Thoughts on 7mm WSM?

Variations of the 7mm WSM, either the RSAUM, or 7mm loadings based on either the 300WSM or 270 WSM (the 7mm WSM neck is felt to be too short) are used for F-class. Many matches have been won with this loading. Pushing a 180gn match bullet this is a definite winner for competition, and is hard to beat for most long range hunting applications.

Have a look at the 7mm loading page at 6mmbr.com for more flavors and details about 7mm magnum variations.

I have competed with several variations, I am now looking seriously at the simple .284 win mag.
 
7mmwsm great cartridge

Had one built by Hart with 24" fluted and same stock as one on 6mmbr Mc Millan worked a load with 140gr Acubonds at 3300fps.witha LPS 2.5 to 10x Leupold was extreemly accurate, just under 1" at 300y. Gun was light and recoil was quite noticable.
really sorry I sold it.
With berger 180gr bullets it would be a great longrange rig

100_1507700hart.jpg
 
Very interesting. I have a new build in the works but it will be a 280AI, but I did give serious consideration to the 7mm WSM. I kinda like the look of this rifle though and may do something similar with the stock. Thanks for posting.
 
Had one built by Hart with 24" fluted and same stock as one on 6mmbr Mc Millan worked a load with 140gr Acubonds at 3300fps.witha LPS 2.5 to 10x Leupold was extreemly accurate, just under 1" at 300y. Gun was light and recoil was quite noticable.
really sorry I sold it.
With berger 180gr bullets it would be a great longrange rig

100_1507700hart.jpg

That's what I'm looking for, only with a brake and an adjustable cheek piece. Great looking rifle!
 
Two years ago I was on a mission to build the best possible all-around gun for hunting Alberta and this is the calibre I chose. The rifle was supposed to be a coyote/moose gun(and everything in between). While there are many fine calibres that would fit the bill for a "one gun guy"(which I am not), I decided that the 7wsm would be just about the best after considering bullet choices(especially for long range), velocity, recoil, reloading components...
I had PGW build me one on their Coyote platform. It has worked out great so far. I don't shoot competition but have done a fair bit of long range work with it this summer/fall and have been very happy with the results. 1" groups at 300m get boring so long range is the only way to keep things interesting with this calibre /rifle combination.
I have to add, while I was convinced that Berger bullets would give me the best results with this calibre, I found them to be very finicky to load for both in the 168gr and 180gr. So as usual I went back to Sierra Matchkings and problem solved, easy to load for and accurate as hell.
0383.jpg
 
I have a Win M70 in 7WSM and love it. I find it kicks harder though in comparable weight rifles than any 7RM i've shot.
 
I had planned on the 7wsm for a custom build target platform but changed plans once I read about the short barrel life of 900 to 1200 rnds. I went with a 284 Win that should be good for 3000 or better.
The 7wsm will be the next build but strictly as a hunting platform.
 
If you are going to be dealing with recoil and wanting to go long range get something that will do the job properly not something marginal.

Stick with the larger .338 chamberings ( Edge, Lapua , etc....)
 
They are a powerful accurate cartridge, but terrible, and i mean terrible for accurate barrel life. 7WSM is competitive for only 700-1000 rounds. It is the cost of doing business if you are hard core, but a plain onld 284 has more than double the barrel life and gives up VERY little.
 
I think it's important to consider that "competitive" may not matter to the casual target shooter and LR enthusiast. The rifle may not shoot in the .2's and .3's anymore after 700-1000 rounds, but for a non-competition LR rifle to hold 0.5-0.75MOA until it hits 1500-2000 rounds, I'm pretty happy with that. The 7WSM is about performance, which comes at a price whether in automotive or shooting applications. My perfect LR target and hunting battery would consist of a .223, a .260AI, a 7WSM, and a .338LapuaAI or .50BMG. Add a couple of lightweight Kimber Montana or NULA rifles in .243 and 7WSM, and I'm set for general-purpose and mountain hunting, as well as the LR precision/tactical type shooting.

F-class or other formal competition would lead me to different decisions, but it sounds like the OP is more concerned with LR informal target shooting and hunting.
 
Great info guys, I will also check into the 284, I looked at the 338 edge but I think at this point it's more rifle than I need.
As far as barrel life 1000 rds would take me a while to go through at which point I would re-barrel anyway if I had to.

So pros:
Great calibre
Commercially available ammo
Fairly versatile round

Cons:
Barrel life
Possibly recoil( I will be using a brake anyway)
 
add to the cons list...

mediocre brass
recoil


If you're just going to informally have fun, nothing wrong with it at all, and even in competition they are incredible, but chasing lands with VLD bullets and throat wear are its curse. I would personally go the 7-300WSM and take advantage of the longer neck, but it is still an ultra high performance round.
 
I think it's important to consider that "competitive" may not matter to the casual target shooter and LR enthusiast. The rifle may not shoot in the .2's and .3's anymore after 700-1000 rounds, but for a non-competition LR rifle to hold 0.5-0.75MOA until it hits 1500-2000 rounds, I'm pretty happy with that. The 7WSM is about performance, which comes at a price whether in automotive or shooting applications. My perfect LR target and hunting battery would consist of a .223, a .260AI, a 7WSM, and a .338LapuaAI or .50BMG. Add a couple of lightweight Kimber Montana or NULA rifles in .243 and 7WSM, and I'm set for general-purpose and mountain hunting, as well as the LR precision/tactical type shooting.

F-class or other formal competition would lead me to different decisions, but it sounds like the OP is more concerned with LR informal target shooting and hunting.

No 308... JP.
 
I think it's important to consider that "competitive" may not matter to the casual target shooter and LR enthusiast. The rifle may not shoot in the .2's and .3's anymore after 700-1000 rounds, but for a non-competition LR rifle to hold 0.5-0.75MOA until it hits 1500-2000 rounds, I'm pretty happy with that. The 7WSM is about performance, which comes at a price whether in automotive or shooting applications. My perfect LR target and hunting battery would consist of a .223, a .260AI, a 7WSM, and a .338LapuaAI or .50BMG. Add a couple of lightweight Kimber Montana or NULA rifles in .243 and 7WSM, and I'm set for general-purpose and mountain hunting, as well as the LR precision/tactical type shooting.

F-class or other formal competition would lead me to different decisions, but it sounds like the OP is more concerned with LR informal target shooting and hunting.

Wow! I don't want to insult anyone but do we share a brain? I shoot both the .260AI and the 7wsm, I am building a 6SLR(.243win variant) and next years build will be a .338 Lapua Improved. I guess we see the shooting world through the same rose coloured glasses.
 
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