Short barreled 7mm ??? Help me pick - people with experience please

[Elk Hunter 338]

Ucsdryder,
Now the 7mm Dakota is a bit smaller than the 28, but this is with a 18" barrel and a one hand hold.
This is the very first time he pressed the trigger on a live round with it (175 ELD-X at 2900 fps) at 500 yards.


Same XP at 1890 yards for a first time guy shooting distance.

How about pussycat in stead of monster?

ABSOLUTELY love it !!! SO MUCH **** RECOIL BOUT BROKE HIS WRIST!!! LMMFAO!!! freaking ***** cat

 

[Ernie]

ABSOLUTELY love it !!! SO MUCH **** RECOIL BOUT BROKE HIS WRIST!!! LMMFAO!!! freaking ***** cat

Thanks!
Holland Radial Baffle Brakes Matter!
26 Nosler XP with 147's at 3025 fps...

 

[Elk Hunter 338]

Thanks!
Holland Radial Baffle Brakes Matter!
26 Nosler XP with 147's at 3025 fps...

what does that pistol weigh???

 

[Ernie]

Elk Hunter,
I have not weighed the 7 Dakota or the 26 Nosler.
They both have 18" barrels and the same stock.
If, I remember correctly the 26 has a Sendero taper.
I am pretty sure the 7mm Dakota has a Heavy Varmint Taper.
The 26 Nosler load is 85.5 grain of RL 33, with a 210 M primer, 147 ELD-M
7 Dak load is 83.0 grain of RL 33 with a CCI BR primer and the 175 grain ELD-X 3.524 OAL

 

[WahooYahoo]

The other rifle I managed to find a kwik klip (discontinued from cabelas) on a small "antique" firearms site, bottom metal and magazine was like $170, and it works.

Really appreciate information from people with first hand experience vs educated guessing. Thanks again Ernie!

BTW, I called Trexler Industries, the maker of Kwik Klip, because they were discontinued at Cabela's. They still make em and you can order them direct. I bough a couple to have around.

(610) 974-9800

 

[jakeSCH]

I love the idea, but my concern with a 18" to 20" 28 Nosler would be controlling ES / SD for long range...it may produce more velocity but "could" be more inconsistent.

 

[codyadams]

BTW, I called Trexler Industries, the maker of Kwik Klip, because they were discontinued at Cabela's. They still make em and you can order them direct. I bough a couple to have around.

(610) 974-9800

Thank you sir.......you are the man!

 

[codyadams]

I love the idea, but my concern with a 18" to 20" 28 Nosler would be controlling ES / SD for long range...it may produce more velocity but "could" be more inconsistent.

That is a consideration, I wonder if a supressor would mitigate the possibility of that?

 

[Ernie]

I love the idea, but my concern with a 18" to 20" 28 Nosler would be controlling ES / SD for long range...it may produce more velocity but "could" be more inconsistent.

Not a issue!
This was my first drop confirmation at a grand with a slightly smaller than a 28 Nos 7mm Dakota (18" barrel)
I shot high, and said I was going to come down, then changed my mind and left it there to confirm. then I dropped it down and did two more shots.

 

[Ernie]

My four shots a grand during my first drop confirmation at 1K-7mm Dakota
First two up high, then came down 3/4 MOA for the second two.
Picture after I went down range after videoing the above video.
I don't remember my ES/SD offhand, but down range at a grand and further has shown me it is not a issue

 

[richhymas]

These are my thoughts as well. Short action magnums are efficient but if you want to go long action build another 7 max since you are already setup to reload that cartridge and like it. No need to re-invent the wheel.

In general you will loose less fps with the short fat cartridges, but you may still match or exceed them with a long cartridge but you buy that with a lot more powder and recoil to dampen. My short barrel WSMs lost about 20fps/inch as compare to the longer barrel versions. Out of the standard 7s the SAUM and WSMs seem to be the most efficient short fat ones that typically provide great performance and have several sources for brass. The Sherman 7mm Max would be a great likely very efficient cartridge in a shorter barrel, but has the wildcat issues which may not be a big deal for you. With your long action you can long throat the chamber of any of the short mags to fit long heavy bullets. When my 6.5 PRC barrel is used up I will likely switch to the SAUM or the Max. So for my money in a short barrel balancing recoil, velocity, powder use etc. I would go for a short fat mag.

Two good podcasts to listen to with a lot of info on practical data is the following.

Podcast: EP 59: Choosing Barrel Lengths For Long Range Hunting

www.gunwerks.com

Podcast: EP 60: Get SAUM - Comparing 7mm Cartridges

www.gunwerks.com

 

[Longtine88]

7 SAUM all day. I have the max and the saum. I'd take the saum. Shooting 180's 2,980' and 175's at 3,010 fps out of a 22" proof 8.4 twist. Liked it so much I made 2 more for my kids to have.

 

[laker]

7 SAUM all day. I have the max and the saum. I'd take the saum. Shooting 180's 2,980' and 175's at 3,010 fps out of a 22" proof 8.4 twist. Liked it so much I made 2 more for my kids to have.

What mag box?

 

[Chase723]

I had a 22" 7mm Rem Mag. 69.5gr Retumbo behind a 168gr Berger was 3014fps suppressed. It was a great rifle. Probably shouldn't have sold it. I cut it down from 27" changed to Retumbo from H1000 and actually gained 20fps… That said, if you're going to make it 18-20" I probably wouldn't use something like the 7RM or 28 Nosler.

I haven't read through all 8 pages of this thread but when you get that short, especially towards the 18" side of things, the amount of concussion, muzzle blast, and flash isn't pleasant and performance drops off significantly after 21-22". With a muzzle brake it's be absurd. 20" seems to be the point at which you really start getting incomplete combustion of powder. The Army tested this a lot before settling on 22" for the 300 win Mag.

7mm Remington Magnum (7 Rem Mag) Barrel Length Versus Velocity

7mm Remington Magnum (7 Rem Mag) Barrel Length Versus Velocity Since its introduction in 1962, the 7mm Remington Magnum (7 Rem Mag) has developed a strong following, becoming the most popular metri…

rifleshooter.com

Since you have a long action to use I'd stick with something like the 7 SAUM, 7SS, 7 Max or 284 Winchester as far as cartridge capacity. Performance will be nearly identical (yes slightly less…like maybe 50fps) but the shooting experience will be markedly better. Since you're using BDL bottom metal the 7 SAUM and 284 win will likely feed better.