Why not a 7 Rem Mag?

[Lofty]

Ive got a new 1-9 5R 7mm barrel for my DTA I might be hanging on to and Im tossing around ideas for chambering.

Of course the 7 WSM is a natural...DTA does a factory conversion kit in that caliber. Brass is the issue though....a quality brass supply is basically unobtanium.

So Im thinking good old 7 Rem Mag.....quality brass to be found, will spit 180's with the best of them from what I hear.

But it just doesnt seem to have the popularity in the tactical shooting scene that cartridges like the 7 WSM and SAUM have.

Am I missing something?

 

[Deisel]

I have an AI AWSM that has an AINA barrel in 7mm Rem Mag. It is a great shooting rifle. I went with the Berger 180 Hybrid and it easy to get brass. So far I am enjoying it.

 

[mwroseberry]

Thats what im going to be running once my rifle is completed by the gun smith. Going to be trying the 180 SMK also.

I say go for it.

Good luck,
Merritt

 

[JB02]

Many will argue that everything a 7mm Rem Mag can do, 300 Win Mag can do better. Perhaps you may want to check out this 7-300 Win [MENTION=28815]Skyking[/MENTION] did: http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...n-rifles/181779-7-300-win-bighorn-action.html

 

[Red_Beard]

It isn't as popular because you need a long action to run it. Some will say the whole belted mag brass will only get a couple reloads, but I have literally thousands of pieces of brass that will disagree. The .300 mag is a fine cartridge, but ballistically speaking, .30's can't touch the 7's.

The 7-300 is a neat idea, but it doesn't seem to yield big gains over a regular 7mag (about 100-150 fps more)

 

[Lofty]

It isn't as popular because you need a long action to run it. Some will say the whole belted mag brass will only get a couple reloads, but I have literally thousands of pieces of brass that will disagree. The .300 mag is a fine cartridge, but ballistically speaking, .30's can't touch the 7's.

The 7-300 is a neat idea, but it doesn't seem to yield big gains over a regular 7mag (about 100-150 fps more)

Yeah, the long action issue I can see being a problem for some. With my DTA its noting but a mag and bolt change.

Hmmmmmmmm........

 

[Gray]

I ran a 24" 7mag that ran 180 Bergers at 3000fps easy. I ended up running the 168's at 2975 with 69 gr Retumbo. Used Winchester brass and had over 10 reloadings on some, no issues at all. I would definitely get a Larry Willis Collet Die if you go with a belted magnum, you will be able to get 20+ reloadings with quality brass. If you have the ability to run the 7mag, I would go that route.

 

[BARichardson]

Ive got a new 1-9 5R 7mm barrel for my DTA I might be hanging on to and Im tossing around ideas for chambering.

Of course the 7 WSM is a natural...DTA does a factory conversion kit in that caliber. Brass is the issue though....a quality brass supply is basically unobtanium.

So Im thinking good old 7 Rem Mag.....quality brass to be found, will spit 180's with the best of them from what I hear.

But it just doesnt seem to have the popularity in the tactical shooting scene that cartridges like the 7 WSM and SAUM have.

Am I missing something?

What is wrong with the brass for the 7wsm? I find that mine shoots 1/2"-5/8"groups and at 800yd is sub. moa with winchester brass.. and i got about 4 reloads on the brass...

 

[BARichardson]

ive also used .270wsm and .300wsm brass with the same luck..

 

[Lofty]

Yeah...... Try to find some. That'swhat iI meant..... Can't locate any.

 

[TRTAC]

Cant go wrong with a 7 mag. Its the classic round that made the Remington 700. I use RWS Brass for mine and it is of excellent quality. combined with 180 Berger Hybrids and H4831sc, you cant miss.

 

[Hawk45]

I'm a fan of the good ol' cartridges for readily available components (especially brass). If you don't mind a long action (or if it even matters with the DTA) they I say go with it. The Willis die is a good idea for belted mags at some point if you shoot a lot.

 

[bohem]

I have a 7-300 WSM and if I was going to do it all over again I'd go with the regular 7RM for 1 reason:

Making the rifle feed reliably under all conditions.

The 7/300 has "issues" with that big fat case, it feeds after a lot of massaging but it has never fed "like buttah" the way my 300WM and 6.5 CM do.

It has all the performance, brass is available, and it is easy to load for with the benefit of being able to just throw 300WM mags in the gun and rock on. No fussing with feed lips on 338LM mags or anything like that.

 

[idahoorion]

7 rem mag

I have one under construction, sourced some Norma brass, and Amax's and bergers, I borrowed a reamer built for the 160 class bullets with .188 freebore and just waiting my turn in the Snipershide group buy at LRI, can't wait!
I did look at the short mags, but could see no advantage as my donor is a long action
Idahoorion

I'm a fan of the good ol' cartridges for readily available components (especially brass). If you don't mind a long action (or if it even matters with the DTA) they I say go with it. The Willis die is a good idea for belted mags at some point if you shoot a lot.

 

[BARichardson]

i kinda with my 7wsm was a long action. I cant run the bullet out nearly as far as I want to in that gun.. (bergers or the swift bullets are LONG)

i have no problem getting brass for my 7wsm..

 

[Lofty]

Where are you getting brass from?

7 WSM brass that is...... I'm a mediocre reloader at best. Resizing brass and trimming necks, fireforming.... All tthat's above my head.

 

[RTH1800]

The 7-300 is a neat idea, but it doesn't seem to yield big gains over a regular 7mag (about 100-150 fps more)[/QUOTE]

In my opinion, the 100-150 FPS is a big deal for hunting, where things can happen quickly or the laser does not work. Just my opinion.

 

[bohem]

The 7-300 is a neat idea, but it doesn't seem to yield big gains over a regular 7mag (about 100-150 fps more)

In my opinion, the 100-150 FPS is a big deal for hunting, where things can happen quickly or the laser does not work. Just my opinion.

I disagree for 2 reasons here:

1) I've never seen a 7-300WM get 100-150fps over a regular 7RM, half of that is more reasonable. Which leads to the second point, and the bigger reason for disagreement.


2) The 7RM and 7-300WM both push the 180 class to 3100fps or more, the difference in drop from 800-900 on both calibers is 122-166 inches (44 inch difference @ 3100fps) and 114-156 inches (44 inch difference @ 3175fps)

So... by pushing the 180 Berger Hybrid 75fps faster (3175 vs. 3100) it only buys you <1" out of a 40+" difference.

This is at sea level, go up in the mountains and the difference gets even less.

What it also shows that if your laser doesn't work and you put 900yd dope on an 800yd shot (or visa versa) you missed either way.

 

[RTH1800]

I never could get the velocity out of the Rem Mag case I expected to. Others may do so.
After hunting with most of the big 7mm cartridges over the last 40 years on 5 continents and shooting a few hundred head of game from coyotes to giant eland and moose, I think there is a difference. ( I have used the 7 Rem Mag, 275 H&H, 7mm Mashburn, 7mm-375 H&H, 7mm-300 Win Mag, 7mm STW, 7mm Weatherby, 7mm-300 Wea.) The 7mm 300 Win is one of the best. My favorite is the 7mm 375 H&H. The STW and 7mm 300 Weatherby are also quite good. I like the 7MM 375 due to being near the top and still retaining magazine capacity and smooth feeding. My Rigby Mag Mauser action holds 4 CTG of the 375 type, but only 3 STW, or Win mag types due to less body taper.
Anyone shooting at a game animal at 800 or 900 yards without knowing the range ( and some other data) is asking for failure anyway

 

[bohem]

Anyone shooting at a game animal at 800 or 900 yards without knowing the range ( and some other data) is asking for failure anyway

Yep, we're in total agreement there. That is pretty much my point that it doesn't make a bit of difference if the bullet goes 3100 from a 7RM or 3175 from a 7-300 WM.

Dunno what your load data looks like for the big 7's you're shooting but if you haven't done so, give Retumbo a try. In my 7-300WSM it's a little bit slow for the case so all the loads are compressed but I get well over 3000fps and closer to 3080 from the 180 class with a mildly compressed load of Retumbo.

 

[jetmd]

i kinda with my 7wsm was a long action. I cant run the bullet out nearly as far as I want to in that gun.. (bergers or the swift bullets are LONG)

i have no problem getting brass for my 7wsm..

Could you help some of us out with source information on where to order some in stock brass?
I have had very bad luck finding any commercial suppliers.
Looking forward to your help!
Thanks in advance,
Chet

 

[BARichardson]

I use 300 or 270 wsm brass. with this method... or just buy cheep ammo and use a bullet puller from my local sportsmans store..

Sizing 300wsm cases to 7wsm

 

[Sniper260]

Why not a 7 stw or 284 win... theres nothing wrong with a 7 mag. If you dont like the belt.... 280 ackly

 

[Lofty]

The .280 Akley has my interest as well......Ive seen a lot of positive things about it, plus Nosler has brass already done, no fire forming needed.

Can you tell me a little about the ballistics?

 

[Lofty]

Spent some time chatting with Travis from RBros........looks like Im gonna go with his wildcat, the 7mm Rogue.

Easy to make brass from the 300 WM and a tad better velocity than the 7RM

 

[raptor99]

The biggest problem with the 7mm mags is not the accuracy on any of them, its the barrel life. In tactical matches your barrels will get very hot in a hurry and this makes for short barrel life. My last match we shot 30 rounds in less than 15min and my 284 was very hot when I got off the line an still hot 30 min later.

If you want a good 7mm for tactial shooting then look at the 284 or 280s they are the best of both worlds. You get decent barrel life and the good 7mm bullets plus they are hammers as far as accuracy goes. Just my thoughts for what there worth...

 

[Lofty]

Absolutely...makes perfect sense. For match shooting though I have a .243 barrel and a 6.5 Creedmoor barrel.

I went with the 6.5 just because of barrel life.

The 7 mag will be my long distance and hunting barrel.