Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters FInn Aagaard on the 7mm BR

Article on the 7mm BR by Finn A. in 1992. Read the last paragraph.

This inspired a custom Rem M7 build years ago, 21" Pac-Nor 9 twist. I ran 120 @ 2878mv, 130 @ 2666, and 139 @ 2544. I had my best speed and accuracy with 120-139 over AA2015BR, and IMR4895, though H335 and BL-C was used with 100-110s with good results.

MY rifle shot 1/2 MOA at 200 yds......easy to make brass using 6mm BR Lapua, which is better than RP brass.

Trajectory and ballistics in my experience, show a 120 i.e. BT is probably good for 400 yds on deer with shot placement, 120 V-max and 110 TNT were very accurate and fine for coyotes and other varmints. Heavier bullets fell fast after 300 yds, while the 110-120s were good for 415 yd hits on Gongs, milk jugs and watched my son nail a 20oz coke bottle first shot at 415 at the back stop.

I shot several deer, all under 200 yds, using 120 Hornady SP and HP, they did fine, though retained wt. was around 70gr. I would recommend 120 BT as the ideal hunting bullet.

Dang - I remember reading that article. Or more accurately - definitely remember the one handed photo....

Thanks for sharing... I’d forgotten all about that article!

I remember that article and I agree, I'm sure I could do all my N.C.hunting with my lowly 6mmBR if it was a little lighter, but what's fun about one gun hunting..

Yes years ago a read that article too,sure it works most of the time for little deer. myself i hunt deer by the Canadian border in Minnesota and wait for a decent whitetail buck these deer are bigger and require a bigger cartridge foolish to use a smaller cartridge like a 7 mm BR . at least use 7mm-08, a lowly old 270 Win. or a lowly old 30-06 or whatever much better cartridges to kill bucks easier and faster . whitetail bucks sometimes don`t die easy,these bucks have a will to live or hide and die from you , a larger cartridge than a BR always works better. 56 years killing whitetails with bow,rifle,pistol , muzzle loader has taught me don`t use a iffy cartridge to hunt with, i don`t hunt geese either with a 410.

And here we go ...

Pete53, not an animal in North America I would not punch thru the lungs with a 7BR properly loaded, within a reasonable distance. Lots of folks shoot big Mulies with the 243, but everyone has to use what they feel comfortable with.....the 7-08 you referred to has a great reputation with 120 BTs, at about 250-300 fps higher mv, when both loaded to it's potential.

Folks over on the Grendel forum have used that round to 400 yds on Elk........not my preference, nor would the 7BR be, but I sure think a deer that weighs 300 lbs dies the same as one that weighs 100 lbs, when it's lungs flood with blood and they bleed out.

None the less, nothing wrong with the 7/08 and 270, I have used both successfully, as I have the 6BR out to 400 yds.

Not trying to change anyone's choice of tools, but wanted to share a story by a reputable author about his time with a unique rifle in a neat cartridge.

I do recall Finn writing in a Gun Digest or Shooters Bible, it seems his wife was using a Sako 7/08 on Elk and thought she grabbed 140 partitions for the hunt but discovered she had 140 Corelokts...........she was successful.

I'm all for using enough gun, but I agree with Finn......a majority of the time, most hunters have more than enough rifle for deer.

Very interesting read.....now I want a 7BR

I think the "120 @ 2878" is the telling point.

Doesn't the 250-3000 propel a 100gr bullet at about 2800fps?

Most people who have used the 250 Savage on deer with the 100gr bullet have nothing but good to say about it.

Another 20gr of weight and a few more fps - like that offered by the 7BR - can only be better!

yoming and SoDak mule deer and whitetails bang flop from a lowly 223 and 77 tmk from 20 to 500 yards

Good to know you guys in Minnesota got ironside deer that require no less then 50gr of powder.

Good article.First time I read it.I concur with his findings.I have used the 7TCU and 7-30 Waters in Contenders with 14" Pistol barrels and 23" rifle barrels.I have taken speed goats with both length barrel s out to about 200 yards no problem,Favorite bullet ,120 grain Ballistic tip.I have also used the 120 grain single shot pistol bullet.It was Sierra I think or maybe Hornady.

Huntz - I took a deer with a 7TCU in a 14" using a fireform load about 2,000 mv with a 140 BT, only 30 yds, but suffice to say it did expand and do enough damage......yes that round is a solid 200 yd round as is the 6.5 TCU - and 120s were what I used in the old Nosler Solid Base when they were available, in the 120 version. That old SB was a nice bullet, a bit less expensive IIRC than the BT, but just as well balanced in it's construction and behavior on game. Hunting 'lopes with a TCU would be about ideal, short of using a wheelgun. I watched a show recently a guy was bragging on his 1,380 yds shot or so with a 6.5/284. Sadly #1 hit the azz end making a nasty wound, before getting the coup de grâce on #2.

I recall the 120s fireformed in the TCU did around 2400 in the 14" and should be good for 2550 in the rifles. I did have some overcharge loads do over 2500 in my 14" before I realized I stuffed too much 2495 AA in it. 2015BR was my go to and it did great in my 7BR. Commercial 223 brass always gave me better results and I did have one case head separate in the TCU with Mil-surp that had to go back to TC to get it extracted. Just an FYI to anyone loading TCU's. My TCU in both 10 and 14" routinely outshot many rifles at the range back when I was in college. Took a crow around 150 yds, it is a nice round.

The 120 BT may well be the best, or one of the best (as some is subjective) in 6.5 and 7mm rounds, from the Grendel, BR, and other modest sized rounds like the 47L, 6.5CM and 260. The 130 AB has been my go to in the latter three and the Swede, though the Swede always seemed to eat 140s like bread goes with butter. I am always one to love high BC/SD bullets spun in fast twist bores, but must say trajectory of 120s and 130s at common distances up to say 400 yds seems to be just fine in modest 6.5s and smaller 7s.

To those who are intrigued by the 7BR, I would also recommend the 6 and 6.5BR, as well as the 6.5x47 Lapua, and if you want an array of good factory ammo a 6.5CM. I can say all of them perform and will do well with good bullets. IIRC, JB said Gail Root who designed the 6mm 95BT took Caribou and/or Elk.....they are a fantastic killer for a 6. I do prefer the 120 BT for an all around killer on large game but killed my share with a 6 to have complete confidence. Make a 6BR feed might be a bit tricky depending on your set up, vs a 7BR, as I mentioned the heavier 7 bullets made the rounds lay flat in the magazine and they fed like glass in my set up. Rem made a M7 KS in limited numbers in the 7BR, though that ULA that Finn had looks to be one heck of a handy dandy short to mid-range sporter.

One fellow I corresponded with used a 6.5x47 in a 17" shorty, and killed a large buck over 500 yds, LRF, using a 136 Lapau IIRC. These modest rounds, make lightweight killing machines with used with good bullets and good marksman.

I have asked CZ to make their 6.5G in the Short Carbine like their 223 and 7.6x39, but the last I knew, no cigar. As I mentioned above the BR will run about 200+ fps faster with 120s.........but the Grendel should be a solid 250-300 yd round (using 120-123s) for a handy carbine with modest blast and minimal recoil. No doubt a well loaded 223 can double on deer where legal.

I have a 700 with a 20” barrel chambered for the 7TCU. It’s similar in performance to Finn’s 7br. I get 2550-2575 with 120 Btips and Sierra SPs and RL7. Accuracy is great, no recoil, not much blast. The 120s seem to perform great at these speeds although I’ve never killed anything over about 150 yards with it.

I always thought a 7TCU or 6.5TCU would be good in an AR-15.They seem to load fine in a stock AR magazine.Not only for hunting but a good defense load .

Sounds like a neat rifle, what contour barrel ?

Indeed the 7TCU is very mild and the BR only uses a few grains more powder. It was one of my most enjoyable rounds next to the 6BR. You don't notice recoil, blast and can self-spot hits. Unlike say a 243, brass and bore life seems infinite and no case trimming needed with my 7BR.

Would the 7mmBR work in a Howa Mini action?

Seems like a good time show off my new deer rig in 30BR. Developed loads this morning. Thats 5 shot groups.

Assuming this was meant for me. My rifle wears a K&P cut rifled barrel I bought for next to nothing. It was a pressure barrel chambered for 280 Rem and the chamber section was 3” in diameter with an abrupt step down to 2” diameter and straight untapered for 24”. It appeared unfired or fired very little. I cut the 3” section off which was about 5” long and turned the remainder to match the SAUM M7 contour.

This pig fell to a single 110gr Speed TNT square in the shoulder from about 80 yards. He made it maybe 20 feet before he flopped.

I’m digging your 30BR ctsmith. I have a Griffin Recce 7 in jail and the TCU is going to be one of the first ones threaded for it when it gets here. What kind of silencer are you using on yours?

Its a Dead Air Nomad 30. Extremely pleasant tone, I'm more than impressed. Its also very flexible too, with the ability to easily change out both ends; direct thread vs various adapters for the barrel attachment, and end caps in 5.56, 6.5, and 7.62. Weight is on the light side at 14 oz. They are in stock at Silencer Shop. I'm tempted to order a few more while the getting is good.