So it does. Thanks for the heads up, my mind defaults to 3.340 for long action cartridges but evidently that's not ALWAYS the case.
I wonder what the reasoning was behind that...
How hard is it to get the 7mm Rem Mag to shoot?
- Thread starter Fox
- Start date
I wonder what the reasoning was behind that...
I've wondered the same thing ( as well as a slightly lower max. pressure for the 7mmRem Mag ).
Dan Said : Larger case capacity I believe, sort of like the wsm cartridges. I just came across some 7 prc at the range the other day, it's an interesting looking case. Sort of a 7 wsm on steroids. - dan
Pretty sure you were talking 7 PRC
Yea ! Ok
And the short lead throat
RJAnd the short lead throat
I looked back at seven different 7mm Rem Mag rifles I've messed with and the average OAL was 3.318" and average jump was .129"
None were hard to load for accuracy wise. I even shot groups despite them being hunting rifles
I use 162gr ELD-M's and 171gr Barnes Burners, the cartridge and rifle combo group great, and I've taken it out to 1000m and it was probably the easiest cartridge to dial in I've tried yet. Grouped very well at all range.
Nice rifle.
Dorian Gray
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I've only owned one and didn't handload for it. It was a Tikka T3 stainless model. That gun shot probably the smallest 3 shot group I've ever put down range with any rifle. About .4 MOA. 150gr Core-Lokt factory rounds. As others have stated, recoil is on par with a 30-06, give or take a few lbs.
I shouldn't have moved it along, but I traded it off late last year. I'm moving to lighter recoiling rifles that will get the job done just as well at the ranges I hunt at, but won't beat the #### out of me in the process. I still run an -06 sometimes, but its days might be numbered.
I'm not trying to talk anyone out of one. It's an amazing cartridge that can do anything in NA. It's just that I've had my flirtation with it, and it's not my cup of tea anymore.
If I were inclined to do it all again, I'd run 140gr Accubond's or something of the like and try to get them to 3200+ FPS out of it. Speed kills. Fast. And within 400 yards or so, nothings getting away from that.
I shouldn't have moved it along, but I traded it off late last year. I'm moving to lighter recoiling rifles that will get the job done just as well at the ranges I hunt at, but won't beat the #### out of me in the process. I still run an -06 sometimes, but its days might be numbered.
I'm not trying to talk anyone out of one. It's an amazing cartridge that can do anything in NA. It's just that I've had my flirtation with it, and it's not my cup of tea anymore.
If I were inclined to do it all again, I'd run 140gr Accubond's or something of the like and try to get them to 3200+ FPS out of it. Speed kills. Fast. And within 400 yards or so, nothings getting away from that.
I was not questioning checking your POI with a 3 shot group but when working up loads I do not see why you would not use a 5 shot group.
If heat is the problem then leave the bolt open and wait, let the gun stay cool and shoot your group. The reason for the 5 shot group is to actually see the variations that are not seen with a 3 shot group.
I haveshot 3 shot groups that were all touching at 100 yards yet 5 shots opened up to 2 MOA, yet shot a 3 shot group that was 1 MOA and stayed 1 MOA with the 5 shots, which one is the better load? I would say the 1 MOA 3 shot group over the clover leaf 3 shot group, because of the variation on the other 2 shots per group.
If heat is the problem then leave the bolt open and wait, let the gun stay cool and shoot your group. The reason for the 5 shot group is to actually see the variations that are not seen with a 3 shot group.
I haveshot 3 shot groups that were all touching at 100 yards yet 5 shots opened up to 2 MOA, yet shot a 3 shot group that was 1 MOA and stayed 1 MOA with the 5 shots, which one is the better load? I would say the 1 MOA 3 shot group over the clover leaf 3 shot group, because of the variation on the other 2 shots per group.
For any cartridge to shoot accurately, hand-load your own ammunition. For higher velocities, purchase a rifle with a 26" barrel and slow burning gun powder, Alliant Reloder #26 would be a great start, if it can be located. Best of luck, the journey is the enjoyment. 
Good to know. I wonder if they're throated for long heavy bullets, and if they have longer magazines so you don't have to seat the bullets so far into the case... if the dimensions are the same as older 7Rem Mag rifles, just a faster twist, it still makes more sense to go with the PRC for heavy bullets IMO.
This is why the Tikka has been something I want to avoid. If I am going to push that much powder and create a long range hunting rig then why shoot old school bullets, I prefer heavy for caliber at more realistic velocities than blistering speeds with light bullets.
Anything Alliant is like hens teeth now, I have lots of 4831, that would be my go to if I end up with a rifle.For any cartridge to shoot accurately, hand-load your own ammunition. For higher velocities, purchase a rifle with a 26" barrel and slow burning gun powder, Alliant Reloder #26 would be a great start, if it can be located. Best of luck, the journey is the enjoyment.
I just had a look at Brownings website. Its only a handful of models from Browning with an 8 twist in 7RemMag, lots of em still use 9.5, and they tend to be the more expensive (and less common) models with an 8, so make sure to double check.
If you don't want one of the more expensive xbolt models, or want to buy used, you're probably gonna have a hard time finding a fast twist Rem Mag though.
Checked some numbers with the Berger Stabilization Calculator, seems like the 1 in 9.5in will stabilize pretty much everything but the highest BC bullets. Even the 180gr VLD hunting is almost completely stable at moderate reloading velocities. The Barnes a 150gr TTSX will stabilize and also the 160gr TSX flat base.
Hmm, may be time to start saving from side work, ha ha.
Hmm, may be time to start saving from side work, ha ha.
You can play around a fair bit on the 7-mag. The 3.290 COAL specification is certainly limiting. The cartridge on the left is a handload with a Speer 160gr soft point loaded to max OAL for my T3X magazine, right around 3.360". On the right is a Federal 160gr factory load with a Nosler Partition. Even with the extended COAL, my handload is still jumping a fair bit to the lands. And the Tikka is limited by mag length, most other rifles should have a a bit more room to play around with.
I've got the 145gr LRX loaded to the same 3.360" COAL and the amount of jump is in line with what I would normally start with for a mono bullet, right around 0.050".
I've got the 145gr LRX loaded to the same 3.360" COAL and the amount of jump is in line with what I would normally start with for a mono bullet, right around 0.050".
This is what I have. an M77 MKII
It is still in it's factory stock but this rifle was trued and bedded by Joseph Dlask and is perhaps the most reliably accurate hunting rifle I own.
The only modification I made was replacing the factory buttpad with a Limbsaver pad. For me that made such a huge difference in offhand shooting. I don't have a lot of meat on my shoulder and I'm not a very big guy at 5 10 , 160lbs and the recoil impulse was pretty painful after a few shots LOL With the limbsaver I don't even notice recoil in the hunting scenario although after a couple groups on targets I'm looking to shoot something else
