7mm

For F class, as accurate as any other cal with a significant reduction in wind drift and a very significant increase in recoil.

Lots of 284 and improved variants being used.

My tests would point me towards a larger case like the 7RSAUM or my 7 Mystic.

My new Shilen 7RM is pushing these 180's over 3000fps into 1/4 min at 200yds.

Jerry
 
You got it thats what the Brits are using. I have found it to be an extremely accurate caliber. If they are wining F-class world championships using the 7mm I'd say it has proved it self.
 
I recently ordered a 7wsm from PGW for these reasons. Another 7mm variant which is supposed to have all of the benefits of the WSM, SAUM and .284 win but better than all of them is the 7 Shehane. This cartrige is basically a .284 win with most of the taper taken out of the body of the case, resulting almost in WSM velocities and the barrel life slightly less than a standard .284 win. Optimum velocities for a 7mm are reached at 2950fps and the accuracy is fantastic.

Ivo
 
284 was meant for a short action, but realistically it should have a long action if using VLD bullets.

The 7mm Berger 180 VLD is about as efficent a bullet as you will find, but it is the only bullet in its class, so if your particular gun doesn't like them you have to settle for bullets with less of a stellar profile.

Its accuracy comes at the price of heavy recoil and barrel life in magnum cases, but then, that is the price you pay for long range performance. ALmost no way around it.
 
I find the 162g Amax preform extremely well too. Looks like others have found that out too recently as I have a terribly hard time finding them and they were going for about $28-30 a box a year ago and now if you can find them they go for $40+. My gun doesn't like the Bergers unfortunately, but does extremely well with the Amax.
 
Rocky Chandler championed the use of the 7mm magnum as a sniper round for the US military, but it didn't catch on. All things being equal, a 7mm is as accurate as a .30 caliber on the same cartridge case, but the slightly smaller diameter bullet has a higher BC, resulting in a trajectory that is flatter when comparing bullets with the same weight and velocity.
 
The Brits cleaned everyone in F class last year at Bisley. American teem was using 6.5/284 best BC of 6.5 is 612 140gr Bergers, and the 7mm 180gr has 659 BC
JLK makes a 180gr VLD 7mm and claims BC of 735
Was at Robertsons yesterday he was finnishing up a nice rig Heavy long barreled maybe 32" 7mm in the SAUM case, on a Barnard action in one of his beautifull Composite stocks.
Hard to beat the high BC bullets at 1000 yards but you still have to read the wind
I don't beleive the 65/284 will be on the top of winners list in coming years the 7mm will take over.
just my thought
manitou
 
manitou210 said:
I don't beleive the 65/284 will be on the top of winners list in coming years the 7mm will take over.
just my thought
manitou
Click to expand...

Not unless someone comes up with a higher BC 6.5.

Say a 155gr true VLD with a BC equal or higher then the 180gr 7mm.

The big risk is will the barrel you get better like this bullet? So far, I have shot this bullet in a few barrels of various makes and they have been easy to tune. A true 9 twist is all you need.

But if it will not shoot the 180's, there is no plan B worth discussing.

I am presently playing with a 7RM pushing 180's over 3000fps (26" Shilen). This case is way bigger then you would ever want to use in F class but the velocity is what most are striving for.

In a 20lbs rifle, the recoil was harsh. Even in a 35lbs rifle, the recoil is higher then my 20lbs 6.5's. In a generic stock, this combo would not be something I could shoot in competition without servere fatigue.

The reduction in wind drift is about 4 to 5%. The recoil is at least 50% higher (perceived if not real).

When the Brits beat the US, the comment was the US just didn't have the field knowledge but were learning fast. Their scores were closing and if the match had gone longer, it could have been a closer race.

Home field advantage can mean alot when the wind blows.

Run the numbers between a 180gr 7mm at 2900fps and a 140gr 6.5 going 3100fps. I think you will find the ballistics to be very similar. The recoil is not.

There is no reason why you can't push a 6.5 that fast. The 6.5-284 has plenty of case capacity to go that fast.

So why put up with the recoil?

As for barrel wear, if you compete to win and LR ballistics really matter, getting 400rds less from a barrel is of little consequence.

Jerry
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom