Thread: A quick 7mm - scratching an itch.

Got to confess to being a big fan of the 7mm’s. While I have a few 30cals, 6.5 and 6mm, for me 7mms are the sweet spot in terms of a hunting rifle for NZ conditions & game. I have developed a particular interest in “quick 7mms”. I should explain, my frame of reference for “quick” is the venerable 7mmRemMag, where you can expect 3000fps (give or take) with 2217 or 2225 driving 160-168gn high BC pills out of a 24in barrel. What intrigues me is the potential for non magnum calibres that might approach or match the 3000 fps RM performance criteria, smaller lighter rifles and ideally shorter barrels. This is the kind of itch you have to keep scratching. Lugging big,heavy rifles with long barrels is not much fun especially getting thru bush & scrub to reach the open tops.
I’ve spent a fair bit of time playing around with 284’s, SAUMs and 280ai over a few years now. And yes, I know the SAUM is magnum bolt face but case capacity is pretty much same as the 280. So far the 280ai has come closest to the 3000fps mark with N560 pushing 162 AMAX at 2980 fps from 24in bbl, and a very light rifle (6lbs bare). To date 284 and SAUM running 22in barrels get me around 2950 and 2930 fps or there abouts respectively . Plenty fast enough, but not quite the “quick” Rem mag performance level.
Most of my experience with 284s has been using 2209, Superformance or RL17 powders- the latter 2 yielding best performance. Had been playing around RL26 and 180 ELDMS in the 284 a while back, getting some very accurate groups but lopping along at ~ 2700 fps. Recently got to discussing the new Norma bonded projectiles with some hunting mates and did some homework on the 165gn 7mm BondStrike pills which boasts a very impressive BC 0.631.
Now how would they go with RL26 in the 284 ?
Not something you’ll find in any reloading manual. But had gathered some good info from a few GCs on here (@GWH especially) who had played with RL26 in 284s and I triangulated to a safe start point for the 165 BondStrikes and ran a ladder starting at 57gns up to 61.0. Norma brass, Fed LR primers and COL 3.150 (about 40 thou jump).
Results were very encouraging to say the least, with speed starting at 2770 and topping out at 2997fps …. out of a 22in bbl. No pressure signs at any stage including at top end - bolt lift normal, no ejector or swipe marks. Probably could go a bit higher in load but felt I was getting close to pressure. All 8 shots in the ladder forming a nice tidy cluster showing plenty of potential. See pic below.


So loaded up 3 BondStrikes at 60.7gn and 3 @ 61.0, plus 3 AMAX @ 60.5. Turns out these are running at ~3020fps but group not great so the AMAX load will need some further tweaking. Really impressed with the with consistent velocities of both loads of the BondStrikes , ES 6fps. Probably settle on the 61.0gn load for the BondStrikes & fine tune seating depth to see if I can shrink group size a bit further. A bit of operator error with a couple of pulled shots, bloody stupidly long grass around the farm after all this rain and with the bipod up high it was not optimal shooting position. Temperatures were pretty warm & humid around 25C compared to 17-18C when I ran the ladder. The 3rd shot at both 60.7 & 61.0 gave a very slightly stiff bolt lift and faint swipe mark. Which confirms my thoughts on getting close to max pressure.


Yeee-hah!! Pretty much REM mag performance out of the 284, in a 22in bbl burning 12-15% less powder (60-61 gn vs 71-73gn) & pushing 165gn pills at 3000fps. This should hold 1800fps out at 1000yds & it’s around 1100yds before dropping to 1000ft/lbs energy…. way further then I’d attempt a shot on game. I continue to be super impressed by the potential and capabilities of the 284, it truly punches well above its weight. And equally the ability of RL26 to extract extra potential from the 284, as well as a number of other cartridges especially running heavy for caliber pills. Hope there’s some more of this fairy dust coming into the country in 2023 !
My 22in 284 is built on a Tikka T3 which started off life as a 270. As you can see from photo mag length fit with the 165gn BondStrikes is no problem. The other rounds in pic are the mag are 7mmRemMag, followed by two 284s then a 7mm08 at top for comparison.


Have to try this combo in my 20in 284, should get to around 2930-2950fps which is +100fps from what I’m getting with current RL17 load.

Nice work iv found 26 in the saum to duplicate my old rem mag but my saum is 4” shorter 3000 is easy work it’s killed my need to tinker which I’m not overly impressed about though.

I’d be keen to hear an update on the bond strike bc once you get a chance to validate your data / cal mv.

I have a 7mm-08 and Inbuilt a .280a.i. because it nears 7mmRm performance .
With a 26" barrel it's going near 3k. Would have to test again to give you an accurate figure now it's had a few down the tube

Originally Posted by CBH Australia

I have a 7mm-08 and Inbuilt a .280a.i. because it nears 7mmRm performance .
With a 26" barrel it's going near 3k. Would have to test again to give you an accurate figure now it's had a few down the tube

Aye, 280ai with 26in bbl should be 3k and a bit, with the right powders. I started off running 2217 but did not quite get speed I was hoping for until I changed to N560. Also have read others using RL26 with good results

Originally Posted by SPEARONZ

I’d be keen to hear an update on the bond strike bc once you get a chance to validate your data / cal mv.

Yes me too.

Good work Chainsaw.
.284 Win is by far my favourite chambering. I had knee surgery when living in the US and was bed bound for 3 weeks, during which I read everything I could about possible options for an all-round rifle for NZ. I wanted good velocity, 160ish pills, a shortish barrel and a build on a T3. .284 was the answer, and my .25-06 barrel was sold, I bought a 7-08 unused barrel and had it reamed to .284 and it’s my go to rifle for about everything now. I’m using 162 ELD-X and 2213sc in necked up Lapua 6.5-284 brass for a mild 2740 fps. Not the velocities you are chasing, but well sub-MOA groups and drops everything out to 400 which my Z6i is set for. Plenty of spare room in the magazine, too.

My rifle has an integrated recoil lug with a profile to match the receiver. I had about 100 thou machined off the receiver face to remove the small transition so the lug has a good mating surface.

Didn’t mean to hijack your thread - just underlining what a great choice you made. Got me thinking about more velocity. I have some RE26 tucked away so might see what it can do.

@chainsaw What the stock on the Tikka .284

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Originally Posted by 25/08 IMP

@chainsaw What the stock on the Tikka .284
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It’s a Kiwi Composites stock

no apology needed @Hurricane. The more 284 contributors the better. Hard to go past the 284 as the one rifle, do everything. Only downside is lack of factory ammo, but its the sort of cartridge you need to hand load for to get optimal performance and projectiles.

Also very keen to here about the bond strike Iv only read of them in the factory prc rounds obviously the projectiles are on offer now? Really good weight for the 7mm

Yep the BondStrike projectiles are available now but spendy $190/100. I guess not that different to Bergers now a days,

If they work they work I say, I shoot the 168 vldh but man it’s getting up their $215 at my local that’s a lot of tucker per/100 though so not to worry I am looking at jumping to the eldm part time for the softer bodies critters

I have also been working on a Tikka 284, re-chambered from 7mm08. Mine is 18" barrel and I managed to get 162gr ELD-M's up to 2775 with 56gr of 2209 which is the only suitable powder I have right now. This load was giving stiff bolt lift and wipe marks . Unfortunately that load also put 3 shots into less than 0.5moa, which pissed me right off as dialed back a bit to sane pressures around 55.5gr, it was shooting around 0.8moa.
I'm trying to get a decent load that I can use until I get my hands on a more suitable powder. Was planning on RL17 but RL26 might be on the list also now.

I'm playing with a new 7mm RM at the moment
26" barrel and the full Rem Mag so should be really easy to get good speeds

I also have the luxury of it being a falling block single shot so cartridge length is easy with no magazine length compromises

162 ELD-M at full length to suite compared to factory 162 SST