Which 7mm Rm

[Saggins]

Oh dont worry I'm already annealing. I have a 6.5 creed that I practice with fairly often and once I do some tree trimming my 2000 yard range will be open.

It really wont be multipurpose, anything the 7mm could do my 300win can do hunting (but my T/C encore is a bit light for range work), and I do like that the 338 Lapua would fill a caliber gap in my rifles.

 

[Varminterror]

I handled a 7mm Rem 700 Long Range, as well as a 300 RUM version at Cabela’s tonight, which confirmed my expectations. Complete waste of money for a 2,000yrd rifle. It’s an incredibly light rifle. It’s a magnum hunter, and would make a dandy packing, canyon crossing elk rifle, but a 1000-2000yrd rifle, it’s not.

 

[Saggins]

(^A different rifle but still a 7rem)

Obviously Mark is a highly skilled shooter and I am not claiming to be on par with him. I have the ability to make similar if not the same gun modifications as he did. Maybe I am just trying to talk myself into the 7mm to save reloading cost, but if the barrel life stretches out closer to 2000 rounds its considerable savings. Now I definitely understand that 7mm isn't the best ELR cartridge, but 2k will really be my max range for the awhile. If my skill improves and I can get some permission from neighbors maybe I can stretch my range farther, maybe I could upgrade to a .338 for past 2000. Wouldnt hurt to have both guns in the safe would it?

Edit: Dare I add... what about 300win? (Altho usually if I'm getting a new rifle I like to get a new cartridge, but I already have reloading dies)

 

[Varminterror]

Maybe I am just trying to talk myself into the 7mm

Sure seems like it.

 

[Nature Boy]

Maybe I am just trying to talk myself into the 7mm to save reloading cost

You said you're only going to shoot ~200 rounds a year. I think you're overthinking this, or not thinking enough......hell, I'm even confused now

 

[Saggins]

I did some more looking at reloading components... I think I can actually get stuff to reload 338 for a fare bit less than I originally figured... running my comparison again showed after 2000 rounds I'd actually be ahead (cheaper) with the 338 (figuring the 7mm would have just started its 3rd barrel)

 

[Frostbite]

Honestly I had looked there first to have a 7mm Mashburn made but they wont do it (too high pressure they said). When I priced out a long 7 rem and added the cost of a new forend I'm still at almost $500 (and their only 7rem twist is 1:9. (I already own a factory pro hunter barrel in 300win)

Why would you need a new forend to do that? I needed a new one going from 50 Muzzleloader to 30-06 Springfield, both in factory 26" barrels, because they didn't have the same contours. Is it for the same reason?

 

[Saggins]

In my original encore thoughts was a nice long heavy barrel that would have required modifying the forend for the wider barrel channel. But I think with barrel life being fairly short it's not my best option.

I'd love to see an encore in 338 LM but that might not be wise

 

[Varminterror]

I did some more looking at reloading components... I think I can actually get stuff to reload 338 for a fare bit less than I originally figured... running my comparison again showed after 2000 rounds I'd actually be ahead (cheaper) with the 338 (figuring the 7mm would have just started its 3rd barrel)

..... yup.....

Really the only thing I'd note here - that 2000rnds will take you 10yrs, the way you've claimed you'll be shooting. I will say - however - I do not believe anyone can shoot 200rnds per year and have any proficiency at 2,000yrds, but maybe you'll burn out a barrel every year with your 6.5 Creed at 0-1600yrds. But pulling down 200rnds/yr won't even break the bank shooting factory ammo - reloading is just a means to improve precision at that point.

 

[Varminterror]

what about 300win

300wm or 300RUM is a better choice for ELR than 7RM. Not by much, and everything we've discussed re: 338LM remains to apply. If you want to shoot past 1600yrds more than just running into a target every now and then after walking a half dozen shots to find it, don't waste time with standard belted mags or sub 33 cal cartridges.

 

[LoonWulf]

How's this, maybe go ahead a buy which ever 7mm you prefer, and shoot that for a while....who knows it might replace your .300, It has mine, more than once (yeah, I'm hard headed).

In a year or two get, or have built, a nice medium bore specifically for shooting past 1500yds.

By then you'll have decided for yourself what you can, and can't do with a belted mag, and what's WORTH doing with a belted mag.
Maybe we'll be welcoming you to the 7rem mag cult as well.

 

[troy fairweather]

^^^^ this^^^^

 

[Saggins]

Well I think I'm 99% 338LM... I forgot my friend is building a 28 Nosler, so if we want to stretch out a 7mm I'm sure hed let me pull the trigger on his a couple times (just like I'm sure he'll want to try the 338). He doesn't get to shoot as much as me, since I'm the one with the range, so I think his barrel will have more life span (in years)

 

[Varminterror]

@LoonWulf's idea isn't bad at all - I'd rather run the excessive recoil of a 7RM for 1600yrd shooting than be undergunned for 2000yrd shooting. But the increase in range over the OP's 6.5 Creed just isn't enough for warrant another rifle. Just not enough range bought between the two unless you need to kill something on the receiving end. As much as I love the 7RM, I wouldn't buy one in 2019 and onward.

@Saggins - I haven't asked yet, where are you from? Do you have a nearby 2,000yrd range?

 

[Saggins]

My family farms in eastern Nebraska and have access to a stretch of land that is about 2 miles long and before the crops start coming in I have a separate 550yd range behind my place (my 100yd range bench is 31 steps from my back door)

We welcomed a son last January and babysitting has been hurting my range time. But I managed to get outside today for a few shots (just the 100yd) with some factory 6.5cm I got a good deal on awhile back. It had me jonesing even more for something new (needed or not haha)