280 rem or ai would be more suitable for a target rifle if that's what he's looking for. Still I'm not convinced that the ultimate 7mm target rifle & cartridge has been conceived in factory form. I like 7mm-08 but trying to run a 180 in a 7mm-08 in a short action is a conundrum.
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Best 7mm cartridge?
- Thread starter Rockyshots
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GREATSCOTT!
Well-Known Member
Best is so subjective. My personal favorite hunting rifle of all my sevens? My 7 SAW.
- 168 gr Berger from a 22" Proof Carbon suppressed gives up 2895 fps.
- Lapua SRP brass.
- Holds 1200 ft/lbs at 800 yards.
- Weighs 7.7 lbs with glass and Javelin bipod.
- Lazer-beam accuracy.
- Light recoil
- Also is a switch barrel to a 6mm Creedmoor for varmints.
- By the time you figure in 4000+ barrel firings and 30+ firings on brass, it might be the cheapest elk-slaying custom you can invest in.
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Rockyshots
Member
I don't plan on shooting PRS or anything like that but I will defiantly be going through at least 60-80 rounds per trip to the range. I am still really stuck between a custom or factory rifle.
I'm not considering the price of powder in the "costs" of burning 14+ grains more. Nor am I suggesting that shooting a Nosler is a foolish endeavor. In search of the "perfect Cartridge ... I have found that the perfect Cartridge doesn't exist yet. Some do it for me more than others. The Max is ma jam right now. A couple of years ago I had it for the Nosler and before that the STW, and a couple of Weatherby rounds.
The Max IS designed to shoot long slippery bullets though.
The Max IS designed to shoot long slippery bullets though.
Bergara highlander is chambered in 280ai but this is not a target rifle. She's gonna be hot & walking shots before you get to 60-80 rounds in one sitting. You would benefit from a heavy barrel in that situation. I'm interested in the 7mm saw from West Texas ordinance that was mentioned in an earlier post. That round seems to fit the high volume target shooting & hunting application well.
esshup
Well-Known Member
Keep a hand on barrel temp if you want the barrel to last. I was told to put my hand on the barrel as close to the chamber as the scope would let me, and if I couldn't comfortably rest my hand on the barrel, it was too hot to continue shooting.
There are some great factory rifles out there now that are accurate if you do your part in developing a load for them. A buddy has a Christensen in 28 Nosler and a Bergera in 6.5 Creedmore and both shoot really, really well. But I don't think he could shoot 60-80 rounds in a day with the 28 Nosler if he wanted to keep the barrel temp down.
I have an accurate .308 that I take to the range when I take the LR rifle. I can send more rounds down range before the barrel gets warm in it than the LR rifle, and since the bullet drifts more with the .308 I have to sharpen my wind reading skills. Better practice I think, and since both guns have the trigger set the same, the muscle memory is reinforced no matter what gun I'm shooting. (Jewell triggers)
soundwaves
Well-Known Member
lm gonna be very boreing and say 7mmRM. thats what l have been shooting for 15 years.
Barrel life ? well l have shot way over 2000 rounds out of it and this is the grooping at 100 meters with the cheep 175 garain FEDERAL POWER SHOCK ammo. and my gun dont look like a tactical plastic war toy. its just a calssical hand made german hunting rifle
Barrel life ? well l have shot way over 2000 rounds out of it and this is the grooping at 100 meters with the cheep 175 garain FEDERAL POWER SHOCK ammo. and my gun dont look like a tactical plastic war toy. its just a calssical hand made german hunting rifle
GREATSCOTT!
Well-Known Member
If that's the case, either a factory 7mm-08 shooting 140 gr pills, or a custom 7 SAW shooting 168's with a switch barrel in a 6mm to train with higher volume strings of fire.
Now I'm an animal when it comes to my ability to handle recoil, but considering all you've shared that you want, the reality is, shooting 60 to 80-round strings is not going to be conducive behind 195 gr Bergers while maintaining perfect form; especially for a newer person entering the trade of long range killing. You will develop some bad recoil habits that can be tough to mitigate. Just trying to help boss based on your desires.
Whats the problem with the 6.5 prc. I have been looking at them ?
Yeah, 7mm rm gets my thumbs up for all around performance & price value. Looks like you worked really hard to make it shoot tiny groups: buy federal ammo, load, then pull the trigger. Lollm gonna be very boreing and say 7mmRM. thats what l have been shooting for 15 years.
Barrel life ? well l have shot way over 2000 rounds out of it and this is the grooping at 100 meters with the cheep 175 garain FEDERAL POWER SHOCK ammo. and my gun dont look like a tactical plastic war toy. its just a calssical hand made german hunting rifle
View attachment 175783View attachment 175784
Did a 7mm-08 improved on a long action and it works great with the heavies up to 180 best with 168 and 175
Agreed. If I had to shoot 60-90 rounds in a day, I'd take a gun that's too heavy to hunt with and has factory am that's to cheap to reload for. 5.56 comes to mind.
I suppose that also depends on how many range days ya get...
Rockyshots
Member
Its more the rifle I have it in. I might put a proof barrel on it to help it group.
