7MM and deer

[JDL]

I know Von Gruff very successfully uses one but, I was wondering if anyone else deer hunts with a 7mm and cast boolits? How did it perform and at what speed? Favorite boolit style?

[Stick_man]

Going to watch this one with great interest. Am considering getting a 7mm-08 and am thinking of going exclusively CB with it.

[375RUGER]

I think I'll watch too. I've been thinking about some PP boolits in mine. :popcorn:

[fatnhappy]

Going to watch this one with great interest. Am considering getting a 7mm-08 and am thinking of going exclusively CB with it.

do so. you will not be disappointed.

[Wolfer]

Just recently acquired a RCBS 285-168-sp for my 7mm Mauser. Accuracy is good in the 1500-1600 range but can't seem to pass that. My boolits expand good in my recovery box and I'm quite certain I could kill a deer with them but don't know if I'll ever hunt with them.

16 grs of 2400 has been my best load so far.

[white eagle]

I had a mold for .284 bore as well
like others never really got accuracy I needed much past 50 yds
and the velocity cap ,if you will,made it seem like a bad endeavor
I no longer use cast in 7mm or under 30 cal for that matter ...........

[runfiverun]

the 7mm hunter is designed for hunting with that flat nose.
i have several 7mm rifles [love the x57 case actually] it is the smallest caliber i would consider using cast in for deer.
if you are gonna use it for deer hunting the testing should be started no later than right now.
you'll want.
a flat nose.
a hollow point, or some sort of expansion.
and velocity in the 1900+ range. for penetration.
how you get there is up to you.

[Larry Gibson]

So far I gave pushed this original RCBS 28-168-FN to right at 2000 fps with acceptable hunting accuracy out of my sportered M95 Chilean. The unfortunate thing is the mould has not been available for many years and I've not seen another for sale....... and I've not shot any game with it........:(

Larry Gibson

[x101airborne]

I havent shot a deer with one yet, but I got my 9 year old a youth 7-08 handi rifle and immediately ordered the Lee 7mm soup can. 17.5 grains of 2400 and one grain of dacron on top with that 130 grain pill water quenched 50/50 then softpointed and hollow pointed is acceptable accuracy wise and makes nutria just "pop". Great practice for the boy. Low noise, low shock, low kick, and most importantly,,,, LOW COST!! That boy can run through about 100 rounds for about 12.00. I will probably just nix the hollow point for him this deer season. I can say this, he does not flinch when shooting this load. Good rifle fundamentals are easy to work on and still have an ethical varmint load.

[birdadly]

The 7mm Hunter GB is wrapping up soon I believe (scheduled for this month). I'm in on it and hope to get practicing with it this spring/summer in hopes to use it for deer season this coming winter. It'll be my first casting for rifle, so hopefully all will go well! -Brad ..Oh, it'll be for a Rem 700 .280.

[quilbilly]

I hunt deer with a muzzleloader but have a T/C carbine in 7mm TCU caliber. In it I am using the Lee 130 gr RNGC at an MV of 1950. I did the "wet phone book" terminal ballistics test with a piece of 3/16 plywood 3" into the soaked phone books to simulate (sort of) a clipped rib bone. At 50 yards I got 19" of penetration and nearly perfect expansion with a relatively soft alloy. I wouldn't hesitate to use that 7mm boolit at that velocity on deer out to 150 yards and it would be my choice for blacktails if I start modern firearm hunting for deer again (unlikely unless seasons change). I recently started using the 7mm Bator 140 gr flat nose GC and I am sure it will work even better. With the carbine I routinely get 1-1/4" groups at 100 and sometimes better. I carry the carbine for varmint calling during mountain lion season.

[jhalcott]

JDL, I have used several 7mm guns to take whitetail deer and smaller critters. I have used the 7mm 135 grain" soup can', 168 rcbs and another mold in the same weight range but flat pointed. I've used the 7mmTC/U ,7-08 and .280 Rem. I've tried Teflon tape and other lubes with good to great success! I culled many deer off a golf course with SUBSONIC loads in the 7TC/u carbine with a 175 grain bullet. Accuracy is paramount when shooting live targets.

[HABCAN]

I have 7x57 29" Mauser 98, 7x57 pre-'64 Mod. 70, 7mmT/C-U 10" and 7-30 Waters 14". The LEE 135 gr. goes in the T/C and the 70 (short throats) and the RCBS 168 in the Mauser. 7x57 (collet dies!)plinkin' load is 18.0 IMR#4227, the T/C gets 5.0 or 7.0 Red Dot, CCI std. primers. 7x57 full charge is 42.5 #760, CCI mag primer.........all are sufficiently accurate in MY pieces. I cannot visualize a better all-around bore size. A surplus Mauser might cost you less than a factory-new '08? Cartirdge selection would depend on your BRASS availability?? If you think you really need a flat point, just 'bump' the boolits in your lubrisizer, and a spring-loaded centerpunch will make a decent 'hollowpoint'...........my own experience is that an accurately-placed through-and-through hard-cast will result in a DRT most times. Enjoy!!

[marshall623]

I've been playing with 50/50/2% tin in the 130 lee . I use the top punch for lyman 160 Silh. on the lees and it makes a nice little flat. I haven't done a lot of load testing with the 14" 7-30 , got it pretty close Minute of chicken,pig,turkey You know all that IHMSA stuff.My load for that is 18.5 SR 4759 130 lee with water cooled WW . I shot that load some for half scale Big Bore. I'm going take it deer hunting this fall with cast 50/50's no doubt that gun and load will put it where it needs to go. Its just that guy pulling the trigger I wonder about LOL

[avan47]

Lee 7mm soup can. 17.5 grains of 2400 and one grain of dacron on top

Does 2400 need the dacron? Have you tried the load without it? What kind of groups are you getting, and at what range? I just got my soup can mold, and am looking forward to trying it.

[scrapcan]

look up boom boom as the user name and 7mm in the search engine. Lots of good stuff there also.

[x101airborne]

Does 2400 need the dacron? Have you tried the load without it? What kind of groups are you getting, and at what range? I just got my soup can mold, and am looking forward to trying it.

Typically, no. It does not NEED the dacron filler. In MY rifle, it did help my groups out a little and in grouping only, I was pleased. I am shooting just under 2 inches at 100 yards wich is good nuff for shots under 100. I supervise my son's shooting and dont let him shoot past that much unless it is an un advoidable opportunity at a hog or something. And I REALLY dont care if he hits it solid or not. I wont miss that opportunity. I will even let a yote walk away, but not a hog.

[flipajig]

Good thred. I have both 7-30 and a 7-08. I just received two new molds today from UPS now here is my question will the madness ever end.

[runfiverun]

no, it does get worse however.

[Larry Gibson]

Does 2400 need the dacron? Have you tried the load without it? What kind of groups are you getting, and at what range? I just got my soup can mold, and am looking forward to trying it.

If the bullet is at the low end of the middle range of bullet weight (120 - 140 gr for the 7mm) for the cartridge and you are driving the bullet above 1700 fps then the dacron filler will probably be benificial. However, if you are shooting that light weight bullet slower then use a faster powder such as Unique or Red Dot with no filler or wad.

I the bullet weight is in the mid middle to heavy for the cartridge (145 - 175+ gr for the 7mm) and you are pushing the bullet above 1700 fps then a filler with 2400 will probably not be needed, especially with 168 - 175+ gr weight cast bullets.

The above also applies to 4227, 4759, 4198 and 5744.

Larry Gibson

[runfiverun]

i have noticed no problems with 2400 in various positions.
however the consistency from shot to shot is off a bit.
the primer will make a difference in many cases, a filler could make the difference between good and close.

[DIRT Farmer]

I recycled my old bull yesterday, he was starting to get an attude. Lyman 287-641 20.5 IMR 4227, 7x57 95 Mauser 25 yards, through the skull, cut the jugular, appx 12 inches in the neck. 90% of the boolit intact still going stright.

My only experience with this load, gonna be a pile of grass fed burger.

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
All my work is with the 7MM/06, great success w/ J-bullets (145Gr.) on deer.
Shoot about 1,000 rounds of 168grgc Lyman low vel. cast ( about 1,600'/s) every summer, this load will penetrate a 18-20" Douglas fir at 25'. Do you need more penatration than that for deer??????????????
Also used to shoot a 1,000 rounds of mid vel. load of IMR 4198 every summer ( about 1800'/s) until I ran out of that powder.
So now shoot about a 1000 rounds of same boolit w/ WC/860.
BULLET PLACEMENT RULES.:Fire::Fire:

[Hamish]

I recycled my old bull yesterday, he was starting to get an atitude. , gonna be a pile of grass fed burger.

About as freakin' empirical as it get's. Yessir.

Personally, I will be switching from the lovely 7TCU, to the 7BR when packing a pistola when in TN this fall.

[scrapcan]

Boom Boom,

Glad to see you saw the thread also. I refer to your original thread quite frequently. good info in it from lots of folks.

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
Wish I had a crony so I could give exact velocities.
Can only give reloading manuals listed vel. for the loads.
The WC 860 LOAD IS AT LEAST 2,000'/S, IT FEELS LIKE A FULL HOUSE J-BULLET LOAD. Covered that research in the DARK TERRITORIES thread. No Book to refer to.
One could hollow point, or flat point my cast bullet for a bigger wound channel.:Fire::Fire:

[missionary5155]

Good morning
Cannot speak for the 7 MM mag but the 7x57 has been thumping corn crunchers up in Michigan for many years. Lyman 287308 pushed anywhere from 1650 up to 2200 fps and cast from 50/50 (up to 1850) through WW just does a great job. A 7x57 (FN) was the first rifle I bought down in Tennessee (76-82). So I cannot imagine a 7mm mag pushing a simlar weight boolit not being as good today.
Mike in Peru

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
I have done some work with the 7MM MAG.
Squib loads only 12,-1600'/s. posted in other threads, discontinued it as felt it was not really suited to cast.
The other 7MM's are better, I feel.

[Good Cheer]

Have a single cavity 287308 hollow pointed by Erik at HollowPointMold.
Hope to use it on larger game soon in a 7-08.

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

I'm in the GB for the 7mm hunter and getting anxious to try it. I got a 7mm-08 Handi that I hope it works well in. I also shoot a 280 Rem on a custom 98 Mauser using 140gr Bal tip Jwords, any thing that gets hit inside of 400 yards drops like a rock. My preferred antelope blaster :) Usual shots are 200 or less on goats. My best kill with the 280 was a 567 yard (laser range finder) one shot kill on prairie dog with a medium cross wind.

[shastaboat]

HI,
Wish I had a crony so I could give exact velocities.
Can only give reloading manuals listed vel. for the loads.
The WC 860 LOAD IS AT LEAST 2,000'/S, IT FEELS LIKE A FULL HOUSE J-BULLET LOAD. Covered that research in the DARK TERRITORIES thread. No Book to refer to.
One could hollow point, or flat point my cast bullet for a bigger wound channel.:Fire::Fire:

Midway has chronographs on sale for $74.99 right now.

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

I loaded up 20 cast for the 7mm-08 this morning for its first attempt with lead boolits.
Hopefully get to the range Friday.
19 grains 5744, no filler, RCBS 160 grain silhouette cast w/Lyman #2 -should be about 1650 or so

[flounderman]

there are different lots of the 860 powder, but I was not getting anywhere near what I thought I was with a case full in a 300 win mag and I believe 165 grain jacketed. barrel would heat up in just a few shots, to too hot to touch. walk right up the target, too. a duplex load might have helped but I have always been leery of trying it. I get good results with 852. I would think it would be a better cast powder than the 860.

[ammohead]

Killed a mule deer doe with my XTR 94AE in 7-30 Waters and a 130gr lfn made by Veral before his stay with the feds. The charge was 39 gr of VV160 for about 2250 fps and 2 moa. I had crossed a fence at the edge of an alfafa field and walked right into the middle of about 15 does bedded down. It was a bit of a rodeo at first but when I connected with her lungs she went down in short order. It has a meplat quite a bit smaller than the 7mm hunter group buy and still did the job just fine.

I have a letter that Veral sent with the mould that says "I killed a nice bull elk with a 130 7mm started at 2450 fps. It broke the shoulder and spine at neck shoulder junction and exited the point of the off shoulder". Good enough for Veral, good enough for me.

[BOOM BOOM]

HI.
What cartridge did Veral load that in. A 130 gr. seems a bit light for elk to me.:Fire::Fire:

[ammohead]

He didn't say in the letter, it reads just like I quoted it. If I had to guess I would say a 7X57. When you live and grow up in elk country you see them taken with all manner of cartridges. John Barsness a well known gun writer mentions many times in his articles of the number of elk that his grandmother bagged with a 257 bob.

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
The 7MM MAUSER is 1 of those magic cartridges that preform better than you would expect. I know of several people who have taken Elk, Red deer & other large critters with it.
Of course the classic example is William Bell taking elephant with it.:bigsmyl2:
:Fire::Fire:

[1Shirt]

Have never taken deer with a cast load in 7x57, however would not hesitate to do so. I limit myself to 100 yds or under with cast regardless of cal. That said, have taken a number of animals with 7x57, at ranges from 65 yds to 437 yds with jacketed. Includes deer, warthog, zebra, spring buck, gemsbuck, etc. It is my go to rifle (Ruger 77). I am partial to 140-160 gr cast, and 175 gr. jacketed. There is, I agree, almost something magic about the ctg. Has been around for many years, and I believe has killed everything from dump rats to elephants. Not a lot of ctgs can make that claim. Like any ctg or load, shot placement is however the keiy to reality.

1Shirt!:coffeecom

[Win1917]

So far I gave pushed this original RCBS 28-168-FN to right at 2000 fps with acceptable hunting accuracy out of my sportered M95 Chilean. The unfortunate thing is the mould has not been available for many years and I've not seen another for sale

Dang I had one of those molds and sold it a few months ago because I didn't have anything to shoot it in. Had I known it was that rare I would've hung on to it.