Author Topic: 7 - 30 waters___10---12---or 14 in.????? (Read 1213 times)

bayrunner · « **on:** May 05, 2003, 10:21:45 AM »

Hi Guys_____ Need help again, trying to decide between the 10 , 12 , or 14 in. barrel in 7-30 waters .I know I won't like the handling of the 14 in. to unyeilding, so I need a little input , if I go 10 will I loose enough to matter, I read thats its O.K. in 10.. (for deer hunting)What do you guys think.THANKS BAYRUNNER

22hornet · « **Reply #1 on:** May 05, 2003, 11:35:41 AM »

Well I don't have any hands on yet cause the barrel is just ordered but I went with 12" cause I figured it would be the best of both worlds... plus anything is better than my 15" Encore as far as being handy...

Dalton · « **Reply #2 on:** May 05, 2003, 11:53:16 AM »

If your caliber of choice is a 7-30 Waters I would stick with a 14" barrel. I think the 14" barrel better matches the case capacity of this round. If you want to go to a 10" or 12" barrel you may consider a 7mm TCU. In those lengths your performance would be the same as a 7-30 Waters, but you would burn less powder.

KYODE · « **Reply #3 on:** May 05, 2003, 12:08:02 PM »

i personally like the long barrels best. i like the added performance. just have to modify your approach and use a field rest, whether it's anything available at the time, or pack in a set of homemade shooting stix.
for a holster gun maybe 10", but if your packin with a sling i don't think a 14" would be any harder to pack. :money:

Graycg · « **Reply #4 on:** May 05, 2003, 12:24:15 PM »

I just picked up a 12 inch full bull Bellm rechamber to 357 Max of a TC custom shop 357 mag. I gotta tell you, I like the 12 inch so much more than any of my 14's that I'm not planning on buying anymore 14s...You can shoot it offhand sooo much eaiser than a 14!!
I still like the 10s and would like them better in full bull instead of the taper that TC puts on them, but the 12 inch full bulls....that's my new favorite! I think you'd be ok going with a 12 and 7-30.

regards,
Graycg

rdc in MN · « **Reply #5 on:** May 05, 2003, 05:52:18 PM »

I once asked the question 7-30waters or 30Herritt,
What I was told was that the 7-30 was better in the longer lenths and the Herritt was better in the shorter lenths.

PJ · « **Reply #6 on:** May 06, 2003, 02:01:42 AM »

12" would be ok my buddy has a 12" 7x30 and loves it.He hunts every thing with that 12" tube deer,elk,and bear.He shoots heavy bullets in it for the big stuff 175's and 120's for the small suff.I have yet to see him take two shots at an animal they have all droped in their tracks or only go 40 or so yards.

wheelgun · « **Reply #7 on:** May 06, 2003, 08:17:04 AM »

I have a 12" and 14" i can't tell any difference in performance but i like the 12" better.Both of them are very accurate and dependable. :grin:

Bullseye · « **Reply #8 on:** May 06, 2003, 04:47:35 PM »

I assume the 12" barrels everyone is talking about is the Hunter Version. If that is the case, isn't the effective barrel length only about 10 3/4"? That is getting pretty close to a 10" barrel. I would think that with the powder capacity of that case the 14" would be better. Everything I have read about the 30/30 says that velocity varition is to great in the 10" barrel. Have also read comments like the 10" 30/30 is not the same beast as the 14". (This info is in many reloading manuals). If this is true for the 30/30, it would be more true for the 7-30 which is essentially the same case expanded for a greater powder capacity.

bayrunner · « **Reply #9 on:** May 06, 2003, 05:38:06 PM »

Hey Guys__Thanks for the thoughtful insights, I greatly appreciate them I think I'll go with the 10 incher.Also one more thing ,about 7 mm !20-130 gr. noslers bullets ,where do I get them for the T/C(instead of rifle).How are they distinquished from the rifle ones when ordering.THANKS BAYRUNNER

coltfan · « **Reply #10 on:** May 07, 2003, 03:09:30 AM »

I’m not all that familiar with the Nosler bullets. We happen to have some 120 grain ballistic tips left over from my sons 7mm Rem. Mag. I plan on trying these in the near future. I do believe that this is the bullet used by the people who use Nosler bullets in their 7-30. The one thing I do know about this bullet is the fact that they are pretty darned expensive. I did try the Hornady 120 grain #22811 (it think that’s the correct number) SSPB, however I recently read that the #22810 (V-max) bullet is replacing the 22811. The article or internet post reported that the bullet is essentially the same, however I can’t help but believe that Hornady changed the number to denote some sort of a difference. I have not yet contacted Hornady to confirm that information. I have had great success with the Sierra 130 grain SSPB (#7250). I am currently shooting 1” groups at 100 yards but believe this could be even better if I could do my part better. I had one group with three holes touching, the fourth hole just a hair away, and the fifth shot opened the group to 1”. I know that I pulled that last shot just a little, since I was pretty excited about the other four. I have not had the opportunity to try any of my loads on game as of yet.

rimfire · « **Reply #11 on:** May 07, 2003, 04:57:34 AM »

I used the 120 NBT in front of 35 grains of Win748 in a 13" barrel. Not a very hot load, but the three deer from last year took a combined total of zero steps after the shot at 40, 45, and 95 yards respectively. First three shot group at 100 yards with this load fell inside of 7/8"...saw little reason to try another load.

Note I shoot directly over the front leg versus just behind it as most recommend. I do have a tendency to catch a little structure, and believe I did on 2 of the 3 deer. This supposedly explosive bullet had no problem with this shot. I personally like the leeway more with this shot and my deer have a tendency to drop right now with everything I have tried. That I definitely like.

Appreciate any comments you might have on my shot placement.

Graycg · « **Reply #12 on:** May 07, 2003, 07:58:48 AM »

Bullseye,
When I say 12 inch, I mean 12 inches of barrel and no break, not the 12 inch hunter barrels. Mine is a Custom shop barrel, but all the new barrels for G-2 contenders are 12" or longer, the 10 inch isn't in the factory catalog anymore as far as I've seen.

regards,
Graycg

22hornet · « **Reply #13 on:** May 07, 2003, 10:09:23 AM »

Mine is going to be a 12 no brake Bullberry barrel...

Bullseye · « **Reply #14 on:** May 07, 2003, 01:48:23 PM »

You are correct Graycp. I forgot about that factory barrel length change. I sure should not have forgotten since I bought a couple new barrels in 10" length before they disappeared. Bet my wife remembers!!!!!

Graycg · « **Reply #15 on:** May 07, 2003, 02:32:51 PM »

Bullseye,
Ahhh, the how to survive your marriage and contender addicition issue all over again! Frankly, I had a 14 inch barrel cut down to 12 several years ago and fell in love with it and I'm happy to see the 12s from the factory as full bull barrels. I think you made a good move on buying up some 10s....as long as the wife doesn't kill you.

regards,
Graycg