7mm-08 or 284 Win
 

Im in the market for a somewhat dual purpose compact whitetail/hog rifle. I will be buying a ruger 77 hawkeye in 7mm-08 and cutting the barrel to 19". Also, thinking about a rechamber to 284 Win. I want to create 2 main loads for it. 1) A Hornady 175 gr RN for close range deer and hogs. 2) A 139 gr Hornady SP for Whitetail at 250-300 or so yards. I wanna push those 175's as fast as i can. My main concern with the 284 Win is OAL. Anybody know if I can get the 175's in that case far enough to be able to cycle in that short action with out killing the powder space I would be gaining with the rechamber?

7mm
 

You will be better off with the 7MM-08. If you go to the .284 you could have problems with feeding from the magazine. If your smith is good he should be able to tweak the feed rails to accomodate the .284 but that depends on the smith. Whether you stay with the 7MM-08 or go to the .284 you will need your smith to put the proper amount of throat in the rifle if you would like to seat 175 gr. bullets out far enough to not invade on powder space. This will greatly be determined by the amount of room you have in the magazine. Would be wise to measure the mag and see what COAL it will allow in your loaded ammo. 7MM 175 gr. bullets are highly effective even when pushed to very moderate velocities.

thanks, didnt realize I might have to have the chamber re cut even if I stayed with the standered 7mm-08. Would the Hornady 154 RN be a better option? I know hornady just discontinued the bullet, but I"ve got 4 boxes i got from a gun shop closing sale. Any experience with that bullet on whitetails.

I would stick with the 7-08 as is...and I wouldn't cut the barrel, all that will do is reduce velocity and accuracy...it really produces no measurable benefits. Like RR...I would also consider the 140 Nosler AccuBond or the 154 Interlock...both great bullets and will preform very well on both hogs and white tails at any range. If you want a 284...then buy a 284...or better yet, as RR points out go 280 and AI it (which will probably be cheaper than the work on the Ruger to convert to a 284.)

Thanks to all for the help. I think I am gonna stay with the 7mm-08. I plan on trimming the barrel cause i feel more comfortable with shorter rifles. I grew up huning the mountains in NY and everything was short. Same with the RN bullets.

The 7-08 would be better.I really like and have a Ruger AW Hawkeye but if you're set on a shorter barrel I would suggest you look into the new Win model 70 compact Featherweight.The new Wins are getting rave reviews in all respects.

I Would love to get a Winchester, but I forgot to mention that I'm left handed. I wish Winchester would make one again. I guess I cant be too picky. Every year there are more and more left handed firearms introduced.

I would go with the 7/08 simply on the issue of availibility of factory ammo.

Personally I'd not even consider a 175 gr. bull;et. The 7mm 08 and a quality 130 gr. hunting bullet pushed by typical hand loader manual "loads" will drop any whitetail or feral hog that you'll ever run into out as far as most of us are ever going to run into in the field.

FWIW My old Ruger M77 7x57 loved the old 175gr factory loads.If one's aftere elk or moose that bullet weight would be a good choice for most any 7mm.Not really needed for smaller deer size critters but it put down lot's of them for me over the years.