Author Topic: Shot my new browning yesterday (Read 541 times)

pete50 · « **on:** September 05, 2005, 05:47:55 AM »

Shot my Browning 7mm-08 Micro Hunter yesterday at the public range. Started by trying to get the rifle on paper at 50 yards - ended up shooting 15 shots to get-r-dun, since the zeiss conquest scope is labeled u/r on both dials and I was turning the wrong one- duh!!!

Once I got it settled down, I found that the Hornady 139g SST loaded to 2.767" COL, 40.1g IMR 4064, new rem brass, rem 9 1/2 primer, produced a 4 shot group of less than .6 inches - at 50 yards. This was the first time out with a new rifle, so I shoot close up to see what it likes. I'm not a "group guy" in terms that I'm always trying to shoot a tiny little group to post on websites. I'm very happry with minute of deer. Three of the shots went through the same hole with one off to the side a bit. This was the best group of the three I shot yesterday, but all were at least an inch or better. The barrel got warm after about 5 shots and I put it down to work with the ML. Then came back to it after it cooled down - and my shoulder needed a break from big momma .54!!!

The rifle is very lightweight and nice and compact with a 20" barrel and and overall length of a shade under 40" Weight is about 7 pounds including the scope - zeiss conquest 3x9x40. I was shooting off a bench with a caldwell nylon type bag filled with sand, no rear bag.

The recoil was light with everthing up to my max loading of 40.6, where it came into the normal range for a hunting rifle of mid caliber. I have shot 30.06 loads and .50 ML loads regularly - now .54 ML loads, and this rifle was very nice to shoot. The favored load was very mild to shoot. I dont have a crony yet, so I dont know my velocity.

I think overall the rifle is very nice, with a nice grade of wood - I might prefer synthetic, just to avoid scratches in such nice wood - they dont make a synthetic for the micro hunter according to Browning. I had been thinking of selling this rifle to get the composite stalker model in 7mm-08, but I think I'm going to keep this one instead. I'm thinking of buying the spring kit for the trigger, but it feels OK to me now. I'm pretty happy with it so far. I have some more loads of 4064, varget and IMR 4350 to try out with the SST bullets before I go to the nosler, sierra, and speer bullets.

longwinters · « **Reply #1 on:** September 05, 2005, 12:41:05 PM »

Pete, those Brownings are pretty decent eh? I also put a report in on my Stainless Stalker. The Trigger adjusts very easy but even with it adjusted down to the max it is still over 3#'s. I will be ordering a Timney spring kit in the near future.

Mine is also in 7m-08 and shoots great with Re-15. I have to try some more H4350 to see how that goes also.

Congrats on a great rifle.

Long

pete50 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 07, 2005, 01:39:53 PM »

Long,
How do you like the composite stalker in the short action with the 22" barrel? I have the 7mm mag version - but it is big, long, and hard to swing in the small woods I hunt. Plus I do a lot of walking - thats why I went to the smaller rifle. The 7mm-08 caliber is very nice to shoot and I'm hoping it knocks the snot out of those deer. I'm finding it hard to locate one at a decent price. All of the 7mm-08 stalkers are close to $600 and I'd have to sell mine in order to buy it, so I dont know. Pete

longwinters · « **Reply #3 on:** September 07, 2005, 05:01:01 PM »

I put a report on bolt action forum about my 1st impressions of the Stainless. I have shot (3 shot) groups down to .400 at 100 yds. Of course off of a bench. These rifles are not cheap in my neck of the woods. Best price I could find was $700.00 out the door. The 22" barrel is nice. I hunt "big woods areas" and find that 22" is about perfect for anything I need to do. I had a 7mm Sako that was stainless and walnut . . . a beautiful rifle. Shot excellent. But I had it for the "do everything" gun and it was a little too heavy and a little too long for me with the 24" barrel.

I'll tell you what though, I love the Conquest scopes. I had one and traded it towards a Kahls with TDS reticle. I also have Bushnells in 3200 and 4200 Elite series and Nikon Monarchs. I would take the Conquest over any of these any day of the week for clearity. But those adjustment knobs can make you look twice :lol: .

I have had great success with Re-15 and the 140 Accubonds.

Long