Some 7x64 CZ550 Pics for Sestoppleman

As promised on the thread running about the 30-06.

Hopefully they will upload okay.

I have just started load development using Sako brass and 140gn Barnes TTSXs using Reloader 17 and I have a load which shot very well but I will confirm this when I next get to the range. A very pleasant rifle to shoot.

The rifle is a factory limited edition and the only alteration I have had done is a trigger job which has really worked wonders for the set trigger.

Thanks for posting the pics! Thats an unusual specimen what with the carving and engraving. I notice also what looks like Steyr type spiraling on the barrel. Is that just the digital distortion or is that spiraling actually present? A neat rifle in a neat caliber! Nice score! Good on ya as my dad used to say. Not an Aussie, but my dad married an Aussie gal in Brisbane I think during WWII. He was in the Merchant Marine on a ship that was stationed there for some time while delivering goods to other parts of the South Pacific. They were divorced after the war as she didnt wish to leave Oz for the states.

Yes it has the Steyr type spiraling on the barrel. They were also available in 308!

Quite a few South Africans & Zimbos round where I live!

Originally Posted by mlg

Yes it has the Steyr type spiraling on the barrel. They were also available in 308!

Quite a few South Africans & Zimbos round where I live!

you as well! i suppose some one has to let them in

Originally Posted by spike.t

you as well! i suppose some one has to let them in

correct!

That is an incredible piece of work.
Thanks.

Beautiful gun!

Mlg, some more info on your handloading would be much appreciated.

When you sourced cases were the Sakos the only ones available ?
Where did you get your cases from ?
What velocity are you getting from the 140gn T.S.X's
Have you tried a variety of powders yet ?

Very nice rifle and interesting cartridge.

I just purchased a commercial F.N actioned rifle put together by Dumoulin, in 7x64mm, and am expecting delivery in the next few weeks.

I believe this will make the perfect companion to my 9.3x64.

Thank-you in advance.

Paul.

Paul, With my Steyr M in this caliber I am having great success accuracy wise with 150 Nosler Balistic Tips and 160 Sierra Game Kings, especially the hollow point version. This gun really likes Reloder 19 and 22 best of all but it also likes similar powders like IMR 4831. I have loaded for a couple of these and also the .280 Remington which is nearly identical and these slower powders starting with IMR 4350 on up work well in both cals. Its no problem to usually get well over 3000fps with a 140, just over 3000 with a 150, 2900 with the 160 and near or at 2800 with a 175gr bullet. Much depends of course on a million variables. My .280, a custom Ruger 77 and my Steyr both have 24 inch barrels. The 7x64 is an absolute fav of mine.

Sess,
your like a veritable walking reloading manual !

Seriously though, appreciate the shared knowledge, very valuable and should save me some expensive experimenting.

I'm pretty sure all I need out of this rifle is a relatively fast stepping 140gn T.S.X.
Your notes that this can be driven at 3000fps is more than what I was searching for.

If anything needs more than that I can step up to my .300 with a 180gn.
This rifle will be primarily a small to medium game rifle.
Small deer, pigs etc.

I really like the fact that R 19 and 22 work well as with the R 15 for my .500 N.E it makes it easy shopping/buying powder in the one brand.

Wow, a 7mm 140gn at 3000fps, should be like a souped up .270 on steriods !

Thanks again,

Paul.

In the very early stages of planning my next safari. I had planned to take my Steyr for PG. My boy will be going on this next trip (his first) and he will be taking my dads old pre-64 Win 70 in .284 Win (custom), which is the ballistic equal to the 7x64/.280 Rem. I actually killed my first 2 deer with that gun when I was a kid and we were living in Alaska in the 60's. Ever since then I have been a big "7" fan. Since we will be taking that, I now plan to take my latest heart throb, a new model Win 1895 in .405 Winchester (sans Pith helmet!) primarily for eland and I could use the .284 for smaller stuff. My dad passed away in November at 88, and he at one time had expressed an interest in going to Africa but it never came to be so I thought his favorite rifle should make it anyway and I know I will have to take something with it. I think he would like that.
Your opener made me laugh. Years ago I was pontificating on some subject or other at work, and a co-worker turned to me and said "well you're just a veritable f*#*ing quaqmire of useless information!"

Originally Posted by sestoppelman

In the very early stages of planning my next safari.

I am glad to hear that! I know the last one didn't work out as well as you'd like, so it's good to see you going again.

Sess, this is only my second foray into the 7mm world.

Many moons ago I had a 7mm Weatherby which killed like a bolt of lightening but was simply too hard on everything, barrels, cases, hearing etc and I ended up selling it.
I had exceptional results with that rifle in the mountains of New Zealand on Chamois and Tahr and also used it on various deer such as Sambar, Red and fallow. I was extremely impressed with how it killed game but in the end I was paying too high a price for that performance and decided to quit it.

I've always wanted to replace that 7mm mag with a more user freindly version and I think that the 7x64 might be it (although as you mention there is a plethora of 7mm's that would fit the bill equally).
I seriously doubt that mine will ever see Africa but if I have it in time I intend on taking it to U.S later this year when we come over for the conventions I may have some White-tail hunting available and I think this little 7mm will do the job nicely.

From a traditional perspective it will mate to my new 9.3x64 rather nicely.

Now the trick is going to be getting dies and cases !

Grafs has them but back-orders seem to be the order of the day in the U.S at the moment.

Cheers,

Paul.

Paul,

I would second Ses' recommendation of IMR 4350. I use that in my 7mm Rem Mag with both 140gr Ballistic Tips and 160gr Partitions. Furthermore, I know of at least 4 different rifles in the same caliber owned by friends that all love that powder. A 7mm Rem is perhaps not quite the same, but if you've got that powder, I'd give it a go.

Oh and don't worry, I won't let Michael know you're shooting any of these little girly guns!

Originally Posted by PHOENIX PHIL

I am glad to hear that! I know the last one didn't work out as well as you'd like, so it's good to see you going again.

Thanks Phil, appreciate it!

Originally Posted by PaulT

Mlg, some more info on your handloading would be much appreciated.

When you sourced cases were the Sakos the only ones available ?
Where did you get your cases from ?
What velocity are you getting from the 140gn T.S.X's
Have you tried a variety of powders yet ?

Very nice rifle and interesting cartridge.

I just purchased a commercial F.N actioned rifle put together by Dumoulin, in 7x64mm, and am expecting delivery in the next few weeks.

I believe this will make the perfect companion to my 9.3x64.

Thank-you in advance.

Paul.

Paul

Sako cases are available from Beretta through any gunshot here. I believe that Sako factory ammo will be available shortly too!

The cases I got we're not as expensive as I thought they would be - $24 per 20 and my initial impression is that it's very good brass indeed. Apparently the brass IS made by Sako too!

Also available is Hornady cases and once again very reasonably priced and very shortly you should be able to get Sellior Belliot too. There is quite a bit of S&B factory ammo around but I found their loads to be a tad on the mild side - certainly the 140gns anyway.

My powder of choice has been Reloader 17. The more I use this powder the more impressed I become with it. I had a brief try with 2209 but its nowhere near as good or as accurate (in my gun) as R17.

I did run some other powders through "Quickload" using my rifle chamber statistics and from memory the only other powder that gets close was R19.

Hope this helps!

Mike

Paul, if you are talking about 7x64 cases, they have been made by many makers. Remington are fairly common on the net, at least as loaded ammo which I like to shoot and then have the brass. Federal has loaded for it, as has Winchester at times. I even found some Hertenberger cases on Gunbroker! S&B is available too. Of course Norma as well but kinda pricey. I use mostly Rem and S&B, however with the S&B I get neck splits sometimes after only 4-5 loadings. Weight of the cases by maker will vary a lot which in turn changes the internal capacity a little but not enough to step in front of a bus over. The internet is your friend here!

Sess and Mike,
I also recently found out that Sako makes cases and one of my local gunshops is bring them in very soon.
I've not used Sako brass before, I hope it's good stuff !

I would have prefered either Remington or Winchester brass.

When I buy components I usually buy quite large volumes so as to have a supply that will last for years to come.
If it turns out to be inferior I'm stuck with large numbers of crap brass.

I have several hundred 140gn Barnes T.S.X's also on the way which will be the intended load for this rifle/cartridge as an all-round small to medium deer/game round.

Next is to decide on what powder to load it with.

There is amply loading data available for our own locally produced A.D.I powders which are usually easier to source and more economical than the overseas powders, both of which are positives.

I'll wait until the gun gets here and then mess around with a few loads with the A.D.I range and see how it shoots.

The thing that's been brought home to me recently during this great Nth American components drought is our (Sth Pacific) succeptability to the supply chain running out from the U.S.
If your totally reliant on products (components) from the U.S and supply is interupted for an extended period, and you don't have back-up supplies, your in deep doo-doo !

I am slowly but surely laying in substantial back-up supplies of projectiles, brass and powder for ALL of my rifles but it is expensive and therefore takes time to do.

I'm looking forward to getting this rifle and hunting with it.
We have some awesome Trophy boars in my buffalo area, I think this 7x64mm will look perfect propped up against a nice big Boar (or three) !

Paul

I will be surprised if you dont find the Sako brass very good. Its GOT to be better than Winchester or Remington.

The 140gn TTSX will be a hammer in the 7x64. I am running mine at 2950fps using Rel 17.

Regarding that powder - it comes from Europe and not from the US. Some of our importers are increasingly turning to Europe as this component drought from the US intensifies. Dont forget our locally made powder is marketed in the US as Hogdon and one of the LGS owners here told me its possible there maybe shortages of ADi powder because of that.

Anyway - best of luck with whatever you use! Its a great caliber!

I appreciate the feedback and shared knowledge mlg, thank-you.

Just today made arrangements for having the rifle shipped to Aus, should not be any more than about another month away now and i'm really keen to get my hands on it.

It, and the components for it, may even arrive in time for me to work up loads and experiement enough to have it ready to take to my buffalo camp with me for some boar hunting after my work is done.

A 140gn T.S.X at 2900fps + is quite a versatile and potent load that would be more than adequate on a large variety of game.

I'll let you know how I fair after I've had a chance to fool around with it.

Cheers,

Paul.