7 wsm

[pete dobinson]

I run a 284 winchester, just chrony'd some loads yesterday with a 180 Lapua Scenar over H4831SC and got an average of 2970fps with a 28" barrel, my son's 284 with a 23.75" barrel got exactly 100 fps less at 2870 fps. I can't see needing to push a 180 any faster, for targets or for game.

I too really like the design of the 7WSM, but with the performance I am currently getting from the 284, I see no reason to switch. Both rifles are chambered in long actions and are loaded well beyond normal lengths, but this was determined by careful load work up and good testing methods.

That is impressive bullet speeds out of a 23.75" barrel. I also load H4831SC for my 284 win, but can't reach those speeds. My barrel is short, only 20" but my son's rifle is 22", both short actions so the heaviest bullet I load is 154 gr. I might get 2800 fps out of the 22" barrel with that powder and a 154 gr bullet. Of course ours could be slow barrels.

 

[NAA]

If I was ever to venture into something WSM it would be in 7mm WSM.

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NAA.

 

[skywrench]

I have one in a M70 and really like it. While a ballistic twin to the 7 RM, I'm always intrigued by the road less travelled thus the 7WSM. My 70 is finicky in terms of bullets but when I find one it likes sub-MOA groups are a possible if I do my job. Best bullets are 160 and 175 Speer Deep Curls when pushed by Retumbo at book max velocities - chronographed averages at 3050 and 2850 respectively. With Deep Curls apparently out of production, I'm buying every box I can find as, in addition to fine accuracy, they have proven to be awesome on the deer and moose that I have shot. Strangely, I achieve book max at or near min book loads for most bullets tried - minimum spec chamber I presume. I've begun annealing the case necks to prolong brass life with good success so far with one run of brass at 9 firings. Without annealing I was seeing cracked case necks after 3. All this work and it is identical in performance to my son's 7 RM, but the fun is in the tickering.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Like almost any modern era commercial cartridge, it's survival comes down to marketing genius or marketing failure.

Amen, just another cartridge created by the Marketing dept. No real reason for it's existence.

Grizz