Is 7-30 Waters the Caliber For Me?

[Olympus]

I've been searching for a dedicated "woods" rifle and I'm not one for picking a caliber that is "common". My property is typical woods where the farthest shot would be 150 yards and that's a stretch. I already have .243, .257 Roberts, and .270 which seem like they don't really "fit" for the type of hunting I do. They do the job just fine, but seems like are better suited for other hunting scenarios.

So I've been looking at calibers that are suited for whitetail hunting within 200 yards and closer and the same common calibers come up that you would expect. However, I ran across the 7-30 Waters and it has that "unique" status that I tend to gravitate towards and sounds like the "perfect for me" woods rifle. I'm thinking about a blued T/C Contender G2 with a walnut stock and T/C makes a factory 23" 7-30 Waters barrel so I wouldn't have to custom order or buy an aftermarket barrel that would be very expensive. A short, handy T/C Contender in 7-30 Waters sounds like just the thing for me. At least I seem to think so right now. And I already have significant trigger time behind a T/C Encore Pro Hunter as I had one in 25-06 and 300 Win in the past and took several deer with them. Any suggestions or recommendations?

And I would be reloading for the round, so I've been reading up on reforming 30-30 brass to 7-30 Waters and seems like a pretty simple process to me. Any advice or suggestions about that?

 

[Zoer]

Ken Waters would appreciate your logic

 

[WestKentucky]

I have a 10" pistol barrel with scope. It is a tc factory barrel and will thrown down a 2 inch 150 yard group all day. That is off of a table, sandbagged. From standing position it jumps to 4" but that's all me wobbling. The round is strong, fast, and fun. Shoot 120s through it and don't look back. It's a great caliber, but if your looking for a brush buster, slow down and consider some 35 calibers...35 Remington is an oddball that is still used. I would be happy with either, just depends on whether you intend to shoot around brush or shoot through it.

 

[WestKentucky]

And on forming, it's super easy. Use plenty lube, stroke it, load it. I see no difference between fresh formed or fire formed rounds performance. Brass has good life too. Mine has a long throat so I don't ever even have to trim it.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I have a Contender carbine in 7-30Waters.
WestKentucky pretty much nailed it. I get 2,700fps from 115-120gr bullets. Whacks deer little differently than the .257Roberts.
My carbine with 21"bbl and synthetic stock is essentially "weightless" between the hands.

Just be aware that most of the bullets originally intended for this cartridge have been discontinued. This includes the 120gr Nosler solid base, Speer 130 flat nose, and 139gr flat nose Hornady. The current best bullet is either the 120gr Nosler Ballistic tip and Hornady 120gr V-max. These are single load only for a lever action.

I personally prefer my Marlin lever actions, notably, the .35Rem. Used now exclusively with a 220gr FNGC cast bullet. (RCBS 200fngc).

 

[Olympus]

This would be in a single shot T/C rifle so bullets are no issue. I already stock 120gr SST bullets for my .270 so that works out too.

I don't know too much about the .35 Rem, but I'm curious what the recoil is like? I like as little as possible.

 

[WestKentucky]

One thing I feel needs pointed out is that a .270 is .277 diameter 7mm is .284 diameter. That means they don't swap. 35 rem is similar to 30-30. It's my next buy. A friend has one that I used to shoot occasionally. I miss his 35, he misses my 7-30.

 

[WestKentucky]

If your wanting a lighter version of .270 you can get quite a bit out of a 6.8spc. Good round that's still gaining popularity. Factory ammo is available but is scarce. Still has the odd factor but is interchangeable with 270 win.

 

[Olympus]

One thing I feel needs pointed out is that a .270 is .277 diameter 7mm is .284 diameter. That means they don't swap. 35 rem is similar to 30-30. It's my next buy. A friend has one that I used to shoot occasionally. I miss his 35, he misses my 7-30.

Good catch. I knew that, I just forgot that I did.

 

[Olympus]

If your wanting a lighter version of .270 you can get quite a bit out of a 6.8spc. Good round that's still gaining popularity. Factory ammo is available but is scarce. Still has the odd factor but is interchangeable with 270 win.

6.8SPC is too common for me. Just not appealing to me.

 

[SHOOT1SAM]

In answer to your question: yes.

I thought the .35 Rem. as well, but the recoil will certainly be less with the 7-30 Waters.

Sam

 

[Deaf Smith]

Just get a 30/30, rechambering to 30/30 Ackley Improved, and handload using Leverevolution powder. 170 gr at 2500 fps ought to do anything you need doing.

Plus you can still use 30/30 ammo if need be.

Deaf

 

[witchhunter]

Or a contender in 25/35!

 

[Olympus]

Or a contender in 25/35!

I looked at that caliber also, but a Contender barrel would to be aftermarket and they aren't cheap. The 7-30 barrel is available from the T/C factory.

 

[benzy2]

I'm confused why the right load in a .243, .257, or .270 wouldn't be plenty for deer especially at 150 yards? If you want an excuse for another firearm in another caliber, get it. I don't think any deer will know the difference between it and the 3 you have. Buy what you want and what makes you happy.

 

[Steve in PA]

While not a "rifle", I hunt with a 14" T/C Contender handgun in 7-30 Waters and it's an amazing round. With either the 120g Nosler BT or the 139g Hornady SST, the Waters will shoot sub 1" groups at 100 yards all day.

 

[Olympus]

I'm confused why the right load in a .243, .257, or .270 wouldn't be plenty for deer especially at 150 yards? If you want an excuse for another firearm in another caliber, get it. I don't think any deer will know the difference between it and the 3 you have. Buy what you want and what makes you happy.

Nothing wrong with them and I've been using the 243 a lot lately. But my new property is woods and shots will likely always be under 100 yards. So a light recoiling, handy rifle for deer under 150 yards would be nice to have for this new property. I won't be selling any of my other rifle calibers so I'll always have them if my hunting scenario changes.

 

[Kendal Black]

Because you like unusual, 7-30 Waters sounds like just the thing. It is a fine cartridge, but somehow it never caught on. I think that its problem was that it directly competed with the .30-30, which was already in the field in abundance and doing a good job. When people already have an adequate solution, it is hard to sell them something because it is "more adequate."

Another good point, it has a rim. I haven't had a problem with rimless cartridges in the Contender, but there is a bit of folklore about rimmed cartridges being better in break actions because extraction issues are less likely.

So, all considered, I can't think of a better cartridge for what you want it for. It is obscure, but not so obscure as the 6.5 Bullberry, which gets you into the custom barrel thing.

 

[ozzieo]

How about .300 savage. Great deer round.

 

[stoky]

The 7-30 is a great Contender cartridge. I think it would work well for your intended purpose, at twice your stated max range.
If you wanted to go .30, off the beaten path, there's the .30 Herrett.
good hunting

 

[CraigC]

The 7-30 sounds like it's right up your alley but the 6.5JDJ might also be of interest.

 

[CoalTrain49]

I went the other direct. I want cartridges that can be loaded with off the shelf bullets and brass. A woods rifle, for me anyway is a carbine that can be used at 150 yds with plenty of punch. 30 cal. using a 140 gr. bullet would be the smallest I would consider.

I have a bolt 357 mag that can be loaded anywhere from 125 to 180 gr. with 158 being the most common. Accuracy of 2 moa is very doable with the right loads and rifle. If you have to have a bottle neck look at 300 BO. They start at 110 and go into 200 gr plus. The brass can be produced using .223 cut down and resized and .308 bullets are everywhere. Probably the most versatile cartridge to come along in a very long time.

If bullets and brass can be a problem to locate you might find yourself wishing you had a cartridge that was in common usage. 300 BO and 30-30 is here to stay for a long time.

I'm a 218 Bee fan (had a win 43) but the brass is very expensive. Just another really nice little cartridge that went out of style.

Just something to consider.

 

[Olympus]

I went the other direct. I want cartridges that can be loaded with off the shelf bullets and brass. A woods rifle, for me anyway is a carbine that can be used at 150 yds with plenty of punch. 30 cal. using a 140 gr. bullet would be the smallest I would consider.

I have a bolt 357 mag that can be loaded anywhere from 125 to 180 gr. with 158 being the most common. Accuracy of 2 moa is very doable with the right loads and rifle. If you have to have a bottle neck look at 300 BO. They start at 110 and go into 200 gr plus. The brass can be produced using .223 cut down and resized and .308 bullets are everywhere. Probably the most versatile cartridge to come along in a very long time.

If bullets and brass can be a problem to locate you might find yourself wishing you had a cartridge that was in common usage. 300 BO and 30-30 is here to stay for a long time.

I'm a 218 Bee fan (had a win 43) but the brass is very expensive. Just another really nice little cartridge that went out of style.

Just something to consider.

That's why I landed on the 7-30 Waters. All that 30-30 brass is easy to reform to 7-30. And 7mm bullets are easy to find as well.

 

[LoonWulf]

Nother vote for the 7-30 here, im loading 120vmax for a 14" contender and getting a smudge over 2500 with good accuracy low recoil and plenty of thump

 

[Ks5shooter]

I have a 14 in Contender in 7-30 waters ,and a Winchester 94 in 7-30 as well. Both shoot incredible,as a reloader you will love the round. Accurate, easy to make brass,and lots of fun to work up a load. Go for it!