Just starting out with the 7mm RM...

[Herd_Bull]

I’m brand new to hand loading so I’ll say thank you in advance for bearing with me and these novice questions:

(1) What manufacture of brass should I use?

(2) Do I then just choose what type of bullet I want simply by what will best fit my application?

(3) Once I have cases and bullets, how do I know what powder and primers to start with? I know the manuals have information for specific powders but how do I know what I want to start with? I don’t want to buy 6 different powders right from the get go.

Thank you.

 

[Chappy]

PM Snet

 

[centerlineseal]

Welcome to the site!

I use a 7mm Remmag for hunting only. I use 150 gr Nosler ballistic tips and older solid base projectiles, and some 160 grainers as well.

My go to powder is IMR 4350. It will shoot 5 shots under 1/2 MOA if I do my part in my older Remington 700 BDL.

If I were you and you are just shootin' targets, I'd start with Sierra Matchkings in the 168 grain. Depends on your twist rate for heavier bullets.

Spend a lot A LOT of time just reading the posts here and you'll learn something.

I like Winchester brass, ... but good luck in finding some. Try the "GUNBOT" website for components.

 

[P72]

I buy my once fired 7mm RM, Winchester brand, brass at the Once Fired brass outfit. It is relatively cheap at $48 / 100. I use a Forster FL die that I had Forster hone out to .309 inch neck diameter and this cost me about $36 extra including shipping. I use near max charges (Hodgdon data) of H1000 powder because I can get lots of this into the big 7mm RM case and my favorite bullet is the 162 grain Amax. Should I need to shoot some big beast I would use a good 160 grain hunting bullet of some kind. The 162 AMAX, as expected kills deer real good. My rifle has a 1-9 twist.

I use a Hornady seater die. I bought my 7mm Forster FL die from Gun Stop, on-line and it came in a nice red plastic box that holds my Hornady seater die and home made head space on the shoulder gauge.

When sizing brass I head space on the shoulder vs the belt - to do this I set my die .010 above the shell holder using a $10 feeler gauge from Home Depot.

I use CCI 250 primers. Hornady brass is more available. I have seen indications that Privi Partizan (PPU) brass might be available in 7mm RM. The 162 Amax bullets are somewhat hard to find but I can buy 162 hollow point match bullets and 162 SST's.

H4831, Re 22-23, and probably IMR 7977 would work. I have had more than satisfactory results in different rifles with H1000 but it is sort of difficult to find here because folks that shoot at targets more than 1000 yards away using big .338 rifles buy it up.

I would expect that the above is sort of esoteric but not all equipment modifications need to be done at the same time -work into it a step at a time. As expected much stuff can be acquired piece by piece upon defining a specific need - like neck turning. For hunting purposes lots of this stuff can be skipped.

FL Forster die, Hornady 7mm (generic to 7mm) seater, 7mm RM shell holder to start. Good idea not to have 6 or so different powders on hand.

 

[snert]

I use a Rem 700 Sendero. I use Federal brass (what I had) and 150 grain Nosler Ballistic tip. I use standard Federal match primers and IMR7828. I use the max load listed (worked up to it) and it shoots under 1/2 inch 3 shot groups all day. Three whitetails with it...625, 545 and a culled, called headshot 331 yarder (all off bench with a back-up spotter for fairness to the game taken). All DRT with chest hits, large exit. Very pleased with this rifle. Also numerous long range coyotes and G-hogs.

YMMV

Snert

 

[Caleb85]

Big 7RM fan here too!! I just built one and I put a 8 twist barrel on it and shoot the 168 Bergers with H 1000 powder and a Remington case ( Winchester might be better but I bought a whole case of older 20 round boxes that I couldn't pass up) one of my favorite calibers! You will have lots of fun with it and just read and pay attention to what is told on here! Good luck!!

 

[Herd_Bull]

Thanks for the information guys. I'll be learning a lot as I start down this road.

 

[manitou210]

Welcome to the site!

I use a 7mm Remmag for hunting only. I use 150 gr Nosler ballistic tips and older solid base projectiles, and some 160 grainers as well.

My go to powder is IMR 4350. It will shoot 5 shots under 1/2 MOA if I do my part in my older Remington 700 BDL.

If I were you and you are just shootin' targets, I'd start with Sierra Matchkings in the 168 grain. Depends on your twist rate for heavier bullets.

Spend a lot A LOT of time just reading the posts here and you'll learn something.

I like Winchester brass, ... but good luck in finding some. Try the "GUNBOT" website for components.

Use same powder with 140 gr, win brass Nosler accubonds same gun
it works great

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Buy a couple reloading manuals and a set of redding fl dies, h1000 powder or imr 7828ssc and some 140 ballistic tip bullets and try it out

 

[expiper]

OP,,I have had and shot em for many yrs,,,,the fool proof load is ~64 gr H-4831 SC and Sierra 150-160 gr SBT's !!!....I like the Fed 215 primer and WW cases,,,jump the bullet ~.030" ,,,Roger

 

[Three44s]

A big welcome to the forum!

The search for the magical load ............ is sort of like the search for the eternal fountain of youth ..........

........... it don't exist.

Granted, the 7mm RM is a pretty good cartridge ........ actually a great cartridge but individual rifles have the last word on what will shoot best for you in any cartridge and the mighty "seven" does not escape that trend.

You are going to buy components and try combos until your rifle likes something ...... and then you can sell the odds and ends that you don't use up which are legal to ship on this forum and others.

I have lot of rifles and once in a while ....... once in a while, I try a first combo on a new to me shootin' iron and hit a home run as soon as I get my pressures into a usable range ........

......... but not often.

It takes work.

These are great folks on this forum and they'll help you when and where they can.

But only you can wring the sap out of your guns, they are individuals no matter what the stamp says on the barrel.

Now I have three substantative suggestions:

1) Buy lots of manuals, books are the key .... not the internet.

2) Pick the job you want to use your new to you rifle on ....... and then match a good bullet with that. Don't get too hung up on which brand case .... just roll with what you find for now. Same for primers .... for now. Don't buy a jillion of anything, just get enough for a good start!

3) From your research in those manuals, look for a pattern of powders that seem to rise above the fray more than others in performing with the bullet or weight range and style as close to your chosen slug.

It is highly unlikely you'll end up with "six different" powders as you suggested ........ two would likely suffice at least in the near term.

Best regards and have a great and productive stay on the forum!

Three 44s

 

[nastynatesfish]

Decide what you want to use the rifle for. Hunting I like 140gr Bergers. Target and play 162s. H4831sc and retumbo both shoot well

 

[Dusty Stevens]

The only reason i suggested the powder/bullet combos i did was its easy, forgiving and cheap to learn with and theres tons of info on it, and its pretty common in every store locally. I suggest once you get more comfortable then start selecting different components and getting stuff better suited to the job gaining experience

 

[Three44s]

Dusty Stevens,

I apologize if I sounded like I was trying to step on yours or anyone elses toes for suggesting powders ..... I wasn't.

The all the powders suggested above are winners in the "7".

What I was trying to convey to the OP is that the manuals are where it really all starts.

And those excellent powders suggested such as yours boil to the surface in those manuals even to an untrained eye.

Gathering up a couple or three powders from info sourced from the manuals is not a bad thing. At worst, you have future load opportunities if not in the rifle at hand, then another.

Best regards and good shooting!

Three 44s

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I love the 7 rem mag but if you have anything else thats not a belted mag id start out on it first. It helps to learn how to set up dies and everything not being headspaced off the belt

 

[nmkid]

One of my most favorite cartridges. Many deer have fallen using 160 gr. bullets and H4831.

 

[nastynatesfish]

I love the 7 rem mag but if you have anything else thats not a belted mag id start out on it first. It helps to learn how to set up dies and everything not being headspaced off the belt

I don't understand why you said this? Reloading for the 7 mag isn't any different or taxing than another. The die set up is the same as it would be for a 3006. Set up your dies per the instructions and fine tune them to your case.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I don't understand why you said this? Reloading for the 7 mag isn't any different or taxing than another. The die set up is the same as it would be for a 3006. Set up your dies per the instructions and fine tune them to your case.

A belted mag headspaces off the belt not a shoulder

 

[blade]

I love the 7 rem mag but if you have anything else thats not a belted mag id start out on it first. It helps to learn how to set up dies and everything not being headspaced off the belt

i got into reloading a couple of years ago. My first gun i reloaded for was the 7mm rem mag model 700 adl. Oh Boy! Heed the warning! Im just now feeling confident about loading for this rifle. The first thing you need to do is figure out what size chamber you have before chooseing your brass. If you have a tight chamber just about any brass will work. If you have a big ole sloppy chamber like my remmington you need to stay with really heavy brass. PPU is a decent one if you can get it. Belted magnums will get a bulge in front of the belt if they have to strecth several thousandths to fireform to the chamber. Fed215 primers have been the best for me and imr 4831 powder has proven my best so far. Always seat close to lands when fireforming cases if the chamber is long. It will fireform them on the first fireing. Measure your necks to make sure you have sized them down enough to give you the neck tension you need. The brass will harden more and more and you will loose your grip on the bullet. Get someone who knows how to properly set dies to help you with that. The instructions you get with the dies can be misleading. Its not always what you need to do. I cant stress knowing your chamber size enough. It will save you alot of headache from the get go.

 

[blade]

If you want to use your for more than a few loadings you need to neck size. Get you a lee collet die and a 2 die set from rcbs to start with. Your cases will be alot more concentric. This combo gives me an av. Of .0005 bullet runout. That means alot when your looking for tight groups.