The Accurate Reloading Forums
What 7mm caliber should I choose?
13 June 2006, 16:37
sherpiWhat 7mm caliber should I choose?
Hi, I am planing to get a new riffle in 7mm caliber. I have a old 6.5x55 and I was planing to replace it iin the same caliber, but I have been hearing that 7mm is a minimum on hog in Europe. What I want is a riffle that is big enough for raindeer, muskus ox, hog and maybe plains game in Africa if god and wife are good, but on the other hand not to big in recoil. So now I planing on a 7mm. The one I have in mind is
7x64 I can get ammo in that (not in .280rem)
7mm Rem mag
7-08 mm
And I am open to suggestions
Sauer and Zeiss, perfect match.
Sherpi
13 June 2006, 17:09
MontMikeI'd say for the animals that you have listed there, I'd opt for the 7 mag. I use it with 160 gr Accubonds to hunt everything here including elk. The recoil in newer designed rifles is not bad at all. I can go to the range in the summer with a t-shirt and have no problem shooting 30 - 40 times.
13 June 2006, 17:17
studdogCan't say for you but for me, the 7mm-08 has become my favorite cartridge. Light shooting and very accurate. Good selection of bullet weights from 120 - 165 grains.
"shoot quick but take your time"
13 June 2006, 17:20
ramrod340The 7x64 would do anything you want to do. The 7mag might do it a touch harder. I have shot plenty of game with a 280 and 7 mag. They can't tell the difference. Not knowing what your factory amom is loaded to the 7 mag might be a touch flatter. Not enough to worry about 300yds and less.
As usual just my $.02
Paul K
13 June 2006, 17:39
iwzbeemanGee, I have all three and that is a hard decision.
One of the appeals of the 7mag is the recoil is very easy to acclimate to while giving superior performance with a wide range of bullets. But then, the .280 (that's the sort I own) is very close in performance to the 7mag with the 7-08 hot on its heels. Roundly speaking, with a 150gr bullet, the 7mag will give you 3100fps, the .280-2900fps, and the 7-08-2700fps. Not a whole lot in the real world. Altho there are those that will split a hair and argue the thickness. If you reload, you may improve on those figures w/o pushing the envelope.
The 7mag does quite well with the 160 and 175 gr bullets while the .280 imo is better suited for the 140-160 range with a good bullet in the 150 weight being ideal. My 7-08's do their best work with something in the 130-145 range. My son made our best shot on deer with a 7-08 using a 145gr Speer Grand Slam. 18.5" barrel and the mule deer stood 284 long steps away. Altho neither of us gain ego from making long shots, I've bettered that distance on an antelope using a .280 and ranging the distance with the plex in my scope.
If weight is a issue, the rifles stack up along power lines. With the 7mag being quite heavy at the end of a day climbing mountains compared to a 6.5# 7-08.
I don't know how much killing a musk ox takes, nor "plains game". Having hunted neither but I would be inclined to select the 7x64 (aka .280). It is a versitile performer with a liking for a diverse range of bullets without overdoing anything.
As you can see, I like them all three. And if I had to have only one, I'd just turn myself into Bedlam and spend the rest of my days putting beans up my nose.
13 June 2006, 17:52
<JOHAN>7X64 Brenneke!!! Easy to find ammo, brass, bullets for.
Cheers
/Johan
13 June 2006, 17:57
vapodogquote:
Originally posted by JOHAN:
7X64 Brenneke!!! Easy to find ammo, brass, bullets for.
Cheers
/Johan
I agree.....as long as the 280 Remington is not available.
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13 June 2006, 18:01
Terry BlauwkampI'd buy the 7 Rem Mag, as you can get ammo anywhere.
Also, I just dislike the 280 Rem, it is difficult to reload, and factory ammo is not widely available.
Remember, forgivness is easier to get than permission.
13 June 2006, 18:10
Jay Johnsonquote:
Originally posted by Terry Blauwkamp:
Also, I just dislike the 280 Rem, it is difficult to reload, and factory ammo is not widely available.
Terry I agree that the 280 ammo may not be as widely avaiable. But I don't understand your statement that it is hard to reload. I've never had a problem.
13 June 2006, 18:12
Reloader7 Rem Mag by far.
Easy ammo availability if you don't reload, Very good ballistics, mild recoil, time tested. It's just a great all around cartridge.
Good Luck
Reloader
13 June 2006, 18:35
El Deguelloquote:
Originally posted by MontMike:
I'd say for the animals that you have listed there, I'd opt for the 7 mag. I use it with 160 gr Accubonds to hunt everything here including elk. The recoil in newer designed rifles is not bad at all. I can go to the range in the summer with a t-shirt and have no problem shooting 30 - 40 times.
Me too. 7mm Rem. Mag., that is! And I'd use it with 175-grain Nosler Partition handloads. I've had great success with this load on elk in the Shining Mountains of Colorado and New Mexico!!
"Bitte, trinks du nicht das Wasser. Dahin haben die Kuhen gesheissen."
13 June 2006, 18:37
smedleyChalk up 1 more for the time tested 7mmRM.
Also chalk 1 up for the 160grn Accubond, excellent bullet.
These are just the opinion of the author!
Smedley
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13 June 2006, 19:18
Crimson Mister7mm STW.
Some people are a lot like Slinkies: They're not good for much but it's kind of fun to push them down a flight of stairs.
13 June 2006, 22:27
Paul BWell, while I am no fan of the 7MM Rem. Mag., given the choices available and the varied size game mentioned, I would have to suggest the 7MM Rem. Mag.
I don't think it's that much better than a 30-06 or .280 Rem. and certainly my .300 Win ,Mag. surpasses it.
The .280 Rem. and 7x64 are just two horses of a different color. Ammo availability may be easy for one or the other, depending on where you are, but not available everywhere.
The 7MM-08, while a fine cartridge in it's own right probably should stay for use on deer sized and slightly large game. It's a great round with the lighter weight bullets, but I'm not all that sure just how good it might be with bullets of 160 gr. and heavier. If I were to use a cartridge in the 7MM-08 class, then I would much prefer the 7x57 Mauser round as it does handle the heavier bullets better, especially when properly handloaded in a current modern actioned rifle. Then it will do anything the 7MM-08 will do and then some.
So, based on the criteria mentioned, I'd say go with the 7MM Rem. Mag. I base this on a reasonble chance of finding ammo where ever you you might be.
I vote for the 7Mag. Been using it for 22 years and have yet to go back to the 30-06. Just because.
Good Shooting,
HL
14 June 2006, 00:17
fredj338Where you are located I would think the 7x64 would be easy to get brass for. Out to 300yds I think it gives up little to the 7RM w/ 150-160g bullets.
LIFE IS NOT A SPECTATOR'S SPORT!
Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my guns
14 June 2006, 07:59
Don Slaterquote:
Originally posted by sherpi:
Hi, I am planing to get a new riffle in 7mm caliber. I have a old 6.5x55 and I was planing to replace it iin the same caliber, but I have been hearing that 7mm is a minimum on hog in Europe. What I want is a riffle that is big enough for raindeer, muskus ox, hog and maybe plains game in Africa if god and wife are good, but on the other hand not to big in recoil. So now I planing on a 7mm. The one I have in mind is
7x64 I can get ammo in that (not in .280rem)
7mm Rem mag
7-08 mm
And I am open to suggestions
Get a 98 Mauser based 30-06. World wide
ammo and enough muscle to bust anything from pests to bears!
14 June 2006, 08:19
Thomas JonesI think since you mention African plains game, the 7 mag is the best option. But the good ol 7X57 aint a bad choice either, but you must hand load for it to really make it shine.
7mms are great rounds. I havs a 7X57 a 280 ack imp, a 7mm rem amg and a 7mm STW. If you are worried about recoil with the 7 mag get a good modern recoil pad on her.
Its hard for someone to judge recoil for someone else. But for even the stw is not to bad for me ...tj3006
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