7prc or 7mag

[Shumba1]

I went through this exact same thing your going through. What I eventually end up doing was having my factory Rem700 7RM completely redone. I kept it a 7RM, new barrel, throated for 180 Berger Hybrids, timney hit trigger, bolt fluted and a new stock. I couldn't be happier with it. I got exactly what I wanted for my rifle. The topper was that I got to customizey rifle exactly how I wanted it to be.
My suggestion would be to build the rifle you want regardless of the caliber, etc.. In the end, I think you'll be much happier with it and having a really good gunsmith work with you on it, is a bonus.
Best of luck on your journey and enjoy it.

what rate of twist on the new barrel?

 

[shedhunt]

what rate of twist on the new barrel?

Was supposed to be a 8.4 twist, but ended up being a 9 twist. Couldn't be happier, shoots lights out. Barrel is a 24" Proof CF Sendero.

I have 2 other buddies who all built 7RM at same time thru same gunsmith, they went with the 8.4 twist in the Proof CF light Sendero 24".

They are shooting same bullet as me and all 3 are shooters.

 

[std7mag]

For me here in PA, there isn't anything I can't bring down with a 150gr bullet in my 7mm-08AI.
Or 280 Rem, or 284 Win for that matter.

I do have a 7mm Rem Mag and a 7mm Weatherby Magnum.
Heaviest I shoot in both of those are 168gr.

I don't NEED to shoot 180gr+.
So I have zero desire for the 7PRC.

I still have several more 7mms that I want.

1) 7mm LRM
2) 7.21 Lazzeroni Tomahawk.
3) 280AI

If I happen to run across either a 28 Nosler or 7mm Dakota at a price I can afford, I won't turn them down.

 

[kgarrett]

I've got a Fierce 7 RM that has been my primary hunting rifle for a decade. I purchased it right when they came out. I don't need another 7 mm, or another rifle for that matter.

But if the right 280AI came along I'd have a hard time saying no.

 

[blksno]

Do you mean assuming SAMMI or CIP originally specified twist rate?

28 Nosler seems to be specified as 1:9
7 Rem Mag seems to be specified as 1:9.5
7 PRC seems to be specified as 1:8

However, not every rifle manufacturer sticks to that exactly. A builder doesn't have to use "proper" twist rate.

My Semi-Custom 260 and DTA SRS were built/bought before the 6.5 CM was created and have tighter twist than "proper".

The semi-custom 260 Rem is 1:8 like a 6.5 ManBun so I get to use the same bullets as a Creedmoor but with a bit more powder. My 260 could even be a 1:7.5 or 1:7 but my notes, receipts and build logs are at the shop and I'm not. DTA used 1:8.5 on the SRS 260 barrel, so faster than OE 1:9 for the 260.

Creedmoor lovers, I get it, don't be haters. The "advantage" of a 6.5 CM over a 260 is twist rate. Make the 260 with the same twist and that "advantage" goes away. Sure, you can then go to COAL and just nit pick it to death. Boring.

Weatherby Mark V uses 1:8 for 7mm PRC and 1:9 for the Nosler and Rem Mag making bullet range the same for the Nosler and Rem Mag. They offer up to 180 Berger VLD factory load for the 28 Nosler. Interesting that for the 7mm PRC, Weatherby goes to the 177 Hammer Hunter but the 28 gets the 165 Hammer Hunter. Remember Weatherby "guarantee" sub-moa with Weatherby ammo.

A Weatherby Vanguard 7 Rem Mag is going to be original spec 1:9.5. Japanese adherence to specifications?

The point of all that is that bullet weight is not as tightly coupled to chambering as "proper" suggest. Any builder, be it factory, semi-custom or full custom can choose any twist rate for any caliber+chambering as desired. I certainly do.

That was a lot of words that missed the point of "propper"

I dont give a spit what the book twist should be for the cartridge
I mean, proper twist for the bullet weight I listed...which makes them optimized for a Mag fed rifle. Be it box or blind.

Makes no sense to put a 7 or 8 twist in a 28 Nosler because you're not going to Mag feed a 195 Berger in it anyway.
You could single feed it, but that's andifferent bag of worms.
The bullet weights and corresponding twist suggestions I listed, are the optimal for the case length to run in a standard repeating action with a blind or box mag.

 

[SteveBurton]

Makes no sense to put a 7 or 8 twist in a 28 Nosler because you're not going to Mag feed a 195 Berger in it anyway.
You could single feed it, but that's andifferent bag of worms.
The bullet weights and corresponding twist suggestions I listed, are the optimal for the case length to run in a standard repeating action with a blind or box mag.

I run the 195s in my 28 Nosler and they fit in the internal box magazine easily. It's the only 7mm I own and I can't think of another 7mm cartridge I would want. Oh, I can send the 195s at 3175 fps also. I'm not worried about barrels, it's a hunting rifle. Barrels are a commodity, and I have a 6.5 CM and a 308 Win to shoot a lot.

 

[southpa]

For me here in PA, there isn't anything I can't bring down with a 150gr bullet in my 7mm-08AI.
Or 280 Rem, or 284 Win for that matter.

I do have a 7mm Rem Mag and a 7mm Weatherby Magnum.
Heaviest I shoot in both of those are 168gr.

I don't NEED to shoot 180gr+.
So I have zero desire for the 7PRC.

I still have several more 7mms that I want.

1) 7mm LRM
2) 7.21 Lazzeroni Tomahawk.
3) 280AI

If I happen to run across either a 28 Nosler or 7mm Dakota at a price I can afford, I won't turn them down.

What do you consider as a price "you can afford...."
Seems like a want add to me?

 

[blksno]

I run the 195s in my 28 Nosler and they fit in the internal box magazine easily. It's the only 7mm I own and I can't think of another 7mm cartridge I would want. Oh, I can send the 195s at 3175 fps also. I'm not worried about barrels, it's a hunting rifle. Barrels are a commodity, and I have a 6.5 CM and a 308 Win to shoot a lot.

And I run them at 3050 in a Rem Mag with WAY less powder.

 

[Trm82]

I'm about to pull the trigger on a fierce carbon rival in one of the 7s but can't decide which one to get. I was wanting a 22" barrel but I've been seeing slow velocities with the 22" so maybe I'll get a 24" instead. What's everyone's experience with velocity in 22" barrels and opinions on 7prc vs 7mag. The fierce comes with 8.5 twist in 7 mag so I'd still be able to shoot heavier bullets

I had one like you want with a 22" 7 prc and I F'ed around trying to get 175 elites to shoot for about 3 weeks when I had the time to get out with it. I've shot those bullets in a lot of guns and never had an issue getting them to shoot very accurately . That gun was a pile of
I got the 175 EH doing 2940 fps with RL 26 though.
It had no consistency and then I had extraction issues so it's gone .
Save your money and don't buy Fierce .
I had four back to back all with issues

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

I wouldn't touch a Fierce rifle…I do not like POT LUCK.

As to which one, I wouldn't touch a 7PRC either.
7STW is king in 7mm.

Cheers.

If you want speed in your 7mm, yup 7stw is about where you want to be.
I've owned a number of 7rem rifles, and unless you are dealing with really high pressures 2800-2900 fps is about all a 7rem is getting with a 175-180. I am running start charges in my 7rum and doing 2900 fps with a 175. One of these days I might hit the throttle to see where she tops out.
I'd think about a 7x300win over either the 7rem or 7prc if I were building from scratch today. There's good 300win brass out there and you can do whatever you want on the chamber/twist and do pretty well. If I didn't have brass for the 7rem, 7stw, and 7rum I'd go there with today's brass supply issues.

 

[southpa]

If you want speed in your 7mm, yup 7stw is about where you want to be.
I've owned a number of 7rem rifles, and unless you are dealing with really high pressures 2800-2900 fps is about all a 7rem is getting with a 175-180. I am running start charges in my 7rum and doing 2900 fps with a 175. One of these days I might hit the throttle to see where she tops out.
I'd think about a 7x300win over either the 7rem or 7prc if I were building from scratch today. There's good 300win brass out there and you can do whatever you want on the chamber/twist and do pretty well. If I didn't have brass for the 7rem, 7stw, and 7rum I'd go there with today's brass supply issues.

I also own a number of 7RMs. They are all over 3100fps with 175/180s. With no pressure signs. There are a multitude of posts on this thread showing similar results. Even mid 3000s with 195s....your 7rms should have plenty more left than what you're claiming they are capable of.