I have a falling block single shot in 7x57R that I like a lot. I have used Norma Oryx and Nosler Partition bullets in that rifle/caliber to good effect.

I also very much like the 7mm Rem. Mag. and Nosler Partition and Trophy Bonded Bear Claw bullets.

I guess I'd take the 7x57R if I were forced to choose between the two.

Apparantly you have been around long enough to learn that the .270 and 30-06 are just about impossible to beat..As much as I love the little 7x57, the .270 beats the heck out of it and equals the 7 mag...

To better a .270 or 30-06 one must go to the .338 Win. IMO..however I also love the 300 H&H but again its not that much better than the 06....

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
Apparantly you have been around long enough to learn that the .270 and 30-06 are just about impossible to beat..As much as I love the little 7x57, the .270 beats the heck out of it and equals the 7 mag...

To better a .270 or 30-06 one must go to the .338 Win. IMO..however I also love the 300 H&H but again its not that much better than the 06....

That is why I never warmed up to the .280 and 7mm RM. I'm sure if I had started out with either of those calibers before my .270 I might have been looking at a 6.8 Rem. My .280 has been very well received by my brother-in-law and likes it as much as I like my .270. I've accounted for all of my big game with only three center fire cartridges and .50 cal black powder. The .243, .270, and .30-06 have served me very well for pronghorn, deer, elk and black bear.

BTW I just recently aquired the .300 H&H, I haven't shot it yet as it is still at the smiths getting some work done. I probably wouldn't have purchased this rifle at all if it hadn't been the deal of the century on a sporter 1917 action.

You will like the 300 H&H..I suggest you shoot the 200 gr. Nosler Partition in it as your 06 has the rest of the field covered...the 300 H&H is a killing machine on deer, pronghorn, Elk, Kudu Eland and such. The H&H handles the heavy 200 and 220 gr. bullets better than the other 300s with the possible exception of the 300 WBY and the new big 30 Remingtons I suppose, but I have no use for them what so ever.....

Something about the 7mm's always warms my heart and make me smile. I love them all.

quote:

Originally posted by TreeFarmer:
Favorite is the 7X57 followed by the .280 Remington.

ditto

I like my Sako .270 Finnbear,so too my Howa 7mm W.S.M., can't separate em really, So I take both, & decide on the side of the bed in the a.m.! tons of brass for both in the U.K.!

QUOTE]Originally posted by bartsche:
Why is it when someone says they LOVE a 7mm-08 it stirs strange errotic images in my mind? roger[/QUOTE]

Roger it's ok, you're not alone. They have special doctors for folks like you. Most often you won't even need to take medication.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Lou:

quote:

Originally posted by MTM:
7 STW, 160 TSXs at 3300. Whats not to like?

RECOIL!

Holy, didn't realize it had that stuff. Its my Deer gun and where I hunt there's a lot of high mountain, open country. It also helps a bit when the wind is blowing.

a 280 LOADED TO THE SAME PRESSURE AS A 270 IS QUITE A POTENT ROUND . fOR YEARS i THOUGHT THE 270 COULDN'T BE BEAT. THE 280 IS CERTAINLY ITS EQUAL AND THE 7MM HAS A HUGE SELECTION OF BULLETS. MY GO TO RIFLE FOR DEER SIZED GAME IS NOW A 280.

If you want a single shot 7 m/m, I am currently using two diferent Ruger No.1's and love them both. They are a 7x65-R and a 7 m/m Remington Mag.

One is a Marquart custom-barrled rifle, the other a factory gun. Both shoot well under 1 MOA. The 7x65-R, though maybe not as powerful as the Mag (but close), still kills running elk dead right there. I would particularly recommend it for mild recoil and good all around performance on game. I use factory RWS H-Mantle ammo in it, which it shoots to about 3/4 MOA.

quote:

Originally posted by taylorce1:
Ok here is the deal, I've had a couple of 7mm rifles but could never warm up to them. I had a .280 Rem and 7mm Rem Mag. It wasn't that they were unpleasnt to shoot I just kept going back to my .270 Win when it came time to hunt as it still seems to be the most accurate rifle I have in my hands. Between .224-.375 the 7mm and 9.3 are two calibers that I'm lacking in my rifle collection.

So I'm thinking a 7mm rifle again, and trying to decide what one to try. I know the 7X57 and the 7mm-08 are pretty popular on this forum and I've been cosidering them heavily. I just keep coming back to the idea of a 7-30 Waters in a bolt action rifle like the Remington 788 or an T/C single shot.

I'm not against giving the .280 and 7mm RM a go again. I really don't want to go to a cartridge larger than the Rem Mag, but I'm trying to keep my options open.

I don't care for 7mmxanything, but like 6,5x54mm in original rifle of same name a lot. They make wonderful mountian treking prop sticks.

I like the 7-08 or the ackley improved version.

Wow! What 7mm? Too many choices there, I mean the 7x57mm and 7mm-08 are just super if you are into retro and just want venison on the table. If you must have a little more power, look to the .280 Remington and 7x64mm, then the kingly 7mm Rem Mag steps in. Next you have the exotics from the SAUM, RUM and STW clans. Wow, just too many choices. Myself, I stick with the old ones, 7x57mm and 7x64mm, and have used the 7mm-08 (cannot tell a lick of difference in performance from the 7x57mm there), and I just bought a .280 Remington. When it comes to the mighty 7mms, it is truly a case of whatever rocks your boat is what you should have!

LLS

taylorce1,

From reading your posts I am getting the impression that you don't really want a 7mm.

Stick with your 270, 300 H&H, 30-06 etc. They will serve you well.

I am a big fan of the 270 Win also. I only own three right now, but always looking.

With that being said, if I was to get a 7mm, the rifle would determine the cartridge.

Short action: 7mm-08, this is not really an option for me as SA's rifles are not my preference. I feel the little cartridge just doesn't have enough powder capacity. I may get slammed for that statement. But remember that is my preference.

Intermediate mauser style action: History and nostalgia mandate a 7x57. Period!

Standard action: 280 Remington hands down.

I am absolutely against the overbore super magnums, as I feel they are just a little too much. Definitely not my style, but your style is for you to decide.

As I get older, I have tried to focus on quality rifles and paring down the reloading inventory. I have since given up the grass is greener mentality with cartridges. Fully realizing that I already have too many rifles, and what I have will get the job done.

My centerfire reloading inventory is down to 22-250, 270 Win, 338-06 and 9.3x64 Brenneke.

So that is my advice to you, please keep in mind what you paid for it.

One 7mm is about as good as another, and they all get the job done..

I suppose my choice will always be a long throated, long magazined 7x57 Mauser..they just keep on ticking and they fill me with joy.

Seagrams(7) and (7)Up

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
Seagrams(7) and (7)Up

Well done Ted, now just say softly to yourself,
"I wish I had a 7x57".

quote:

Originally posted by SDhunter:
taylorce1,

From reading your posts I am getting the impression that you don't really want a 7mm.

So that is my advice to you, please keep in mind what you paid for it.

It isn't that I don't want a 7mm it is just that I don't want it to really duplicate something. That is why I'm kind of into the odd ball 7 cartridges. I like playing with different calibers and most of my rifles that I have now are pretty set up with the bullet I'll use in them.

Good advice BTW and I may back down from my quest for the time being.

M70 7 STW.

I'll go on to add that since you like play
with different rifles.

Single shot would have to be a 7-30 Waters.

A long action action European rifle would have to be a 7x64 Brenneke. An intermediate would still be the 7x57.

You are going to be duplicating because already have the 270 Win and 30-06/300 H&H.

I have to go with the 7X64 crowd,loaded with 160 and 175 grain bullets to CIP specs it is a very potent round. I was a little concerned about brass availability but it has not been a problem. I have bought 700 or 800 of them worth the money over the last year or so.

quote:

Originally posted by Harold R. Stephens:
My first seven that I ever owned is a 7MM STW. I just love that gun. I recently acquired a 7mm mag and that thing kicks like a mule. I could see myself building a 7-08 later in life. For now the 7mm mag is going to become a 257 Weatherby mag ASAP

I didn't like the recoil on my 7mm magnum until I changed to 140-grain Noslers with medium handloads, now it's not an issue. A fellow in a North Carolina rifle shop told me it was a waste of a good 7mm to use loads like those, but neither deer nor antelope could tell the difference, and it shoots 1/2 MOA. Good enough for the likes of me.

There ain't any flys on a 284 Winchester either...
Equals the 280 Rem, and can be used in a short action rifle. Accurate too. I have one.

Don

For the hand loader, the 7mm/08 is tough to beat.

quote:

Originally posted by MTM:
7 STW, 160 TSXs at 3300. Whats not to like?

RECOIL, $ dies, $ brass, $ powder capacity, poor barrel life, RECOIL.

Awh,now don't be scared of the recoil of the 7mm STW.I have one in a Rem. Sendero,it weighs 11 lbs.scoped out and that baby really is quite pleasant to shoot.

+1 for 7mm-08

firstshot
---------------------------
Make your first shot count!

I have to put my vote in for the 7X57, but, I am loving my 280AI's also!!

My 7mm Remington Mag is the most accurate gun I own, so I'm partial to 7RM's.

I'd love a single shot 7x57mm though.

Also, I have to agree with the .270 comments, if any of mine had been as accurate as my 7RM or 6.5, I wouldn't have a heavy 7RM for long range and a light, 'carry' 6.5x55 for the same game.

.280 rem is my favorite. Taken elk, mule deer, kudu, warthog, pronghorn and oryx with it.

I lean towards the .284Win and I just ordered a barrel for a 7x61 Sharpe & Hart.

Blaser K95 Attache in 7x57R.
The K95 has quality, tradition and modern innovation in one neat rifle. They shoot good too.

I have two 7RM's and love to shoot them. Both, a Browning A Bolt Medallion and a Dakota 76, are extremely accurate. Also shoot my .300RUM occasionally, but barrel life is short so I don't take it out too often, but it's never bothered me, and shoot my .375 more than anything else.

Nosler is chambering rifles and making brass for the .280 AI.

.284 win is another nice option.

My 7mmSTW shoots awesome groups with 160 grain North Forks and Nosler Partition. I have shot every 7mm known to have been built, and owned several. The STW may have equals but none that are better. If you don't like recoil, stay on the porch. Good shooting.

taylorce1,

I've only owned three 7mms, but I'm glad to add my $.02.

In 1969 I built a 7mmRemMag and used it exclusively for over 20 years for deer and elk. It is a great cartridge; fast and flat shooting; very versatile. 100gr-120gr bullets vaporize coyotes, 140gr-150gr bullets are perfect for medium sized game, and 160gr-175gr have the sectional density to work well for everything else. Recoil isn't much different than an '06.

It is hard to find a better cartridge for long range medium-big game hunting (non-dangerous), without jeopardizing your shoulder. But as great as the 7mmRemMag is, one day I just felt silly shooting at a doe in the timber at 30 yards with a magnum.

My next 7mm was the 7mm-08 in a Remington Mountain Rifle. I shot my biggest buck to date with that cartridge and a factory 140gr CoreLokt bullet. He collapsed in his tracks. The 7-08 performs even better on game than its paper ballistics. That is impressive.

I was so impressed with that rifle that I just had to build a 7-08AI. The final nudge came from an article by Layne Simpson. I had my new custom rifle chambered to a 7mm SGLC (Simpson's good little cartridge). From a 1:11 twist 22" Shilen barrel, 140s will cross the Oehler at 3075fps with H414 and group at an inch, but I hunt with IMR4831 at 2977fps (1/2" groups with 140gr Partitions). If there is a beast that won't fall to this cartridge, I've decided that I don't need more velocity or a heavier bullet from my 7mm. I need to grab my 300WinMag or my 338WinMag.

Out of all of the deer cartridges that will suffice, a 7mm is as close to the ideal as you will get, IMHO. Most 30 calibers are more than what is needed for deer, and most cartridges under 7mm will work fine, but are less versatile.

I'm not sentimental about cartridges, so I would opt for a 7-08 over a 7x57. They are ballistic twins, but the 7-08 is a modern cartridge for which ammo can be found on shelves
more easily, and it will fit into a short action rifle.

You do have a hole in your lineup that "needs" to be filled with a 7mm. Don't overlook the 7mmSTE, the rimmed lever action alternative to the 7-08AI.

Although I currently have three 7mm rifles for hunting, I have another concern. Seven grandchildren! Each gets a T/C Contender with a .22LR and a 7-30 Waters barrel when considered old enough to have their own rifle. So far, those T/C 7's have racked up a number of antelope and deer. Ok, OK, I'll admit it. There is a T/C 7-30Waters in the gun safe that Grandpa uses when hunting with the young ones.

7 x 57 first..( retro and historical)

7/08 second ( same performance, short action)

280 AI.. ( 7 Rem Mag performance in an 06 case)...

7 Rem Mag, because I can download it to the specs of any of the above...if I needed a full 7 Mag potential, I'd just load up my 06...

get a 280ackley. I dont know why but i have something against the 7-08.

7mm has a huge selection of bullets, and to utilise all the possibilities you need atleast a 280ackley.

a 284win wouldnt be a bad choice either!