Best LR 7mm hunting bullet?

[Hiwayman92]

I’m going to rework my 7mm WSM load. I’ve been using the 175 grain ELD-X with good results, but accuracy suddenly isn’t so great. I need to fine tune the charge and jump after the barrel has been fully broken in. Since I’ve got to do some work anyway, I’ve considered trying other bullets.

The gun will mainly be used on mule deer and on occasion elk. I’ve considered the 180 ELD-M, the 175 Berger Elite Hunter, and the Berger 180 Hybrid. I really like the 215 Hybrid in my Norma, so if they act similar that may be the way to go? Let me know what you guys think. Shots from 100 to 900 or so.

 

[spife7980]

"Accuracy suddenly isnt so great." Given it a good cleaning?

 

[Hiwayman92]

Yes. I dialed the load a year ago and loaded a bunch at that time. It was never a one hole gun at 100, but 5 into 3/4” or so. At distance however, it was 1/2 MOA or so all the way out to 1085. Killed an elk at 615, a deer at 851, and an antelope at 300 last year. Took the scope off to put on my Norma, and there the gun sat. I recently sent my Seekins Havak back due to poor accuracy, so I took the Leupold VX5 off of it and put it on the 7. Shot the loaded ammo and it’s 1-1/4” at 100.
I’m starting to wonder if the Leupold is the issue, but I’m waiting to see what seekins says about the PRC.
Either way, I’m wondering if I can do better than the ELD-X? It killed everything I needed it to, but damage wasn’t prolific.

 

[Diver160651]

How many rounds down the barrel. I’ve had my 7mm mag (run super hot) loose Precision at about 900 rounds.

900 rounds is not a lot if one had been developing several loads, practicing and hunting.

 

[Hiwayman92]

I’d have to look in my book, but I’m in the 250 range. No long strings, and no hot loads. Proof Research Sendero Light on a Remington LA.

 

[Diver160651]

I’d have to look in my book, but I’m in the 250 range. No long strings, and no hot loads. Proof Research Sendero Light on a Remington LA.

Assuming all else mechanically like action screws, scope etc is perfect still~

Check the velocity you were getting and see if the barrel has speeded up significantly after the 200 or so rounds. This of course normally is not a huge issue if you didn't find your one hole on the edge of a speed node. If it has speed up significantly I would back the original charge down and see what the rounds do.

FYI - It is impossible to be a 3/4" gun up close and 1/2" gun at distance. Only the shooter shooting poorly at 100 and more relaxed at distance will experience these symptoms. Distance never shrinks the angle, only equal the very best, 99.9% increases the angular results as the shooter deals with more variation in optical offsets, wind and ammunition velocity spreads.

 

[Hiwayman92]

I’ve heard theories about bullet stability past 100 yards which explains better groups at distance. I’d never encountered it before this gun. Frankly I don’t really care why it shoots better further out, it just does. I’ll get to the bottom of the accuracy problem, I’m not concerned about needing help with that part as much as I’d like help with firsthand information on great lr hunting bullets.

 

[WeiserBucks]

180 Berger Hybrids, no question in my mind . I've taken a pile of deer and elk with them and they work great for me every time.

 

[Iamero]

180 Hybrids and 175 Accubond LR Spitzer.

Nosler AccuBond Long Range Bullets 284 Cal, 7mm (284 Diameter) 175

Nosler AccuBond Long Range Bullets were specifically developed for the increasing popularity of long range hunting. Nosler's unique manufacturing...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[Diver160651]

I’ve heard theories about bullet stability past 100 yards which explains better groups at distance. I’d never encountered it before this gun. Frankly I don’t really care why it shoots better further out, it just does. I’ll get to the bottom of the accuracy problem, I’m not concerned about needing help with that part as much as I’d like help with firsthand information on great lr hunting bullets.

I am using 168 Berger hunters at 3050fps in a 24” 8 twist proof and in a 26” 8.5 Kreiger as fast as 3150, both are one hole and take out animals. Both have shot constantly past 2k (lots of videos in my signature under the DIY ELR camera thread), have won at matches in 25+ wind. The 180s are also good but more recoil and slower.. they are certainly more twist sensitive.

all that said if you are getting smaller groups further out you should care about what is going on. The conning theory (sleeping bullets) does not explain your 34% better groups at long range. You really should take your symptoms into account and fix the you part.

 

[Hiwayman92]

I have several other rifles, larger and smaller, more recoil and less, that shoot extremely well. Without claiming to be a perfect shooter, I can say that my other rifles shoot extremely well near and far. I just don’t think the rifle loves the eld-x and it’s the only bullet I’ve tried in this gun so far.

 

[Diver160651]

You did not mention your twist, as the 7s get heavy long bullets; the 9-is twists, become less friendly to heavy (long) and or VLD shapes. My 7 Mountain build with a fluted pencil barrel with slower twist, shoots lighter stuff in a raged hole 3 round groups (then heats up to much); 168s seem 3/4” and 180 not so much. In that gun I stay with the 140’s

 

[fdkay]

Since the accuracy fell off after you installed the Leupold, I'd look there first.
Put the original scope back on, check your fasteners and shoot a group.
Doesn't have to be poa/poi, as long as it is on paper. Just shoot a group.
If it groups, you have your answer. If it doesn't, then you have some work to do.
SS barrels can take a shit rather suddenly. Carbon steel barrels will usually slowly get worse.

 

[Hiwayman92]

It’s a 1:9 twist barrel and I live at 7k feet, so it is twisted fine. I just measured the distance to the lands and came up with the same averaged number as when it was new. I’m going to swap scopes to test also. I tapped some of my loaded ammo out to recheck seating depths. After checking, my ammo is set to .150 jump, when it should be .130. This gun never shot these bullets well until I did a Berger seating depth test, which revealed the long jump. I’m confident I can get these to shoot, but I’m curious if a Berger Hybrid would be less finicky.