My first 7 mag was a Winchester Model 70. It was a a traditional wood and blued. It had a 24 inch barrel. This old gun had a trigger job put on it and the action was bedded along with the barrel free floated. This wasn't a pre-war but rather a post 64. The gun was accurate and remember eventually putting a Leupold 3x9x50 with redfield seniors on it after it destroyed a Simmons scope that I had around the house. I loved that gun. Killed a bunch of does and small bucks with it. I am sad to say that I was in a not-so-good point in my life and that rifle was stolen from me. I loved the gun. Remember that it loved to kick and seemed to like 140 grain hornadys.
That gun started my love for the 7. When I was on my feet and ready to hunt, the first thing I bought was a Browning A Bolt Medallion in 7mm Rem Mag. Oh---I love that gun. Now this old girl is still with me. It has a 24 inch barrel plus 2 inches of BOSS system. The rifle will shoot around .75 with the right bullets and may even do better with a little play. This one shoot a 150 grain bullet like a champ. I have done little to it other than switch scopes and lighten its trigger.
I have had a 308 and 30/06 but didn't hold on to them long. When the day came along for me to get married, My wedding present at my picking was a Browning A Bolt in 7mm WSM. Now I have killed a bunch of deer with this gun and several big bucks. I shoot 150 grains bullets in it and have customized this poor gun so. It has a synthetic stock, but I am now a gunsmith have done everything under the sun to it---almost.
I have another nice little A Bolt chambered in 280 remington. Its a Medallion with a high blue and the shiny stock. I refinished the wood but have never been happy with it. It may find itself a nice synthetic down the line or one of the laminates that I work with all the time. I have killed several bucks with it and somehow do allot of walking with it. The downside of this little gun is that it has a 22 inch barrel on it including the boss. The gun looses allot of speed with the barrel being short but it loves to hit the mark.
Being a gunsmith now, I have allot of guns that I buy and sell. I have built several 7mm Rem mags that are tack drivers all from Weatherby Vanguards. I will have one, two, or three of them in my personal collection down the line. The Weatherby had become my favorite over the Browning but I still love a 7.
The last 7 I will talk about is my project gun. It started life as a Weatherby Mark V in 300 Weatherby Mag. It was a Custom Deluxe but it had allot of water damage. The stock is pretty much gone and the receiver had allot of pitting, but it is the perfect gun to build a custom. It will be 7mm STW. Currently, I am hoping to put at least 26 inch Douglas barrel on it. I will have a timney trigger with a little luck and thinking of going with a nice laminate stock.
This article was more about my love of rifles. I admit that love them all. As a gunsmith I get to work on, shoot, and build some cool guns in all calibers. My first love and still my current love is 7mm. I call myself a collector of the 7 and it will be cool adding to my collection over time.
