Buck13
Member
If you were in the market for a new rifle, would you consider the 7 mm Mag? Assume for NA game up to elk, but unlikely ever to get used for that species, so really maxed out at Mule Deer.
Thinking of only modestly priced off-the-shelf rifles. I would try to use the Barnes 168 grain LRX for elk if the rifle would shoot them, since the high weight retention would be helpful, but not sure if 1:8 twist is commonly available to stabilize a bullet that long. I reload, so scarcity of this bullet in loaded ammo isn't a problem. (Topic drift: I've never reloaded a belted cartridge. Does neck sizing alone work well?)
Conversely, it seems like one point in its favor is that the 7 mm Mag is common enough that loaded ammo is widely available in a pinch (with less exotic bullets).
Thinking of only modestly priced off-the-shelf rifles. I would try to use the Barnes 168 grain LRX for elk if the rifle would shoot them, since the high weight retention would be helpful, but not sure if 1:8 twist is commonly available to stabilize a bullet that long. I reload, so scarcity of this bullet in loaded ammo isn't a problem. (Topic drift: I've never reloaded a belted cartridge. Does neck sizing alone work well?)
Conversely, it seems like one point in its favor is that the 7 mm Mag is common enough that loaded ammo is widely available in a pinch (with less exotic bullets).