I am toying with the idea of rebarrelling my 8x57 Heym is 7x64.

I fancy a cartridge that will be at home in the mountains if I ever go back to Austria for red deer and mouflon. I also see myself shooting chamois at some stage in the future.

I have 6.5x55, a 375H&H and a 22-250 so there is a gap for a medium flat shooter. And I like to use metric calibres when shooting in Europe.

The most important consideration is availability of ammunition. Is 7x64 ammo readily available in Sweden, Germany, France and Austria?

Deerdogs



7X64 is a tempting idea. Performance will be on par with 280 rem. I guess Geoffery Kolbe at Border barrels will be able to help you...



Ammmo? No problem in Sweden. Even the small shops have a few boxes on the shelf, I guess Norma, Sako or RWS. Central Europe is the heartland of 7X64. You will have no trouble finding ammo for it, most European makers has it on their program with a variety of bullets. The 6,5X55 will be a fine mountain caliber with the right bullets. I would my self rather prefer a 6,5-65, but that just me



What type of action is your Heym built on?



Good luck

/ JOHAN

7x64 = .30-06 of Central Europe. If ammo is available for any caliber in all of the countries you mention, the 7x64 will most likely be the one. In France, you can't shoot a .30-06 due to stupid gun laws, but you can shoot a 7x64 (go figure!). A wide range of bullet weights and styles are available in factory ammo. All in all an excellent choice for mid-size game (roe - red).

- mike

We even stock 7x 64 in our shop in the US. it is a pleasant, accurate and hard hitting round. While I settled on the 7 x 57, the 7x 64 is one of the best medium cal rounds out there.

Aleko

Deerdogs,

I have never used one myself, but I was talking about this caliber with some of the guys at the club.

One of the common remarks seemed to be that the recoil seems to be less than anticipated all other things being equal. I am not sure how it compares balistically to the 7mm Rem Mag, but a couple of the guys had owned both and swore that the 7x64 was far sweeter to shoot and would not go back 7mm Rem Mag because of that...

Regards,

Pete

The 7x64 is my staple Roe caliber (3rd. rifle in that caliber I own). Presently, I'm shooting it in a very accurate Sauer 202 (groups 5 in 1,5 cm/100m). I've also shot Red and Fallow deer with it with very good results and have come to settle on 2 loads :
- 160 GK SP / N 160 / 56.0 (CCI 250) at a clocked 858 m"/2815 ft" for Roe (always full penetration at any angle/distance and minimal venison dmage) ;
- 160 GK HP (harder bullet), same load, same POI if bigger game is a possibility.
As for availability, it's 1 of the most widespread calibers in Europe.

I have a few 7x64's and they are all accurate and not in the least bit finicky in what they digest. I can not say that about my 280 Remington's, which are very fussy.

Another vote for the 7x64, and that from America, where brass and ammo is a harder to come by. Mine shoots every weight bullet from 116-grain to 175-grain acceptably, and most quite well, and they all strike within 7.5 centimeters of each other at 100 meters. Thus far, I have used mine on our Columbia Blacktail deer and American Pronghorn.

Pete,

The 7x64, the 280 Remington, the 270 Winchester and the good old 30-06 Springfield. In the field, you won't be able to tell any difference in performance between any of them.

The 7mm Remington Magnum does have a slight advantage if you wish to use the heavier bullets.

If I may suggest something?

Don't do what a lot of European manufacturers do and build their 7x64 with 18 or 20 inch barrels.

I would suggest at least a 24 inch barrel. Personally, I prefer longer barrels on my hunting rifles, and 26 would be my personal choice.