I have an XP-100 single shot and I am trying to figure out which cartridges would be adequate for shooting out to 400 yards with a pistol length barrel. Would a 260 or 7mm-08 have enough left at that distance? Currently it is chambered in a 7mm BR, what do you consider the maximum distance with this cartridge for whitetail deer?
400 yard Whitetail Cartridge?
- Thread starter barm
- Start date
Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum
screech
Well-Known Member
I will say up front that I have never used an xp. I want to but just dont have funding, time, list goes on and on. The white tails in Idaho are the only ones that I have dealt with. I know a 243 out of a rifle will anchor an white tail at close to 450 with a behind the shoulder shot. I would think that a 7mmbr would work to 400 or so but I may be wrong. I hope one of the xp handgun guys will chime in for you.
TCKev
Well-Known Member
400 Yd Xp
XPhunter will chime in I'm sure, he has much more experience with longrange XP's than most. I know he had a 284 that I think he has taken animals with at some pretty far distance's. Fiftydriver has built and done a lot shooting at longranges with an XP also.
XPhunter will chime in I'm sure, he has much more experience with longrange XP's than most. I know he had a 284 that I think he has taken animals with at some pretty far distance's. Fiftydriver has built and done a lot shooting at longranges with an XP also.
7mm BR
the 7mm BR would work fine to 400yards as it has been used for rifle shilouete to 500m.
However if you want to step it up a bit look at the 284win as you could rechamber the existing barrel. also have a good break fitted just to make it better to shoot.
Other than this you could have the boltface opened and a 7mm short mag would be awsome but probably overkill.
The 284win uses the 308 boltface so it would be your best modification what twist does the barrel have 9.25? and is it 14" long if so the 284win would be awsome with 162gr AMax's.
As the xp's aee single shot you can throat them out to gain the best performance.
I would not worry about the 7mm08 as it will not give you much more than the 7mmBR. Go to the bigger case and you will be good to go you could also use the 162gr AMax as is in 7mmBR you will be supriesed try Varget.
Cheers Bill
Australia
the 7mm BR would work fine to 400yards as it has been used for rifle shilouete to 500m.
However if you want to step it up a bit look at the 284win as you could rechamber the existing barrel. also have a good break fitted just to make it better to shoot.
Other than this you could have the boltface opened and a 7mm short mag would be awsome but probably overkill.
The 284win uses the 308 boltface so it would be your best modification what twist does the barrel have 9.25? and is it 14" long if so the 284win would be awsome with 162gr AMax's.
As the xp's aee single shot you can throat them out to gain the best performance.
I would not worry about the 7mm08 as it will not give you much more than the 7mmBR. Go to the bigger case and you will be good to go you could also use the 162gr AMax as is in 7mmBR you will be supriesed try Varget.
Cheers Bill
Australia
The 7-08 will do it to 400, but since it looks like you are willing to rebarrel I would consider cartridges based off of the 284 Win case (6-284, 25-284, 6.5-284, and the 284 Win itself) to get you to that goal easily and have some room leftover.
The 284 Win cartridge & it family in 16-17" barrels you will basically get the same performance you would with cartridges chambered in rifle length barrels based off of the 308 cartridge ( 243 win, 25 Souper, 260 Rem, etc).
One of Holland's or Carlock's brakes will turn the recoil into basically nothing. I use rifle scopes more and more with these kind of brakes.
Ditto on what XP was saying, the 284 class will give 400 and beyond yds if needed with energy left over. any of the others will do (7 br or 7-08) but they will be at the outer limits. I have a 284 in a HS and have used it for game out to 350+yds and milk jugs on the farm to 500 yds, great cartridge
good luck with your choice.
nmhunter
good luck with your choice.
nmhunter
Mark Hampton
Well-Known Member
400 yard whitetail
Barm,
I have used an XP in 284 Winchester for big game including several different species of ibex and sheep. The Nosler 140 BT is the only bullet I have used and it performed well. Shots ranged from 100 to 320 yards. I would lean toward the Nosler AB for larger species. Kirby is putting the finishing touches on the 284 now (rebarrel) and I plan on using it soon on another sheep hunt. I prefer 17 + inch barrels to get a tad more velocity.
The 6.5 WSM is another XP offering that is capable of taking whitetail out to 400 yards. So far I have been using Nosler 120 grain BT's. The longest shot I have encountered was a bezoar ibex in Turkey last Christmas at a touch over 300 yards. I want to try the Nosler 130 AB as soon as I have the opportunity. Good luck
Barm,
I have used an XP in 284 Winchester for big game including several different species of ibex and sheep. The Nosler 140 BT is the only bullet I have used and it performed well. Shots ranged from 100 to 320 yards. I would lean toward the Nosler AB for larger species. Kirby is putting the finishing touches on the 284 now (rebarrel) and I plan on using it soon on another sheep hunt. I prefer 17 + inch barrels to get a tad more velocity.
The 6.5 WSM is another XP offering that is capable of taking whitetail out to 400 yards. So far I have been using Nosler 120 grain BT's. The longest shot I have encountered was a bezoar ibex in Turkey last Christmas at a touch over 300 yards. I want to try the Nosler 130 AB as soon as I have the opportunity. Good luck
Mark,
What would you consider the maximum range of the 7mm BR for whitetail deer? Also, would the 140 NBT be your choice if you using this cartridge? I ran some numbers to see at what distance the 120 NBT, 140 NBT, 150 NBT, and the 162 Amax would drop to 1000 foot pounds of energy in this cartridge. They did as follows: 120 NBT=225yd; 140 NBT=240yd; 150 NBT=250yd; 162 Amax=335yd. Is the 1000 foot pound rule a good "rule of thumb" for long range handgun hunting for deer?
What would you consider the maximum range of the 7mm BR for whitetail deer? Also, would the 140 NBT be your choice if you using this cartridge? I ran some numbers to see at what distance the 120 NBT, 140 NBT, 150 NBT, and the 162 Amax would drop to 1000 foot pounds of energy in this cartridge. They did as follows: 120 NBT=225yd; 140 NBT=240yd; 150 NBT=250yd; 162 Amax=335yd. Is the 1000 foot pound rule a good "rule of thumb" for long range handgun hunting for deer?
Mark Hampton
Well-Known Member
7BR
Barm,
I consider the 7BR a 200 yard deer cartridge. That is not to say you couldn't kill a deer beyond that range. It is possible to bag a deer out at 300 yards with your 44 Mag, I just don't consider it a 300 yard deer cartridge any more than a 7BR is a 400 yard deer round. I'm using Nosler 120 grain BTs in my 7BR and it is very accurate. I wouldn't hesitate using it on a whitetail if I kept my shots under 200 yards. There are many options much better suited for long range deer hunting than the 7BR. It was originally designed to shoot steel. This cartridge in an XP can be extremely accurate and fun to shoot. Obviously, this is just one man's opinion and it's cheap
Barm,
I consider the 7BR a 200 yard deer cartridge. That is not to say you couldn't kill a deer beyond that range. It is possible to bag a deer out at 300 yards with your 44 Mag, I just don't consider it a 300 yard deer cartridge any more than a 7BR is a 400 yard deer round. I'm using Nosler 120 grain BTs in my 7BR and it is very accurate. I wouldn't hesitate using it on a whitetail if I kept my shots under 200 yards. There are many options much better suited for long range deer hunting than the 7BR. It was originally designed to shoot steel. This cartridge in an XP can be extremely accurate and fun to shoot. Obviously, this is just one man's opinion and it's cheap
With my 7mm-08, Steve and I have used both the 120 & 140 NBT for PD's, antelope, whitetail, and muley's
With my 284 win XP I use the 140 NBT for deer/antelope and the 140 Partition for elk.
I think the AB would work great as well, but never used them my self. The 162 A-Max should work great with deer/antelope, but not sure if I wuld use it one elk, especially a big cow or bull.
The Berger's have been proven to work good as well.
In my 7mm Dakota XP I use the 200 grain Wildcat for everything.
With the 7BR I would look at the lighter weight bullets like the 120 & 130 grainers and I wouldn't consider the 7BR a 400 yard deer slayer.
I would call it a 250 yard cartridge. Part of the problem is the slower MV's result in low impact velocities which may cause some bullets to not perform well, since it is outside of their design parameters.
Mark,
Thank you for the setting a limit with the 7mmBR. I got bit by the handgun bug and I want to try the gun in its original chambering to see if I am going to like it before I spend any money to rebarrel. I have a place to hunt deer into February so I should have time to work something up to hunt with this season.
Xphunter,
Thank you for taking the time to list your experience with 7mm bullets. How is the recoil of the 284 without a brake? I'm probably going to start with the Nosler 120 grain Ballistic Tip with my 7mm BR, what powder would you recommend? I'm thinking H322 or VV133 with this weight?
Thank you for the setting a limit with the 7mmBR. I got bit by the handgun bug and I want to try the gun in its original chambering to see if I am going to like it before I spend any money to rebarrel. I have a place to hunt deer into February so I should have time to work something up to hunt with this season.
Xphunter,
Thank you for taking the time to list your experience with 7mm bullets. How is the recoil of the 284 without a brake? I'm probably going to start with the Nosler 120 grain Ballistic Tip with my 7mm BR, what powder would you recommend? I'm thinking H322 or VV133 with this weight?
