What 7mm? What 17?

S

Sniper260

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 22, 2013
483
2
#1
I want to start researching a 7mm and a 17 to custom build... Just not sure which one...

7mm- Everyone has a 7 Mag... 7SAUM is good, 7WSM is good, 7RUM is too much (I have a 338 Lapua build going right now to cover that big of stuff) .280AI I dont see getting dies easily .284 doesn't have the ballistics I want... I'm basically sitting on a 7STW that has my interest, good ballistics, packs some powder, will push the heavy berger bullets for high BC... Any opinions? twist rate for 180 grain hybrids?


17 cal - I tend to sit on the 17 fireball as what I think would be cool. I have a 17 HMR, but would like to get a center fire 17. 17 hornet is too small of case, and is rimfire if I remember right. Supposedly winchester is coming out with a 17WSM kinda round? 17 Rem is too much, I a smaller case... Any ideas? I dont mind wildcatting if it fits the ticket and I can get dies and a chamber done. What is the twist rate I need for these 17 cals? I want to shoot the heaviest 17 cal I can find, Im not sure what a good weight bullet is here.

These builds are on the back burner, but I havent got enough info, just seeing what the opinions of the SH is...
 
#2
My other thought is to skip the 17 cal build totally since I have a 17 HMR... and to a 20 cal something... Any 20 cal people out there with opinions?

Like I said, it's all in the thought process right now, None of these builds will be started this year. These are next years builds hopefully. Just looking for caliber ideas..
 
#4
Many choices in both but you may want to give details on intended purpose for said rifles. The hornet is a centerfire cartridge that has a rather large rim that can cause some feeding issues however for the 17 cal. it has enough case capacity to push the small bullet. I do agree the 17 rem is a little much. Do a quick search for Dick Saunders on 17 caliber if memory serves he did a ton of research on this caliber. Have you looked at saubier.com ???
 
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#5
The 7 will be another long range set up. The 17 or 20 cal is going to be built more for the 500 yard MAX - I just want a little laser shooter out of it. A "prone/bench shooting prairie dog gun.... I mean I have a 223, 22-250, 243 etc etc... Just looking do to something smaller than the 223 to fill that void between a 17HMR and 223... Thats why the 20 cal weighs on my mind more and more now. The 204 is a neat little round, but everyone has one and I like to be different.
 
#7
I have a 280 Rem. that is a deerslayer and I love it. I got a 7WSM too because I wanted a new rifle for a hunt and it too is awesome. My favorite rat gun is the 17 Fireball in a Rem. cheapie that I hacked 6" from to ease out the window shots. I recommend getting all.
 
#9
I have a 7 WSM and think it is about the best thing out there for LR up until the .338s come to play. Either a 1:9 or 1:8 twist for the 180 Bergers.
 
#10
Well, except for energy the ballistics on the 7mag and the 338 are going to be very close. Unless you need long range energy there is a lot of overlap in purpose there. Maybe you could build a lightweight 7mag hunting rig, focusing on weight reduction, just a pure hunter. Otherwise you already have the heavyweight prone gun covered with the338. Or if you don't long range hunt then the7 mag and the 338 pretty much do the same thing. You could step up your LR capability by going to a 375cheytac.
 
#11
7mm WSM gets my vote. 1 in 8.5" would be ideal for 180grs.

I'm pushing them at 2950fps in a Alpha short action, but have plenty of room to get the 180gr faster than 3000fps, just haven't done so due to my accuracy node.
 
#12
17 Hornet is a center fire.

If its too small and .17 Rem too large, you've got the .17 Fireball/Mach IV.

Personally, skip the .17 and go .204 Ruger. Its just as flat and has great performance.
 
#13
There is a reason that a lot of people shoot a 7 mag, if you are going for something just for the sake of being different, then so with a 7 wssm, Saum just seems to be harder to get a hold of components for. The stw looks like a fun gun, but in reality you don't get much more performance for the barrel life that you lose. Someone made the comment that a 338 and a 7 have similar ballistics, what is not at all similar is the cost per shot, and the recoil between the two. I will always side with the 7 mag but I'm a little biased. It was the first gun I got when I was 12 to start hunting with and it was the smallest thing I had fired until last year. I regularly shoot at a 1000 with no problems and if I had the room could easily go much further. As far as ammo, Berbers work well, but sierras are pretty great as well.
 
#15
Sounds like you need some Prozac.... Wait everyone takes Prozac ... Try Lexapro it's in the same family..... But for longer range you might need Haldol... But if you take Haldol some Cogentin would compliment it nicely. Of course if component cost doesn't bother you than powder cocaine may fit the bill but beware of recoil. For cheaper you could do crack but then you are going to be the same as everyone else. Just wild cat it all and wash it down with Absinthe. Absinthe is good for shooting.
 
#16
Seriously, why go with an odd ball? Go with something that works, is proven, and has logistics behind it. You'll not be able to shoot the difference. I used to be the same way, not wanting to shoot the same thing everybody else does. I've learned that you're best off going with a proven performer, not forming or spending a ton of time prepping brass, and spending more time shooting. In the end, its much more rewarding.
 
#17
swampbuck said:
Sounds like you need some Prozac.... Wait everyone takes Prozac ... Try Lexapro it's in the same family..... But for longer range you might need Haldol... But if you take Haldol some Cogentin would compliment it nicely. Of course if component cost doesn't bother you than powder cocaine may fit the bill but beware of recoil. For cheaper you could do crack but then you are going to be the same as everyone else. Just wild cat it all and wash it down with Absinthe. Absinthe is good for shooting.
Click to expand...

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!
 
#19
I agree to an extent.. but I like reloading just as much as shooting as well. So a somewhat odd ball caliber isn't a big deal to me. Working nights a lot tends to giv
 
#21
Seems like 20 Vartarg has quite a following, supposed to not heat up the barrel fast and still decent ballistics along with long barrel life.

I almost bought a 19 Badger before I bought the 17R and at this point wish I had.

The 17R with factory barrel fouls quick, not liking it and am considering 17fireball.

You aren't going to see as much difference as you'd think, except recoil, between the big 7's/180's and your 338L/300's till you shoot past a mile. My 30-375R turned out to be a good compromise in ballistics, wind drift, recoil and economy with the B230HB's, covers all the bases.
 
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