7mm ammo selection

[omcf]

Hello. I have a 7mm remington magnum Browning BBR and I would like to hunt whitetail this winter with it. I've looked around at various rounds, and I would appreciate any input as to which specific factory load I should go with. I plan on hunting in brush country, but would like to be able to hit at 500 yards in open country if I had to. I do realize that these are two different applications, and require different tools. Due to availability I was looking at several Federal, Winchester, and Hornady products, and was wondering which round hunters here found best for brush country, and which for open range work. Thanks in advance.

 

[A_Swede_17_1911]

In reality I would look at some of the bonded bullets. The reason if you shoot a deer up close with the 7mm Mag, you could have the bullet sheding its jacket cause of the velocity.

For factory ammo really I would buy a box of Remington 150 or 175 grain loads shoot to see which on shoots the best from your rifle.

Same goes with the winchester or the federal loads. Also PMC makes some with
Serria Game King bullets and the barnes x bullet as well.

Im sure the stuff put out by Hornady is good too. I try a couple different weights and brands.


I found out that the Remington Core Lockts in the 175 grain, shot the best out of my Browning A-bolt, I could shoot right in at 1.5" from the bench with those regularly@100yds.

 

[MARINEUS]

Winchester Surpreme Fail Safe. You will not be dissapointed.

 

[LeonCarr]

Federal Premium 160 grain Nosler Partition. Works great on deer, and the deer won't look like it was hit with a hand grenade if you shoot one up close (IME unbonded lighter weight bullets of 150 grains or less in a 7mm Magnum tend to destroy a lot of meat on close up shots (under 100 yards)). It also works good on just about everything else in the lower 48.

The 160 Nosler Partitions in a 7mm Magnum are capable of 500 yard shots, if you and your equipment are up to the task.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Twycross]

There is a plethora of bullets to choose from. The Nosler Partition and Accubond, Hornady Interbond, Barnes TripleX, Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, and Winchecter Failsafe are the ones that come to mind for closer distances. These are a somewhat stronger, (often bonded) and shouldn't destroy much meat for close shots. However, they certainly aren't limited to short shots.

The Nosler Ballistic Tip, Seirra Pro-Hunter and Gameking, and Ballistic Silvertips come to mind for longer range shooting. Again, not to say that that they won't work for close quarters.

Even factory bullets like Remington Core-lokts or Winchester PowerPoints would probably be fine. However, IMHO, premium bullets are worth the investment.

I would take some of each load that you are considering, and field-test it for accuracy. My 7mm WSM will consistently shoot ~0.75 MOA with Accubonds, but I can't get it sub-MOA with anything else.

 

[bearmgc]

When I used my Browning BLR for Mulies, my favorite factory round was the 7mag PMC 160gr with the Sierra Gamekings- bang flops. I think these were the PMC Silver box ones. I don't know if this brand is around anymore though. I just found the last box I have in those and it IS the Silver and black box, Sierra 160gr SPBT Gamekings. Paid 19.00 for them.

 

[bearmgc]

The only other factory loads that I got great accuracy in for my 7mag was the 160gr Winchester Partition Golds, and the Federal Premium NP, Sierra Gamekings and TBBC in 160 and 175gr.