Which 7mm cartridge is the "best" poll?

[RedTag]

.270 Winchester doesn’t even need to be 7mm to be the best 7mm

 

[Old3Toe]

.....Based on my eyes, age & an honest assessment of my shooting ability, I can't ever see myself taking a shot at an animal at longer +500m distances.

One question I could answer for myself but haven't yet is how well would my No. 1 with a shorter 20" barrel do at longer distances. So far I've only used it in dense woods. The shooting ranges near where I live are limited to 200 yards or less so I need to make it out to a friend's pecan farm in central Arkansas one day & test the limits of the shortest rifle from my safe.

Since this part of your op hasn't been addressed, here are some thoughts for your consideration:

First, kudos to you for confronting some honest self-reflection. Get out there and put some lead in the air and validate it! Second, your 20" barrel may or may not be a limiting factor. My 20" 7x57 with the exact same ammo shoots at the very same speed as my 24" 7x57. You just never know. So go find out. Go build the skills. Thirdly, your bullet selection is going to matter waaaay more than your barrel length. Choose wisely and select a bullet with sufficient mass and good BC that's NOT over built for 7x57 impact velocities. Choose wisely and your 20" No.1 is likely more capable than you are confident.

 

[DLSJR]

Timely poll for me as I’ll be talking with Parkwest at SCI about building me a Model 10, using a great 2-piece blank I’ve had for about 40 years. I’d already decided on having it built in 7x57, which they told me is the cartridge selected more than any other for Model 10 builds.

 

[odonata]

Choose wisely and your 20" No.1 is likely more capable than you are confident.

Thanks for the encouragement! My earlier comment about not ever considering taking a very long shot is an estimation & extrapolation taken from how small & consistent my groupings are at the shorter 200-yard range. It's good enough to consistently drop deer every season with minimal tracking, but if I'm planning on doubling that in more open spaces, I would definitely want to spend more time practicing at some longer distances just to give other factors like the wind & not shooting from a bench an opportunity to influence the POI. Having readily-available access to those longer practice distances is doable with effort but not nearly as convenient as the shorter public ranges. With retirement approaching, hopefully I'll eventually get to the point where I can shoot as much as I want. Tightening up my groups at the shorter range would improve my long-distance shooting too. Learning to shoot off of sticks might be a good skill to acquire.

A secluded spot in the Ouachita National Forest to shoot the big boomers

One other factor comes from a personal preference on aesthetics: I don't like putting big scopes on my falling blocks. I prefer the way they look & handle with smaller, low-powered ones. This has worked great for the hunting I do now, but might hamper me if I try to extend the distance with one. Only additional testing will tell conclusively. It's perfectly plausible that I'll keep my RSI as a dedicated woods rifle & use a newly-acquired bolt action with an appropriate optic for more open country.

Not a lot of long shots taken here!

Thanks to everyone for all of the feedback & comments.

 

[odonata]

Timely poll for me as I’ll be talking with Parkwest at SCI about building me a Model 10, using a great 2-piece blank I’ve had for about 40 years. I’d already decided on having it built in 7x57, which they told me is the cartridge selected more than any other for Model 10 builds.

I love falling blocks (I own eight). I have seen some really nice Model 10's out there. I've even bid on a couple (but never won). I have one small personal complaint that may apply to only me: Sometimes Model 10 rifles have a butt pad that's too big. I don't like big butts! Whenever I see one chambered in something with low recoil and a 1" pad, I involuntarily grit my teeth & suck air through them. The Ruger Scout is available left-handed in 308 Win (yea!) and has the ugliest thickest buttstock abomination on the planet (boo!). Fortunately, these problems are within the realm of the fixable.

One other small quirk that I have is a fondness for rimmed cartridges in single shots (most of my falling blocks are). My RSI is a 275 Rigby but I think I'd rather it was a 7x57r. But that too is simply my personal preference. I love my Swede & Rigby so I see no reason why you won't thoroughly enjoy your 7x57 too!

 

[JG26Irish_2]

I own two 7mm rifles and both are exquisite modern all weather, light weight mountain guns. Both are 1/2 MOA accurate and both are proven killers. They are the 7mm Mag and the 7mm/08. I understand the panache of the 275 Rig/7x57, another classic cartridge but it requires a std length action. My choice for PG and most North American hunting is the 7mm/08. Why? Simple - the 7mm/08 is a necked down 308. It is efficient and accurate and not a terrible barrel burner so it will last a long time and stand up to extended range use. It can compete head to head with the 6.5CM for long range tgt play, can get great velocity from only a 22" bbl and is also mated to a short action, so the while the Mag requires a magnum action and a full 26" bbl, the 7/08 is a fully 5-6" shorter and lighter package. When I was choosing a light rifle for PG in Africa last year, I took the 7/08 instead of the mag for all those reasons despite the Mag being slightly more effective. I needed a rifle that was flat enough for long shots in Free State and handy enough for the bushveld of Limpopo. The 7/08 can take prairie dog all the way up to midsized PG like WB, and Blesbok. I hunted Zebra with it but never got to fire a shot on game. They are known to be tough but I had little doubt that it would do the job if called upon.

7Mag really requires reloading to get the most out of it as the factory loads are mild. But I hunt with many rifles so, reloading for a rifle I will only burn 10 or 12 rds a year in is not practical. The 7/08 on the other hand it so efficient that I can get 2761fps from the excellent Barnes 140g TTSX and 2890 from the hotter Hornady Superformance 139g CX monos. If you want bonded look no further than the 140g Fed Fusion at 2724. All of these are close enough to hold nearly identical ballistics out to the reasonable limits of 300y shots. I have some 150g Swift Sciroccos also which are the heavyweights. I took four animals with it in Africa including a 314y shot on a Black WB that dropped in its tracks and a Springbok at 242Y that also was DRT with the 140g Barnes. I used the Hornady to take a Blesbok at about 280y which did require a few follow up shots and a Warthog at 65y on a running shot that dropped right there. They both shoot 1/2" at 100Y from the bench and I grouped the Hornady at 1" at 200y from the bench at my PH's lodge in Limpopo which impressed him enough that he wanted to shoot it too. I would not use it on Eland but it would do the job in a pinch. I like it because it is light and handy and the FFP optic is a shooters dream and is able to handle MIL hold overs out way past where a responsible hunter would take a shot on live game. It is short enough to wear a 6" suppressor and still makes a handy pkg.

The Mag is faster, more deadly, can fire heavier factory loads, is flatter, and might even be a little more accurate but I left it home. Sometimes more is just more. For Moose or Elk, or Eland I would choose the Mag simply to avoid potential long tracking jobs.

Look in the upper right corner. The two little trees on the left of the grove mark the spot where the Blk Wildebeest Bull stood to face us. When I got back in the Bakkie and shot this pic it ranged a bit over 314y. Truck had already moved forward several yds at this point. Actual range was more. Frontal shot a 8x, 0.8mil hold over.

Results from the 314y+ shot

Limpopo - Waterberg Mtns in the background

My last sunset in Limpopo

 

[odonata]

@JG26Irish_2,

Thanks for the detailed reply. That was an interesting & informative read.

 

[Rumrunner]

Since I have a weatherby 7 mag I had to vote for it. If I was to have a do over it would be the 7 rem mag.

 

[odonata]

After one day with 144 voters casting 229 votes, here's the current tally:

Looks like the 7mm Backcountry lost a vote because at one point it had 3 votes.

The top 3 remain unchanged.

I find it interesting that the "Other" category has more votes than the three choices below it combined. The 7mm STW, 7mm RUM, 28 Nosler, 284 Winchester, 275 H&H and the 280 Ross have been mentioned in posts. There's so many different individual ones listed, none of them might surpass the 7mm Weatherby for the 7th spot if we broke the "Other" group out individually.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Said this before:

I took many PG from Impala to Eland with a 7MM REM MAG. I think a Steenbok too. Maybe it was a Duiker…

Elk, mule deer, blacktail, pigs, antelope with 7RM… Great all around caliber.

 

[375Ruger416]

At this point, I have almost given up on the "fragmentary" bullet crowd.

They work superbly on a broadside shot, but when you are limited to a 7-10 day safari, sometimes you are limited to just take take the shot that PH tells you to take.

IME, sometimes the "perfect" shot just doesn't present itself and you need to use an expanding bullet like a Nosler Partition or a Barnes TSX, that gives both deep penetration and expansion.

IMO, you are never in a good place when you try to be "smarter" than your PH.

Whenever I start thinking, I’m smarter than someone else. Reality usually slaps me upside the head.

 

[7x57Joe]

From my nickname you probably can guess how I voted. Has served me well through elk size game.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

As a left-handed shooter, it's kind of surprising that I only have one 7mm rifle in my safes (a compact Ruger RSI in 275 Rigby) since various manufacturers actually offer a pretty good selection of LH rifles in this caliber. The most common choice for a southpaw is the 7mm Rem Mag & I think I developed an irrational bias or indifference against this round when I was younger. Because my friends & relatives all hunted in the kudzu & vine-laden thickets of the southeast, no one I knew had a magnum anything. The rifle rack was usually dominated by 30-30's & 30-06's. For many years, all I hunted with were standard long-action rounds. It wasn't until much later in life that I started shooting the 375 H&H and my 458 Win Mag...and fell in love with both of them.

Recently I've had several friends who have started hunting a lot with 7mm's mostly over in Texas. One had really good results using a 7mm Rem Mag on an aoudad and a couple more have been using the 7mm-08 mainly for deer & hogs. I really do have everything I "need" but there are a couple of empty slots in my safe that I would like to eventually fill simply because I enjoy buying new rifles (...and shooting them!). I had asked a similar question recently in a thread that mostly discussed cartridges with lightweight bullets in the quarter-bore range which was very informative & helpful.

For this particular thread I was curious what cartridge you think is ideal that has the following criteria. I value the feedback & opinions of the members of this forum:

• 7mm caliber
• Capable of taking all but the largest plains game
• Max distance of several hundred meters (350 ~ 450)...probably much closer
• What bullet weight / type to achieve best accuracy / best terminal results?
• I can handle heavy recoil...but I will favor more reasonable suggestions

I was limited to ten items in the poll so the list favors rounds that I have a chance of acquiring a LH rifle in. I'm really looking for a bolt action but you could always talk me into a kipplauf with a rimmed cartridge. I already have eight falling blocks so I've cut myself off on purchasing more of them (ha!...another lie I tell myself). Based on my eyes, age & an honest assessment of my shooting ability, I can't ever see myself taking a shot at an animal at longer +500m distances.

One question I could answer for myself but haven't yet is how well would my No. 1 with a shorter 20" barrel do at longer distances. So far I've only used it in dense woods. The shooting ranges near where I live are limited to 200 yards or less so I need to make it out to a friend's pecan farm in central Arkansas one day & test the limits of the shortest rifle from my safe.

@odonata
Personally for me it would be the 280 or 7x64.
The AI version adds only 100fps over the previous two when they are loaded to their potential witch is nothing to celebrate in sing and story. Like our Nick Harvey any 7mm cartridge I'm that can put a nice pointy 160 grainer down range starting at 2,900-3,000 fps is more than enough to kill big game at any sensible range.
That combination offers a good balance of power, range and shootability.

Magnum and super magnums whilst good don't do the average shooter any good apart from help develop a flinch and empty the wallet with expensive rifles and ammo. Yes they may carry more down range power but how many of us shoot game at 600-1000 yards.

The smaller 7mms are also GREAT BUT they run out of puff at shorter ranges( read past 300 yds). Yes they kill game but a bit more is a good thing to ME.
The 280 and the 7x64 give a good balance between the smaller and magnum/ super mags.
But hey what do I know.
As much as I love my 25s and35s if'n I was limited to one rifle it would be the 280 and load it to its potential not the anaemic factory loads.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I can multi-task!

@odonata
At least you don't have to start a which is the best 35 thread. That's already been beaten to death and;
The 35 WHELEN WIN THAT ONE.
Ha Ha ha Ha
Bob

 

[odonata]

Personally for me it would be the 280 or 7x64.

...how many of us shoot game at 600-1000 yards.

The smaller 7mms are also GREAT BUT they run out of puff at shorter ranges( read past 300 yds).

Both of those chamberings are available in left-handed rifles so that's a plus. I really like my LH Steyr CL II & both it and the SM12 come chambered in the 7x64.

I'll never shoot at something at longer distances so rounds that have excess power & reach way past anything I plan to shoot at seems to be overkill that produces nothing but discomfort & extra expense. Finding the right balance is part of the process.

The main thing I need to do is find a spot where I can practice at longer distances conveniently on a regular basis. It would be nice to see how well my short-barrel 275 Rigby actually does since I've never put it to a long-distance accuracy test.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

7x57...275 rigby.....forget the others.....by order as I am always right ......140 grn to 175 grn....sorted....mostly use the158grn ..170 and 175 grn........biggest I used it on is sable ....worked fine...clients used it on sable ..lechwe..waterbuck etc etc...lovely little calibre

@spike.t
You sound like me in reverse.
I'm never wrong but it is very seldom I'm right.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I wouldn't even worry about the Other category as there are two carts that are ahead of it (7-08 and 7PRC). However, there's one cart of interest not on the list and that may not automatically be thought of in the Other category and that's the 284 Winchester, which I've always thought was a cool round with its rebated rim. I've decided- if I go 7mm, it's the -08.

@DaddyFlip
The 284 is just a short action 280 REM. Almost identical capacity. Problem is you need a long action and a long throated barrel to get the best out of the 284 with long bullets
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@odonata
That's why after much analysis ( of many cartridges)and field trials ( with a few other cartridges) I settled in a fast 25 and a good 35. They both just seen to work and kill quicker than their ballistics would indicate they should.
The fun was in the work both physical and mental in evaluating all the rounds to come to my choices.
Bob

This would have been a fairly accurate description of my way of thinking when I posted the original question. But I'm always open to other viewpoints since the whole point of asking the question in the first place was to eliminate some of my ignorance & misconceptions by hearing from more experienced shooters. My 7mm knowledge gathered in the field is limited. My 30-06's and my 9.3 cover a lot of territory but it's always nice to explore another caliber in-depth.

Th

 

[Woodcarver]

I love falling blocks (I own eight). I have seen some really nice Model 10's out there. I've even bid on a couple (but never won). I have one small personal complaint that may apply to only me: Sometimes Model 10 rifles have a butt pad that's too big. I don't like big butts! Whenever I see one chambered in something with low recoil and a 1" pad, I involuntarily grit my teeth & suck air through them. The Ruger Scout is available left-handed in 308 Win (yea!) and has the ugliest thickest buttstock abomination on the planet (boo!). Fortunately, these problems are within the realm of the fixable.

One other small quirk that I have is a fondness for rimmed cartridges in single shots (most of my falling blocks are). My RSI is a 275 Rigby but I think I'd rather it was a 7x57r. But that too is simply my personal preference. I love my Swede & Rigby so I see no reason why you won't thoroughly enjoy your 7x57 too!

Then your only real choice in a 7mm is the 7x65R. The sexiest of the 7mm in a svelte stalking rifle. The ballistic twin to the 280 Rem that many have touted, but, with a rim.

 

[odonata]

Then your only real choice in a 7mm is the 7x65R. The sexiest of the 7mm in a svelte stalking rifle. The ballistic twin to the 280 Rem that many have touted, but, with a rim.

If I had a Blaser K95. Merkel K5, Krieghoff Hubertus...basically any classic kipplauf rifle in 7x65r, that would be a nice addition to the collection!