Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 7 Rem mag as good as it gets

Mike,

It’s been so long that I don’t remember where we were except out in the country.
I also don’t remember who owned/had the rifle.
We didn’t have any scale of any sort so I won’t even guess its weight.

I DO remember the Marlin 444 ‘marlin’ was noticeably heavier than anything I had.
It was obviously a heavy gun.

It didn’t have a scope, we shot irons.

I remember I shot it a few Xs and it ROCKED me backwards while standing up.

I like the looks of the 444 Marlin but I would HAVE to handle another one to check its weight BEFORE I’d consider buying one.

None of this is intended to be mean or critical. I’ve done my best to recall more details to no avail.


IMO and IME. a good light 7 RM is a terrific compromise in recoil and performance. 140s for deer / 160or175s for Elk, Moose.
65-70 grs powder. Widely accessible ammo/Brass.

The cartridge is perfectly acceptable for Deer —-Moose —-Bear

IME the 7 RM has a better trajectory than 270, 06, and noticeably better than 308, 7-08.

As far as I’m concerned the 7 RM is tough to beat as an ALL AROUND hunting cartridge.

Thankfully I’m not limited to one rifle/cartridge but IF I HAD to be.... the 7 RM rates serious consideration, For ME.

Jerry

Yeah I found a promising load for mine with 162 hornady I was getting 2700 plus with them and RL 26. Then I lucked into a 5 digit stainless classic in a 270 that is stupid accurate. It will stack 150 part into one hole (5shot group). Still putting final touches on my 200 ab load for the 06. But hell might just use this 270 for my hunting season a 150 part going 3045 FPS will kill anything in Alaska.

A. I understand what long throats CAN do.. WBY has been doing it for a long time.

B. My next projectS are to try Rl 22 & 26

C. I've been able to beat 3100 fps in a 270 w/130s with 7828 and Surplus 4831. I haven't made 3200 but have NOT tried hard.
**All 270s I've had are 22" bll not 24 or 26".

D. Yes-- one reason I want to try Rl 26

Thnx

Jerry

All my 270s had 22 or 24" barrels but JB and others had some impressive data for 26" barreled 270s. Basically magnum performance. The 270 to 7RM slot is now overlapped at both ends but still the 7RM cranks out a bit more performance even if only on paper. Glad I started with the 7 Mag as if I had started with a 280 or 280 AI I would have missed out on the others.

R26 is like a progressive version of the old 4831 surplus or 7828 it is an ideal match for the 270 and not too shabby in the 7RM either.

I sell plenty Remington 700`s in a 7 Rem. mag. its really a very fine cartridge accurate,recoil isn`t that bad,and its what I call a grocery store cartridge just one of the few cartridges that can be found in any gun shop,hardware store,maybe a mom-pop store even another hunter may have some.the 7 Rem. mag is a easy cartridge to handload and has many bullets to decide from too. as far as shooting a long ways out yes its great for long distance too,this cartridge also has great ballistics too !

In my experience, usually around 1200 to 1500 depending on how much throttle you’re using.

3400?

Pharmseller is the best Big Game salesman on the Fire...

He may even sprinkle some on his Wheaties....

Can't confirm that...

DF

P.O. ACKLEY BOOK,VOLUME 2,PAGE 182, >>> 139 grain. 71.4 grains 4831 > 3400 fps >> YES ITS POSSIBLE GOOD STRONG ACTION AND ATLEAST A 26 INCH BARREL. > SOME RIFLE BARRELS ARE FASTER THAN OTHERS TOO AND THESE NEWER POWDERS ARE FASTER TOO WITH LESS PRESSURE TOO !

yes it could shoot 3400 fps

As much as I respect the work and person of PO Ackley and like the 7mm Mag, consider the technology of the time.

Drum brakes for example.

for an all around rifle, a 150 grain Partition launched somewhere between 2800 to 2900 fps makes sense to me. and that means 270/280/30-06; Otherwise, roll with a 150 in a 7mm08/308 at 2700-2800 for the short action fans.

any other flavor is a niche rifle.

Heart patients shouldn't read Ackley's book with all the grains of salt they would need.

That load Pete posted is also found in the Hornady Handbook Vol II listed as max. Almost positive Hornady used SAAMI minimum spec bbls to develop loads. Rifle listed is a M700 24"bbl.

I used that data back in the mid 80's to develop a load for a friend's 26"bbl Browning (Golden Medallion?). 69.3gr H4831,CCI250,R-P casings,140gr B-Tip gave 3325fps. Got a slight velocity drop when I added .5gr so went with 69.3.

I'd surely think with advancements over the past 30+ yrs 3400 should be doable.

Good Lord, man, put a Limbsaver on that rifle!






P

P

Hey Pharm

I promise that Tikka 7 R M doesn't kick that hard EVEN off a bench.

I've been shooting/hunting the 270 since 2003 with no problems.

I really wish that some of us lived close enuff together that we could shoot each others rifles.


Jerry

Yeah mathman:

My 700 BDL and those of hunter friends EASILY got 3300 fps and LONG case life.

I arbitrarily 'chose' 3300 fps as my stopping place----- using H B T S Ps.


Jerry

Interesting. I've poured the coal to a couple of 7mm Wby. mags and 3300 was tippy top end.

You guys are in STW territory with those 3400fps 140's.

Back in the 80s when Hodgd. 4831 (new manuf) showed WIDE lot/lot variation-- I quit using it.

I found 7878 to very similar to Surplus 4831 in the 270 W and have been using it ever since.


Jerry