7-30 Waters info

[MWells]

For those of you that shoot the waters, how are you sighted in? I have mine set at 1.5 inches high at a 100 yards. The place that I hunted the last couple of years I only had a maximum shot of 135 yards. Our new lease I could extend that to around 200 yards. I am shooting handloads with 120 gr Hornady Interlocks at around 2400 fps (manual specs, not chrony). In your opinion, what is the max range and should I make any adjustments to shoot with out holdover (if possible) at 200 yards?

[jhalcott]

  Mwells, my 7-30 is a 14" contender. I shoot 120 jacketed once in a while, but mostly I use 135 grain cast bullets. For deer I have used 139 hornady bullets. I sight in from a bench rest at 150 yards. I do not expect to see a deer at that range, but I'm ready if I do!
  As to your MAX range, I'd advise you to shoot at targets out to 200 yards or a bit more to see how well your load works there. If you can not hit a paper plate,you'll never hit a deer. You will be only getting about 980 ft/lbs of energy at 200 yards with your 120 grain bullet. if sighted at 100 yards ,the drop at 200 will be around 6". If you sight at 200, the rise at 100 will be about 3".
  http://www.eskimo.com/~jbm/ballistics/traj/traj.html
This sight will give you a lot of info. Just plug in your values.  It looks like a sight in at 150 yards will give you what you want. Firing at the range will prove it.

[MWells]

I am also shooting the 14 inch barrel. Would you recommend a change to the 139 gr bullet?  I'll have to look at my books when I get home and see about the 139 gr loads.

[MnMike]

While I like the 7-30, I would not take a 200 yd. shot. Two years ago my neighbor told me about a couple of deer on the north end of my land. I knew that the shot would be 200 yd. As much as I like Contenders, I grabbed my 30-06 BAR. and took one. Could I have got it with the 7-30? Maybe, but I hate to wound and lose. My limit on the 7-30 is 150 yd.

just my opinion,

mike

[MWells]

Thanks for the reply. That is what I was wondering. Hitting a target at a given range is one thing, but effectively hitting it is another thing all together. I will not shoot at ranges that I have not practiced and will not take a risky shot. Like you, I don't want to track a wounded animal because i made a bad decision. Would it be better then to look at a different caliber? I have thought about an encore in 308 or 7-08. Would either of these be effective at 200 yards?

[sweetwyominghome]

A 14" 7-30 Waters with a 120 grain bullet such as the Nosler BT at 2400 fps is superb for deer out to 225 yards or a bit beyond -- if you can accurately place your shots that far.

The 120 grain BT, given a MV of 2400 fps, retains 1078 ft./lbs of energy at 200 yards. But don't get caught up in the energy figures. Making sure you have a bullet that will expand reliably at the range you'll be shooting is much more important.

Given 2400 fps, I know the 120 grain BT will work perfectly out to 250 yards as I have used it in both the 7BR and 7-30 among others. But the situation has to be absolutely perfect before I'll attempt a shot that far...

[MWells]

Ok, this is the problem I have. One says its fine, the other doesn't. I am not talking about whether the individual should take the shot, that is all dependent upon his/her skill and practice and the conditions that day. I have been shooting out to 150 yards and am able to consistently hit clays at that distance. I feel that if i can hit that target from a bench, then I should be able to keep the shot in the kill zone of a broadside deer at that range (hunt out of a ground blind with stable rest.

My question is whether or not the bullet will be able to do its job when it gets to the intended target. I don't really like the B-tipped bullets, but that was in my .270, they just didn't perform as well as I liked.

If I will see benefit, I will rethink my load and step up to the 139 gr bullet. Anyone have a pet load out there?

[sweetwyominghome]

The 120 grain BT is THE bullet for the Waters and similar cartridges. Those with extensive experience will tell you so. It is NOT a fragile bullet, either. In fact, don't plan on recovering one from a deer given any broadside presentation as it will usually exit.

I've taken deer from up close to a lasered 260 yards with that bullet launched at just over 2400 fps -- and it simply works. You get excellent tissue destruction and, like I noted, plenty of penetration.

The other bullet which made the Waters shine is no longer being produced as Sierra discontinued its lineup of single shot pistol bullets. Even when it was available, I usually chose the 120 grain Nosler BT over the Sierra as its window for low-velocity performance is more forgiving.

Discounting the ability of the shooter as a factor, anyone who feels a 14" 7-30 with the PROPER 120 grain bullet (at 2400 fps MV) can't handle a deer at 200 yards has no significant hunting experience.

If you feel you must use a heavier bullet, be sure and limit your range accordingly and make certain it was designed to expand at the velocities you'll be operating at. 

[Steve P]

I shoot my waters with a warm load pushing the Nosler 150.  I am sighted in dead-on at 200.  I can hit minute of muley from 0-275 yards.

Steve 

[MWells]

Well admittedly my experience with the BT is limited, as I only used it my .270 rifle. It is not a condemnation of the bullet, and as you say in the right instance it will work. What load are you using with the 120 gr BT? You can PM if you don't want to post it here.

[sweetwyominghome]

MWells-

I'd be glad to share two 7-30 Waters loads for the Nosler 120 grain bullet that have worked very well for me and for a number of other shooters.

34.8 grains H335/Fed210/120 grain Ballistic Tip/2415 fps in my current barrel & about the same in most 14" factory versions

35.5 grains Re-15/Fed210/120 grain Nosler BT/2421 fps from my current barrel & similar in most factory 14" barrels

Drop each a couple of grains and work up until you find the sweet spot.

Steve P-Yep, any of those BT offerings will work as they'll expand well down to around 1650 fps or so. A 20" 7mm Bullberry of mine really loves the 140 grain BTs and the 140 grain Solid Bases as well.

[MWells]

That is great. Headed to the LGS to get some BT and some more powder ( I was using 4895) and then off to the range on Saturday.

[Rog]

Just thought I'd add a comment regarding my own personal experience with the 7-30 Waters.

While I no longer own one (intend to remedy that soon...), my son and I have taken 3 deer with the 7-30 Waters.  None at long range, though.  And all with the discontinued Sierra 130 SSP.

However, I have loaded and shot the 120 Nosler BT at the range with some excellent results.  My favorite powder for that bullet in the barrel I had at the time was Hodgdon's Varget.  Sub-MOA groups and velocity was chrono'd at ~2475 fps if memory serves me correctly.

[Graybeard]

I used the Waters for many years hunting deer, hogs, exotics and varmint/predators. My preferred bullet is the now discontinued Sierra 130 SSP but I've also used the old and discontinued Hornady 120 SSP and the Nosler 120 BT as well. All work fine in the Waters.

I've taken game to at least 150 yards with it but where I hunt most shots are much less and it's rare to need to shoot over 100 yards but it was the gun I took when a 200 yard or longer shot could be expected. I've long considered it to be an honest 225 yard and perhaps in a pinch even a 250 yard round and would not hesitate to shoot such distances assuming a good solid rest and accurate load.

As to sighting in I used either 1" or 2" high at 100 yards depending on the shot distances I thought might be presented. If max was to be 150 yards than one inch high was my setting but if shots to 200 or a bit more might be possible I changed to 2" high. Having a range in my back yard it was quick and easy to change if I wanted to.

I've shot the round on paper and at metal out to 300+ yards and it has the accuracy for sure but I was just never confident the bullet would do the job at that long range so never tried it on game at that distance. Once at a friend's place I set up a target stand at 250 yards and did a bunch of shooting with it and the .35 Remington. Best group for the day at that range was 1.5" for three shots from the Waters and I got lots of sub MOA groups at 250 yards with it. So I have total confidence it hitting what I aim at to that range and would shoot at a deer to 250 if that's the only shot I was able to get.

I've played around with the 139/140 grain bullets but was never able to push them to a velocity I felt would cause them to expand way out there so abandoned them and stayed with the 120/130 grain bullets made to expand at the lower velocities of the Waters round. In spite of what others do and recommend personally I'd not use the 139/140s much if any beyond 150 yards.

[7-30 Waters]

Favorite load for the 7-30 Waters is 37 grains of AA4064 under either the Nosler 120 Ballistic Tip or the Hornady 120 V-Max.

By the way the Hornady 120 grain V-Max and Hornady 120 grain SSPB are one and the same bullet.  I had Hornady cut a 120 V-Max vertically and send it to me.  Inside the bullet I found the famous Interlock ring.  Any shot out to 200 yards would do fine on a deer.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

another fan of the 120 ballistic tip in the 730. It flat works on deer! I wouldnt be a bit shy about a 200 yard shot. My gun shoots the 120 and 35 grians of 748 into under an inch at a hundred hards and under 3 inches at 200. It probably does even better but the 2x scope is kind of a limiter. Some of the qucikest kills of seen on deer using any gun in any caliber were with this combo out of  a 14 inch hunter.

[ourway77]

As said before, 748 is also my choice of powder. I have loaded as high as 37 grains with 120 pills, accuracy is outstanding. I have 2 7-30's, one custom, one Thompson w/brake. Shot a rather large Doe last year, 125 yards, ran about 30 yards and fell. All calibers have their limitations, some more some less, depending on the shooters skill. Would rather pass on a shot, rather than cripple a Deer. Good Hunting. Lou