be way out on a hillside and you have that 7mill in your claw and you will take the shot and be happy as for keeping it.

 

[shakey jake]

Id talked myself in to a 270 over a 7mm rem mag until a very experienced guy sung the 7s praise and now this thread, i think my itch is back
Shakey

 

[sundog]

I reload so I’m not too bothered which cartridge I eventually decide on,in fact I think the wide variety of 7mm bullets available is part of the attraction. Am I correct in thinking that the Remington Magnum needs a magnum primer?

 

[NigelM]

I get much better accuracy and ES with a Magnum primer in the 280Ai. They say as a rough guide a Mag primer is best on anything over 60 grains of powder, so the 7RM definitely qualifies.

 

[Selous]

I reload so I’m not too bothered which cartridge I eventually decide on,in fact I think the wide variety of 7mm bullets available is part of the attraction. Am I correct in thinking that the Remington Magnum needs a magnum primer?

i have loaded mine with both standard and magnum primers with good results at normal sporting ranges

 

[lambic]

Depends what you want it for? I have a .280Ai which is a long action seriously accurate longer barrelled set-up which can seriously perform if stoked right up, similar to a 7mm Rem Mag. I also wanted a shorter barrelled lighter rifle for a woodland stalking set-up so I went for a 7mmx08. I've just got a Blaser R8 Pro Success in 7mmx08 which I haven't even fired yet so can't really comment on! However, it is best of both worlds as it is a relatively short rifle due to the action, but still has a fairly impressive 23" barrel length. 7mm is a good all-round calibre for UK and even satisfies the DEFRA recommended minimum (.270) for wild boar. Scratch that itch - you won't regret it!
MS

MS
Have you tried the 7mm08 yet in your PS?

 

[lambic]

I've looked at 280 AI, and was shopping for a 7mm08 when I bought my first 260 Rem. I've not got a 7mm yet, however I might get a 7mm Creedmoor.

Regards

JCS

JCS

When you say 7mm Creedmoor, are you referring to the 7mm GPC on wiki?

Cheers

 

[rg7mm]

7mm rem mag all the way I've had most of the others had my RM for nearly 17 years now we sell around 10 a year in our shop it's very popular round here

 

[iain b]

A vote for the 7-08.~Muir

Me too. It’s my go to rifle. Fox, deer, rabbits all dead.

 

[lambic]

Any views on 7mm08AI and 7x57AI performance and reloading for a compact stalking rifle ?

 

[Southern]

Any views on 7mm08AI and 7x57AI performance and reloading for a compact stalking rifle ?

Why bother with it for maybe 100 fps? Just go to .284 Winchester for a short action and 22 inch barrel, or 7x64/.280 Rem with 23.5/24-inch barrel for a sure extra 200 fps without hot loading. For a 20-inch ( Rem Model 7, Win M70 Compact, T3X Compact, or chopped and moderated carbine ) go 7mm-08.

 

[lambic]

Long term looking at getting a custom left handed short/medium action rifle with 20" barrel Southern....just trying to assess most suitable calibres. 6.5mm to 7mm....needs to have less recoil than 270 win. Will be reloading.

Your ideas would be most welcome.

 

[Southern]

Recoil less than .270 eliminates the .284, 7x64 and .280 Remington.
Custom in wood and gloss blue, or synthetic / matte blue, or synthetic / stainless steel?

7mm-08 gives you the most choices in left hand.

Remington 700 SPS Compact 7mm-08 is matte synthetic, 20 inch bbl, and inexpensive.
Ruger 77 Hawkeye left hand is $100 more in walnut
Winchester M70 Compact is gloss blue, nice walnut, hard to find in left hand.
Sako makes a left hand M75 and M85
Tikka T3X Compact 20 inch left hand
Howa 1500 barreled action in left hand, blue or stainless. Cut it to 20 inch, stock as you like.
Or find a left hand Ruger M77, Win M70 or Rem 700 short action, put on your own barrel and stock.

 

[lambic]

Are the slight AI performance gains the same for the 7x57 and the 7mm08 (given their similarities )? Or are the gains greater for the older 7x57....perhaps more room for improvement ?

 

[1894]

The longer I do this thing the more I'm convinced its about the rifle not the calibre.

Yes I use my 7-08 a lot on fallow and reds and yes it works brilliantly and is a great balance of recoil and killing power but 90% of that is down to a great stock, trigger, scope and moderator. A 308 or 260 would work as well. Here's the clue - short action, 20" barrel. Point able yet steady. My identical 30-06 gains 25yards trajectory, is steadier yet slower to get on sticks by virtue of its extra length (longer barrel too)

7x57 is a great cartridge but being intermediate in length can fall between action lengths.

 

[Southern]

And I wouldn't set my heart on custom until I had held and shot some of the nicer factory rifles, new and second hand, from Sako, Mauser, Steyr, Sauer, Remington, and Winchester.

 

[lambic]

Not interested in any of those manufacturers. Will either buy another barrel for the rifle I have, which would exclude the 7mm08 AI. Or get my local gunsmith to make a custom, which could include the 7mm08AI or the 7x57AI.

It seems quite hard to get info on the two AI wildcats, which probably speaks volumes....whereas there is plenty of information on 280AI.

 

[Greener Jim]

7mm SAW will give you an idea of what a 7mm-08AI can do, it’s a little more than just an AI cartridge though as you’ll see from a google.
7x57 is relatively tapered so the AI treatment will show a decent benefit but it won’t turn it into a 7mm Rem Mag of course. The big benefit with AI is that brass flow is much less which means less trimming and therefore longer case life.
I know a chap with a 7x57AI, I’ll ask what he’s getting regards ballistics.

 

[Coolhand]

Having owned and shot everything from .222 to 450/400 NE, I can say that I am extremely biased toward the 7x64. The 7mm/08, 60 shot prone matches are a breeze with it and as previously stated, it is an inherently accurate cartridge.

regards
Mike.