7 Blaser Mag, EOL 195, & 1st Elk

[GoosePilot]

Too wet to farm so decided to head to Mt for rifle opener solo for a couple days. 2nd morning I just sat down on my point and looked below in valley and saw 3 bulls grazing as the sun was thinking about rising. It was a scramble to get binos, spotter, rangefinder, and gun out of pack as they started making their way to the timber. Didn't get a great look, but thought it was same 3 bulls as in Sept. Ranged 575, dialed, squeezed. Bull was down by the time i got second round loaded and chambered. It wasnt the big bull i thought, but was the 2nd bull from that earlier sighting. Oh well still a good bull and my 1st Elk after 8th archery/gun hunts. My brother still has a tag, so hopefully can find him another later in Nov and a couple mule deer. Biggest mistake was wind correction, or lack of it, but got lucky. Bullet impacted rib and lodged under skin on the far side. Nearly zero meat damaged. By 2 I had all meat defined and bagged and cape off the skull and ready to take the 1st of 4 loads out. 2.14 miles and largely downhill. 2 that day and 2 the next. Now back to work.

 

[snookntarpon]

Congrats!

 

[dirtytough]

Sweet! Congrats on your first elk

 

[FURMAN]

Very nice! I would not have passed that bull. Can you remind us of the load? I keep drooling over the Blaser mag.

 

[Plinker147]

Very cool, congrats. That's lots of work solo!

 

[GoosePilot]

Very nice! I would not have passed that bull. Can you remind us of the load? I keep drooling over the Blaser mag.

I ran out of time for this year to develop something better. I went with 68.3g h1000, f215, eol 195 going about 2840fps out of a 24" barrel. Looks like another node at about 2920. Will see if I can get retumbo to do that next year. For now I'll just practice more with this h1000 load and try to find a mulie.

My brother has a 26" CA summit ti 7mm rm with eh175, f215, 70.5g h1000 at about 2850fps

So its kind of like my 6mm creedmoor vs 243 on steroids. I can grab virgin brass and run this same load and it shoots just as accurately. I'm very pleased with both this and my identicle built 6cm

 

[Michael O'Connor]

Too wet to farm so decided to head to Mt for rifle opener solo for a couple days. 2nd morning I just sat down on my point and looked below in valley and saw 3 bulls grazing as the sun was thinking about rising. It was a scramble to get binos, spotter, rangefinder, and gun out of pack as they started making their way to the timber. Didn't get a great look, but thought it was same 3 bulls as in Sept. Ranged 575, dialed, squeezed. Bull was down by the time i got second round loaded and chambered. It wasnt the big bull i thought, but was the 2nd bull from that earlier sighting. Oh well still a good bull and my 1st Elk after 8th archery/gun hunts. My brother still has a tag, so hopefully can find him another later in Nov and a couple mule deer. Biggest mistake was wind correction, or lack of it, but got lucky. Bullet impacted rib and lodged under skin on the far side. Nearly zero meat damaged. By 2 I had all meat defined and bagged and cape off the skull and ready to take the 1st of 4 loads out. 2.14 miles and largely downhill. 2 that day and 2 the next. Now back to work.View attachment 155632 View attachment 155633 View attachment 155634 View attachment 155635 View attachment 155636

That would be my Cartridge choice in 7mm. It is a superior design, with the right cartridge case length for long bullets. Myself, I think I would go with the Berger 180gr. Hybrid and it's reasonable bearing surface length. At 3050-3080 fps, I think it may outperform the 195gr. EOL.
Congratulations, Sir.

 

[GoosePilot]

I will try the 180s next summer. I did shoot a few 175, 180, and 184 all at the same charge one day while fire forming. I just need more time. I bought 500 195 and 100 ea of others.
69.0g h1000 and all .07 off the lands, f215
195 = 2838 45es, 22.6sd
180 = 2868 15es, 8.3sd
184= 2888 8es, 4.4sd
175= 2926 50es, 25sd

This was on 4th sesson of shooting. Also that day I ran the 195 from
.07" off 2838fps
.03, 2865
.02, 2863
.01, 2882

180
.07, 2868fps
.05, 2888
.03, 2904
.01, 2899

So I dont think I can get 180s to 3050 in my gun. Has anyone used f184 hunting? They seemed the best by lab radar. All bullets shot good groups at 500yds.

 

[lilharcher]

Definitely a shooter.....congrats!

 

[wyodeer]

That is a great shooting spot. Wish my elk areas were that flat

 

[GoosePilot]

Se mt isnt very high or steep

 

[Michael O'Connor]

I will try the 180s next summer. I did shoot a few 175, 180, and 184 all at the same charge one day while fire forming. I just need more time. I bought 500 195 and 100 ea of others.
69.0g h1000 and all .07 off the lands, f215
195 = 2838 45es, 22.6sd
180 = 2868 15es, 8.3sd
184= 2888 8es, 4.4sd
175= 2926 50es, 25sd

This was on 4th sesson of shooting. Also that day I ran the 195 from
.07" off 2838fps
.03, 2865
.02, 2863
.01, 2882

180
.07, 2868fps
.05, 2888
.03, 2904
.01, 2899

So I dont think I can get 180s to 3050 in my gun. Has anyone used f184 hunting? They seemed the best by lab radar. All bullets shot good groups at 500yds.

Probably not with a 24" barrel. 2925 fps is common with a 26" and 195gr. EOL. The 7mm Blaser Imp. has achieved 3125-3140 fps with 26" barrel and a 180 gr. Hybrid, though. You won't get your best velocity with H1000, but consistency of velocity and accuracy is more important. Velocity standard for the base 7mm Blaser Magnum is 3050-3080 fps with RL-26 and 180 gr. Hybrids in a 26" barrel without high pressure. Try getting that velocity out of a 7mm RUM without 12-15 extra grains of powder ?

 

[Lethal_Chica]

Awesome Bull. Congrats on a successful hunt!

 

[chetraguse]

Sounds like a good round, we'll have to see what a 26" would do. What's your thoughts on 175 Berger's with a 26"? Nice elk.