Best 7mm cartridge?

[Creedmoor shooter]

I haven't researched the max much, I know a 28 nosler should push a 180gr up to 3200 fps in a 28" easily. So a 7 Sherman max can do 3150 in a 28" with a 180gr? Chances are a fellow would have to take the lower node at around 3050 or be on the edge of pressure at this higher node. which is very impressive performance and it's likely he could get to a node around 3050 in a 26". I like both cartridges. I know of nothing bad to say about either. I'm not sure it's it's comparing apples to apples on the 28N vs 7 max. Just thinking out loud here, like I said I don't know enough about the 7 Sherman max to go much farther with my presumptions.

I dont have personal experience with any of the sherman line. They are undoubtedly a great line of cartridges! But 14 grains difference is ALOT!

 

[Shooter 69]

7stw is sweet !!!! Shoot Berger 195 over 3000 FPS.

 

[DocDoc]

And with a given powder, bullet, barrel length, and pressure, there is only so much gas you can push through a .284 inch hole to propell a bullet. Perhaps the Max is closer to the "goldilocks" conditions?

Also, velocity does not go up at the same rate as the powder volume.

 

[Methow Packer]

I'm a dedicated 7mm STW nut.

If I were starting out today with my first 7mm, I would probably use the wildcate 7mm-375 Ruger because I love the case.

The 7LRM uses the .375 Rugercase but lengthens the neck and shortens reducing case capacity.

Of the standardized SAAMI rounds I'd probably go with a .28 Nosler.

Isn't what your talking about essentially a 28 Nosler? If you look it to a 375Ruger?

 

[WildRose]

Isn't what your talking about essentially a 28 Nosler? If you look it to a 375Ruger?

Nosler uses the .300 RUM as their parent case. They are very close in performance however.

 

[Wilderness Blacktail]

..... We're talking 14 grains here people........ I believe efficiency is a real thing and all, but this is one of those things that sounds too good to be true.

I gotta say that 14 grains rings a bell for me because as much as efficiency is a thing, so is inefficiency. I have a 6 5-300wby 26" that burns lot of powder but is essentially a 264wm +P. Its running a 127 LRX at 3375 nice n tight groups. 88gr LRT
Before that it's best loads are a 120 GMX at 3320 and 147 ELDM at 3090, 147 DRT at 3125.
Not apples to apples in anyway, (I know this barrel isnt fast) just that I can burn 94 grains and get 3350, in this barrel and a good fast load in a 264 will get close with a BUNCH less powder. That's life eh. haha

 

[WildRose]

I gotta say that 14 grains rings a bell for me because as much as efficiency is a thing, so is inefficiency. I have a 6 5-300wby 26" that burns lot of powder but is essentially a 264wm +P. Its running a 127 LRX at 3375 nice n tight groups. 88gr LRT
Before that it's best loads are a 120 GMX at 3320 and 147 ELDM at 3090, 147 DRT at 3125.
Not apples to apples in anyway, (I know this barrel isnt fast) just that I can burn 94 grains and get 3350, in this barrel and a good fast load in a 264 will get close with a BUNCH less powder. That's life eh. haha

This is the case with pretty much all rounds. You get to a certain point and the law of diminishing returns goes into overdrive meaning there will be less and less gain in velocity for the same increase in powder.

 

[GoosePilot]

I dont have personal experience with any of the sherman line. They are undoubtedly a great line of cartridges! But 14 grains difference is ALOT!

My improved 7mm blaser is pretty close to the 7max. I have a 24" tube, most of the 7max ive read are 26" tubes. I shoot a node at 2840fps with 68.3g h1000. Have another node at 2920fps, but that is too hot. Retumbo got that 2920 node at 69.5g. V570 should get close to 3000fps. Add 2" (26") of barrel and gain 50-70fps. So no it's not quite as fast as 28N, but its 10+ g less. With a good brake its a very mild recoil little school girls can shoot.

 

[IanCo]

I have a 7 Dakota and an extremely happy with its performance. Brass is $2 per round if you can find it, dies $200-$300. I decided on it at the time because it's right on the heels of the 28 Nosler but with probably 10gr less powder give or take. One of the downsides is there isn't much current info for reloading it, I've been pretty successful just starting with lighter STW loads and working up incrementally. But that's not for everyone either.


What I rebarrel to will be mostly decided by brass availability/cost. There wasn't much 28 Nosler brass to be had when I built and brass was $3 or so per case.

There are a lot of good cartridges in the sweet spot for 7mm and the 28 Nosler is a little past I believe for burning extra powder and not really gaining much velocity over the others.

My top choices now would be:
Any of the Sherman cartridges
7 Dakota
7mm Weatherby
7/300 or 7 Practical
7 STW
28 Nosler

These are just for magnum bolt faced cartridges. I really would like to turn a 30/06 in the closet into a 280 AI but since it came from my wife's grandpa I will definitely need her blessing on it.

There is a lot of good choices and just decide if you want to hand load or buy ammo, and if you hand load decide how much $ and effort you want to put into it. Get the right twist for shooting some of the heavier monos too, even if you don't plan on it.

With already owning a 6.5 PRC you could use that for most of your practice and have one of the bigger 7's to just use for hunting.

 

[Green Pond]

7mm LRM. A lot of people have pawned it off because the original Hornady brass sucked. But Gunwerks said they'll have their brass available for 7mm LRM in a few months. Gunwerks says they make their tooling to their specs and have ADG make the brass using their supplied fooling. This means the 7mm LRM will have excellent brass available for it now. It has the capability of pushing 180s to 3100+ and 195s to 2950-3000. Data I've seen in the past shows 180s around 3000 but using the weak Hornady brass that lasted a few shots. This cartridge falls right in the middle between the 7mmRM and the 28 Nosler, or about perfect for a long range 7mm round.

Agree. I have a gunwerks rifle in 7 LRM that shoots 180 Berger hybrids at 3,037. Most accurate rifle I have. Never had an issue with the brass.

 

[Jud96]

Agree. I have a gunwerks rifle in 7 LRM that shoots 180 Berger hybrids at 3,037. Most accurate rifle I have. Never had an issue with the brass.

I was so close to ordering everything to build a 7mm LRM a few years ago but everyone told me the brass sucked. So I decided against it. Everyone, except a few, seem to love their 7mm LRM and they all say how accurate there's is.

 

[GoosePilot]

I was so close to ordering everything to build a 7mm LRM a few years ago but everyone told me the brass sucked. So I decided against it. Everyone, except a few, seem to love their 7mm LRM and they all say how accurate there's is.

I'm not overly versed, but i think the 7lrm didnt do quite as well as "advertised" (not that it doesnt work) and then coupled with lesser brass didnt help. Seems a 7max or Blaser improved will do more, use less powder, and has better brass

 

[Wilderness Blacktail]

This is the case with pretty much all rounds. You get to a certain point and the law of diminishing returns goes into overdrive meaning there will be less and less gain in velocity for the same increase in powder.

Yup! That's why I'm goin with a more efficient cartridge when this barrel goes...I'm 99% sure! Haha
I honestly had never considered this caliber until I handed this rifle, the barrel contour being so much lighter than the previous Vanguard S2 I had to try it.
These 7mms are intriguing me I must say.

 

[Wild Monkey]

7RM-buy anywhere
7SAUM-order anywhere
7Blaser
28Coaster-Improved Blaser
7Winchester Ultra Magnum -2.5" Wildcat