Why the 7mm Rem Mag?

[Vegas777]

Second day of antelope season in NV this year we glassed a buck at 550 yards. I had not prepared myself for a 500+ yard shot with my Creedmoor, so I used the guide's 7 mm Rem Mag with Sig Sauer 162 gr bullets. Long story short, that did the trick. Now I have to go sight my Creedmoor for 500+ yard shots.

BTW, I have my own 7 mm Rem Mag built on a Santa Barbara action. Nice rifle, and I've taken a fair amount of African plains game with it, but in recent years when I get it out I just don't enjoy the recoil, so I had left it home. That was a mistake. Fortunately my guide had a loaner with a muzzle brake, and the recoil was not an issue.

Shot my antelope this year in NV as well with a 7mm mag. Wasnt planning on a 565 yd shot, but the lopes weren't cooperating this year lol. Got him on the way back to camp so was really an "awe f it shot". Ended up busting him in the front leg, so follow up shot was rather easy truth be told

 

[jdavistx]

I completely agree with VLD. Up until a few years ago I had a few 30-06 as well as .308 rifles. They were all Winchester Model 70's which I shot competitively in the Army using the 300 H&H for 1000 yard shooting. The commercial versions out of the box were a disappointment and all of them had to be accurized before they would shoot under 1 MOA. Minor changes so to speak, glass bedding and floating the barrels but they all ended up being able to shoot 1 MOA or less. A few years ago after hearing all of the hype about out of the box 1 MOA accuracy based on my previous experience of out of the box rifles I decided to try a few out. I came across a Tikka T3X in 30-06 that was little used at a good price. It was traded in by a guy that said, "It doesn't shoot very well." Actually those were not his exact words, his language was more explicit. I bought it from the dealer he traded it in to for a very good price. I put a Leupold 20 moa rail on it, topped by a Vortex Diamondback Tactical 6 x 24 x 50 in Vortex rings. Got some Sig Sauer 165 gr factory ammo and headed out to the range. To make a long story short, after sighting in the scope I fired a 5 shot group benching at 100 yards that measured a bit under 0.650. Needless to say there was nothing wrong with the rifle. I had forgotten how much fun it was playing around with different loads and trying to squeeze the best accuracy out of the rifle and that ended up creating a bit of a monster. Since the 30-06 was not out of the box new and the .270 had always intrigued me especially after reading Jack O'Conners tales so I bought another Tikka T3X this time in .270 Win. Same drill, with an identical scope setup to the 30-06 and another box of Sig Sauer ammo, this time 140 gr. This time the first two shots were way high and a little over 3/4 of an inch right. Adjusted the scope accordingly and brought the group down close to the center, did some fine tuning and fired the group shown on the picture of he target. Note that I was shooting with a gusty cross wind, about 10 gusting to 15 and trying to shoot between gusts, missed one gust which is the flyer out to the left 1 inch, validating Tikka's claim to 1 MOA or less out of the box. So now what is next. Some of you may remember my stories of .300 Win Mag past and present. New challenge is a Browning AB3. It's already shooting at 1 MOA + - but more fine tuning to come.

For long range hunting, I'd work on the MOA problem, rather than the caliber, or gun. Considering down range energy, of course. The goal might be 1/4 MOA.

 

[jdavistx]

For long range hunting, I'd work on the MOA problem, rather than the caliber, or gun. Considering down range energy, of course. The goal might be 1/4 MOA.

A 550 yard shot on an antelope @ 1 MOA is 5.75" Not considering environmentals. Probably not a clean kill.

 

[SSgt G Cody]

Personally, I love the .270 Win with 130 Sciroccos for larger deer and black bear, but for 600 yards and more I lean to the 7mm RemMag with 160s! Each has its place! A boning knife is for smaller cuts, a cleaver is for big ones!

 

[jdavistx]

Personally, I love the .270 Win with 130 Sciroccos for larger deer and black bear, but for 600 yards and more I lean to the 7mm RemMag with 160s! Each has its place! A boning knife is for smaller cuts, a cleaver is for big ones!

Gee, multiple rifles for different purposes? You figured it out!

 

[Lenny Foffa]

Thanks Biebs!!! Its on the bucket list. I wont do anything until I get suggestions from You. SSGt Cody, I will be taking my Ultralight in 270 Win to Lily Pond Creek, In North Carolina this coming November. They said they shoot most deer between 100 and 200 yards. Do you know this place??? Not Long Range Hunting , but just fine for me and my favorite whitetail rifle. As for me, if an outfitter says 300 yards and Longer , I will probably take my 270 Weatherby Mag.

 

[Silent Hammer]

2880fps 143 grain with a Needmore? Pretty stretchy, maybe with 120s.
Don't pretend it's a 6.5-06 or PRC, even with a 26" barrel

 

[jdavistx]

"Why the 7mm Rem Mag" (?)

7RM, 2950fps MV, 0.26MOA, 5 shots, Berger 168gr hunting VLD, H1000, 69gr, Schneider Alaskan 22" barrel, Predator action blued and trued. One hole with a 0.284 round. 3 clicks right, 3 clicks down and bingo! The secret is getting close to the lands.

 

[Rocketeer77]

WOW!!! I am curious to know what 6.5 ammo can reach out and get 1500 ft lb of energy at 600 yards. The best I can find anywhere runs a little over 1000 ft lbs at 500 yards. I actually would like to buy or duplicate that ammo. Can you fill me in on what you are using? Thanks.

140gr match at 2900 FPS Iis 1300 ft/lb @ 500 yards? That's on paper and I have not seen a CR getting thise velocities with 140gr projectiles.

 

[Rocketeer77]

Fairly easy with 140's and some H4350 loads or RL16 and 17

You're looking at 3000 FPS from a Creedmore with 140's very ambitious

 

[MagnumManiac]

I honestly don't understand the recoil argument. To me, none of the 7, 30 or 33 cal magnums are bothersome, even in very light rifles. In fact, if you look at the weight of a Ruger M77 MK II in 300WM or 338WM with the boat paddle stock, you will see they are 10+ lbs….but they kick like a mule.
I owned both, horrible is the only word to describe either….off a bench.
However, most of us do not hunt off a bench, or even bi-pods. I never notice the recoil from hunting using my pack, a tree or a log.
It seems to me that everyone has it in their heads that the recoil thing is more important than anything else.
I shoot big cartridges in relatively light rifles, my 416 Rigby only weighs 9lbs, I run it up to 2550fps with a 410g RNSP for Buffalo. My 375 Weatherby is 10lbs and run 300g PP bullets at 2850fps or 260g at 3000fps.
In comparison to these, the other magnums, which I have 270 Bee, 7STW, 300WM ranging in 8lb to 15lb rifles, 300 RUM, 300 Bee, 340 Bee, 338WM from 8lbs to 10.5lbs, 338-416 Rigby Improved 18lbs that pushes all bullets above 3100fps.
I also have a 15lb double Searcy in 500NE 3 1/4" and 404 Jeffrey in a 10lb rifle. Not to mention the 8.5lb 505 Gibbs I HAD, that was way too light for that cartridge and 600g bullets at 2350fps.

The fact still remains that a 30 cal kills more emphatically than a 7, as does a 33 over a 30 etc, etc. Regardless of perceived recoil.

Cheers.

 

[jdavistx]

A 550 yard shot on an antelope @ 1 MOA is 5.75" Not considering environmentals. Probably not a clean kill.

1/4 MOA would be a HUGE confidence builder.

 

[General RE LEE]

I hunt whitetail deer and I think my 6.5 Creedmoor with hand loads can do what the 7mm Mag can do at reasonable distances. Plus it has much less recoil and allows for shot spotting.

 

[xsn10s]

I hunt whitetail deer and I think my 6.5 Creedmoor with hand loads can do what the 7mm Mag can do at reasonable distances. Plus it has much less recoil and allows for shot spotting.

Depending on the load you'd probably have less meat loss with the 6.5 CM.