What to build for my nephew graduation: 7mmRUM, 280AI, or 300WSM? no other options


I have promised a custom rifle for my nephew for high school graduation. I asked him what caliber he favored. He told me he wants a 7RUM, but he agreed to listen to me for guidance.

Well, his needs are for a big game rifle, he has a 243, and smaller. He shoots deer in NZ on family farm, culls goats, and pigs, and prolly will use it to shoot thar as well. so he does need some reach out there distance.

But he is also 19, modest size, and I sure dont want to build him a shoulder kicking, flinch-causing, never shoot it again, caliber.

He will be taking shots to 400 meters, for cross canyon shots are the norm on some of the high-mtn, heavy vegetation, steep terrain cliffs he would hunt on. Also, he is quite a good shot I am told.

He prefers stainless (NZ is wet). synthetic, and a lighter gun for carry. Not sure if light and RUM or WSM are too compatible for recoil purposes>

I limit to these choices because that is what I have barrelled actions for, and I am leaning toward one my gunny is nearly done with: a 280 AI in SAKO action(Hart fluted SS barrel mcmillan stock that shoots less than a MOA with factory 280 ammo, and better with fireformed Ackely reloads, it weighs 8-8.5 lbs with scope). Or the 300WSM that I am having built from the CZ3 surplus barrelled actions from Montana Rifle CO. (These are all stainless, and should shoot almost as well),

Or I can make him what he asked for, a 7RUM with Sako action and mcmillan stock. but I would build it to be more like 8.5-9.5 pounds with scope to make it shootable, cause if he is culling, it will be shot a bit.

Please opine if you feel so inclined.

And dont bother telling me another caliber, another action, or another stock, since I am building out of barrels, actions, and stocks on hand, within the limits of what my gunny can modify, bed, open bolt faces, etc.

Perhaps just a plain old 280 Rem? keep in mind he is back and forth NZ to USA probably in the future.

get him the gun he wants.....the 7 RUM.....then find a way to also see to it that he gets a bunch of ammo that's loaded like a .270 winchester.

He can load it hotter in a few years....

I always wanted a .264 mag and settled for less.....biggest mistake I ever made.

If that was your biggest mistake you ever made, you have had a charmed and low risk life!!! thanks for the good suggestion. a lot to be said for getting what you want. any loads for a 7RUM that deliver a 140 grainer at 3000-3100 fps?

Well does he relaod? If not then makes the AI and issue. I had a 300WSM never could get mine to live up to the hype. It weighted 7.5# loaded it got your attention from the bench. Sold it and replacing it with a 308 Norma. I have never had a 7RUM but have a 7STW. Hard to see without going to 28" how you can burn more powder. My STW was showing throat wear after only 250 shots.

I have used a 280 for years and love it. I reload. Don't know the status of 280 Factory in NZ.

If you want stainless your 300wsm should work fine. A 165 or 150 will do everything he needs.

It's just my opinion but I would not even consider one of the RUMs.

Get the kid what he wants so there is never any nagging doubts in his mind. He will be comming back in a few years anyway for a 280 after he shoots the barrel out...

If he had not requested a 7RUM I would have said go with the 280 AI. But it is his, or will be his, rifle. Just make sure to build it in a shootable weight. He will not mind the extra weight.

I would give him what he wants, the 7mm RUM. The mc millan stock with a slight to heavy barrel will work good. He shouldn't have any problem shooting a gun that big at 19. Heck, when I was 16 I shot a 12 ga slug gun for deer that kicks alot worse when I was only 150 lbs, and then I got a 300 win mag 700 BDL when I was 18 and it didn't kick nearly as much, so recoil shouldn't be a factor if he shoots quite a bit. I wouldn't get the 300 WSM myself as it doesn't seem to be holding up to it's hype and factory ammo probably won't last long in the long run.

would be torn between the 7rum (a preference) and asking him to read on the 300 wsm... the rum kick shard, fast, and a LOT

jeffe

quote:

culls goats, and pigs,

Since he's not quite used to shooting big centerfires, I think something lesser than what he wants would do him better in the long run. Though not very sexy, why not a 270, 280, or 30-06? 30-06 ammo can't be that hard to find over in NZ. Or, why not a .308 Win? That's close to the world standard 30 caliber cartridge. There's bound to be .308 available over there. Any of these non-magnums will make 400 meter shoots on goats and hogs and he may be more likely to hit his target due to the lower recoil. However, if he insists on a magnum, I still would not build him something as big as a 7 Rum. Perhaps a 7 Rem Mag. For the animals he's likely to shoot, he won't need that much gun. I think the 7 Rum or something similar would be using too big a hammer.

In the end, whatever you settle on, I think the young man would be delighted with whatever you give him. I got a 22 lr for a high school graduation present and I'm still tickled with it!

Tex

280AI is a bit of a round for an experienced handloader, although one of my favorites.

the 7mmRUM is fast,..but we have had issues with slow powders in factory chambers with it building pressure too slowly with the hard rem brass, and trapping gasses behind the shoulder and collapsing the case. This is impossible to predict, so it has been perplexing. The tighter chambers done by the gunsmith do not exhibit this trait. I consluted the smith, and he has been working on this issue, (even with a factory mcmillan rifle) and that is his conclusion as well. The oversized neck, and fire hardened case necks make for this when using things like RL25, retumbo, and H870 with 162gr a-max pills and 168gr pills and other heavy ones. If the chamber will be tighter than a large factory version, then that is not a concern at all. And, if he uses factory ammo without reloading, in a factory chamber it will not be a problem. ALSO, yes the RUM will be a LOT more than he is used to in terms of recoil and muzzle jump. Not to mention, the overbore nature of this rig, and combined with the firing a culling trip can provide,..even the best barrel out there will be extremely lucky to get 800rnds before it falls off.

The 300WSM is also stout in a light sporter. But a solid stock and heavier barrel will make up for a lot of that. But, it is still a 30cal magnum. Maybe a break would be a good idea,..especially for culling deer when he has time to don his ear protection.

The 280rem is a superb caliber and very effective when rolling your own. The recoil will be fine for him and 400yds with the 160gr class (accubonds maybe) will show that chambering very little resistance with ease of recovery.

I own a 7mmultramag,two 300ultramags and two 7mmstw's.All are poor choices for novices or hunters that will be firing many rounds in a short time period as often happens while cull hunting.Novice shooters may be intimidated by the recoil and barrel life is not great on any of them.Cull hunting would probably result in a new barrel being required in very short order if you decide on the 7mmultramag.

I have never .owned a 7mmRUM but I have shot almost all the 7's and 30's. I believe the 280AI is one of the jewels of the gun world. I have several by different makers and I love each one. The accuracy is excellent and they pack the punch of a 7mag. Call Kenny Jarret and talk to him about the 280AI. I believe it is the caliber of choice for their light, long-range rifle.

"Maybe a break would be a good idea,..especially for culling deer when he has time to don his ear protection."
Now there is a thought. I could have a removable muzzle brake put on so that it could be shot with straight pipes, quieted, or braked, at his choice... still looking for input.

Jameister

Jamiester,
I think the best round that you mentioned is the .280 Remington. Pure and simple round with mild recoil that will certainly do the job on all the animals available in NZ. It would be good if on one of his trips back you could round up the suspect rifles and have him do a blind (calibers covered) shooting test. At 19 though most kids think they need the hot rod, when the pickup truck will do just fine.

I like the 280. Hope ammo isn't a problem for him in NZ.

Listen to Stubblejumper. He's giving an honest unbiased opinion. If the lad reloads then build him a 280 AI, I have several 280's and it may be my favorite round bar-none. If he does not reload then the 300 WSM is a much better round than it gets credit for around here and is sure to be around for a long time to come.