7mm Rem Mag & 168 Grain Berger VLD Load Data for New Rifle Build

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Hi all,

Might seem like a strange place to post this (also going to post it in the precision shooting section) however I am looking to build a custom hunting rifle in 7mm Remington Magnum and would like to start the build with the cartridge. I pre-apologize for the barrage of questions however I would like to hear from people running this combination.

1. I would like COAL to be 3.575 - 3.60 (bullet touching lands) to maximize performance, is anyone running 168 VLD's in this COAL range? Is there any reason I should be sticking closer to SAAMI specs? Is anyone having good success at shorter OAL's? I'm getting ready to order the reamer and am trying to decide the throat length I would like (that said if anyone has a used reamer in this length range they would like to sell please shoot me a PM).

2. The Remington LA's internal mag is long enough for the 2.60, is anyone aware of aftermarket bottom metal that would accommodate this COAL?

3. I planned to use Lee Collet dies as I have had good success with them in .223, is there any reason I would need to full body resize on a bolt action 7mm mag?

That's all I can think of for now, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
 
If you seat the 168 Berger out to 3.600 OAL there will only be about .100 neck holding them. Probably not ideal for mag feeding.
I run the 162 A-Max, and 168 Berger at 3.400. The 180 Berger at 3.448 OAL (touching the lands). This has been consistent in both of my 7mm Rem Mag's. The Lee Collet die will work fine for you.
 
You could just buy my 7mm complete long range set up with some 168 vlds and brass. The whole works and all the work is done. I'm getting .315 MOA with it and I don't think I've fired it 25 times I was lucky and everything just worked right away.
 
Quote: Thanks very much, so your throat is cut to 3.448?

The throat is not 3.448, The OAL of the cartridge is 3.448 with the 180 Berger touching the lands. (Just so there's no confusion).
The bolt face/lands would be about 2.725, basically saami spec.
 
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I would not think that there would be much if any performance gain by seating another .200 or so farther out.You have enough room for an STW,although not a big performance leap over the 7 mag.
I would personally use a saami chamber in the 7 mag and have room to chase the lands.
Collet dies work well.Some may take a little tuning up but for the price you pay and the performance you get,it's well worth the effort.
 
Check the Berger Web site as they have a video on loading the VLD. Recommend using special dies made by Redding. Grouse River sells them. Little Pricey. Come with a micrometer on top and a special bullet holder that works with the extra long VLD.
 
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