7mm Remington Magnum
- Thread starter stevetford
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anymanusa
Member
dude, that is straight from a program off of Federal Ammunitions website. I can post some same bullet comparisons when I get home later.
stevetford
Member
Well, this is why I love this site so much. I come back a day later hoping for some feedback and have 2 pages of good information just waiting to be read. After reading everything you all have said, I think I will stick to my plan and buy a Remington 700 and just modify it to my liking. Thanks again to all that took the time to reply.
MachIVshooter
Member
And Federal's 10mm Auto loads are weaker than their .40 S&W loads. If you want to know the true potential of a given cartrdige, you have to look in reloading manuals. As an example below, I'll list the maximum velocity for several bullet weights for both the 7mm WSM and 7mm RM, taken from Sierra's fifth edition manual.
bullet weight...................7mm WSM.................7mm RM
100.................................3,600.......................3,700
120.................................3,400.......................3,500
130.................................3,300.......................3,400
140.................................3,200.......................3,200
150.................................3,150.......................3,100
160.................................3,000.......................3,100
168.................................2,900.......................3,000
175.................................2,850.......................3,000
I can't explain why they have the 140 and 150 grain pills listed that way, but it's pretty clear that the 7mm RM will exceed the WSM, which is a given when one considers the larger case capacity (even though the operating pressure is a bit lower). Other manuals will show pretty much the same thing, though many are more precise in their numbers (Sierra always goes to the nearest 50 FPS).
It's kinda the 7mm equivalent of the old .308 vs. .30-06 debate. The .308 will get close (especially with lighter bullets), but in the end it can never exceed the larger .30-06.
And then there is the fact that in this comparison or any other where we're talking 50 or 100 FPS, the advandage of one cartridge over the other is purely acedemic. Killing power is identical for all intensive purposes. The big argument in favor of the 7mm RM is availability of ammo and far more choices in terms of the rifle itself.
esmith
Member
7mm rem mag is a nice cartridge, powerful and relatively flat shooting. If you dont like long actions you can shoot for the 7mm WSM as others have mentioned. However short actions aren't as nice in my opinion as I like actually knowing that im using something big when i do the action. Barrel life is so-so but its not really a plinking cartridge anyway, unless you are handloading.
U.S.SFC_RET
Member
Right! The 7mm Mag isn't a plinking cartridge. Costwise or even when you are shooting the heavier bullets when reloading. The 30-06 can be considered a plinking cartridge just in my personal experience. I can never shoot the 7mm Mag plinking away, not in my mind anyway. I can load it down and train with it but that is not plinking.
You can load the 7mm Mag down to 30-30 level "Ken Waters Pet Loads" and the book says that load is very accurate and easy on the barrel. If you want to go plink that load then get it from the book.
MCgunner
Member
I plink with .22s or perhaps my SKSs and surplus ammo. My 7 is for serious hunting of serious animals at serious ranges. If I ever did burn it out, not a big deal to rebarrel a Savage. Just takes a barrel wrench and a go/no go headspace gauge set. Hell, I could convert it to .338 if I wanted to fairly cheaply and easily, or .300.
George Hill
Member
My favorite factory loads is the 154 grain SST from Hornady. I like the 162 grain BTSP for Elk... 154 SST for everything else.
I've nailed coyotes at 1400 yards with the 162 grain loads.
I've nailed coyotes at 1400 yards with the 162 grain loads.
anymanusa
Member
here is the planet I was talking about. Federal Ammunition 2007 Ballistics catalogue. Better performance from a lesser weight bullet with the WSM.
That probably carries a little bit of weight.
I did read what you posted earlier though.
ojibweindian
Member
1400 yards is a heckuva good shot!
What's the rig you used to make that?
What's the rig you used to make that?
anymanusa
Member
hello ojibwa, that is my tribe as well.
-and I'm in Madison Al, as well... what do you know!?
-and I'm in Madison Al, as well... what do you know!?
MCgunner
Member
Just over 3K ft lbs is pretty wimpy for a 7 mag load. A decent 7 mag load will put up 3300 ft lbs at the muzzle.
If you wanna beat the 7 mag with a short magnum, check out 325 WSM ballistics.
http://www.gunsandammomag.com/ammunition/number_072605/index2.html
anymanusa
Member
I guess by your standard, Federal doesn't offer a 'decent' load for 7 mag.
MCgunner
Member
I have tried the 160 Nolser partition Premium. Guy at the range gave me a box cause he sold his rifle, had the ammo in his truck when I was out there shooting the 7. It was accurate and I'd use it if I needed a factory load because it shoots real close to POA. But, 25 bucks a box of 20 is a little steep and I can reload better ammo, faster anyway. That stuff was accurate.
I know I can't improve much on good factory ammo by reloading. Good factory ammo runs 3150 fps for a 150 grain bullet and that's about what I get at max pressure, of course out of a 24 inch barrel. Most factory stuff is proofed out of a 26" tube. Barrel length has a pretty big effect on belted magnum stuff.
That Federal load you show isn't up to potential for the 7 even in factory loadings, though. There HAVE to be better loads out there available, or hotter ones, anyway. I mean, if it's accurate, I don't need a 7 mag in Texas, but just talking about getting the potential of the gun.
I never shot that Federal Premium over my chronograph, probably should have just from curiosity. It's the only factory loaded stuff that's ever been fired in that gun. I hunt exclusively and shoot exclusively with handloads, even in my .308. Better ammo cheaper and tailored for the gun. How can ya beat that? In some calibers, like my .257 Roberts, all factory ammo is crap. I've been reloading since the age of 14, learned from my uncle and grandpa. That was 40 years ago. There wasn't any "premium" or "light magnum" or any such special factory stuff back then, either. They pushed the pressure limits a little more in stuff like the 7, though, less worry about some dork building a 7 mag on some POS mil surp or something, fewer liability worries. That all died in the 70s.
I have no idea what I could get out of that short magnum reloading it, but I have an idea not that much more. Larger case capacity always helps the handloader. I think the big attraction to the short magnums are the handy little short rifles they can be chambered in, but I'm not sure I want a 6 lb rifle in a 7mm magnum or 325 WSM. OUCH! Weight has its advantages when the sear breaks.
BTW, I'm not totally averse to the short magnums. I think the .325 in a Browning BLR would be a pretty awesome gun in Alaska as bear defense or for hunting. But, the 7 short mags are no improvement over what I have and, besides, a .308 is all I need hunting Texas and New Mexico. The 7 is overkill unless I ever get to hunt elk.
I know I can't improve much on good factory ammo by reloading. Good factory ammo runs 3150 fps for a 150 grain bullet and that's about what I get at max pressure, of course out of a 24 inch barrel. Most factory stuff is proofed out of a 26" tube. Barrel length has a pretty big effect on belted magnum stuff.
That Federal load you show isn't up to potential for the 7 even in factory loadings, though. There HAVE to be better loads out there available, or hotter ones, anyway. I mean, if it's accurate, I don't need a 7 mag in Texas, but just talking about getting the potential of the gun.
I never shot that Federal Premium over my chronograph, probably should have just from curiosity. It's the only factory loaded stuff that's ever been fired in that gun. I hunt exclusively and shoot exclusively with handloads, even in my .308. Better ammo cheaper and tailored for the gun. How can ya beat that? In some calibers, like my .257 Roberts, all factory ammo is crap. I've been reloading since the age of 14, learned from my uncle and grandpa. That was 40 years ago. There wasn't any "premium" or "light magnum" or any such special factory stuff back then, either. They pushed the pressure limits a little more in stuff like the 7, though, less worry about some dork building a 7 mag on some POS mil surp or something, fewer liability worries. That all died in the 70s.
I have no idea what I could get out of that short magnum reloading it, but I have an idea not that much more. Larger case capacity always helps the handloader. I think the big attraction to the short magnums are the handy little short rifles they can be chambered in, but I'm not sure I want a 6 lb rifle in a 7mm magnum or 325 WSM. OUCH! Weight has its advantages when the sear breaks.
BTW, I'm not totally averse to the short magnums. I think the .325 in a Browning BLR would be a pretty awesome gun in Alaska as bear defense or for hunting. But, the 7 short mags are no improvement over what I have and, besides, a .308 is all I need hunting Texas and New Mexico. The 7 is overkill unless I ever get to hunt elk.
atblis
Member
No belt
You lose the belt though, that's something.
7mm UM anybody?
You lose the belt though, that's something.
7mm UM anybody?
yeah, i have a 7 ultra as well. it hammered an antelope buck 2 weeks ago (162 hornady, 91 grains rl-25, cci mag primer, rem brass)...
however... using federal factory loads for a 7 rem mag is like using 22 hornet loads for a 30-06... federal so severely underloads the 7 rem mag that its laughable.
i agree w/ the statement the 7 rem mag beats the 7 wsm across the board w/ decent factory loads (hornady) or handloads.
i'm a tremendous 7mm fan... so, yeah, i have a 7 wsm, too.
between the 7 wsm, 7 rem mag, and the 7 rum, i like the 7 rem mag the best. 2nd choice is 7 rum. i like other 7's better than the wsm (7-08 and 7 stw), but do like the wsm better than the 280 rem and 284 win.
however... using federal factory loads for a 7 rem mag is like using 22 hornet loads for a 30-06... federal so severely underloads the 7 rem mag that its laughable.
i agree w/ the statement the 7 rem mag beats the 7 wsm across the board w/ decent factory loads (hornady) or handloads.
i'm a tremendous 7mm fan... so, yeah, i have a 7 wsm, too.
between the 7 wsm, 7 rem mag, and the 7 rum, i like the 7 rem mag the best. 2nd choice is 7 rum. i like other 7's better than the wsm (7-08 and 7 stw), but do like the wsm better than the 280 rem and 284 win.
anymanusa
Member
uh, thanks MCgunner. You've surely educated me as to some of the aspects of the caliber that I was ignorant of. I had decided that when I finally did get a hunting gun that it would be a 7 mag, until a friend told me the wsm was even better, and when I looked it up on the Fed. site, I thought that confirmed his belief.
My dad has all the handloading stuff, maybe he will 'learn' me a little about it.
My dad has all the handloading stuff, maybe he will 'learn' me a little about it.
The 7mm Rem. Mag. flat gets at distance! I want to say it takes a 30 caliber bullet of 220gr. or better to match the ballistic coefficient of a 180gr. Berger VLD. I think that's the case. Anyway, if you want to shoot long distances it's really tough to beat. I also like the fact that you can walk into Wal-Mart and buy ammo. You aren't going to get the most out of your rifle doing that, but it's nice to know you can do it.
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