Whitetail Load: 7MM Rem Mag Reprocussions

If you want to save meat you are going the wrong way weight wise (big bullets are slower and are usually tougher) and you probably want a tough premium bullet or something like the 154 Hornady.
The 100 Sierra will go off like a bomb.

If recoil is an issue get rid of the 7Mag and get a 260, 7X57, or something easy on the brain (and arm)....Dead is dead bro.

Magnum don't mean chit in the real world.
 
Just use a standard load and hit the deer low in the lungs, you won't destroy anything you wanted to eat. Any expanding bullet that hits meat will damage it, so place your shot accordingly. 7mm isn't going to hit you hard with a fall / winter jacket on. Get a recoil pad for when you practice at the range in the summer with a t shirt on.
 
DrawBlood said:
The gun was a gift from my recently deceased Grandfather, getting rid of it is not an option.
Click to expand...

Just run a starting load with a heavier bullet and you will find less recoil and less meat loss. My Hornady manual lists minimum loads with 154gr. bullets (pick an Interbond or equivalent for toughness and less explosive expansion) starting at 2600fps, with maximum loads up to 2900-3000fps. There are also numerous bullet choices around 162-165gr. that are suitable as well. Keep the velocity below 2800fps and you will feel the difference on your shoulder and the deer will drop just the same as if hit with a full house load.

I shot two deer last fall with a 6.5x55 using Federal blue box ammo that had a 140gr. bullet running at a leisurely 2400-2450fps, they both fell over and went nowhere after being shot. Your 7mm will do the same, even at less than max loads. Shot placement is far more important than a monster magnum.

As another thought, look at adding a Limbsaver or Decelerator recoil pad to the rifle, they make a huge difference in felt recoil.

Mark
 
I'd also load to reduced velocities using published data (Speer for instance) with powders like SR4759 or 4198. The 100 gr HP is not for deer - sorry - if you stick with the 130-145 grain bullets with lighter construction and you wont have any expansion issues. It's been said to death but it's still about shot placement. I imagine you're considering your shoulder more when you practise at the bench - some ways around that pain that work better than others but you won't feel any recoil when you take a shot at a deer.
 
Have you thought about cast loads
145g at less than 2000fps or 168g at less than 2000 fps would give you almost the same as a factory jacket 30-30 but less recoil because of the heaver weight of the 7 MM
and if you wanted lighter a lower charge weight could bring it down to 1500-1800 fps
 
I wouldnt' use the 100 hp's on deer....maybe head and neck shots.

How about a starting load for a 160 gr. (around 2700 fps) or 175 grain bullets (around 2550-2600 fps)

Partition, accubond - 154 gr. Interbond is nice too .

Another notable soft load is a 140 gr. Nosler partition with Trail boss powder 17.2 grains to 24.5 grains gives about 1400 fps-1724 fps
 
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