Hi,

Given the caliber I might get the best responses at the European hunting forum but I think this belongs here.
I read with great interest the thread about big game loads and bullets for the 7mm-08.
I just acquired a Verney-Carron in 7x64 Brenneke (Ha! Got one finally!) and I was wondering what ammo or bullets you have experienced to be good general purpose hunting ammunition.
General purpose for me means roe deer, whitetail and wild boar - moose occasionally. In this size class I think we can also lump African PG. It might not be feasible to only use one load for all of these as they are of so different sizes - or?
The shooting distances tend to be less than 50 meters and probably max 150.
At the moment I only have the gun fitted with open sights (photo of two-shot target @ 100 meters included - the ring width is 1"). It was shot with Sako Hammerhead 170grs.

And the photos....






- Lars/Finland

I'm sure Jeffeoso will chime in, as he is a champion of this round. I like 160 grain Speer Grand Slams over a worked up dose of H4831SC in my custom Rem 721 (It's a 1-9" twist 7mm-06, but their's no appreciable difference.)

Thanks Matt - yes, yes I am a fan of the amazing 7x64 --since you know for certain it likes 170s, I suggest also using heavy for caliber in her ... 160gr and up ..

The 145gr Speer Hot Core has been a reliable performer for me for decades in a 280 at 2950-3000. Untold deer and a couple of caribou. It's not flashy, but I've had perfect performance.

I shoot a .280 and like the 154gr Hornady and FWIW, I used a 150gr Core lokt to kill a cow elk.

My Sauer 202 has 2 barrels, a spare .30-06 (my pet stalking caliber) and 7x64, the barrel that came with the rifle. Both rounds are equally effective and accurate in my rifle. In my 7x64 I used to handload Sierra 160 GK BTSP / N 160 / 56.0 bu also carried along the same load behind the Sierra 160 GK HP, a much harder bullet in case a wild board showed up, the nice thing being that both bullets are equally accurate and shoot to the same POI.



.30-06, 5 shots at 100 m



7x64, , 5 shots at 100 m

160 Nosler Partition

Mine prefers 160-grainers. 56 grains H4831SC. Otherwise the same recipe as for my .280 Remington with any kind of premium bullet (which likes 140-grainers instead.)

I've had good results for over fifteen years with the 7x64B with 162grn RWS TIG bullets

Aren't the TIG bullets fairly fragile?
Is there a lot of bloodshot/spoiled meat generated?

- Lars/Finland

The .280 Rem and the 7x64 are ballistic twins (although the .280 theoretically has perhaps a grain or two more case capacity.) I'm very happy with 150 grainers as my only load in my .280 for whitetails, feral hogs, and whatever else might come along. My favorite bullet (of which I have a fair supply), the Nosler 150 grain solid base, is no longer made, but either a Nosler 150 grain Accubond or Partition would do as well.

That said, if a given rifle shot better with either a 140 or a 160, those would do just fine as all-arounders, too.

7x64 seems to like heavier bullets -- and the 7mm express/280 are johnny come latelies for rem to match the 20, which is win's answer to.....

the 7x64

Tested by DEVA: 160grs Nosler Part. and 58grs N 160, good for 2880fps (or 880m/sek).

quote:

Originally posted by Schauckis:
Aren't the TIG bullets fairly fragile?
Is there a lot of bloodshot/spoiled meat generated?

- Lars/Finland

Always worked well on Boar for me with classic TIG recovered hard rear portion with shards

My favorite deer and hog, and the lighter PG load is the 130 gr. Speer, its deadly and has shot in the .280 Rem, 7x64, and 7x57s I've owned...I have also had good luck with the 145 gr. Speer and the 139 gr. Hornadys..For heavier stuff like elk, Ive always opted for the 160 gr. or 175 gr. Nosler partitions and Rem corelokts as well... My favorite powder has been H414 hands down in the 7s I have owned.