7x64

Wilhelm Brenneke designed the 7x64 in 1917, and over a century it has become one of the best loved hunting calibres in Europe. Lithuanian hunters value it for its breadth of use: the same rifle works for a selective roe deer cull, a driven boar hunt and red deer during the rut. This category holds nine 7x64 loads from five European makers.

What the 7x64 calibre is good for

The 7x64 handles every hoofed game species hunted in Lithuania, from roe deer up to moose. Its 7 mm bullets, weighing 10.3 to 11.5 g, carry enough mass to drive deep through the shoulder of a heavy boar, while the trajectory stays flat enough for a shot across a field from a high seat.

Recoil is moderate, so you can watch the animal through the scope after the shot. Ballistics sit close to the .30-06, but 7 mm bullets of similar weight fly slightly flatter. If you want one calibre for all Lithuanian hunting, the 7x64 is a sound choice: it is loaded both with fast expanding bullets for driven hunts and with tough bonded bullets for heavy game.

Cartridge types in this category

The nine loads here differ in bullet construction and weight, and construction is what decides how the bullet works inside game. Some designs open fast and dump their energy in the first centimetres, others hold their weight and penetrate deep. We have grouped them by purpose so you can match a load to the way you hunt.

Bonded core bullets for heavy game

Norma Oryx 11.0 g and Sako Hammerhead SP 11 g have a lead core fused to the jacket. The bullet mushrooms but does not break apart, keeps most of its weight and penetrates deep even after striking bone. This is the pick for moose, red deer and a mature boar.

Dual core bullets

RWS ID Classic 11.5 g/177 gr and Norma PPDC 11 g use a two-part core: the front section opens quickly and transfers energy, while the rear section stays intact and drives the bullet deeper. That combination gives fast effect plus an exit wound, which makes tracking a wounded animal with a dog far easier.

Fast expanding bullets for driven hunts

Norma Vulkan 11.0 g and RWS Evolution 10.3 g release their energy quickly, so game usually drops close to where it was hit. On a driven hunt, where a boar crosses the line in seconds, rapid effect matters more than deep penetration. The lighter Evolution flies faster and forgives errors in judging distance.

Soft point bullets for everyday hunting

Geco 10.7 g/165 gr and Sellier&Bellot SPCE 11.2 g are classic soft points with an exposed lead nose. They work reliably on roe deer, fallow deer and medium boar at normal hunting distances, and their price lets you zero the rifle before the season with the same load you hunt with.

Long range bullets

Norma Bondstrike 10.7 g/165 gr combines a polymer tip, a high ballistic coefficient and a bonded core. It suits hunters who shoot across wide clearings and meadows, where the distance exceeds a typical high seat shot but the bullet still has to expand reliably in the animal.

How to choose a 7x64 load

Choose by the game you hunt, the hunting method, the shooting distance and what your rifle likes. Bullet construction matters more than tenths of a gram: heavy game calls for a weight-retaining bullet, driven hunts call for fast expansion, and at long range the ballistic coefficient becomes the main factor.

1. For heavy game such as moose, red deer or an old boar, pick Norma Oryx, Sako Hammerhead or RWS ID Classic.
2. For driven hunts, Norma Vulkan or RWS Evolution work better, since game drops closer to the line.
3. For roe and fallow deer, Geco or Sellier&Bellot SPCE are enough and spoil little meat.
4. For long shots across fields, take Norma Bondstrike.
5. Before the season, check how your rifle groups the chosen load: every barrel has a bullet it prefers.

Field advice

Zero your rifle with the exact load you will hunt with. Changing bullet weight or model shifts the point of impact, sometimes by several centimetres at a hundred metres, and that is enough to turn a clean shoulder shot into a wounding one. Once you settle on a bullet, buy a larger supply and you avoid re-zeroing mid-season.

Store cartridges dry and carry them in a holder, not loose in a pocket where the tips rub against each other. In a high seat the rifle often sits in the cold for hours, and the first shot from a cold barrel can land slightly differently than from a warm one, so record the cold bore point of impact when zeroing.

The brands

Five European makers are present in this category. Norma of Sweden offers the widest span, from the driven-hunt Vulkan to the long range Bondstrike. Germany's RWS is known for precise manufacturing and its ID Classic and Evolution bullets. Finland's Sako Hammerhead is a proven classic of northern hunting, Geco offers strong value for money, and Sellier&Bellot is one of the oldest ammunition factories in Europe.

If your rifle is chambered differently, see 7x57 cartridges, 6.5x55 cartridges, .243 Win. cartridges or .223 Rem. cartridges. If you are unsure which bullet suits your hunting conditions, write to us and we will help you decide.