7mmmountaineer
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Time to face it I am a workaholic............
Posts: 521 
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Post by 7mmmountaineer on Sept 13, 2014 8:46:16 GMT -5
I have been working with a Browning X-Bolt 280 for a while now just because I wanted one and it cost me nothing but a fair and even trade Rem Mod 7 Mag in 7 SAUM for the Browning. As most of you know I am all about 7 bore rifles love the bore. I have owned or shot a lot of 7 bore rifles from the 7-30 Waters (cool little round) to the 7 RUM (not my cup of tea) and a whole bunch in between. My long time favorite 7 bore for deer has been the 7-08 hands down IMHO the best deer round EVER.
A month or so back I traded 3 boxes of 150gr Nos BT's for 3 boxes of 150gr Nos E-Tips just to try them planning on using them in my 7-08 SPS Varmint. Well boredom got to me Thursday afternoon so I loaded some in my 280 the 7-08 just wasn't liking them anyway. After going to my appointment I went back out to the bench and tried what I had quickly put together earlier in the day. Norma brass, 150gr Nos E-Tips, WLR primers (they were already in my priming tool), and 2 powders IMR 4831 and 7828 SSC (already open). I started out by using the book spec OAL (I know Tips are all different) but the ogive measurement gave me something to go by.
This is what I found out with 60 rounds sent down range over 2 days this rifle really likes these bullets. Groups that were already pretty good in the 1.15-1.25 inch range average at 200yds they got smaller to the tune of 1" average at 200yds with these bullets. I am now a huge believer in yet another 7 bore. It is easier to shoot for long periods than the typical 7 bore I used if I wanted more horse power the 7RM and it is as accurate if not more accurate than the 7RM I have.
Loads worked with were as follows:
IMR4831 from 51.0- 53.7 in .3 steps up total of 30 rounds found a good node at 53.7 (.9 3 shot group) the faster I ran this powder the better it shot when the rain stops I will continue to work with this.
IMR7828SSC from 55.0-57.5 same as above in .3 steps for 30 rounds this powder had the most consistent groups and the best group average at 1.05. I am thinking about going to standard 7828 for a better load density than the SSC just for shits and giggles. Just like the IMR4831 the harder I pushed the bullet the better it shot. |
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Post by hacker54 on Sept 13, 2014 10:06:29 GMT -5
Chuck,
Dido on the 7-08 for deer just plain awesome. The 150 Nosler E-Tips seem to mat well with those two powders and the rifle. By any chance you going to try the B-Tips in that weight? I use the 140 B-Tips in my 7-08 and they work so freaking well I'm half afraid to try anything else plus I have several boxes of them to use. If and when I do try others I'm only going up 145 to 150 grain.
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7mmmountaineer
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Time to face it I am a workaholic............
Posts: 521
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Post by 7mmmountaineer on Sept 13, 2014 10:14:44 GMT -5
Gary in the 280 no I haven't tried the 150 BT's. I have used them in my 7-08 as well as the 140 BT's. The 150's left a bad taste my mouth last year at 7-08 velocity.
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bob
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I'm too old to be nice but never too old to learn!
Posts: 1,457
Location: Northern California
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Post by bob on Sept 13, 2014 10:20:14 GMT -5
Chuck: Also having a mild case of 7 boreitis I dissagree with your claim of the 7-08's virtues. I think the 7X57mm in a modern rifle is beyond nervanna as a deer slayer.  Glad your new rifle is doing well, those are impressive groups |
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Post by hacker54 on Sept 13, 2014 10:24:20 GMT -5
Chuck,
Did the 150 fail or did not perform as it should have? If I do anything I'm thinking of trying Speer's 145 grain bullets in both the flat base and boat tail.
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7mmmountaineer
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Time to face it I am a workaholic............
Posts: 521
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Post by 7mmmountaineer on Sept 13, 2014 10:30:33 GMT -5
It pancaked on the liver of a quatering away deer. So if you ask me yes it failed. That wasn't the first Nos bullet I had or saw fail the last couple years. I will never shoot another ACCUBOND I have seen 2 fail and know of 2 others in 3 different calibers (24, 27 & 28) that failed. I have used the Spr 145's before they were pretty good but are harder to find a lot of the time. The Spr 130 BTSP's are what my nephew uses and he has never had a deer (5) take another step after being hit. |
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bob
Member
I'm too old to be nice but never too old to learn!
Posts: 1,457
Location: Northern California
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Post by bob on Sept 13, 2014 11:12:25 GMT -5
Chuck & Gary: I have had excellent restuls with .284 140 gr.Sierra 1910s. They have given me a perfect record out to 220yds. since '72, curious as to why you guys don't seem to use them. I know individual rifles like different fodder.
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7mmmountaineer
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Time to face it I am a workaholic............
Posts: 521
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Post by 7mmmountaineer on Sept 13, 2014 11:29:28 GMT -5
Bob I have used them before and you are right they work great. I haven't seen them available any were lately. I also just like the easy (lazy yup I know) of seating a BT bullet  .......... |
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7mmmountaineer
Member
Time to face it I am a workaholic............
Posts: 521
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Post by 7mmmountaineer on Sept 13, 2014 11:37:02 GMT -5
Chuck: Also having a mild case of 7 boreitis I dissagree with your claim of the 7-08's virtues. I think the 7X57mm in a modern rifle is beyond nervanna as a deer slayer. Glad your new rifle is doing well, those are impressive groups Won't argue with you Bob the one 7x57 I shot was pretty darn accurate. I have never owned one nor hunted with one though. The one I shot was a loaner so I didn't look like an idiot at the range with out a rifle LOL. |
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bob
Member
I'm too old to be nice but never too old to learn!
Posts: 1,457
Location: Northern California
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Post by bob on Sept 13, 2014 16:31:38 GMT -5
Try it I think you'll really like it. The Ruger only load which may also be good in the mod 70 or 700 can out run the .280 or at least run with it and it can be loaded to 7-08 levels as well. The recoil seem lees to me than the .280 but that could be the rifle. I am looking to get another in the Winchester mod.70 feather weight or if I can find one in super grade, I need a new project?  |
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7mmmountaineer
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Time to face it I am a workaholic............
Posts: 521
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Post by 7mmmountaineer on Sept 13, 2014 17:46:16 GMT -5
Try it I think you'll really like it. The Ruger only load which may also be good in the mod 70 or 700 can out run the .280 or at least run with it and it can be loaded to 7-08 levels as well. The recoil seem lees to me than the .280 but that could be the rifle. I am looking to get another in the Winchester mod.70 feather weight or if I can find one in super grade, I need a new project? I think my next new rifle purchase for me will be a 257 Roberts. I had one and lost it in a fire a few years ago and I have the Bob itch again LOL. |
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bob
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I'm too old to be nice but never too old to learn!
Posts: 1,457
Location: Northern California
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Post by bob on Sept 13, 2014 18:57:29 GMT -5
I'm very very happy with mine Hybrid 100V under 115 - 120 gr. bullets goes real fast to.
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7mmmountaineer
Member
Time to face it I am a workaholic............
Posts: 521
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Post by 7mmmountaineer on Sept 13, 2014 19:10:56 GMT -5
So I have heard Bob ....... Honestly I miss the one I had it was my Grandpaw's and meant a lot to me. I learned to shoot with that rifle. It was an old scared pre 50 Win Mod 70 and I think the sentimental attachment was stronger that my liking of the caliber. I have looked for one like it but have yet to find one I will shell out a big pile of dough for. |
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bob
Member
I'm too old to be nice but never too old to learn!
Posts: 1,457
Location: Northern California
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Post by bob on Sept 14, 2014 1:18:39 GMT -5
I know I have a case of old timers and tend to repeat myself. My .257 is a custom Montana barrel on a pre war m70 action in what looks like a super grade stock. I got tired of waiting for one so I had it bilt. About 6 m0nths after getting it back I went to a gun show with a friend to find his daughter a rifle. The first one I picked up was a Ruger feather weight and guess what caliber, yep .257 R'bts. It shoots very well and last year we got her a nice buck. One shot at 100yds.(ranged) droped dead where it stood.
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7mmmountaineer
Member
Time to face it I am a workaholic............
Posts: 521
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Post by 7mmmountaineer on Sept 15, 2014 15:49:25 GMT -5
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with it. I got to wondering though so when I ordered the 150 7mm E-Tips I also ordered some 140 7mm (4 boxes) E-Tips plus some 30 caliber E-Tips in 150 and 168gr (3 boxes each ) to try in my 308. HMMMMMMMMM to much free time right now guess I need to fill it some how 
My daughter came from Missouri, my son and grand son, my wife and I had a nice dinner of grilled "porter house" pork chops, corn on the cobb, my son, G'son and I share 10/5. G'son is 4 minutes early though @ 10/4.
Pooh I hope you find to right house . 
