My bet is someone here has the answer to this... would like a target load and an elk load. Would be awesome if the same.
Put links to all the bullet manufacturer websites below. Also have links to the recent 7mmRM reload threads on SH.
Working up a 7mm hunting load for thick-skinned elk and mule deer. Also load for long range targets. In an old blued Remington 700 ADL with the the factory original barrel (probably 1960s or 1970s and do not know how to know for sure). The stock has been changed, was wood.
Questions:
1) What is the factory Remy ‘skinny’ barrel twist and length? My guess is 24” and 1 in 10 – do not know for sure.
2) Hunting Bullet recommendation - the best BC wind resisting long range 7mmRM hunting bullet for elk & deer. Is it a Berger Match Hunting VLD, Match Target VLD, or something else?
3) Powder recommendation, is the standard 7mmRM ADL factory barrel too short to go Retumbo, or should I start with something a bit faster burning such as H1000? R22?
Bullets:
Barnes, Nosler, Hornady, Berger, Sierra, …
Powders:
R22, R25, H1000, Retumbo, H4831SC, IMR4350, …
In a perfect world, would like to use the same load on targets – like the idea of maximum practice with my hunting load. While realize to target shoot with a hunting load may not be possible due to price or accuracy issues. Would like a load to practice shots to 1000m and hope well beyond (out to 1600m on targets). Open to all ideas. Some say match-type bullets are not good for hunting, while know it is done and they kill when placed right. Is there a match-bullet-like BC hunting bullet or do they not exist? Is there a match-bullet constructed to allow the energy transfer performance of a hunting bullet on elk?
Know is their marketing hype, but the Berger Bullets video with elk dropping at distance sucked me in at:
http://www.bergerbullets.com/
Berger has a match bullet with much better BC than their hunting bullet, just like everyone else. Some say Retumbo powered Berger 168g VLDs for hunting, while those guys have longer custom barrels in other threads like for example at:
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=219969&Number=2495855
Other 7mmRM loads are shared at:
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=220604&Number=2492034
Then not sure which Berger they are shooting in the above as there are two, Match Hunting VLD and Match Target VLD. As both are called VLD not sure which Berger VLD people are talking about sometimes and usually assume here they are talking about the Match Target VLD.
Have successfully used Barnes TSX BT in another rifle, a 3006. While it seems the heavy Barnes bullets for a 7mmRM don’t appear to be boat tail bigger than 150g for the 7mmRM. Like a boat tail as their less drag is better for long range. The Berger video on their main website makes Barnes not look like it compares BC-wise – curious if that shows Barnes hunting bullet to Compared to Berger hunting bullet. Or if it is Barnes hunting bullet compared to Berger match projectiles. The Barnes website is:
http://www.barnesbullets.com/products/rifle/
Notice Hornady has a new coated match bullet with a lead core that looks interesting for targets at:
http://www.hornady.com/store/7mm-.284-162-GR-BTHP-Match/
While Hornady website clearly says they are not intended for large game. Not sure how it the 162g BTHP compares to the 162g A-MAX for targets. Hornady does have some hunting bullets for the 7mm while not sure which one would be best:
http://www.hornady.com/store/.284-7mm/?page=2
The Sierra 180s look good for targets as well. And the Sierra line up of 7mm projectiles is at:
http://www.sierrabullets.com/index.cfm?section=bullets&page=rifle&caliberID=8
Nosler Partition bullets have traditionally been good for hunting and they have been around forever, while know little about their current products. Their website is:
http://www.nosler.com/
Most of the conversation on this website is focused on target shooting not hunting thick skinned elk. To make a good 7mmRM elk hunting load am open to any suggestions on where to start. Feeling confused and overloaded with information. Seek direction. Have access to an extensive library of books and will work up one step at a time. Simply ask for you to share proven 7mmRM hunting reload ideas for an older factory 700 Remington ADL. Someone knows this.
If asking too much of one reload please focus on a good elk hunting round and a separate good target reload. Expect may need to work up two kind of loads as probably one will not be able to do both jobs accurately and affordable. If have two, would expect to shoot way more 'target' ammo than 'hunting' ammo.
Put links to all the bullet manufacturer websites below. Also have links to the recent 7mmRM reload threads on SH.
Working up a 7mm hunting load for thick-skinned elk and mule deer. Also load for long range targets. In an old blued Remington 700 ADL with the the factory original barrel (probably 1960s or 1970s and do not know how to know for sure). The stock has been changed, was wood.
Questions:
1) What is the factory Remy ‘skinny’ barrel twist and length? My guess is 24” and 1 in 10 – do not know for sure.
2) Hunting Bullet recommendation - the best BC wind resisting long range 7mmRM hunting bullet for elk & deer. Is it a Berger Match Hunting VLD, Match Target VLD, or something else?
3) Powder recommendation, is the standard 7mmRM ADL factory barrel too short to go Retumbo, or should I start with something a bit faster burning such as H1000? R22?
Bullets:
Barnes, Nosler, Hornady, Berger, Sierra, …
Powders:
R22, R25, H1000, Retumbo, H4831SC, IMR4350, …
In a perfect world, would like to use the same load on targets – like the idea of maximum practice with my hunting load. While realize to target shoot with a hunting load may not be possible due to price or accuracy issues. Would like a load to practice shots to 1000m and hope well beyond (out to 1600m on targets). Open to all ideas. Some say match-type bullets are not good for hunting, while know it is done and they kill when placed right. Is there a match-bullet-like BC hunting bullet or do they not exist? Is there a match-bullet constructed to allow the energy transfer performance of a hunting bullet on elk?
Know is their marketing hype, but the Berger Bullets video with elk dropping at distance sucked me in at:
http://www.bergerbullets.com/
Berger has a match bullet with much better BC than their hunting bullet, just like everyone else. Some say Retumbo powered Berger 168g VLDs for hunting, while those guys have longer custom barrels in other threads like for example at:
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=219969&Number=2495855
Other 7mmRM loads are shared at:
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=220604&Number=2492034
Then not sure which Berger they are shooting in the above as there are two, Match Hunting VLD and Match Target VLD. As both are called VLD not sure which Berger VLD people are talking about sometimes and usually assume here they are talking about the Match Target VLD.
Have successfully used Barnes TSX BT in another rifle, a 3006. While it seems the heavy Barnes bullets for a 7mmRM don’t appear to be boat tail bigger than 150g for the 7mmRM. Like a boat tail as their less drag is better for long range. The Berger video on their main website makes Barnes not look like it compares BC-wise – curious if that shows Barnes hunting bullet to Compared to Berger hunting bullet. Or if it is Barnes hunting bullet compared to Berger match projectiles. The Barnes website is:
http://www.barnesbullets.com/products/rifle/
Notice Hornady has a new coated match bullet with a lead core that looks interesting for targets at:
http://www.hornady.com/store/7mm-.284-162-GR-BTHP-Match/
While Hornady website clearly says they are not intended for large game. Not sure how it the 162g BTHP compares to the 162g A-MAX for targets. Hornady does have some hunting bullets for the 7mm while not sure which one would be best:
http://www.hornady.com/store/.284-7mm/?page=2
The Sierra 180s look good for targets as well. And the Sierra line up of 7mm projectiles is at:
http://www.sierrabullets.com/index.cfm?section=bullets&page=rifle&caliberID=8
Nosler Partition bullets have traditionally been good for hunting and they have been around forever, while know little about their current products. Their website is:
http://www.nosler.com/
Most of the conversation on this website is focused on target shooting not hunting thick skinned elk. To make a good 7mmRM elk hunting load am open to any suggestions on where to start. Feeling confused and overloaded with information. Seek direction. Have access to an extensive library of books and will work up one step at a time. Simply ask for you to share proven 7mmRM hunting reload ideas for an older factory 700 Remington ADL. Someone knows this.
If asking too much of one reload please focus on a good elk hunting round and a separate good target reload. Expect may need to work up two kind of loads as probably one will not be able to do both jobs accurately and affordable. If have two, would expect to shoot way more 'target' ammo than 'hunting' ammo.