Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting 7mm heavy projectile recommendation for LR elk

I'm having a 7 SAUM built for similar applications and have several boxes of 180 Scenars on hand that I'll start loading with.

So far I’ve been shooting them from 7WSMs and 7RMs at 2930-2970 fps MV. I’ve posted this before, but probably the best example I have of stress-testing that bullet on heavy game, was when it entered the brisket of a large bull moose on a slightly quartering frontal shot at ~30 meters, penetrated about 4 feet, and exited near the last rib on the offside. The bullet didn’t hit any major bone, but penetration was impressive, none-the-less. So far, for me at least, they behave about like every other model of ELD-M I’ve used on game, which is about like an average heavy-for-caliber (high SD) tipped C&C. They expand and penetrate just fine as long as impact speed isn’t crazy. Even in the case of the bull moose example above, which is about as high an impact speed as I expect with an ELD, it penetrated very well and held together just fine.

For sure. That’s a pile of penetration. I have used the 212 ELD’s from an 06 and was quite impressed with the work they did. If they held up like that at that range I can see that being plenty for most anything.

Billy Goat: I use the wonderful Nosler 160 grain Partitions in my 7m/m Remington Magnum dedicated Elk Rifle.
Best of luck to you with whichever you choose.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I try to shoot the heaviest, highest BC bullet possible.........sometimes this does not always work out and I end up shooting the most accurate bullet. In my rifles this is the 160gr Accubond and as a bonus it works fantastic on every animal I have used it on

168gr Berger classic hunter over 7828ssc in my 280ai has been working for years now on elk, even a bit past that 500 mark.
See no reason to change.
Ymmv.

I’ll also just mention that I haven’t been able to see a difference in terminal performance between the various ELD-Ms and AMs that preceded them. I’ve also seen moderate damage and great penetration from the 7mm 162 AM on elk, deer, and moose.

Berger 175 Elite Hunter worked well for me on a bull elk out of a 7 SAUM this year. Muzzle velocity was just under 2,800, barrel has not sped up yet.

great question and sorry I didnt specify earlier. new pipe will be 1:8 twist for the heavies.

You’ll never regret an 8 twist 7mm.

It’ll turn the shorter, lighter bullets great as well.

Man you guys are causing me to want to build a long action 8 twist 26 inch barreled 7x57mm, 180 Horns at 2800 would be pretty cool from the old Warhorse, i like taking the little engines that could and see what they can do, my 6.5x55 Swede with 147 Horns at 2950 is a middleweight that punches like a light heavyweight, just shot a skunk with the damn thing at 502 yards Sat. morning!

My 7 SAUM I'm anxiously waiting for is a 1:8 Lilja...

That'll work, building it on a long action?

Kimber 8400 short/fat - was a 325 WSM...

The 168s ABLRs worked great out of my 1:9.5 24" 7 mag. It didn't like the 175s as much. Still toying with powders now.

Last elk I shot, which was a couple years ago, was at 433yds with a 180 Scenar out of a short actioned 7SAUM started at 2940fps. Exit was golfball through upper shoulder (steep uphill shot) and animal took half a step. Headed out soon with it again.

Yep. Hard to beat.

Good to hear - that's the exact combo I'm putting together for the same application.

JeffO did the same thing. If your .325 shot as well as his did before the conversion it's a pretty major mistake IMHO.

The 325 WSM shot well enough on occasion but not consistently so can't see a new barrel being a mistake.