Taming a 7mm Mag

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Nov 23, 2021
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I have a sweet spot for the 7mm Rem mag. My first rifle was a Rem 700 ADL in this caliber and it was true love. I reloaded and shot it, a lot. A whole lot. But she was sold off decades ago. Deep down I would like to have a 7mm mag in my stable but there is a problem, all that time shooting a 7mag gave me a terrible flinch. Still fighting it today. Considering a muzzle break to tame the magnum recoil, as not to make matters worse. So, I'm seeking advice on a nice but not terribly expensive 7mm mag rifle and a muzzle break. I prefer a wood stock, since I'm a bit old-fashioned, but open to opinions. The Browning A-Bolt III Hunter 7mm Rem Mag with Walnut Stock is a nice looking piece and the Tikka T3 Lite Stainless is a sleek beauty, even if it has a composite stock. Looks like whichever rifle wins the muzzle will have to threaded.

Please feel free to offer advice.....

 
Do you have a particular purpose in mind? If you don't intend to hunt with it or are planning on just walking to a stand and climbing in, I'd find out which is the heaviest rifle of the bunch and pick it.

Nope, no stalking at my age, just hanging out of a tree for the most part. However, I would like to go on a guided hunt for exotic game, one day before my body gives up.
 
It is funny how one's perception works. I've hunted with a 30-06 all my life and find the recoil to be less than that of the 7mm. On the other hand my brother thinks the 7mm has no recoil and find that the 270 gives a bigger kick. I was thinking instead of a muzzle break maybe adding a limbsaver recoil pad would be more beneficial than having your ear drums blown by the muzzle break. I have a Savage 110 and a Tikka T-3 in 30-06 and the Tikka is lighter by one pound than the Savage yet I find the Tikka to be very comfortable to shoot, could be the recoil pad that comes on the rifle.

Since you are not walking for hunting you could also consider shooting only the lightest bullet available for the 7mm, this will reduce recoil as well.
 
Shoot one with a muzzle break before you buy. They are horrifically loud. There are many Cartridges that are step down in power from the 7mm mag, but, shoot just as flat. This may be a better option. I find the older I get the less recoil and noise I want to put up with.

However, let’s be realistic . As a fellow rifle loony I know we don’t always make the best gun/cartridge decisions for ourselves. If you have to have a 7 mag then you have to have it. since you will be hunting out of a tree heaviest gun you can lug out there. Put the best recoil pad you can get on it. Try ammo at the lower end of the spectrum for practice and light game. If needed make adjustments to the stock length to fit you properly. Makes a huge difference. You can always practice with the muzzle break and remove it in the field. The 7 pound 30/06 I had recoiled like a 22lr when hunting.

As far as rifles go it is up to you. Both the ones you mention are great rifles. I think if you poke around you can find many that are threaded.
 
Consider stock design and recoil pad. Could also add weight, muzzle brake, or suppressor.
7s are kinda my thing ive had most flavors. The Rem Mag isnt particularly unpleasant when housed in a 9-10lb gun with squishy pad. Its very pleasant recoil wise with a brake, but requires hearing protection or your gonna suffer (i took the brake of my s20 as im less....uh.... "tolerant" than i used to be...) a suppressor would help both issues.
 
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I shot a 7 mag for over 40 yrs. Mine started out as a 700 ADL also. Had an aluminum butt plate and kicked like a mule. Fellow I had bought it from had glass bedded the action. After hunting in the rain and snow I went to remove it from the stock and it broke. I replaced it back then with a nice hunk of walnut from Bishop stock. The stock fit helped reduce the recoil a lot. Since then the only thing Rem is the action. Stock fit and a brake would help and shooting 140 gr or lighter pills will help also. 20191024_103849.jpg
 
The problem is between your ears. And partly in your ears. A 7 mag is a lot louder than 30-06 and the noise tricks your brain into thinking it kicks harder. A muzzle brake just makes them louder.

A 7mm Rem mag and a 30-06 shooting similar bullet weights from equal weight rifles have nearly identical recoil. Since the 7 mag has the word "Magnum" on the headstamp you've convinced yourself that it kicks hard. If you think it's going to kick hard, it will.

With either a 7 mag or 30-06 I'd avoid ultra-light rifles. But you should be able to keep the weight under 8 lbs including optics and mounts and have tolerable recoil. The old walnut stocked ADL's had no recoil pad. With modern recoil pads such as the Limbsaver and others felt recoil from will seem closer to 243.
 
I used a 7mm Rem Mag Win 70 with a stainless action, synthetic stock, and a muzzle break. I bought it new around 1997-98. I used a borrowed 30.06 a few times before that. The sound did nothing to affect my field shots, but it is undeniable that the shots added to the damage of my hearing from my construction trade.

You know how it is on the hunt, I never hear the shots downrange, nor feel the recoil. What I wanted out of the caliber, I got--a stable flat shooter.
 
May sound crazy, but my brother has a Mossberg Patriot in 7mm Mag and it’s actually a pretty nice piece of walnut. Not a Browning but might be worth a look. I found it to be fairly mild in the recoil department
 
If you didn't find the Patriot recoil objectionable it was probably due to stock fitting you better. Might want to stick with that model rifle. As has been mentioned, a muzzle brake may reduce the felt recoil a bit, but it will sure result in an extreme muzzle blast and muzzle blast seems to magnify felt recoil. Having a good limbsaver recoil pad installed would be beneficial, as well.
I've never shot a 7 Mag; my favorite rifle is a Savage .338 Win Mag using 210 gr. bullets. Shot a 300 Win Mag for years w/150 & 168 gr bullets and the felt recoil was greater in two different rifles than the .338, probably due to the way the stock fits.
 
The problem is between your ears. And partly in your ears. A 7 mag is a lot louder than 30-06 and the noise tricks your brain into thinking it kicks harder. A muzzle brake just makes them louder.

A 7mm Rem mag and a 30-06 shooting similar bullet weights from equal weight rifles have nearly identical recoil. Since the 7 mag has the word "Magnum" on the headstamp you've convinced yourself that it kicks hard. If you think it's going to kick hard, it will.

With either a 7 mag or 30-06 I'd avoid ultra-light rifles. But you should be able to keep the weight under 8 lbs including optics and mounts and have tolerable recoil. The old walnut stocked ADL's had no recoil pad. With modern recoil pads such as the Limbsaver and others felt recoil from will seem closer to 243.

You are correct about the issue being between the ears, but it is not due to the intensity of the noise. Bought muffs when that first used Colt AR-15 came home with me back when I was in my 20's, and have used them on every shooting session since. Still in the range bag today along with the new set of electronic noise cancellation muffs. At first the 7mag was a joy to shoot, I liked the recoil for some strange reason, and was punching excellent groups in paper and the ex-wife's 8 inch stuffed animals out to 400 yards. That was a long shot "back then". Reloaded buttloads of 140, 150, 160 and 175 gr Sierra, Nosler and Speer projectiles in Rem brass, over H870, IMR4895, H4895, IMR4831 with CCI mag primers. Loved the 140/150 Sierra PSP, Nosler Ballistic Tip/Solid Base, they were easier to shoot well and didn't eat up as much powder per shot as the heavier bullets. Seems it was almost 80grs of H870 powder every time the trigger was pulled on 160 &175 projectiles. However, no records survive from that ancient era.
Back to the point, I was thrilled with the 7mag, had supreme confidence in my ability and the rifle/load capabilities. Until I started missing....
Shots were going wild, groups began to grow and the variances were erratic. Was forced to sell the ADL due to hard times in the late '80s, still saddens me to this day. However, when I started collecting again I noticed the flinch, from .22lr rifles all the way to pistol shooting. My brain had been bashed by the 7mag to the point that there is a lunge at each trigger pull. I remember the embarrassing moment when the fellow on the lane next to me at an indoor range had to point out that the .45acp slugs from my Springfield XDS were bouncing off the floor! I've gained some semblance of control shooting a 10/22 with a hunting scope, AR with .22lr adapter and deep breathing, as well as taking time and breathing correctly on the pistol range. (Of course the 3.5lb Aero trigger in the AR556 might have helped a bit. 😁 )
22lr target w adapter.jpg
Snapcaps brought the painful truth to light for all to witness. No matter what is being shot, AR, FAL, AKM, .243, 9mm, .45 or great grandmas .22lr single shot, I will flinch.

Several others have mentioned the Limbsaver recoil pad, so this will require some research. Looks like a lot of thumbs down on the muzzle break idea. Even with good electronic muffs?
Everyone's input is appreciated. Truth being, I miss the big 7mm, I still have dies, bass, bullets and powders to reload for it (not to mention loaded ammo) but maybe it is time to step back to a less intense 7mm. 7mm-08, 7x57 or something in that range. The only 7mm in the pack right now is a Rem XP-100 in 7mm BR. It may not be a 6.5 ShootzinBangin but it will punch one hole groups as far as I can shoot it.
 
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I can remember when Mags were all the rage back in my younger days. I think those days are waning form the look of the used racks at my LGS. I have seen some nice rifles up for sale but they are Mags. I never owned are wanted one. I hunted with a .270 for years and that was all I needed. Many many rounds of 30.06 in my 03s and Garands. My 7mm these days is the 08. As always to each his own...
 
I think the stock is key. My reasoning for that is I have a Forbes Ultra Lite, weighs around 6lbs with the scope on it. Mine is in 30-06 and I was dreading taking it to the range to sight it in, but it was amazingly mild to shoot. A huge part of that is with the stock design, which I won't say I really understand but I do know what it was like to shoot it off the bench and standing and it was very impressive. Sold me on it!

Wilson bought the rights to them after Forbes passed away (Colt also was involved in them years ago). Anyway, Wilson calls them New Ultra Lite Arms (NULA). Nothing from Wilson is inexpensive but if you ever get a chance to shoot any of theirs or the Forbes made ones I would take the opportunity to do so. That rifle totally changed my view of things, also, it has no break nor comp on it, just a well designed stock.

May find a stock which fits you well and is designed right to have similar properties and not be as light weight. After my experience there I think the stock is key.
 
I would recommend taking a hard look at the Bergara Sierra Wilderness. It has a little more weight at 7 1/2#s and comes with a muzzle break. That can be removed for the installation of a can. It is a 700 type clone and cost about $1k. Add a scope and rings it will be in the 9# range.

I have one on my wish list just can't decide on the cartridge.
 
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Looks like a lot of thumbs down on the muzzle break idea. Even with good electronic muffs?

Square range Fudds don’t like brakes. But it’s a simple fact that there is no other tool as effective at reducing recoil as is a muzzle brake.

You’re wanting a hunting rifle - you don’t have to care that some Fudd complains online that he doesn’t like having someone on a firing line beside him with a brake.

A good brake, a well fit stock, a little extra rifle weight, and a proper buttpad (and a mercury reducer, if you’re so inclined) can make a 7rem mag very agreeable.
 
Depends on where you shoot it. I removed the brake on my rifle after shooting it from a stand with a roof. Way too loud. I didn't mind in open space. Ear protection helps. I shoot a Tikka in 7-08, gave my 7 MM mag away. But it's a great cartridge. Last time I looked, Cabalas had several nice used rifles in 7 MM Mag.
 
Being the wimp that I am I bought a .280 instead of the 7mm mag.

No wimping out there, good choice.
If I had been given better advice, at the time, I would have started with a 7.62x51 or .243 as not to be battling a flinch over 30 years later.
 
Wouldn't classify myself as a square range Fudd, nor am I recoil sensitive. Have a 30% VA hearing disability from the 81's and will take recoil over muzzle blast any day even after 30% hearing loss & w/good hearing protection. Take care of your hearing while you can, you can't get it back.
 
I actually have a Tikka T3 lite stainless in 7mm mag, had it threaded and an APA micro "b" brake installed. It's pretty decent to shoot now, and I get way better accuracy out of it, because I'm not flinching. It is loud, but it's a magnum.... Great hunting setup. I'd look into one of the models with the barrel already threaded, and decide on a brake from there if you go that route.
 
I am a sissy when it comes to rifle recoil, and catch a flinch pretty easily. I find that fit is important - if the stock is banging on my cheekbone I'll be yanking on the trigger with my eyes closed within five rounds - and also that a big fat butt pad and/or a big fat shoulder pad go a long way. I also find that noise and flash are at least as bothersome to me as physical recoil, even with double ear protection. I'm sure it is not universal, but for me, a muzzle brake will make me flinch with just about any centerfire cartridge, and so I avoid them like the plague.

Short version: if I want to enjoy shooting something like a 7mm Magnum, I want a heavy gun with a long barrel, a Decelerator pad, and a PAST recoil shield. And if the gun has a brake, I'll chop it off, because it cancels out all those other benefits.
 
I have a sweet spot for the 7mm Rem mag. My first rifle was a Rem 700 ADL in this caliber and it was true love. I reloaded and shot it, a lot. A whole lot. But she was sold off decades ago. Deep down I would like to have a 7mm mag in my stable but there is a problem, all that time shooting a 7mag gave me a terrible flinch. Still fighting it today. Considering a muzzle break to tame the magnum recoil, as not to make matters worse. So, I'm seeking advice on a nice but not terribly expensive 7mm mag rifle and a muzzle break. I prefer a wood stock, since I'm a bit old-fashioned, but open to opinions. The Browning A-Bolt III Hunter 7mm Rem Mag with Walnut Stock is a nice looking piece and the Tikka T3 Lite Stainless is a sleek beauty, even if it has a composite stock. Looks like whichever rifle wins the muzzle will have to threaded.

Please feel free to offer advice.....


My best advice is to stop wanting a cartridge you know you can’t shoot and go with a cartridge you can…
 
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