7mm Rem Mag

conor_90

conor_90

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So due to some warranty issues with another firearm I have ended up with a Tikka t3 in 7mm Rem Mag.

I selected the cartridge on a whim because I thought of it as "fast and flat" and went with the tikka because I wanted to switch out its wooden stock onto my .338 wm model. I also think these two calibers are a good pair.

This is my first foray into "fast and flat" and I guess we will see if the 7mm really is that because there seems to be a lot of hate on the old internet for it.

So what bullets are you guys using and shooting from these? I am trying to settle on a bullet weight; 175 grain performance seems pretty similar to a 30-06 for all the powder burned. Am I out to lunch here?
 
I use 160's all the time in mine. I did load some 150tsx for my dad and they shoot good and have some 145 Barnes LRX to try if I'm bored.
You'll get a few in the light fast 140 camp and some like to fling the 168 bergers, for hunting the 150's go plenty fast and the 160's are plenty heavy enough, and will knock down about anything around here.
 
I have an older 7mm with a slow twist - so the heavy bullets aren't its favourite. I have found 150g or 154g bullets are its preferred diet for fast and accurate; but yours will obviously vary. In the meantime, you get to do a lot of shooting to find the right one for your barrel. I like the calibre, I will stick with it for years to come.
 
I use 150g Nosler BT and R22 for 3200fps, lots of long range hunting here.
However this load failed miserably on a moose at 40 yards.
 
150 Ballistic tips for deer, or 160 Accubonds for everything. If your rifle will shoot them the 150 LR Accubond will startle you at long range. 140 TSX if you like following things around for awhile.
 
You are 100% correct. The 7mm rem mag carries decent down range energy. The better BC over the 30.06 will result in less bullet drop, better wind bucking and more energy down range. Don't believe the hate, the 7mm remmie can do very well. The very overbore case can chew a lot of powder and is probably not as Efficient as the new wsm. But it definitely will outshoot a lot of things. I used to love knocking a big steel gong at 900 odd meters and watching it swing and hearing the clang, my shooting buddies with lighter rifles, well we had to use a spotter to call their hits because at that range the energy wasn't enough to move the heavy gong and the sound got last in the echoes. I used to load 162gr amax, around 3000fps. Play with your loads and find what works.
 
Have a survey of the bullets available from Berger, to get an idea of what may work for you. Obviously lighter bullets will go faster, but low drag bullets hold the velocity longer, and drift less in the wind. So, if your plan is to shoot longer distances it pays to find bullets with a high G7 Ballistic Coeficient. The good news is that the 7mm is about the ideal caliber for ballistic performance and there are many good bullets. If you look at the Form Factor, it compensates BC for weight and higher velocity, to make the choice of bullets even easier. Lower Form Factor is better.

In the hunting bullet category, the 175 grain Elite Hunter may be a good choice, as it has a low form factor. The 195 grain has an even lower Form Factor, but it obviously will not shoot as flat. It will drift less in the wind though.

If target shooting only the 180 grain VLD and Hybrid look good.

Watch the twist required as these are long bullets. Also watch the COAL as the Elite bullets are designed for maximum performance, and not necessarily to fit your magazine, unless you seat them deep.
 
I discovered this 7mm mag last year and have been toying with it.
Got an older Vangard awll gussied up.
Did the detach mag conversion and it sure lightened up this gal.
Might need to drop some powder weight as there is a tendency to buck a bit.
 
Dogleg said:
150 Ballistic tips for deer, or 160 Accubonds for everything. If your rifle will shoot them the 150 LR Accubond will startle you at long range. 140 TSX if you like following things around for awhile.
Click to expand...

Why no love for the 140 tsx? I just started using it and have only shot 1 deer so far but it worked well. Was planning on using it for elk and moose.
 
Curious about the 140 too.

I usually shoot cup and core or bonded bullets from my other rifles but I was considering going to a mono in this one.

Looking forward to trying my hand at 300-400 yard shooting. Not sure if I will be in Southern AB or Northern BC next hunting season but the rifle will perform well in either place.
 
conor_90 said:
So due to some warranty issues with another firearm I have ended up with a Tikka t3 in 7mm Rem Mag.

I selected the cartridge on a whim because I thought of it as "fast and flat" and went with the tikka because I wanted to switch out its wooden stock onto my .338 wm model. I also think these two calibers are a good pair.

This is my first foray into "fast and flat" and I guess we will see if the 7mm really is that because there seems to be a lot of hate on the old internet for it.

So what bullets are you guys using and shooting from these? I am trying to settle on a bullet weight; 175 grain performance seems pretty similar to a 30-06 for all the powder burned. Am I out to lunch here?
Click to expand...

Yes, WAY out to lunch. 175gr bullets are a throwback to a time where bullet weight made up for the sins of poor construction. Today you have many better options in the 140-160gr weight class that will penetrate better, expand more reliably and (obviously with the lower weight) shoot flatter. A well built 140gr bullet like the Swift Scirocco or Nosler Accubond would be my choice for deer hunting. If I was inclined to shoot moose or elk with it I think that I would have to step up in weight to a 160gr bullet and maybe even to a Partition or A-Frame design. That could just be me...I love the Partition and I don't think that you could go wrong with it. Even in the 160 grain loads you'll be getting a shade north of 3000 FPS (unless you reload like Douglas) and the 140s are a real screamer for open country at around 3300fps. Neither would be a bad choice and both would probably work just fine but I tend to be a heavy for caliber guy in the end.
 
Elk and or Moose are an over the counter possibility in either region I would be hunting in.

Sounds like you are confirming what I thought about the 175's. What I mean to say is for the gains over non magnum 30 cals and powder burnt; the 175's do not seem worth it...
 
I use the 150 accubond LR at about 3220-3250 fps and it hits hard. I've got some 150 swift scirocco IIs but I haven't loaded them up yet.
 
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