7mm Rem Mag & 175 gr. Bullets

[X-man]

I'm posting this question for a friend, as I don't have any experience with this bullet weight to speak of. He's shooting factory Remington Core-Lockt 175 gr 7mm Rem Mag ammo and he wants to know his optimal zero. He's using a Remington 700, sporter weight barrel that's 24" long. I told him to just zero it for 200 yards and forget it, but he wants to know what his point blank aim should be. I'm guessing its somewhere in the vicinity of 250-275 yards? Anyone want to jump in here?

 

[Rembo]

I'd have him shoot it at 100 yds, 200 yds and 300 yds and then you know for sure. I don't trust 'ballistic charts" at all. I've seen too many discrepencies.....after all , how can they take all the variables into account?

 

[t-star]

i'd second dong your own"ballistic chart"- that way you'll know for sure-there's aslo a difference in the bullets between a remington and a winchester- sure the factories publish their own charts, but you don't know how that'll handle in your rifle- with the 7mm it's liable to to be a little closer to 300 - with a b/c of 385 you only drop 5.6 inches between 200 and 300- 15.6 out to 400 with a 300 yard zero- so you see where the drop off is

 

[1899]

Even if you knew the BC, it would be useless unless you chronographed the ammo. The advice is good, test the rifle on the range.

 

[Gatehouse]

2" high at 100 should pt him in the kill zone out to around 300 yards. MPBR would be a zero around 250-265.

Zero it 2" high at 100, then shoot at 200,300, like everyone else has said.. :wink:

 

[huntinstuff]

x2 Gatehouse

 

[Demonical]

I agree with Rembo, as I found out by Chrono'ing my buddies 7mm, factory 7mm Rem ammo ain't always what the ballistics tables list.
The only way to know for sure is to practice at various ranges.

But even though it doesn't always live up to the ballistics tables, it will certainly be flat enough shooting that you would be able to take a 200 or 250 yard zero and just forget about it...

 

[Rembo]

I agree with Rembo, as I found out by Chrono'ing my buddies 7mm, factory 7mm Rem ammo ain't always what the ballistics tables list.
The only way to know for sure is to practice at various ranges.

But even though it doesn't always live up to the ballistics tables, it will certainly be flat enough shooting that you would be able to take a 200 or 250 yard zero and just forget about it...

factory 7mag ammo is very slooooooow.....I chronyed 175 WW Power Points out of my brother's M70 at 2750ish. The Hornady 162 gr factory load was a bit better at 2875ish. IIRC. Haven't tried any of the Heavy Magnum loads. Handloading the 7mm Rem Mag is almost imperative to obtain good velocity. I had one in a 700 ADL a few years ago that I loaded to an honest 3400 with a 140 Ballisitic Tip, but it was a bit hot, backed off a grain to 3350,it was more accurate. Handloading 175's should get you to 2900-2950.

 

[X-man]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I'll pass along the info. Give us an excuse to hit the range despite all the yard work we both have finish before the snow comes!