Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 7mm Rem Mag ?

In years long past I relied on the 7mm Rem mag for quarry like big bull elk. Hence my choice of bullet was the 175 grain Nosler Partition, or perhaps the 160 gr Nosler Partition.

Now... I'm considering use of the 7mm Rem mag only for mule deer & antelope in open country. I'm thinking a 140 gr bullet. Thoughts on that? Powder recommendation?

Am thinking the 140 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip, but open to suggestions.

My rifle has a 26" barrel.

Thanks, Guy

My favorite combo for what you suggest is the 160gr AB with H1000. I have been wanting to try RL26 but H1000 has worked so well I might leave it alone. The 160gr AB is my favorite 7mm bullet, accurate and works awesome on deer and Bighorn sheep size game

My 7mmRM shoots 140 gr. Nosler BTBTs best of all bullets... I use a heavy load of Re 22 one found in Alliant s booklet... It would shoot right at 3400 fps.. The best load I have found.. I used it, and it became my late wife's favorite rifle and load.. We have shot many, many antelope, mule deer, & whitetailed deer with this load.. In addition caribou, elk and moose.. A great bullet and load for the big 7,,,

I load the 140’s with IMR 4350, but I have some Reloader 22. The 22 is great in a 270 Weatherby I use. I’m gonna load some with 22 this summer to try. I have some trophy tipped 140’s to try too.

A 7 mag is my favorite cartridge, I have four of them

While a 140 would shoot flat the BC isn't that great for longer shots in open country. You can compensate for drop easier than you can for wind drift. I would lean towards a 168 Berger or if you have sufficient twist a 180 Berger.

Retumbo and the 168 classic hunter has worked for three of my friends and mine.72-73 gr will yield right around 3100 fps with a 26" barrel.

My bud took his 7RM Sendero to Africa for a PG hunt.

I loaded 160 NAB’s over 67.5 gr RL-26 at around 3K fps. Sub MOA and deadly on PG class critters. Mostly one shot kills. Wildebeest hit twice in the chest, both fatal hits, was still walking, dropped with one to the neck. Everything else DRT or short travel with one shot. PH was impressed.

DF

My advice would be to stick with premium Bullets in weights under 150 grains. To much velocity for those light Bullets.
Hasbeen

Tikka T3 Lite Stainless, 24 3/8”
69 grains Reloader 26 (max, work up to it)
162 eldx
WLRM
Remington brass
Really close to 3k muzzle velocity.

I’ve killed two elk with this combo, as has my brother. He uses it for deer, too, but I drop down to a 7mm-08. Truth be told, I could have killed both elk just as dead with my Mighty -08, but wind and distance prompted a reconsideration.

Bullets performed admirably, no excessive bloodshot, rapid and extensive exsanguination.

Check out the ballistics, they’re great.






P

The last couple of years I've had good luck with the 162 ELD-X, H1000, and Fed Match Mag primer

I'm getting that velocity (2975fps) with 60.5gr RL26 and a 160SGK from my 22 inch 280Rem.

Yeah, well, my bullet weighs two grains more, and that’s a big fricken difference.




P

I am a big fan of the swift scirocco at the higher velocities. Keep them about .050 off the lands and they shoot great. Little better launch velocity than the NAB 160s and higher weight retention. Great bullet.

+1
I've had great results with the 160 AB and RL25

A 140 TTSX and R17 or else a 162/180 AM/ELD and 7828ssc have been my "go to" loads in the 7RM.

I have to laugh when the 140's are not good at long distance... Beyond 500 yards the heavier bullets do have an edge not doubt.. But in the hunters world unless you are a turret fan, you can pretty well shoot to 500 yards with BTBTs with less than 2 ' of drop at 500.. I don't need any more than this, and I doubt most hunters do...

Work up to one grain below max from Hodgdon data website, of IMR 7977 and a 140 Partition.
Thank me later.

Since the 270 seems to beat up the 7MM RM with the new powders why aren't there powders that make the RM run faster?

I get 3000 fps in a 25" barrel with RL26 and 180 weight bullets. Seems pretty good and not sure a 270 can keep up. We've used it to 700 yards on game using scopes that dial well. H1000 has also been great.

Makes wind reads much easier. That said I kind of like little 6.5 stuff these days.

I shoot 150gr Nosler Ballistic Tips.I like 69.0grs of Reloader-26 for 3187fps Went as high as 70.0grs for 3220fps,but the 69.0gr load shot just a tiny bit tighter.I also like 67.5grs of Reloader-22 for 3150fps and Accurate 4350 at 65.0grs gave me really tight groups at 3220fps.
A4350

69.0R-26

70.0grs R-26

My thoughts (belief) as well. I used IMR 4350/140 NBT in my first 7mmRM. In that rifle, I settled on the 150NP/IMR4350 (3200fps) for an all around deer load. It didn't tear up deer is what I liked about it.