7mm Soul Searching

[Pharmseller]

7mm-08

 

[gtriple]

+1. I too built a 7prc, put 10 rnds downrange and took it apart. It now wears a 25-6.5 prc barrel. Should put 134g pills downrange at 2950 instead of 180’s. Lose some bc .401 vs .325 but with 30% less recoil.

25-6.5prc sounds wicked. I'm wondering how fast a 22-6.5prc would go....

 

[wind gypsy]

25-6.5prc sounds wicked. I'm wondering how fast a 22-6.5prc would go....

See Post #50.

22 prc

Will SAAMI come out with a 22 PRC? (or for that matter a 6mm PRC or 25 PRC?) It's not SAAMI that does such things. Someone develops it and then submits it to SAAMI for approval. Best question is will Hornady do it? I'd think they would be the most likely ones.

rokslide.com

 

[Harvey_NW]

May have missed it but didn't see it as a suggestion, I say 284 Win > 280AI. I know the Ackley cartridges are all the jazz, but I've never had issues sizing brass until I tried to bump those sharp ass shoulders. I stuck like 5 cases the first time I sized my lot. Pissed me off so bad I had it rechambered in 284 Win. Shorter throw, more room in the mag, same ballistic performance, easy sizing operation. I do recommend having a savvy gunsmith chamber and custom throat it with a .2845" reamer to whatever weight-ish bullet you want to load for it though.

 

[35WhelenAI]

That’s old school, when I spot something under 400 I back off a ways just to give it a sporting chance

Lol.

I’m also old school and conservative with distance. I’ve always limited shots to under 450 - if I could get to 450 the shot is pretty certain shooting over a pack, and in calm conditions 500 has been reliably doable. This year I’ve been working on extending that to 600, but many days and situations are limited by wind, so I’m not willing to let myself think 600 is a new max for normal conditions, but rather a max under calm conditions. It might only be 20% farther, but reliably hitting a 10” paper plate can be more than twice as hard that far out - I’ve had to upgrade the range finder, increase scope magnification from 6x to 8x, and using a rifle a few pounds heavier. Teaching my nephew to understand his max range has been fun - some days I don’t know what that kid is thinking. Lol

Like I was saying, there is a different mindset with respect to the equipment people are using these days. It's all good stuff, and guys spending the time or growing up shooting longer range have that in their blood just like us guys in our mid fifties that have been doing in our way for three or four decades.

 

[amassi]

25-6.5prc sounds wicked. I'm wondering how fast a 22-6.5prc would go....

Not fast enough haha


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[wyosam]

I think the “7mm soul searching” sounds like a good name for spicy wildcat.


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[Ishootgunssometimes]

I have a 7mm08 that I have a love/hate relationship with. It’s a Kimber, couldn’t find a factory load that would shoot subMOA. Found a good hand load though. So I love the reloading aspect to it, love the weight. But the ergonomics of the rifle isn’t so great. Nice for hunting when you only take a shot or 2 at a time but I find the stock very uncomfortable for range time. And I got inspired to build a custom rifle. When I discovered the 7 SAUM I was hooked. I like the idea of shooting another 7mm but a magnum. I like the idea of hunting past 400yd. I like the idea of putting together my own choice in components for a rifle. I have the main parts ordered: stock, barrel, action. Hoping to find some Black Friday deals on the rest.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I don't disagree. But for me, like the OP, it's a state legal thing. In WY a .224 is legal for deer/pronghorn, not elk. 6mm is legal for elk.

I updated my post to add in the difference in recoil between the two guns.

I understand having to deal with un-educated "caliber laws". That sucks.

 

[Shontwelve]

Don’t let anyone talk you out of the 7mm. they are one of if not the most well rounded guns out there. The new fad on here are these 6mm light caliber guns. But I’ll take the 7mms any day! Just got a 7prc myself and love it. I love the 280ai too. My dad has one and it’s a super cool rifle. Hard to beat that 7prc though. Got a MB on the prc and recoil is minimal.

I agree. The 7 PRC is an outstanding round. And if the 7 is too much you could always go with the 6.5 PRC. But the 7 PRC seems to be a great round for anything North America.

 

[hereinaz]

Berger 168s in the 280 ai are straight killers. So is factory Hornady Precision ammo.

My 25 SST, a saum variant easily pushes the 133 Bergers at 3050 out of my 21” barrel. Pretty well matches 180 VLD at 3000 out my 26” 7 SS (another saum variant) for drop out to 1000 and is only beat with wind.

Meaningful difference between a 280 ai and 7 mag of any sort is past 700 yards.

I echo the beast button for your purpose is something like a 6 creed…

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

If you reload the 7saum is a sweetheart of a round. 180 eldms are killers, get them started around 2750 in a 20” barrel and they just keep going and going and going. Recoil is super manageable with a suppressor and spotting shots isnt difficult assuming you’re using a reasonable magnification.

7 SAUM is the only 7mm I shoot anymore. Both 180 ELDMs and 175 ELDXs shoot fantastic and both have killed past 900-1100 yards.

Suppress a 7SAUM and throw it in a Rokstok it’s a great long range killing gun! You will sacrifice shot spotting and hit rates compared to other chamberings from most field positions, just FYI OP.

 

[Kimber7man]

7mm-08

Thanks. Just bought one from locked n loaded. Have missed having one around, should probably change my screen name one of these days…

 

[MtnManTy]

7 SAUM is the only 7mm I shoot anymore. Both 180 ELDMs and 175 ELDXs shoot fantastic and both have killed past 900-1100 yards.

Suppress a 7SAUM and throw it in a Rokstok it’s a great long range killing gun! You will sacrifice shot spotting and hit rates compared to other chamberings from most field positions, just FYI OP.

When you say sacrifice shot spotting, is that because of the light weight/amount of recoil?

 

[Mule3006Elk]

You said heavy bullet but which one? Only asking b/c if you are shooting monos I like speed and that would factor into my decision. If you're shooting ELD-M or X I don't think speed is as important.

I'm a 30 cal guy and just picked up a 6.5 PRC for deer/pronghorn. I haven't shot anything with it yet, personally, I don't have any concerns that it will get the job done. Recoil is very pleasant > just saying. LOL

 

[MtnManTy]

You said heavy bullet but which one? Only asking b/c if you are shooting monos I like speed and that would factor into my decision. If you're shooting ELD-M or X I don't think speed is as important.

I'm a 30 cal guy and just picked up a 6.5 PRC for deer/pronghorn. I haven't shot anything with it yet, personally, I don't have any concerns that it will get the job done. Recoil is very pleasant > just saying. LOL

My 300WM shoots the 200gr federal terminal ascent pretty well, but I'm looking at burgers, Barnes, and Hornady options to start reloading.

For the new build(s?!), I'm not married to any weight bullets. At present, I'm planning on a 280AI, followed by something in the 6mm or 22 cal world. I supposed a 6.5 would be the happy medium between the two, but... Why buy one when you could buy two!?!

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

When you say sacrifice shot spotting, is that because of the light weight/amount of recoil?

Correct. Especially in “field shot” or “hunting shot” positions.

 

[hereinaz]

When you say sacrifice shot spotting, is that because of the light weight/amount of recoil?

I agree with him, recoil rises above a threshold where it is relatively easy to spot shots. With my 7, I can’t make a mistake that can slide by with smaller calibers.

I went from an 11 pound 7 SS rifle (saum derivative) to a 9 pound 25 SST (another saum type) and the ability to control recoil to spot shots is noticeable.

Both bullets have similar BC, similar velocity, but bullets weight differs by 47 grains. 180 vs 133. Powder charge is even within a few grains.

 

[Jon Boy]

284 Winchester>280 ai