The Accurate Reloading Forums
7mm-06
29 December 2014, 03:53
Bigbird347mm-06
Hello Gentlemen, Happy New Year !
I have a 7mm-06 (not a misprint) it is a 1908 Brazilian Mauser Action with double set triggers,in a nice walnut stock,with a Harry McGowan Barrel ,that was a heavy barrel,but someone trimmed it down to an Octagon to lighten the barrel,but never re-blued it,so it is shiny silver color.
The gun is very interesting,and I like the way it feels in my hands,and the looks of the overall project....but should I finish it ????
I need some 7mm-06 dies.
I need to have the barrel polished and blued.
I would like the Mauser safety removed and a Remington style safety installed,but I'm not sure what I would need to purchase,for a safety for the double set triggers to make this work !
And I would want the action bedded,assuming I buy this rifle .
Any and all thought would be greatly appreciated !
Thank-you Jim
29 December 2014, 04:27
CrazyhorseconsultingPretty interesting rifle. Not sure about how the safety change over would go, but it is a conversation piece if nothing else.
Even the rocks don't last forever.
29 December 2014, 06:22
StonecreekYou would in all probability have to replace the set triggers with something like a Timney in order to use a sliding thumb safety. That would be a shame to lose those set triggers, so my advice is to keep the bolt safety as is.
The easy way to get 7mm/06 dies is simply to grind the bottom .05" or so off of a .280 Rem FL die. The .280 seating die can be used as-is.
29 December 2014, 15:54
tjrobertsor go with a neck sizer ! tj3006
29 December 2014, 18:45
Jim KobeYou could put one of my side-swing safeties on and keep the set triggers.
Jim
Jim Kobe
10841 Oxborough Ave So
Bloomington MN 55437
952.884.6031
Professional member American Custom Gunmakers Guild
29 December 2014, 21:21
BricePerhaps it can be rechambered to 280 Rem, which would be ballistically identical to the 7mm-06. Or perhaps you want to retain this caliber "just because".
Out of curiosity, why do you want a side safety? Most folks here would consider that inferior to the Mauser safety.
29 December 2014, 21:57
ramrod340quote:
The easy way to get 7mm/06 dies is simply to grind the bottom .05" or so off of a .280 Rem FL die.

Except for the case length the different between the 280 and 7-06 is the 280 shoulder simply starts .051" forward of the 06. This was done to keep the 280 from chambering in the 270.
As stated grind off the bottom of a 280 fl sizer and you are good to go.
As usual just my $.02
Paul K
30 December 2014, 04:25
graybirdCH4D has 7mm-06 dies if you want to buy some.
Graybird
"Make no mistake, it's not revenge he's after ... it's the reckoning."
30 December 2014, 04:53
Chuck NelsonSell it and cut your losses.
30 December 2014, 05:37
Biggs300You have a VERY nice rifle with what appears to be good wood and I really like the octagon barrel. If it were mine, I think I would have it rebored into a caliber that is more "reloadable".
Start young, hunt hard, and enjoy God's bounty.
30 December 2014, 18:39
Bigbird34Thank-you for your input gentlemen !
I don't own the gun "yet" ! I'm trying to see if my friends, friend will sell his dies,If CH4D,has dies what is he asking for them ?
If I do buy this gun and the barrel is removed to blue it,and the gunsmith thinks it should be re-chambered,I'd go with a 280 AI.
Since it is not my gun "yet" I will not disassemble the bolt to see if I can install a RH safety versus the LH safety that is on the gun presently ....a Remington style safety would have to have a different trigger installed,which would take the fun out of the build .I have always wanted a double set trigger rifle.
It is an interesting rifle,and god knows I don't need it,but it will keep me from being bored this winter !
Happy New Year !
Jim
30 December 2014, 18:47
graybirdCH4D is a company, just google them.
Graybird
"Make no mistake, it's not revenge he's after ... it's the reckoning."
31 December 2014, 11:18
montea6bThat rear receiver bridge is a bit messed up. You will need to do some work to level things out if you intend to mount a scope.
31 December 2014, 17:03
Bigbird34The rifle is already drilled and tapped for a scope....it has weaver bases on it ! TY,BB
31 December 2014, 20:54
larrysI'd go with Jim Kobe's suggestion and have a side swing safety installed so you could keep the double set triggers. Then you can just buy the correct dies.
Just send it to Jim. That's what I would do.
Larry
"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history, when everybody stands around reloading" -- Thomas Jefferson
31 December 2014, 22:15
graybirdquote:
Originally posted by larrys:
I'd go with Jim Kobe's suggestion and have a side swing safety installed so you could keep the double set triggers. Then you can just buy the correct dies.
Just send it to Jim. That's what I would do.
That is exactly what I would do. Plenty of '06 brass out there with minimal work to get what you need.
Graybird
"Make no mistake, it's not revenge he's after ... it's the reckoning."
31 December 2014, 22:36
ramrod340No reason not to leave it a 7-06. You really gain nothing going to a 280. EXCEPT it could no longer be chambered in a 270 by mistake.
CH4D 7-06 dies will cost you around $84 new 280 dies from $35-$80. If you buy the rifle unless you have a old 280 FL or can find one used cheap I would buy the CH4D dies and not worry about cutting down a 280.
As usual just my $.02
Paul K
01 January 2015, 04:31
montea6bquote:
Originally posted by Montea6b:
That rear receiver bridge is a bit messed up. You will need to do some work to level things out if you intend to mount a scope.
quote:
Originally posted by Bigbird34:
The rifle is already drilled and tapped for a scope....it has weaver bases on it ! TY,BB
That may be true, but it does not negate my comment...
It's not too hard to attach bases, but achieving a proper scope mount without stressing the tube is a different thing. Has it actually had a scope on it before? (using the two piece Weaver bases pictured) Have you had a chance to inspect the scope tube?
Maybe it is a trick of the light in the photos, but it does not appear that the top of the rear base is parallel with the top of the front ring. It appears to slope upward towards the muzzle end. Humor me and re-attach the front scope base, lay a straight edge across the top of both front and rear bases to check and see if they are co-planar, then let me know what you find.
I don't think they are, but again it could be photographic distortion or some sort of funky reflection. In that first photo especially it looks like whoever recontoured the rear bridge to remove the charger hump caused some dishing effect.
Just my observation, that's all.
02 January 2015, 00:53
AndynMeA friend of mine has a 700 bdl stamped 7mm/06.You can use 280 dies with NO changes to them.Its a 280,7mm express.
02 January 2015, 17:58
Snyperquote:
A friend of mine has a 700 bdl stamped 7mm/06.You can use 280 dies with NO changes to them.Its a 280,7mm express.
It is "marked" 7mm06, but it is NOT a 7mm06
They made around 200 like that before the 7mm Express was renamed to the .280 Remington
http://www.remingtonsociety.co...hp?f=5&t=1830&p=5775Those guns were supposed to have been recalled and replaced
I repeat, it is NOT a true 7mm-06, regardless of that marking
One shot , one kill
03 January 2015, 07:08
ramrod340If it is really a 280 7mm express then a 280 case will chamber. If it is a true 7-06 then a 280 case shouldn't chamber.
As usual just my $.02
Paul K
05 January 2015, 09:50
swarfPaul is correct: the first thing to do is find out what the chamber really is.
The 7mm06 was a popular wildcat in pre280 days. If a 270 will chamber snuggly it is probably a 7mm06. The 280 is longer than the 06 and 270 rounds. I cannot remember the case taper and how it compares to the 270 and 06 rounds. Maybe it can be changed into a 280 with little effort. Stand a 270 and a 280 case up next to each other and take a look. That would make things much simpler case and die wise.
Then, how about a Beuhler type safety?
07 January 2015, 21:26
Pa.FrankWhy not just set the barrel back a turn and rechamber to 280?
NRA Benefactor.
Life is tough... It's even tougher when you're stupid... John Wayne
08 January 2015, 05:32
tom hollandIn Speer wildcat manual date 1959 7mm/06 was either made from 30-06 or 270 case. The case used for loading data was 30-06 necked down to 7mm and it's body length was 1.948 same as 30-06 or 270. Case length was 2.494" and they never gave shoulder or neck length.
VFW
08 January 2015, 05:39
ramrod340quote:
Why not just set the barrel back a turn and rechamber to 280?
If it is fact a 7-06 and he wants a 280 no real reason to set the barrel back. A 10 sec hit with a 280 reamer should take care of it. As Tom said the body of the 270, 30-06 and 7-06 is 1.948. The 280 body is simply 1.999 with a case length of 2.54 like the 270.
As usual just my $.02
Paul K
08 January 2015, 20:18
AnotherAZWriterThat stock looks like a dead ringer for an old Parker Hale 1200. The look went out in the 80s/90s, but it looks pretty retro now.
08 January 2015, 20:40
Austin HunterMake it a 280 Ackley!!!
"Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan
"Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians."
Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness.
09 January 2015, 21:49
Bigbird34Here's a pic of a 7x57,the 7mm-06,the .280 Rem,and a 280 A.I.....
09 January 2015, 21:54
Austin HunterYep, the Ackley will clean up the chamber nicely!
"Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan
"Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians."
Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness.
09 January 2015, 22:02
ramrod340Something looks strange with the 7-06. Probably my old eyes and or the picture. The shoulder dia on the 280, 06, 270 7-06 etc are .441" The 280 is simply forward by .05" That 7-06 shoulder looks larger and further back.
Now I'm going have to dig through my junk box to find a 7-06.

As usual just my $.02
Paul K
15 January 2015, 17:45
WhelanLadthe 7mm06 cartridge looks neat!
15 January 2015, 20:36
NONAGONAGINThe 7mm-06 was a wildcat and being so it came in MANY iterations depending on WHO ground the reamer. That picture looks like one that might have been partially "Ackleyized", the shoulder seems to have a bigger OD and a different slope to the neck.
In actuality the 7mm-06 was supposed to be a 30-06 that was just neck sized to 7mm with NO other changes...not always the case.
The 7mm Express and the 280 Rem were IDENTICAL CARTRIDGES. I bought a Ruger 280 way back and tuned it up/restocked it for a Christmas present and we shot a box each of 7mm express and 280 Rem in it for brass and reloaded those same cases for many years. I used a set of 280 Rem RCBS dies to reload with...
I couldn't measure any difference between the two factory cartridges either unfired or fired in the rifle, nor with using resized/trimmed 270 Win cases and only the OAL length and shoulder change when using 30-06 cases...
BUT...I did expand the neck up to 338 cal then resized and seated a bullet into the lands and used a bottom load to fireform the 30-06 cases. Other than ending up about 0.40" shorter the 30-06 cases worked fine after that.
If that were my rifle I would send three fired cases to CH4D and have them make me a set of dies...RCBS used to do the same thing...you will need a set of dies anyway and not having to rechamber will save that bit.
Luck
20 January 2015, 18:17
Bigbird34Gentlemen, I have purchased the gun,for slightly less than was originally asked, with that said,I ordered a Low profile safety ,and installed that in the bolt.I also cleaned up the triggers with lighter fluid,and they work great ! I have found some RCBS dies,but they seem rather high priced,but I may buy them just to have them !
Today I will see about getting the gun blued ...
I hope to be shooting this rifle in the spring !
TY,
BB
26 January 2015, 02:43
44magLeoI would do a chamber cast. That way you can measure it and know just what you have. Once you measure, get dies that match your measurements.
Leo
The only way to know if you can do a thing is to do it.
01 June 2015, 05:37
Bigbird34Hello gentlemen,It has been a long hard winter here in Vt ,But the 7mm-06,got reblued,a Low profile safety ,VX# 3.5 to 10 Leupold Scope,and no I have not fired it as of yet ...Where "does" the time go ? But I'll get to it.
I am still looking for dies for this gun if anyone has a set sitting around.
Keep your powder dry, Jim
BTW.I'll post the target results,once she is sighted in !
Here's some pic's of the new 7mm-06 .
01 June 2015, 17:11
JabaliHunterWhy don't you fire-form some brass and send them off to Whidden Gunworks for a set of dies?
http://www.whiddengunworks.com/custom-reloading-dies/01 June 2015, 23:27
graybirdquote:
Originally posted by Bigbird34:
I am still looking for dies for this gun if anyone has a set sitting around.
I guess there is some reservation with the CH4D dies.
The rifle turned out real nice! Congrats
Graybird
"Make no mistake, it's not revenge he's after ... it's the reckoning."
06 June 2015, 06:08
AtkinsonI think RCBS still makes those dies, but send them 3 fired cases and they will make a set...that's not a bad idea on any rifle one owns..Dies that match the chamber is a good thing.
Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120
rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
06 June 2015, 06:30
jeffeossorecut for the perfect midbore, 7x64 LOL
nice gun-- i think your rings are too high
get a 2 or 3 position side safety - not a timney trigger... that's like putting an automatic into a jag
neato gun
10 July 2015, 04:55
Bigbird34 http://rs616.pbsrc.com/albums/...pg~c100?t=1436399339I have tried to post a picture of a 5 shot target that I did with the 7mm-06 .
It took months to find time to get to the range,but I finally made it,the old mauser action works well,the gun is a dream to shoot,getting use to the double set triggers will take some time but at 8 ounces,it does help you shoot straight time after time.
The scope is indeed high,so I installed a cheek piece to raise the eye to match the scope .
I still have not purchased any dies for this caliber,but will probably be calling CH-4D in the near future !
Take care BB.