Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Talk me out of a 7mm Rem Mag...

I have no idea why, but I've always wanted a 7mm Remington Mag. It serves absolutely no purpose where I hunt, and will do virtually nothing my .280 won't at the ranges I shoot....but I still want one.

Maybe it's to round out the .284's, I already hunt with a 7mm TCU, 7mm-08, 7x57, and .280, so I have plenty of bullets to load. I also have around 2-300 pcs of brass, so I'm covered there, as well as 8lbs of AA4350 and 16lbs of H100v....all I need now is a set of dies, some LRM primers, and an actual rifle.

I'm debating between a pre-bankruptcy Remington 700 SPS or a boat paddle/stainless Ruger 77, just trying to convince myself I *need* a 7mm RM.

I have 5, you need at least one. I’d get a L-61 Sako. I bought a 280 not long ago, never thought I’d own one.

You don't - Just load your 280 to 270 Win pressures and you will be very close to 7mmRM. Assuming your 280 is a modern bolt action.

Hey, if you don't have one there's no way I'm going to try to talk you out of buying one. Sounds like you are shy some 7mm's on your list. However, with that being said I'd be looking for a good Winchester model 70. JMHO..

I just sold a Boat paddle 7mm mag. The recoil wasn’t all that stiff. I have a Abolt that drives tacks and have found a Rem stainless gun that peak’s my interest. I have a couple of extra brown precision stocks so a no brainer.
Truthfully I have never been enamored with the 7mm Rem mag. However after watching my wife drop a buck at a measured 642 yards and the accuracy of the Abolt, Im coming around
I did pick up a Rem 700 long range stainless the other day.
Its in 300 wm and I have been considering re barreling to a 7mm PRC
Not sure what I would gain though

You would gain the ability to shoot heavy VLD bullets that are great at the ranges .01% of hunters kill game at.

You would also have to try and find ammo and pay 3X what 7 rem mag costs.

But you would be very cool.

If you can't get it done with a 300 win mag a 7mm PRC won't change that.

7RM is an excellent cartridge, in my opinion. I don’t regret mine. Try it, you’ll like it…

Unless you also load the 7 RM to 270 Win levels. But you're right, a 65K 280 is quite close to a factory 7RM, most of which are held to <60K, and SAAMI max for the round is 61K. 60K for the 280 and of course, 65K for the 270.
I wanted a .280 when I spec'ed out my first custom rifle to Frank Wells back in 1990. He talked me into a 7RM saying that he knew he could make me a more accurate 7RM than .280. But his personal favorite rifle was a very Biesen-looking .270 he had built for himself.

Depending on the ranges you hunt, it's not really necessary.
Depending how much you shoot, bore life isn't great compared to milder rounds.
Burns more powder for mild/ modest velocity gains.
You need a longer barrel, 24-26", to get the expected velocities. Otherwise, you've got a noisy, powder hungry, and loud 280 Remington.
Omo

Unless you're going to hunt elk size game you don't need it, not that you couldn't take elk with what you have already but it would be an excuse. But 7mm RM is a great caliber as is 300 WM.

One of my favorite cartridges. It’s versatile, doesn’t kick hard in standard weight rifles, and it doesn’t hog up a 30-06 length magazine.

I own both, the 280 rem and its high power sibling the 7 rem mag.

Owned the 280 since 1989, a ruger tang safety that now wears an old ram-line stock and sports a timney trigger. Could not tell you how many pounds of meat this tool has harvested or miles i have carried it in the 34 years of owning it. Its one of those rifles that puts bullets from 120 to 175 grains all on the same vertical line close enough to not warrant adjustment. Zero with 175 gr hand loads at 100 and the lighter bullets go just a little higher. Like the 150 gr. Btips that cluster 1-3/4 inch high at 100. Flat reliable rifle with a premier cartridge combo has been VERY reliable for my rocky mountain hunting.

My 7 rem mag is a trim, slim barreled ruger hawkeye, the earlier Hawkeye that looks alot like a featherweight M-70 win wood stock. In the ten years of running this rifle and filling a pick-up a few times over the different seasons, I call it my high power 280. With 175 gr nosler partitions that average 2940 fps over the chrono, cut neat little inch groups @ 100 yrs, penetrate half way length wise and exited a mature shiras moose its a favorite game slayer. I tend to grab this rifle alot anymore. Its my 280 but with just a little more of 'everything'.....

Always loved the 7mm Rem Mag, never had any luck with the two powders the OP listed.
had better luck with IMR7828 or RL22

I have a Mark II Ruger in Stainless/ Laminate that is extremely accurate with 160 accubonds and RL23.. runs consistently right at 3000 FPS.
It's my go to open field gun. I think it might be one of the last centerfires I'll part with.

You guys are funny with your "need" and "don't need"! Lol! These are ALL wants! And if you want a 7mm Rem Mag, get one, easy as that! It's a great round, just like so many others are.

I've had a couple. Sold the last one after buying a chronograph. The numbers look good IF you can actually get the advertised speeds. I couldn't do any better with a 7 mag than I could with my 30-06. Even if you can get the advertised speeds there isn't a significant difference between 270, 280 or 30-06. I've heard others say that a 7 mag was just a heavier, longer, louder 270 that held fewer rounds. That was my observation as well.

If I needed to scratch a 7mm itch I'd buy a 7-08 or 280.

The 7mag is a great cartridge.It is certainly one of my favorites for deer.It's very flat shooting and will reach way out there with very little drop.I like the slower burnrate powders in this cartridge,but the AA4350 works really well with bullets 150gr or less.The powders in the listed in the OP will still work with heavier bullets,but tend to reach higher pressures a little quicker,that's where the slower powders do their best.My rifle did well with this load using A4350 with a 150gr Ballistic Tip.As always,work up to the loads posted.Every rifle is different,


This load was accurate,but pushing it to about max in my rifle,a little more than I'd feel comfortable with using a 160gr Accubond,


Now with Reloader 26 using a 160gr Accubond,I could go a little higher,but I called it good with this one.

Buy one!

Get you one!

I like the 7 Rem myself. Really works out to be an excellent cartridge without alot of drama.

A fella can't have enough good 7mm's.