Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Who's using a 7-30 waters?

I'm considering a 7-30 water's build on a Savage 99, just because I like all things 7mm, the 7-30 looks like fun, and the 99 won't limit me to flat-nose or FTX bullets.

I'm curious to hear from folks who are taking deer with the 7-30 Waters, mostly about bullet choice, effectiveness, and velocities.

Thanks,
Jeff

If you're going to go that far, why not do a 7mm-08 build instead? You'll probably get an extra 50-100 yards of effective range on whitetails.

I did something similar: got tired of a 30-30 WIN and jumped up to a 308 WIN Savage 99 and downloaded it to 300 Savage velocities. It's now my Ace #1 goto deer rifle. It's so much easier loading 5% off MAX instead of trying to push the envelope.

BTW: if I was going to build a second Savage 99, it would be in 7mm-08.

Lots of folks shoot them in Contender handguns. From everything I have read it is very effective on deer especially with 120 grain Ballistic Tips coming out of a 14 inch barrel. Light recoil and extra range with spitzer type bullets what's not to like. Go for it!

Thanks for the input Shaman, Swede.

I currently have a 99 in 284 that I load down to 708 speeds, it was my #1 go-to for 8-9 years. I also built a 99 in 270 Redding (essentially a 27-08) which is getting 3150 fps with 130g bullets. I am enjoying that caliber a great deal, and it has taken three deer in three seasons of use. I'm on the slow (3 years and counting) path to putting together a 99 in 7-08..., but it's for my brother-in-law who has been a 7-08 fan since it was first SAAMI'd, so he can wait a bit longer.


...so, obviously my 99x 7-30 water's project is not about "need" of any sort, it's all about experimenting and play for me. My sacrificial lamb 99 was originally a 303, and it was drilled and tapped for scope blocks, so feeding it some other rimmed cartridge should be as simple as changing the barrel. Since it's scope-ready, I'd like to stretch it out further than the 30-30/303 Savage might normally go. I have a 7-30 water's reamer, some brass and dies, even a 7mm x 9-twist barrel, so I'm pretty far in already. I would like it to function as a deer and coyote walk-about carbine, so I'm deciding about barrel length and speed potential now.

I appreciate the help,
Jeff

I've always wanted a Dakota Arms model 10 in 7-30 Waters.

Jeff, I've always wanted a 219 Zipper or Donaldson Wasp. The 7-30 waters is a neat cartridge, Take pictures if you build one. powdr

10-4. That makes sense.

I have used a 7-30 Water in a 14 inch Contender pistol to shot a hog at 75 yards, one shot and it never moved. I my load was a 139 Interbond in front of about (double check, I don't have my load data in front of me) 34.6 grain of Varget, chrono'ed at 2240-ish. I'm planning on using the same pistol with a 120 BT for a mule deer hunt this year. At my hunting elevation, I should be able to maintain 1000 ft/lb to 250-300 yards, much further than I feel is ethical for my shooting. I can keep 5 out a 5 shots inside an 8 inch circle (usually 6 inches) out to 200 yards, my hunting range.

have owned a 24" 7x30 barrel for my TC carbine for several years, but until last year had not hunted with it much.

I finally got around to trying the Barnes 110 TTSX ; factory loads had not shot especially well in my barrel, & i kept putting off load development...didnt take long to find a combo that worked well; and i hunted with it last fall; ended up shooting 2 deer & a hog with its preferred load since i found that combo.

the 110 TTSX's performed well...plenty of expansion...

I have used the 7-30 Waters in TC Contender carbine with Federal factory ammo with very good results.

free image host

Always wanted a 94 in 7-30 Waters. I remember seeing it in a magazine when I 8 or 9 and had just started going out with my dad. Seemed like an ideal round for the smaller Columbia blacktail I grew up hunting.

"Plenty of expansion" does not explain as well as your photo does! What is your muzzle velocity with the 110 TTSX?

Jeff, I have a Contender pistol with a 7-30 Waters "Hunter" barrel with Burris scope on it. My favoite bullet for it is the Nosler 120gr Ballistic Tip. Took an 8-pt buck with it at 105 yards, one shot down. I think a 99 in 7-30 would be a sweet rifle. I'll have to keep in touch with you on how this works out. I load these pretty long in the Contender (longer than you could with the 2.6" magazine limit on your 99 action). With Federal factory loads I got 1.2" groups at 100 yards; with my Nosler 120 grain BTs the pistol shot amazing.

Here's how those 120 shot at 100 yards.

Jeff....those are running about 2850fps from my 24" barrel....

Killed a doe with one years ago. 120gr Nosler SVBT out of a TC Contender rifle opened her up through the ribs. 40 yards and dropped.

I have a TC Contender in 7-30 waters. I've shot three mule deer bucks with a 120 Nosler Ballistic Tip, two of them at 200 yards standing broadside. The other, bedded at 165 yards. The bedded buck rolled over, dead. One of the bucks at 200 yards took two steps and folded. The other one went about 30 yards. It's a wonderful cartridge used in the right situations. Hope that gives you some perspective.

I have a fortunately accurate, with only a trigger job, TC Contender that I use in WY where we have a great Mule Deer set up so the shorter barrel is not an issue with 120 NBT, and so easy to carry. We also take a few antelope to fill freezers and find the longer shots really need more speed and weight in the inevitable winds.

How about twist rate for 120g Sierra PH? How will 1:10 work at 7-30 waters velocities?

Jeff, I haven't shot a deer with the 120 Sierra, but I used them to fire form my cases from .30-30 cases and the groups were well under an inch from my 23" Contender heavy barrel. I set that rifle up as a youth rifle for a couple of kids I take hunting, but last season was pretty bad here with heat and drought. The deer had moved off the properties I had permission to hunt. This year I am debating whether to use the Sierras or go with Nosler 120s. I think both are excellent choices.

What's the twist rate on your Contender barrel Leon? I like Noslers, but their recent remodel made them much longer than the used to be.