Hi,
I´ll be receiving my 7x64 any day now and I wonder what bullets to use once I start reloading -any tips?

I think a "heavyish" bullet would be the best as I reckon that most of my shooting will be at distances less than 200 meters.

IIRC the 7 X 64 is the European version of the American 280 Remington and while you didn't say what you was hunting, using the 139 grain bullets for targets under 200 pounds, the 150 for under 400 pounds and the 175 grain bullets for the moose style targets seems to be the typical style here in the states.

Vapodog: You have a good point there -what will I be using it for.

My honest answer: I haven´t the faintest idea! I just wanted one because it sounds like a good round. I shoot most of my deer at around 50 meters and my 6.5x55 is the main weapon for that, I use the 9.3x62 for elk...and I have quite a few guns that I don´t really "need"

I might try using it in SA next year but then again I promised an article on the 8x68S to my editor...

hi cewe.....good choice....really, the 7x64 is one of the most used calibers in Europe and it is for sure not a bad one.

I would not worry too much on which bullet for what game, if I were you I would got with the Barnes TSX 160 grs BT and never look back, no matter if you are shooting smallest or bigger plains game. It shoots flat enough up to 250 meters, I think that should serve you very well. If you consider to use factory ammunition I would have a closer look on the Lapua Naturalis, a wonderful bullet that comes from your country. Sure, it does not have the best ballistic coefficient, but that means really nothing if we are talking about shooting distances up to 300 m. Both of the bullets have a very high sectional density, what might be important on larger game to reach the vital areas. Just my 2 cents!

quote:

Originally posted by cewe:
Hi,
I´ll be receiving my 7x64 any day now and I wonder what bullets to use once I start reloading -any tips?

I think a "heavyish" bullet would be the best as I reckon that most of my shooting will be at distances less than 200 meters.

A good. all-round "heavyish" bullet for any 7mm, 7X57, 7X64, or 7mm Rem. Mag. is the 160-grain Nosler Partition or Accubond.

Personally, I prefer 'em a little more "heavier-ish yet", and use the 175-grain Nosler Partition - wish they'd make a 175-grain Acubond!

For smaller critters, the 140-grainers are very effective at around 3000 FPS......

quote:

I´ll be receiving my 7x64 any day now and I wonder what bullets to use once I start reloading -any tips?

In Sweden and Finland the Rhino bullet is widely available, as there is a resident agent for Rhino Bullets. I suggest you try the 160 grain Rhino Solid Shank bullet. You will get sterling performance on game.

Regards
Chris

Hi,

I think I´ll be going with something in the 160gr range, maybe Accubonds or Barnes. I´ve tried Rhinos in 9.3 and wasn´t that impressed -I´d say that they´re good but not as good as their rep.

Cewe,

The Nosler Partion bullet is designed to lose its front core, whereas the bonded bullets are not supposed to do that. So, Nosler's Accubond bullet features a polymer tip (plastic), is spitzer shaped, has thin jackets in the front tapering to a ticker base. It yields only 60-70% weight retention. Too low for my taste and not nearly as good as the Rhino bullet. The 160 gr Rhino bullets yield an ave of 97% on 3 Blue Wildebeest that I shot recently - 17 mm expanded diameter; ie 2.4 times original diameter, thus creating a nice hole through the vitals, dropping game quickly.

I also shot 175 gr Barnes-X bullets, broad-side shots on kudu - none retrieved so far - all through. Being all copper, it is obviously tougher than any lead-core bullet and the expansion is somewhat smaller (13 to 14mm), hence deeper penetration - I got 100% weight retention in my wetpack tests.

I tested various 7 mm bullets and none compared with the Rhino. Obviously we do not have NF bullets in SA, which I believe is also very good. Second would be Swift A-Frame which is also scarce in SA, but I had some. I tried Norma's bonded bullet and it was mediocre. The Sierra Game King was the worst of the bunch - too frangible, retained only 28.5% of its weight. The 160 gr Rhino bullet in particular performs in a textbook fashion with well formed mushrooms as the drilled hole for the lead is not as deep as Rhino's 170 grainer, resisting petal loss better.

Opting for a 7x64 over a 7x57 implies one wants a bit more velocity, and that is why I would pick the 160 grainer over the heavier 170/175 grainers. The newer TSX bullet in 160 grains may just be what you are looking for if an all-copper bullet is seeked as they yield less fouling and most have reported better accuracy than with the X-bullet.

Chris

Cewe, go for the best on the market!

GS Custom HV in 130gr and push them at 3150fps in your 7x64 and you'll never buy anything else again. If you need more velocity, 3250fps, go for the 120gr - just as good.

They fly right through a Bluewildebeest, cutting the top part of it's heart almost completely off and let the B/W drop dead within 15 meters from where it was shot out of my Sako 7mm Rem Mag - pushed at 3400fps.

Fast, complete penetration, clean wound channel with very little meat damage.
That's the way to do it!

/

Not so Alf, the GSCHV for 7mm Rem Mag is indicated as .284 and the ones for 7x64 are .285.

Refer GSC's technical detail web page.

Sorry Alf, I misread your post, you're perfectly correct

No trouble when you use the best available on the market

quote:

Originally posted by ALF:
Very Very important to the Euro 7mm's vs "american 7mm's is the size of the bore and bullets and the 7x64 is one of the calibers that shows up the difference. Especially if the 7x64 was made in europe and is of older vintage.

Euro derived 7mm's and not true 7mm's at all !

The America spec 7mm is a .284 caliber thus 7.2136 mm whilst the Euro 7mms are in fact larger 7.25mm. This may not seem much but when using Euro derived bullets such as Hirtenbergers and others it affects high end load performance.

America spec bullets and specifically grooved or banded bullets actually need to be adapted for use in Euro 7mm's, not surprising then that GS Custom makes his 7mm Bullets in two formats specifically for American derived 7mm's vs Euro derived 7mm's.

Alf,

Do you know if modern day barrels made by Euro companies such as Lothar Walther etc use .284 or .285 as standard in a 7x64? Or have they switched to US standards?

ErikD,
The data on this page corresponds with the data on the Walther Lothar site. I have built rifles with their barrels and, if you order a barrel for a 7x57, you get a 1:8.6" twist barrel with a .285" bore/groove configuration. Their 7mm RM barrels are 1:9.5" twist and .284". If you do not specify, they will ask.

You have the balistic twin to one of my favorite rounds, the .280rem. I also lean to bullets on the heavier side & the 160gr NP is a great choice as would be the NF or Swift. Using IMR7828, 2850fps is easy to reach in my 23"bbl. Penetration from any angle w/ any of these good 160gr bullets is about all you can ask for on game up to elk.

Hi

For roe/fallow/Scottish red deer I have been using 139 gn Hornady Interbonds with complete success and for heavier stuff 175 gn Speer magtips.

Regards

Mark

Yesterday I received my 7x64! I might be testing it today if it doesn´t rain too hard.

This seems to be a custom job, can´t really specify on which M98 action it was built but it is smooth etc. The stock is a bit banged up but that´s just cosmetics.

The gun came with a Zeiss 6X scope in a claw mount. The scope has to be at least 20yo but I was really inpressed by the clarity of view. Windage has to be set using a screw but that shouldn´t be a problem.

All in all I think it was 600E well spent!

I use cheap S&B 175 grain bullets for plinking and some roe deer's.
As you know, I loaded my 7x64 with the Classic RWS 123 grain Kegelspits for our Beaver hunt(Castor fiber -not the other beaver you know... )

Else, I have been using Stewart Hi Performer's in 175 grain on wild boars, maybe we should order a super heavy weight bullet at some 190 grain?

If you don't get your 8x68S ready in time, what about use the 7x64 for Gemsbock?

H

quote:

Else, I have been using Stewart Hi Performer's in 175 grain on wild boars, maybe we should order a super heavy weight bullet at some 190 grain?

Husky,

Old man Ken Stewart has been making a custom bonded bullet for years now, very similar to the Woodleigh bullet, save that he does not use a 90/10 mix of copper & zink for jacket material - he uses a mix with some tin in it - it can clearly be seen from the colour. He makes 2 versions - a standard and a Hi-Performer that features even thicker jacket-walls intended for bigger and tougher game.

I really do not believe a 190 grainer is needed in a 7 x 57 mm - the 175 gr Stewart Hi-Performer is a tough bullet and has been used on eland with success before. The previous president of PHASA, Mr Osenbein will tell you that he uses Swift A-Frames to shoot eland with, even though he has a safe full of other calibers. One should not under estimate the dimunitive 7 x 57 killing ability - the bullet makes all the difference.

I did some tests with Ken's 9,3 bullets and it is a fine bullet indeed. Tougher than a Woodleigh for sure. I just prefer them without a cannelure that weakens the jacket. In a low-recoiling 9,3 we do not need a cannelure - it is a built-in weakness in my opinion. Recoil is not such that we need crimping in the cannelure groove. .375 and up requires crimping for dangerous game hunting to be absolutely sure the bullet won't set back into the case.

Chris

/

Truvelloshooter:

The 7x64 can probably handle a 190gr bullet but 160-175´s are probably fine. Ken has made me a batch of .323 bullets which I´ll be receiving in nov and hopefully I´ll be loading them in my 8x68 this spring.

Good news: The Finnish authorities have granted me a guncollectors license! I thank boha and Husky for practical and moral support during the application process.

Husky: PS I can´t seem to locate the Partisan bullets here in Finland -any chance of support from Sweden?

Congratulations cewe -you deserves the colectors licence!

Partisan bullets:

http://www.vapex.se/webshop/index.php?cPath=81_36_50

€ 20.00/100 158 grain Grom bullets

Today I managed to get in a few shots between rainshowers (I also sighted my 8x60, 200gr Sako Hammerheads at 785m/s -had on two shot group that went "hole in hole" at 100yds!) with the 7x64 and it had a pretty swift kick! I didn´t really know what to expect and the stock (hogsback MC) might be a factor. The scope is a Zeiss Diatol 6X and it seems to be pretty vintage -I couldn´t even understand how to adjust vertically! Boha will have to give me a hand with this.

I love my 7X64. Haven't taken the time to read every reply in case I'm repeating anything but someoone compared it as the "European equivilent of the 280Remington." I may be splitting hairs but I beg to differ...

The 7X64 was introduced in 1917. The ballistic equivalent .270Win. came on the scene eight years later and the 280Remington/7mm Express Rem. didn't arrive until 1957! Interestingly the 280Rem. is identical to the 7X64 except for being a few thou. wider in the base as a result of modifying 30-06 brass rather than give Herr Breneke his due credit and simply using the existing cartridge. Yet another example of Remington adopting someone else's development as their own I suspect.

Someone else inquired as to it's effectiveness on gemsbok. I've not done that but did use mine to make a quick one-shot kill on a large blue wildebeest last April. As for the original question on bullets, that wildebeest dropped to a 175gr. Nosler partition aimed far back (due to angle), which penetrated nearly a meter to destroy the vitals. No scale on hand but visual estimate was approximately 65-70% retention as the bullet is designed to do. While the .270 is essentially identical ballisticly (given equal components) the 7mm's enjoy a greater selection of applicable bullets. I find recoil very managable to say the least but stock design could play a part in this.

cewe, please post pics of the gun and scope so we can look at it and figure out the adjustments.

Cewe,

I forgot to mention that since you are from Finland, and some imports might not be readily available in your country, you can contact Lapua, as they import the Swift A-Frame bullet range and offer it in their standard factory ammo.

If you prefer the heaviest bullet (high SD) for bush ranges as you say, their 175 grainer will fit the bill perfectly. For hunting out to 200 yds the 175 gr Swift A-Frame bullet is more than adequate. It features both a high SD and a high BC (.493).

Bullet performance though is far more important for me than high BC's at practical hunting ranges. I have shot the above bullet at 2,520 fps in my 7x57, but prefer to down load to 2,370 fps, as I use it at bush ranges mostly.

The 7x64 will naturally give you more velocity, but you can download if meat damage is a concern for you.

From the Swift website: ... "With its unique cross-member jacket design and the bonded front core, the Swift A-Frame™ Bullet has become famous for its ability to combine three critical performance features – controlled expansion to 2X original diameter, deep penetration and 95% weight retention at all velocities. This has made it the bullet that hunters shoot with confidence, at any game, of any size, close up or far off."

Chris

Hi guys!

I´m back from a one day elk hunt (I was supposed to hunt two days but my knees gave up -shit- so it´s back to the op room) and pleased to see so many replies!

Posting pics is not what I do best and as we are going on maneuvers in a weeks time I´ll be a bit busy -after that I´ll try my best.

Boha presented me with my .416Rigby which he did a "total makeover" on and man is it beautiful!

So many guns...so little time.