7mm practical- who can do the work?

A

Archibald

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I'm convinced I'm building a 7mm Practical on a Winchester 70 classic action in M24-40 contour. I don't hear a lot of talk about that chambering in Canada, but if you know a gunsmith with a reamer for that, let me know please.

Thank you.
 
Unless you are going to lengthen or replace the magazine box and open the loading port while adjusting the bolt stop and ejector and adding holes to the rear bridge I’d steer clear of that cartridge.
 
Bullet profile is different. You will be seating bullets really deep. You will also be restricted on what bullets you can actually use.
 
Thanks. I was under the impression that OAL was the same for 7-300 win mag and 7 practical, the difference being a 30 degree shoulder of the Practical. Either way, I'm still on the lookout for a good smith to do this work.
 
https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/7mm+Practical.html

"The Manson reamer will cut the chamber to produce a max COAL of approximately 91mm (3.583) using the 162 grain ELD-M or 92mm (3.622") using the 180 grain ELD-M. This COAL suits a very wide range of bullets without compromising magazine space. Suitable actions include the Win M70, the M700 and its clones"

My rifle is en route, so I guess I'll have to look at my magwell and see how long it is, but I suspect it's close to 3.4", so if that's the situation then you're correct and some additional work is in order to house that round.
 
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Using a 300wm donor you’ll probably need to machine the rear bridge if you want to be able to eject live rounds. Other mods are needed

Using a 3.6 mag chambered (express) action would have been a better start. 300wby, 7mm stw, 375 hh, 416 rem mag

Buying a reamer is the cheapest part of your plan.

Any decent smith could do the work
 
Archibald said:
I'm convinced I'm building a 7mm Practical on a Winchester 70 classic action in M24-40 contour. I don't hear a lot of talk about that chambering in Canada, but if you know a gunsmith with a reamer for that, let me know please.

Thank you.
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Also known as the 7mm-300 Win and 7x66 Randall. It's a good cartridge, I see lots of them here in AB so, I assume most smiths would have a reamer or access to one. - dan
 
Archibald said:
With all due respect to your suggestions, I am inquiring if anyone knows a gunsmith who can build a 7mm Practical. I am not interested in Rem Mag, PRC, WSM or 28 Nosler. I just need to know if there's someone out there with the reamer or if I must resort to purchasing it myself.
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Start calling around would be my suggestion. I know Karl over at KS has built some of these, or at least that's who I was told did the work. Never actually asked Karl about it. You can modify your action to allow longer coal, though it's more work than starting with a 375 length action to begin with. - dan
 
I spoke with my gunsmith today on this 7mm Practical.

It's an absolute waste of time, using a belted case in this day and age of technology is archaic at best. Don't waste your time.

Get a 7mm PRC or a 28 Nosler.

You will be extremely disappointed my friend.....:(
 
Thunderhog said:
I spoke with my gunsmith today on this 7mm Practical.

It's an absolute waste of time, using a belted case in this day and age of technology is archaic at best. Don't waste your time.

Get a 7mm PRC or a 28 Nosler.

You will be extremely disappointed my friend.....:(
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Strong stance. What are its disadvantages?
 
Slimbo said:
Strong stance. What are its disadvantages?
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The 7mm Practical is a standard belted case 300 Winchester magnum necked down to 284 or 7mm.

The 7mm PRC is from the parent case 375 Ruger which is basically the King of 375's now, and does not have a belt like the 375 H&H.

Belted magnums are fine on their own, and in there specific current calibers. Necking down a belted magnum isn't necessary when there is new technology available by using non-belted cases.

There are plenty of wildcat calibers available that people can choose. Why use old school technology when there are new calibers that burn their powder more efficiently, get better case life, and are easier to create than some of the older wildcats of days gone by.

I would go 7mm PRC or even 28 Nosler if you want a fast, flat, hard hitting 7mm or 284 bullet to hunt or target shoot with. The opportunity for brass in these calibers will take away the chore of making brass from belted magnums. They are factory available.

It will be a personal choice in choosing which caliber will work for them.

In my opinion and my gunsmiths, the 7mm Practical just isn't practical........:)
 
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