My wife’s new Swift bullets Kimber Adirondack combo is swift and deadly for all the reasons hunters care about — field proficiency. Chambered for the short-action 7mm-08 Remington and spitting 150-grain Swift Sciroccos, this rig is light, short, fast and deadly. Darn near weatherproof, too.
The Genesis of Swift Bullets Kimber Adirondack Combo
At 5’ 2” and some years beyond 39, my wife wasn’t shopping for a 10-pound sniper rifle. She wanted a hunting tool that would get the job done out to 300 yards with minimum strain and pain. Based on previous experience with several rifles, she’d learned that the less her rifle weighs, the more she enjoys carrying it. And the farther she can carry it. This means she might make it to that far mountain or deep draw where the big buck hides.
With the Adirondack she also discovered she can more easily handle a short, compact rifle, whip it into action, and point it toward the bullet’s destination. That means she’s more likely to bring home the bacon so I can fry it up in a pan. (Role reversal at our house.)
Specs on the Kimber Adirondack
Betsy gravitated toward her Swift bullets Kimber Adirondack combo after handling the Kimber at a gun show. The stainless-synthetic Adirondack’s slim stock is built from a reinforced carbon fiber. It’s then given some sort of soft exterior finish in Gore Optifade camouflage. Betsy immediately liked both the feel and look of this, and that goes a long way toward love at first shot. With its 18-inch barrel and blind magazine, this 84M Adirondack rifle weighs just 4 pounds, 13 ounces. Betsy added a 12.7-ounce, Swarovski Z3 3-10×42 riflescope in Talley aluminum mounts that contributed another 3 ounces. After clipping on a light nylon sling and stuffing four Swift Cartridge Company 150-grain Scirocco rounds into this rig, she’s holding a sprightly, 37.25-inch-long, field-ready hunting machine that weighs less than 6-pounds. But that’s not all…
Even though the Adirondack’s 13.63-inch length-of-pull is nearly an inch longer than Betsy’s optimum, she finds the fit acceptable, probably because the light, short rifle is so compact and handy. “I can hold this and aim it for as long as I need to,” she said when first getting a feel for the rig. She’s never commented negatively on the recoil, either, other than to note that she hardly notices it. When I shoot the rifle I’m impressed with how well recoil is controlled.
Swift Bullets Kimber Adirondack Range Performance
On the range the little Kimber punches .830- to 1-inch, 3-shot groups at 100 yards with Swift Cartridge Company 160-grain A-Frames and 150-grain Sciroccos. The Sciroccos chronographed just a few fps under 2,600 fps. The Scirocco’s relatively high B.C. of .515 minimizes wind deflection while maximizing reach despite the less-than-magnum velocities of the short-action 7mm-08 cartridge. If you worry that the rifle’s short barrel sacrifices too much reach, rest easy. (And read this explanation of short barrel advantages in an early RSO post.) Zeroed 3 inches high at 100 yards, the Sciroccos drop just 6.5 inches at 300 yards and 23 inches at 400 yards. Swarovski’s BRX reticle compensates for that. The fourth stadia-line down proved spot-on at 400 yards, and that’s generally 100 yards farther than Betsy likes to shoot unless conditions are perfect.
Swift’s heavier A-Frames — a partitioned bullet like the Nosler Partition but with the added benefits of a thicker jacket, thicker internal wall, and bonded lead core — hasn’t the long range profile of the Scirocco, but has been proven time and again to hammer through the toughest bone and hide. It penetrates extremely well. It is quite possibly the deepest penetrating lead-core bullet of any type I’ve ever hunted with.
Betsy used handloaded Swift A-Frames in a 7mm-08 Jarrett Rifle several years ago in Namibia. She applied one each to the chests of an oryx bull, kudu bull and blue wildebeest bull, all of which joined us for dinner. Those are roughly elk-sized antelope and arguably tougher.
Over the years I’ve used Sciroccos to end the rutting season for whitetails, mule deer, elk and even one moose. I had no hesitation in agreeing to my wife’s choice of the new Swift Cartridge Company’s 150-grain Scirocco 7mm-08 loads for a moose hunt. Swift advertises these are absolutely waterproof, no small consideration in moose country. On the outside chance that the Sciroccos wouldn’t be up the the task of handling a moose, Betsy opted to back them up with A-Frames. Not a bad option should you have to reach the vitals of a departing bull. Unfortunately, my hunting partner didn’t get to test either bullet because someone forgot to inform the moose about its role in the production…
Swift Bullets Kimber Adirondack Combo Goes Moose Hunting
We were hunting with Chase Gallagher of Chinchaga River Hunts (http://chinchaga.com/). Based on the way he called moose, Chase, unlike the moose, did understand his role. First he called a bull for another woman hunter in camp. Meat on the pole. Two days later, while canoeing amidst beavers on a sub-Arctic lake, Chase moaned, whined and sweet talked two more bulls from the timber, simultaneously, sucking them within 50 or 60 yards of Betsy’s sprightly little Kimber. We could see flashes of black hair through the boggy spruce limbs, tips of antlers above the boughs. I was shaking so much I could barely keep the camera focused on the scene. And then the wind caressed the backs of our necks, inspiring Betsy’s moose to show their rumps at a healthy trot. Naught but a fleeting opening for the Kimber, Swarovski and Swifts to get in the action. Both bulls are still out there. If the wolves don’t get them, next year Betsy and Chase plan to. I’m hoping to get in on the action, too. With more than just a camera.
Swift Bullets, Kimber Adirondack, Swarovski Ideal
Moose or no moose, this combination of Swift Scirocco and A-Frame bullets, the 7mm-08 Remington cartridge, the Swarovski Z3 3-10×42 scope with BRX reticle and the Kimber 84M Adirondack constitute an ideal, all around North American hunting rifle for small or lightly framed hunters of any sex. I’m thinking of borrowing it myself. The Adirondack reminds me of my first deer rifle, a Winchester M94. It has the same short, light, compact, fast-handling feel. But in 7mm-08 Rem. with a Swarovski scope, it has a huge ballistic advantage. Lest you think the 7mm-08 Rem. is inadequate for elk or moose, consider Karamojo Bell’s famous elephant rifle.
Just over 100 years ago Bell, an adventurous Scott, used his little 275 Rigby Mauser (the British designation for the German 7x57mm Mauser) to drop not only 800-some elephants, but also such reportedly impervious beasts as buffalo and lion. The 7mm-08 Remington shoots the same diameter bullets as the 275 Rigby, but about 100 fps faster. Essentially the 7mm-08 Rem. is an “improved” 7x57mm Mauser “elephant cartridge,” suggesting it is more than powerful enough for elk and moose.
Betsy, however, is withholding final judgement until she actually tests it on a moose. Guess where we’ll be hunting next September.
Over the years Ron Spomer has introduced several hunters — men and women — to lightweight rifles in 7mm-08 Rem. None has ever regretted it.
Robert Byrne says
October 24, 2017 at 12:44 AMThanks Ron, Great read! My wife and I recently booked a Newfoundland moose hunt for late september 2018. Like Betsy my wife is rather small in stature and prefers a short lightweight rifle with low recoil. She loves her Ruger American compact chambered in 7mm-08 Rem. The rifle has proven itself on whitetails but I was feeling a little hesitant about using it for moose. This article has me feeling much better about the choice to use an 18″ barreled 7mm-08 for moose. I have not chronographed the loads yet but the rifle shoots well with both the 150-grain Nosler Partition and 140-grain Barnes TTSX. I’m leaning towards the Partition. Any thoughts?
I’ll likely be bringing my 338 federal firing 185 TTSX @ 2800 fps.
Ron Spomer says
October 25, 2017 at 6:29 PMRobert, either of those great bullets will put moose on your plate. I’ve taken bulls with both. Your pick. I think the Barnes will penetrate a mite farther, but nothing major. You and your wife should train to shoot quickly. My wife recently had a total of 5 seconds to make a standing shot on a bull some 200 to 250 yards away. It stepped into her life and back out again. She wasn’t ready for that!
Robert Byrne says
October 25, 2017 at 11:02 PMI thoroughly enjoy reading your articles and value your opinions. Thanks for the advice, we’ll state training for quick accurate shooting. Keep up the good work and looking forward to your next article.
Ron Spomer says
October 26, 2017 at 12:11 AMThank you very much, Robert. We’ll try to keep a steady stream of articles and videos coming — and hope to crank out a few books in 2018. Do you prefer paper or e-books?
Robert Byrne says
October 28, 2017 at 12:09 AMI prefer the good old fashioned paper book. I have not warmed up to e-books yet.
Louis A Del Monte says
October 26, 2017 at 9:37 AMHi Ron,
Interesting article. I never paid much attention to the 7mm-08 until reading your article. So, I checked the ballistic charts and came to this conclusion: There is a lot of overlap between cartridges. For example, the 270 Win in 140 gr is about on par with the 7mm-08 in 140 gr, with the 270 having slightly more recoil, but significantly better performance in all categories (i.e., energy retention, wind drift, etc.). After a while it gets confusing. I already own a 243, 270, and 308. I am not sure what advantage a 7mm-08 could offer since I can already pick a cartridge to suit a particular hunt. Also, these are standard calibers that are sold almost everywhere ammo is sold. Does the 7mm-08 have a performance advantage over those cartridges that would warrant buying a new gun in 7mm-08? Thank you in advance for sharing your expertise.
Best regards,
Lou
Ron Spomer says
October 26, 2017 at 12:57 PMLou, what are you trying to do, put me out of business? Yes, you have figured it out. Most of our “deer” cartridges perform so similarly that there is no reason to own many — except it’s so fun. Performance comes down to bullet mass, Muzzle Velocity, and Ballistic Coefficient. The higher the numbers for all of those, the flatter the trajectory, higher the downrange energy, and less the wind deflection. It doesn’t matter how the powder reservoir is shaped (cartridge case) or even which caliber, although smaller calibers with the same bullet weights as larger ones usually yield higher BCs. A .264, 140-grain bullet with the same basic shape (say, boat tail spire point) driven to the same velocity (say, 2,700 fps), as a .284, .308 or .338 will shoot farther, drift less and hit harder. And recoil less, too. Truthfully, we hunters don’t really need anything but a 7×57 Mauser (or 30-06, 270, 308, 300 WM, 6.5-284 Win, 338 Federal, 7mm-08, 280 Rem., 7mm RM, 6.5 Creedmoor…) for anything short of elephants — and Bell proved a good shot has no trouble dropping pachyderms with a 7×57 Mauser so… Beware the hunter with one rifle… But what’s the fun in that? With our limited hunting opportunities these days, fiddling with various rifles, cartridges, bullets, scopes, barrels, etc. is more than half the fun. Or we could try golf and stamp collecting.
Peter says
October 26, 2017 at 6:20 PMMore choices are always better. With ammo, however, it seems as if the choices may be getting a bit more scarce. While there are some newer cartridges on the market, like the 6mm Creedmoor and the Noslers, some older, perfectly useful ones appear destined to that Great Shooting Gallery in the Sky: the 303 British, the 257 Roberts, the 6mm Remington, the 358 Winchester, and the 444 and 450 Marlins, and no doubt others that don’t come to mind. Quite the pity.
Ron Spomer says
October 26, 2017 at 6:51 PMYes, sad and a bit shameful that the big companies that create these rounds don’t support them. I know it economics of scale, but still… Many smaller manufacturers, however, are stepping in to fill the void. Like Double Tap. Snoop around and I’m sure you’ll find something. And you can always get into handloading. That produces the best ammo anyway.
Louis A Del Monte says
October 27, 2017 at 12:01 AMHi Ron,
I really get the “fun” angle. The problem I have is trying to explain why I need another rifle to my wife when I can hardly close my gun safe as it is. Of course, I could probably give up being a science writer and try my luck as a hunting sports writer. I only see one problem with that approach. I have no credentials in that genre. Although, this hasn’t stopped every “armchair” expert from spouting their opinions. In my field, YouTube is filled with people that can explain why Einstein was wrong and they are right. On my own science blog, I rarely argue or try to correct the unbelievable theories some people espouse. Normally, others will weigh in and correct them. As long as it remains civil, I encourage the dialogue. Therefore, I suggest that you write an article that explains how to justify buying one more rifle when you already have about a dozen or so. It would also be helpful if you could include justifications for varied and large amounts of ammunition.
Best regards,
Lou
Ron Spomer says
October 27, 2017 at 12:18 AMHa ha! I’ll get right on that, Lou. Best quick advice I can give is to get your bride hooked on hunting so she, too wants new rifles! Worked for me.
Louis A Del Monte says
October 27, 2017 at 1:32 AMRon, that is great advice. I think you could be a marriage counselor!
Lee says
December 22, 2017 at 2:43 AMOnce again Mr. Spomer, what a great read. I too put this same rifle and caliber in my wife’s hands when they first came out at a local Cabela’s store in Ft. Worth Texas, and it was almost a better marriage for my bride than I. This article really frames the classic perfection of the 7mm-08 cartridge and maybe one of the best platforms ever made for that cartridge. Historically I still favor the 7mmRM and any time I get an excuse to add any 7mm bullets to the inventory, I’m happy to do so. Many many years ago, my very first hunting rifle was a gifted custom Carl Gustav sporter in 6.5X55 Sweed, and it took many years and many calibers to better it, eventually a 7mmRemMag actually and honestly beat that performance. Through the years and miles, there is not much necessary or legitimately between that caliber relationship; of course until I brought the wife into the equation. My wife thanks you for this article.
Ron Spomer says
December 22, 2017 at 2:06 PMThank you Lee. I’m glad you and your wife have found “the perfect match.” Enjoy.
cugeno says
February 23, 2018 at 11:31 AMGreat read. My wife is also 5′-2″ and small, so this gives some valuable guidance in finding a rifle to introduce her to shooting and hunting. 7mm-08 or 7×57 could be just the ticket.
Hank Forester says
September 27, 2018 at 6:31 PMIf you were reloading, would you stick with the heavy bullet? I’ve typically used Barnes bullets for shooting at my food.
Ron Spomer says
September 27, 2018 at 6:39 PMI reload all kinds of bullets and make my selection based on a variety of factors including desired speed, penetration, expansion characteristics, etc. If you have a bullet that works for you and you like it, no problem. Moose don’t know if they’ve been hit by a 100-grain bullet or a 300-grain bullet. As long as you adequately damage vital organs, they die. (Blood loss.)