Which 7mm to build???

[shortpants]

I know this horse has been beatin around before but let's do it anyway. I'm going to build a custom/semi-custom 7mm of some kind because I believe it will best fit my needs. I am looking for a 1000yd. hunting rifle to be used 95% for deer and antelope but the other 5% is elk which is why I choose 7mm over a smaller caliber. I like the least amount of felt recoil out of all my rifles and run brakes on all of them. I'm open to any ss action (custom or rem700). I don't want anything longer than 26"+ brake maybe even 25"+ brake? McMillen A5, Manners T2, HS, etc... Good 2lb maybe 1.5lb trigger. 20 moa rail, nightforce 5.5-22.

I want as good as barrel life as possible and I want the round to be efficient. I might rub a few the wrong way here but I'm not big on the idea of a 7rum or stw. Why squeeze every last ounce of a 7mm when it would be more efficient to just go up to a 300? If I'm wrong feel free to set me straight cuz I don't claim to know much. That being said I don't feel I need a 300 either. Great, now I've ****ed off the 7mm fans and the 300 fans! The nerve of some people. Please understand I'm just trying to be funny and not trying to offend anyone.

So all that said I'm interested in your thoughts on 7 rem. mag, 7 Dakota, 7-300win. mag, 7mm sin (can't find any info on this one), 7mm practical, 7saum, 7wsm.
I am going to be learning to reload for this rifle at the same time so I don't know if taking on a wildcat would be wise but with custom dies perhaps a non-issue?

Thanks for reading my rambling and I greatly appreciate your help!
Jason

 

[hnts4fun]

Why not keep it simple? There are plenty of answers to that question; but in the spirit of keeping it simple how about sticking with the 7 mm Remington Magnum? I got lucky with an older, but barely used, Sendero in that chambering. Some friends helped me work up a load; and with very little additional tuning, my rifle shot a 1/4 MOA group at 200 yards. I'm not trying to say my rifle is a 1/4 MOA rifle, but it shoots better than me. I do have a Nightforce set up, which is really nice, but the only non-factory options on this rifle are a brake and a skim bedding job.

Sometimes simple works and sometimes it's just fun to go for the works!

Matt

 

[kiwi3006]

7mm-300 win mag also known as 7mm practical would be good, do search for Broz's thread on here about it. Also google terminal ballistic research for 7mm practical info.
As wildcats go it would be pretty simple, as simple as necksizing a case.

 

[Stumpm2]

I built a 7mm Dakota and love it. I can get the same velocity or maybe a little more out of it than my brother's STW and I use less powder. Plus, I can easily put rounds down in the magazine that are seated out to the lands. It took me a long time to decide on a 7mm and looked at everyone out there including wildcats but ended up picking a Dakota. The only downside I can see is the brass is expensive, but when you factor in the cost of the gun and life of the brass it is not that big a deal. I grew up shooting 7mm Remington Magnums and it is a fine round too if you want to keep things simple, cheap, and only loose a little velocity.

 

[shortpants]

I forgot to mention I originally intended on keeping with a long action but forgot I have a ton of 300wsm brass at home. Also I'm looking at running 180 vld type bullets.

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

I don't think you are going to po anybody but if your looking at elk at 1000 yards you are barking up the wrong tree trying to make something fit instead of building an elk rifle that will do the job.

For deer and antelope considering your short barrel and dislike for recoil you listed cartridges that are just the opposite. The 280 AI would be a good choice for you. Then if you go elk hunting long range then build a large caliber elk rifle.

 

[shortpants]

7mm-300 win mag also known as 7mm practical would be good, do search for Broz's thread on here about it. Also google terminal ballistic research for 7mm practical info.
As wildcats go it would be pretty simple, as simple as necksizing a case.

I followed that thread closely and have read everything on your site as well as watched all your videos! All I can say is I'm very impressed! I thought the 7-300win was slightly different in the shoulder than your practical?

 

[shortpants]

I don't think you are going to po anybody but if your looking at elk at 1000 yards you are barking up the wrong tree trying to make something fit instead of building an elk rifle that will do the job.

For deer and antelope considering your short barrel and dislike for recoil you listed cartridges that are just the opposite. The 280 AI would be a good choice for you. Then if you go elk hunting long range then build a large caliber elk rifle.

I forgot to mention the 280ai but there is an argument for it for sure. I do believe because elk is in the equation that the 280ai might not be the best choice. I do believe a 7mm rm can do it although I won't argue there are some that might do it better. That's ok I'm not building specifically for elk but want the option until the next build is done. If there is any doubt on my part with the performance of whichever 7 I build I can and will just get closer. I have a 300wsm already but it's factory so I plan on being able to shoot the 7 better at extended ranges. Who knows I havent reloaded yet for the 300 maybe it will reach out there? It does very well out to 500. Honestly it's just waiting on me to get a little better at reading the wind.

 

[shortpants]

I followed that thread closely and have read everything on your site as well as watched all your videos! All I can say is I'm very impressed! I thought the 7-300win was slightly different in the shoulder than your practical?

I thought this was Kiwi Nate. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[fishbone12B]

I thought this was Kiwi Nate. Sorry for the confusion.

Shorty quit messing around and build Kiwinates 7mm Practical. Its all around a perfect cartridge?

 

[shortpants]

Shorty quit messing around and build Kiwinates 7mm Practical. Its all around a perfect cartridge?

I don't know if anything is perfect cuz if there was such a thing there wouldn't be 10 posts a day on here about which caliber. Choosing is the hardest part at least for me. I am more than impressed by the practical!!! I would love to hear more about the sin as well? For you smiths out there would going with a wildcat add any costs to the build?

 

[kiwi3006]

I thought this was Kiwi Nate. Sorry for the confusion.

No worries about the confusion.
Yes Kiwinates shoulder angle is different to a 300 win, but I am pretty sure Broz's 7-300 win mag keeps the 300 win mag shoulder angle. This is the way I would do it. Then you can use a 300 win mag body die to resize when necessary and use a generic 7mm neck die to neck size, or get a Redding 300 win mag S-type die and just get the right neck bushing.
As a matter of fact my friend has one of KiwiNates 7mm practicals. He has taken deer out to 550 yds with it and shot wallabys out to 760 yds with it. He has a 28" No5 fluted barrel on it. He uses the 168 berger loaded to 3100 fps.

 

[shortpants]

Hey Broz if you are out there on your 7-300win do you headspace on the belt or the shoulder like the practical?

 

[IDbound]

I went through many of the same questions when I decided to re-build my 7 mag. With the help of Kevin Cram we decided to convert to a 280AI. I am very satisfied. I am getting 95% of the same speed without near the powder used. With a Vais brake it feels like a 243.

As for long range elk, with all bullets like the 150g. Swift Scirocco and their high BC, I know I won't feel under gunned with my 280AI. Plus the joy of placing shots inside of 1.5" at 400 yds is a great confidence booster. Looking forward to working on lengthening my shooting range.