ok I'm stuck

[eli polite]

Very soon I will be starting my first custom build..

I am stuck between two rounds and I need to here some opinions.I am seriously stuck between a .338 and a 7mm. I am not interested in any other rounds for this build. I have read a lot on these two rounds. I have used both rounds but I have never owned a rifle in ether round.

This gun will be used for 600 to 1000 yards. I will probably not shoot any thing over 1000 yards and I hope to use it in F class comps. I know that one big draw back on the .338 is the price per round. I am not reloading yet but hope to be by the time this rifle is done.

So help me make a serious decision I have been reading and researching for almost a year now. I currently have 2 .308's a .243 and several .223's but nothing completely custom from the ground up. I need to narrow it down in the next month.

 

[Mike]

Re: ok I'm stuck

7mm bullets are much better and have a higher BC than 338 bullets.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: ok I'm stuck

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: epdesign</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

This gun will be used for 600 to 1000 yards. I will probably not shoot any thing over 1000 yards and I hope to use it in F class comps. I know that one big draw back on the .338 is the price per round. I am not reloading yet but hope to be by the time this rifle is done.
</div></div>
These being the facts, no question, 7mm all the way. I just did the same thing myself.

 

[Kevin1]

Re: ok I'm stuck

Up to your max distance (1000Y), what is it the 338 could do that the 7rm can't? Besides costing you more, I don't see any other benefits.

 

[Engine 22]

Re: ok I'm stuck

What Mike said. Hard to beat the 7mms and for the ranges you mentioned, will fit the bill nicely.

 

[bowstryder]

Re: ok I'm stuck

First of all, Mike, until berger releases the new 7mm otm 195 gr. No, the 7mm does not whoop up on a .338 with ballistics, period!
To the op, I would also agree that a 7mm caliber would be perfect for your intended use with your choices. The next big question is which cartridge?

 

[eli polite]

Re: ok I'm stuck

I have read that. i guess what i am looking at is for 600 to 1000 yards.

1- Am i going to have to have hot rounds to achieve good groups (competition quality groups)

2- What can I expect for barrel life. I have talked with a lot of serious shooters and many of them say they switch the barrel every 1000 rounds regardless....is this over kill?

3- Availability of brass an bullets? I don't want to have to hunt for loading supply's.

4-because I'm not a loader yet!! How touchy are the rounds. dose one require more precision over the other in loading. Is one round better for a beginner than the other as far as loading? go's?

 

[eli polite]

Re: ok I'm stuck

I have looked at the 7mm mag and the short mag. whats the difference. in price and performance. I thing the world record for a 7mm short mag at 1000 yards is under 3"

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: ok I'm stuck

1. No you dont have to run em hot.

2. the 7bat,7wsm,are gonna be pretty short, 1k or so, the 7SAUM (my choice) is a bit better at aroung 2k

3. good brass & bullet selection for all the wsm, saum,7mag

4. loading is the same for all of them, follow the rules, and keep it consistent.

 

[rusty815]

Re: ok I'm stuck

Hmm, I don't see why your .308 can't reach out to 1000 yards, I personally wouldn't go bigger unless I wanted to shoot out further.

 

[The_FNG]

Re: ok I'm stuck

.338 with no brake for F class? Ouch..

 

[XTR]

Re: ok I'm stuck

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: the_fng</div><div class="ubbcode-body">.338 with no brake for F class? Ouch.. </div></div>

^ DING ^


You'll be happier with the 7mm. If I was building an F-Open rifle I'd build it around an 7RSAUM.

You don't have to drive them hard for tight groups, that is load workup and technique. Driving them fast helps with wind, but that is the same with every round, why do you think all us F-TR guys are running 30" barrels? (Clue: it isn't for sight radius)

Now unless you just want to shoot in open I'd look at a 308 and shoot TR, that's my choice. If you're going to be competitive in either discipline you'll end up with a dedicated rifle.

 

[lessthanfour]

Re: ok I'm stuck

what grain of bullet for the 7mm variants at long range?

 

[Mike]

Re: ok I'm stuck

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bowstryder</div><div class="ubbcode-body">First of all, Mike, until berger releases the new 7mm otm 195 gr. No, the 7mm does not whoop up on a .338 with ballistics, period!
To the op, I would also agree that a 7mm caliber would be perfect for your intended use with your choices. The next big question is which cartridge?</div></div>

So the 7mm with the 180 Berger doing 3100 is beat by the 338LM in elevation and wind? Please show me this data.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: ok I'm stuck

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: lessthanfour</div><div class="ubbcode-body">what grain of bullet for the 7mm variants at long range? </div></div>
180 Berger, 175 SMK, 162 amax, probably in that order.

 

[Mod Adahy]

Re: ok I'm stuck

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mike</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bowstryder</div><div class="ubbcode-body">First of all, Mike, until berger releases the new 7mm otm 195 gr. No, the 7mm does not whoop up on a .338 with ballistics, period!
To the op, I would also agree that a 7mm caliber would be perfect for your intended use with your choices. The next big question is which cartridge?</div></div>

So the 7mm with the 180 Berger doing 3100 is beat by the 338LM in elevation and wind? Please show me this data. </div></div>

Not sure I ever saw the 338 being a Lapua in the OP question. Lets go to extremes and compare a 7mm of any variant to a 338-408. That being said, within the limits of the OP, I would run a 7mm of the choices he offered.

 

[Mike]

Re: ok I'm stuck

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Azprc</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Not sure I ever saw the 338 being a Lapua in the OP question. Lets go to extremes and compare a 7mm of any variant to a 338-408. That being said, within the limits of the OP, I would run a 7mm of the choices he offered. </div></div>

Since the 338LM is the 338 "standard" and has the best ballistics of the 338s, it was implied. Comparing the 7rem mag to a 338 Federal or other would be a joke.

 

[50Hunter]

Re: ok I'm stuck

FNG to the forum,

I have been playing with the BC/MV/and cost of several calibers. The 7mm bore seems the best with the 280/7mm Remington Express looking very interesting. Anybody out there had any experience? This set up would be for 200 - 1000+ varmit hunting with the 105 A-Max. That's for a 243. The 7 would be a 162 A-Max

My BAD

 

[eli polite]

Re: ok I'm stuck

yes i was talking about the .338 lapua

here is what I have currently.

tikka t3 tac 20" nothing upgraded or custom

I don't have a pic of my savage 110 fcp-k 26" stock rifle.

the question was asked why not stay with the .308? I'm not getting rid of them or leaving them behind I just figured I want to do a custom build from the ground up and I don't want another .308 and I'm I gun guy so why not add another caliber

I will eventually have both. but you guys are making my decision easier I'm 60%-40% now in favor of the 7mm

 

[eli polite]

Re: ok I'm stuck

I'm bringing this back to life for a bit.

My final decision is to do the 7mm !!BUT!! witch one? and why?

7mm-08
.284 Winchester
7mm wsm
7mm saum

 

[iShoot17]

Re: ok I'm stuck

I started to plan a 7mm build and I started basing things around the 7SAUM. From what I have read and learned on this site, for F-Class, it is a hell of a rifle.

That being said, my rifle build plans are stuck between a custom F-Class rifle or a "tactical" but there is no debate about the caliber. 7SAUM.