Best suited 7mm for short barrel?

[trucraft]

I have seen a short 7mm carbon wrap barrel for sale at a very good price.
So it's got me thinking about wether it's worth buying and holding on to for a future build... (like I really need another rifle )
The barrel will finish around 17 inches.
It will be used for deer and varmints max 400m.
7-08 is an obvious choice but what else would work well in peoples experience?
Also what bullet would you guys use for said caliber?

 

[cjl2010]

No experience with it, but I really like the idea of a 7mm SAW.

 

[Timnterra]

It was probably intended to be a long range pistol barrel. What twist rate is it? I am new to the specialty pistol world, but there is a trend to compensate for shorter barrel length with larger case capacity. If you are thinking of building the ultimate light weight mountain rifle a 7wsm or 7Saum or 7SSM would all be good choices. If you just want to shoot a short barrel 7mm for fun then the 7-08 would be great.

 

[trucraft]

Barrel is 1:8 twist.
What is a 7 saw?
Timnterra, I wonder if a short mag might give unreasonable muzzle flip?

 

[Timnterra]

With that twist you can do just about anything you want with that barrel.
The 7SSM is a Sherman Short Mag
The 7 saw is basically a 7mm -08 with a pushed back 40degree shoulder. Think of it as a bigger 7mm creedmoor.
https://westtexordnance.com/7mm-saw/
I wouldn't entertain building anything over a 7-08 without a good muzzle brake. With a barrel that short and light there will be lots of recoil

 

[huntsman22]

and plenty of fireball in low light.....

 

[trucraft]

With that twist you can do just about anything you want with that barrel.
The 7SSM is a Sherman Short Mag
The 7 saw is basically a 7mm -08 with a pushed back 40degree shoulder. Think of it as a bigger 7mm creedmoor.
https://westtexordnance.com/7mm-saw/
I wouldn't entertain building anything over a 7-08 without a good muzzle brake. With a barrel that short and light there will be lots of recoil

Thanks.
7saw looks like a 7-08AI perhaps shorter case?
Is a 7-08AI really worth the effort in a super short barrel?
Rifle will have a suppressor but still I imagine muzzle flip will be substantial with anything shooting nearly 60gr of powder like a short mag.
Still, perhaps a 7PRC

 

[yorke-1]

The SAUM, WSM, Rem Mag and Dakota all perform very well in short barreled specialty pistols. If you wanted to shoot a short action I'd look at the 7mm SAUM. You'd end up with ballistics very close to the 280 AI depending on how your barrel is throated. Recoil and blast won't be an issue if you're using a suppressor.

 

[MudRunner2005]

I would go 7mm-08 AI.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Thanks.
7saw looks like a 7-08AI perhaps shorter case?
Is a 7-08AI really worth the effort in a super short barrel?
Rifle will have a suppressor but still I imagine muzzle flip will be substantial with anything shooting nearly 60gr of powder like a short mag.
Still, perhaps a 7PRC

Yes, but more taper and less shoulder angle... Which means the SAW is not as good as an AI, in my opinion.

And yes, the 7mm-08 AI would be great in your shorter barrel. AI isn't necessarily about velocity, it also has a lot of other positive things about the case design itself, like virtually no brass growth, better combustion, more complete burn, handles chamber pressures better, AI case design holds the walls of chamber better helping to alleviate excess pressure on your bolt lugs, and of course more powder capacity which = more powder, which then = more velocity.

 

[cjl2010]

7saw you run 308 Palma brass through the die and you are ready to go.

 

[Timnterra]

I almost forgot about the old 284 Winchester. It is an excellent cartridge when used in conjunction with the right barrel twist. It will get you more performance than the 7-08ai with no fire forming. You can buy lapua brass for the 6.5-284 and just run it through fl die with an expander and load it up.

 

[trucraft]

Yes the 284 is an option, ideally in a long action.
I remember reading this a while back too.
Not sure if there is any advantage over the other options mentioned here?
Perhaps coal.
http://www.accurateshooter.com/guns-of-week/7x47-lapua-wildcat-cartridge/

 

[MudRunner2005]

7saw you run 308 Palma brass through the die and you are ready to go.

You can do the same thing for 7mm-08 AI... Run them through the die, load, shoot, fire-formed brass.

The main advantage to the AI over the "SAW" is that you can find 7mm-08 AI dies and reamers everywhere...

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/105870/redding-deluxe-3-die-set

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply....proved-40°-deluxe-die-set-for-bottleneck-case