Savage vs Ruger 7mm-08 Slow Twist

[Longranger]

So I was planning on getting a 7mm-08 barrel for my savage but they all seem to be slow twist rates. Whereas the ruger american 7mm-08 has an 8.5" twist which is right where I want it. Did savage make any 7mm-08 in a 9" or faster twist? And if I got the ruger would I get similar accuracy to what I expect out of the savages?

[Shooter0302]

Where are you looking for Prefits ??? X Cal. , Criterion, Shilen, and Preferred barrel Blanks, ALL have 1-8 T .284 BBl's. Bbl's

[Longranger]

Where are you looking for Prefits ??? X Cal. , Criterion, Shilen, and Preferred barrel Blanks, ALL have 1-8 T .284 BBl's. Bbl's

Was looking more for factory take offs. Looking for a lightweight budget gun with a sporter barrel for hunting backcountry, I was thinking I could just get a regular factory savage take off barrel in 7mm-08 and put it on my 110 reciever but it seems like the factory stuff is all slow twists compared to the ruger

[taylorce1]

What are you planning on shooting that the extra .5" of twist is going to make a difference?

[Longranger]

What are you planning on shooting that the extra .5" of twist is going to make a difference?

.5? Show me a factory savage that has a 9" twist

[Shooter0302]

Tomorrow I'll measure an assortment of 7 MM bullets and list their length,
as far as a take off sporter Wt. Bbl. probably your chance of finding one is like finding hen's teeth in finding one, and then it's a guess if it will shoot Min. of what ever animal you plan to hunt.
Since the list of business's that made / sold Prefits was taken down, you might check on e bay, or if you can wait a couple of months X Cal. Barrels usually has a "black Friday sale"
http://www.jbmballistics.com/cgi-bin/jbmstab-5.1.cgi


(http://www.jbmballistics.com/cgi-bin/jbmstab-5.1.cgi)

[Shooter0302]

.5? Show me a factory savage that has a 9" twist
Rem. put a 9.25 T in their 7-08, and in the early days of NRA rifle silhouettes , A woman won the Nat. Championship using a stock 700 in 7-08.
My point is that a 9.5 T will stabilize any bullet that the 7-08 case can push fast enough for kills on most lower 48 animals.

[taylorce1]

.5? Show me a factory savage that has a 9" twist
I miss read the OP, there isn't a 7mm cartridge that's on my radar that I want to try. I didn't look to see what Savage uses for a barrel twist rate. So what bullets do you want to use that an 8.5 twist is needed?

[Longranger]

From what I've been reading 9.5 twist is marginal for 175s, I'd rather know for sure I can stabilize those with a 9 or 8.5. But I'm also seeing a lot of the older savage 7mm-08 barrels we're 11" twist so I'm worried about getting one of those slow things if I get a take off barrel.

[taylorce1]

I'd just order a custom prefit 1:8 twist and be done. It gets you what you want unless you just want an excuse to buy the Ruger. My buddies wife shoots the Ruger American Go Wild in 7-08, they both really like it as he often steals it.

[bsekf]

What in the world are you going to shoot that needs a 175? If you need that much weight, go with a 30 cal.

Bill

[Apollo117]

@Longranger, I'm not sure why folks are questioning you rather than helping.

I know Savage makes a 1:9 twist for the Axis 7-08 barrels. I'd assume the same twist rate is used on all currently manufactured Savage 7-08 barrels.

You're correct about 1:9 twist marginally stabilizing 175gr bullets. Here's a good calculator for figuring out ideal twist rate. https://bergerbullets.com/twist-rate-calculator/

If you want a factory rifle that needs no adjustment to stabilize 175gr bullets, buy the Ruger. I read good things about the accuracy of Ruger American rifles. I don't personally own one though.

If you want to start with a factory rifle and install an aftermarket barrel that will handle heavy 7mm bullets, then a Savage rifle is a good place to start. I'd suggest a different cartridge than 7-08 for 175gr and larger bullets though. The 7-08 can do it, but other cartridges can do it better. One example is the 284 Winchester and another is the .280 AI. The .280 AI requires a long action though.

I'm a big fan of 7mm bullets. I've shot and loaded most of the available 7mm bullets from 120gr to 197gr in calibers from the 7-30 Waters to the 7mm STW.

IMO, the sweet spot caliber for 175gr bullets is the 280 AI. I'm a recoil weenie so I like a good recoil pad and a muzzle brake for bullets larger than 150gr.

I apologise for being long winded. If none of this applies, then please disregard.

[Orezona]

I'd just order a custom prefit 1:8 twist and be done. It gets you what you want unless you just want an excuse to buy the Ruger. My buddies wife shoots the Ruger American Go Wild in 7-08, they both really like it as he often steals it.

From James at NSS

http://northlandshooterssupply.com/barrels/criterion-savage/

[Longranger]

Double post

[Longranger]

I'd just order a custom prefit 1:8 twist and be done. It gets you what you want unless you just want an excuse to buy the Ruger. My buddies wife shoots the Ruger American Go Wild in 7-08, they both really like it as he often steals it.

True but I can get the ruger american for about the same price as just the prefit and have a whole extra gun. I was just hoping savage had made some in at least 9" but I guess not. I'm just hesitant on the ruger, I have an m77 but never had an American I know they're no m77 quality wise. People seem to like them though

[Longranger]

What in the world are you going to shoot that needs a 175? If you need that much weight, go with a 30 cal.

Bill

I have a 338 win mag for bigger stuff but it's a heavy pig, I don't know that I'd even use 175 as I'm sure 160s would be fine for elk but I'd like the option of at least trying them. I like the idea of duplicating the old 7mm mauser loads which were shot in under 9" twist rifles iirc. I don't understand the point of savage using the slower twist, 9.5" is marginal and 11" is just ridiculous. I even punched in the specs for the 110gr Barnes into the calculator that Apollo linked and they stabilize fine out of 8.5", so I don't understand the slow twist at all. It's like having a 12" twist 30-06 barrel what's the point?

[Longranger]

@Longranger, I'm not sure why folks are questioning you rather than helping.

I know Savage makes a 1:9 twist for the Axis 7-08 barrels. I'd assume the same twist rate is used on all currently manufactured Savage 7-08 barrels.

You're correct about 1:9 twist marginally stabilizing 175gr bullets. Here's a good calculator for figuring out ideal twist rate. https://bergerbullets.com/twist-rate-calculator/

If you want a factory rifle that needs no adjustment to stabilize 175gr bullets, buy the Ruger. I read good things about the accuracy of Ruger American rifles. I don't personally own one though.

If you want to start with a factory rifle and install an aftermarket barrel that will handle heavy 7mm bullets, then a Savage rifle is a good place to start. I'd suggest a different cartridge than 7-08 for 175gr and larger bullets though. The 7-08 can do it, but other cartridges can do it better. One example is the 284 Winchester and another is the .280 AI. The .280 AI requires a long action though.

I'm a big fan of 7mm bullets. I've shot and loaded most of the available 7mm bullets from 120gr to 197gr in calibers from the 7-30 Waters to the 7mm STW.

IMO, the sweet spot caliber for 175gr bullets is the 280 AI. I'm a recoil weenie so I like a good recoil pad and a muzzle brake for bullets larger than 150gr.

I apologise for being long winded. If none of this applies, then please disregard.

No that's great info, not long winded at all. I agree on the 175s being heavy for the caliber and there's a good chance I wouldn't even use them but I'd like to keep my options open. I punched in the specs for the 110gr Barnes into the calculator that you linked and they stabilize fine out of 8.5", so I don't understand the slow twist at all.
I'd like to stick with the 08 rather than 280 or 7 mag for commonality and the recoil, the idea is a sub 6 pound (without scope) rifle and itd be nice to have something pleasant to shoot.

[SageRat Shooter]

For what it's worth.. My Father has a 7MM Mag with a 25" barrel on it with 8.5 twist. HE could only get 2825 FPS with the 175 gr. using Retumbo. He gets over 3000 fps with a 162 ELDX using reloader 26.

[Orezona]

I'd like to stick with the 08 rather than 280 or 7 mag for commonality and the recoil, the idea is a sub 6 pound (without scope) rifle and itd be nice to have something pleasant to shoot.

I really like the idea of the 7mm-08. I'm still load developing on my recent 280AI build but I did order an action from NSS the other day for a possible 08 build.

[Longranger]

I really like the idea of the 7mm-08. I'm still load developing on my recent 280AI build but I did order an action from NSS the other day for a possible 08 build.

Double post