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| | From:  Gunrockets (Original Message) | Sent: 23/11/2003 02:19 |
The 7-30 Waters is an interesting solution for a non existent problem. It was an attempt by Ken Waters, a well known gun writer, to give the 30-30 cartridge and it's lever action rifle a faster alternate cartridge. Something with better ballistics than the 30-30 but with the same handy lever action rifle. The originator of this wildcat round admitted that in the final design the cartridge did not quite live up to his hopes as far as velocity goes. However it does have some redeaming graces. It is a fine cartridge as far as deer hunting goes providing one does not try to extend the range to magnum yardage. And it's light recoil makes it ideal for beginner youth and small framed ladies. Out here in the west it is not needed as much as it is back east and in the south. We need long range rifles not short carbines. The cartridge itself is very simple to make plus it is still being loaded and sold over the counter. Just neck a 30-30 case down to 7mm. Stop at the existing shoulder and load it. Which makes me wonder how an improved version would do? Perhaps it would have the velocity that Ken Waters originally planned for, 2600 fps with a 140 gr bullet. Now the cartridge is loaded with a 120 gr bullet but that does get you 2,700 fps at the muzzle and 2,300 fps at 100 yards. At 200 yards, which is the practical limit for a iron sighted lever action rifle, it still has 1,930 fps. If that seems pretty mild remember there are many hunters that swear by the 25-06 120 gr. bullet and hunt everything from elk down with it. and this bullet is 7 mm which translates into more frontal punch. At this time factory rifles are not available chanbered for the 7-30 Waters but there are used ones out there. If you have a choice, buy the longer barreled 24" rifles rather than the 20" carbines. One note, if you ever run across a 30-30 Winchester or Marlin with a real bad barrel, you might consider having it rebarreled to 7-30 Waters. All it needs is a barrel change and you got it. OH yes it is advised that if you load your own try to use bullets with flat meplate or round soft lead points. Nosler and Hornaday both make them. The cartridge is also available in T/C barrels and is a dandy in that format. Sarge |
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How does the 7-30 Waters handles the heavy 7mm bullets? No question.....it is not designed to be a long range number but if limited to less than 125 yards could it drive a 160 gr bullet fast enough to penetrate far enough to dispatch and elk? Surely there must be 2 dozen cartridges better suited as elk rifles....but as this is an academic excercise....what do you all think about the heavy weight bullets in a 7-30 Waters to take an elk out to 100 yards?? |
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| | | From: grumpy | Sent: 09/04/2007 05:36 |
The only bullet still being manufactured fro the 7/30, is the Speer 130 gr FP. Hornady makes a 154 gr RN, but isn't disigned specifically for the 7/30. If Federal is still producing ammo for it, then Sierra makes a special run of 120 gr FP bullets for Federal every year, but does not sell them for reloading. You can sometimes get them at Graf & sons, but you would have to watch closely to find them. I have never had very good luck with the heavier bullets for the 7/30, but anything fro 100 grains to 140 grains will work for the most part. You might have trouble getting the heavier bullets to expand properly at the lower velocities. The 7/30 may have died out in rifles, but has a very good following in the Contender, and is one of the best all around cartridges for the Contender. |
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