7mm Rem Mag - What do you shoot?

[MovedWest]

If nothing else, my many years of rolling my own have taught me that reloading gives you amazing versatility. I'm a huge fan of any cartridge that ends in "magnum", but 7mm Rem Mag factory loads offer very little variation.

The 7mm bullets available are varied from 120gr to 180gr+. I know this is for use across multiple 7mm calibers, but which ones are usable for what in 7mm Rem Mag? What do YOU use them for?

While we're on the subject, which powders have you had better results with under which bullet weights? Are there any primers that work better than others with various loads?

-MW

 

[dsm]

I'm not a big fan of 7mm mag, but I do have one and shoot a Sierra 160 SPBT with IMR 4350 and Rem LRM primers. Shoots good and drops whitetail in their tracks!

Belted mags a are pushed to the wayside in favor of the short and fat cased magnums. My mag is from 1990 and the short mags were not in existance. If I would ever rebarrel my 7mm mag, I'd probably go with a 7 WSM or downsize to a 6.5x47 Lapua. Most likely a 6.5 due to way less recoil. Man does my 7mm mag like to recoil!

 

[Clark]

I load for ~65 cartridges.

I feel that the 7mmRM is the king of long range cartridges that are accurate in a rifle that is light enough for a man to carry long distances.

I like 120, 140, and 150 gr Nosler ballistic tip bullets.

I like H4350.

I load much hotter than the published loads, and I have more than adequate safety margin on long brass life.

I have a 7mmRM reamer.
I headspace the rifle at .215" not the sloppy SAAMI .220" of factory rifles. That is because almost all brass is .215" or less.

 

[MovedWest]

Most likely a 6.5 due to way less recoil. Man does my 7mm mag like to recoil!

Yeah, there's a bit of recoil to deal with. I actually don't mind it so much at the moment. Ask me in 30 years and I might sing a different song. I do have a 6.5x55 that I load for and it's amazing. I like that and the 7RM for the same reason - the flat trajectory. I like the 7RM for bigger things that are farther away.

I load for ~65 cartridges.

I feel that the 7mmRM is the king of long range cartridges that are accurate in a rifle that is light enough for a man to carry long distances.

I couldn't agree more.

I like H4350.

How is that different than IMR4350. I've heard good things about IMR4350 for the 6.5x55. It'd be nice to consolidate powders. Any opinion on RL-22?

I load much hotter than the published loads, and I have more than adequate safety margin on long brass life.

Do you anneal or use a belted magnum collet resizer die?

Thanks for the info!

-MW

 

[Blue68f100]

I use IMR4350 with Serria 160gr SPBT Matchking for ever. 168gr HPBT some too. I do push the max loads with this but my accuracy is 1 ragged hole at 100 yrd which is the longest the range had. I developed this load in the late 70's when factory ammo at that time was good to get 1.5" groups for a caliber that was winning competition at 1000 yrds.

If your recoil sensitive this is on caliber you will stay away from. But it's a very accurate caliber for long range shooting. I like it for the flat projectory to 250yrds.

I FL size but only push the shoulder back 0.002". I anneal every 2-3 firing. I have since picked up a Neck sizer and started using it.

 

[Flatbush Harry]

I get my best results with 160 gr hunting bullets, 162gr or 168gr target bullets.

FH

 

[howlnmad]

Mine loves 140 gr Nosler BT bullets and IMR4350 powder.

 

[jmr40]

I loaded for one for a short time. To me it is best with bullets in the 160 gr range. I tried several powders and found RL25 to give me the best velocity and accuracy.

I like the round well enough, but I already ownd rifles I liked better so I let the big 7 go.

 

[Match10]

I use the Barnes 140 grain X bullets that Randy Barnes convinced me to try in 1990 or so. I like them so much I loaded 400 of them. Reloder22 and supremely accurate. I shoot the inexpensive bullet with alight load to fireform it to my chamber and then neck size them for my Colt Rifle. My load is not considered within Maximum in today's manuals, so I will not advertise it. The brass is not reusable to my standards. I only shoot a few a year during hunting seasons.

 

[gamestalker]

I too am a major fan of the "magnum" cartridges and have been working with the 7 mag for a very long time.

As for what bullets work well in this wonderful cartridge, I prefer those from 100 gr. to 145 gr. weights. I use the light weight bullets 100 gr. to 115 gr. for blowing up varmints, literally. And I either punch paper, or hunt big game with the 120 gr. and heavier bullets offered in .284".

My favorite powder that I load all my 7 mag with is RL22. It had performed excellent with every bullet I've loaded, and has not ever given me any pressure management issues. RL22 functions much better from mid range, to the upper end of the charge tables in my experience. But of course, every firearm is different.

One of my favorite, and also a very accurate rifle, is in fact the 700 CDL. However, I have other actions in this chambering, and they are all produce excellent groups.
GS

 

[Cycletroll]

150 barnes tts@ 3150 0-500 yards. 180 Berger @ 3000 fps for 500-1k+; lethal on elk/deer/antelope/oryx at longer ranges.

H1000, Retumbo, R33, Magpro, 4831sc

With high BC heavy bullets the 7mag is the one of the most practical all around big game cartridges there is.

 

[oneounceload]

I have, over the years, have shot everything from 100 to 175. From MY older 700BDL, I really like the 160s from Sierra and Nosler. Using 4350, 4831 or 7828, it shoots three shots into 5/8"@ 100, 1-1/4"@200, and 2-1/4"@300 - perfect for mule deer or elk

 

[Skyshot]

140 to 160 grain bullets and Slow powders, I like IMR 7828 and 4831 the best. My older Rem 700 7RM shoots 63. grns of of IMR7828 and a Nosler 160 Accubond inside of a dime at 100 yards if I do my part correctly.

 

[Clark]

MovedWest

Do you anneal or use a belted magnum collet resizer die?

I have lots of different 7mmRM dies, but I hoarded so much 7mm brass, that it will a long time before I do any reloading. I just use new brass.

 

[texashunter]

140 gr Barnes tsx, federal 215m primers, remington brass, 66 gr re22.

 

[nastynatesfish]

I've been loading for my 7rm for 7 years almost now. I started with 154 interlocks for all my deer sized game. I moved to 162 AMAX and sat thre for 5 years. That bullet on top if 63.5gr of H4831 or 4831sc has been amazing. My rifle I've semi custom built. I don't know yours. Mine has a 1-9.25 twist and a 26" barrel on the heavy side. Last year I started running the 140 Berger vld and wow. They take some working but they are accurate. I found about 4 different accurate nodes with mine.
This is my 140 vld

This is the exit side of my buck last year at 385 yards

This is my baby