7 rem mag and factory ammo

[ttfreestyle]

I just picked up a Savage donor rifle in 7 rem mag with a 24 inch barrel and after inspecting it don't believe it has been shot much at all. I was gonna change calibers but I want to give it a chance first, my question is what is the best factory ammo to put it through its paces to see if its worth getting dies, brass etc. It is strictly a hunting rifle (deer and elk) so if I can find some factory ammo that shoots well enough I may not even handload for it. Thanks for any replys

 

[XTR]

I just picked up a Savage donor rifle in 7 rem mag with a 24 inch barrel and after inspecting it don't believe it has been shot much at all. I was gonna change calibers but I want to give it a chance first, my question is what is the best factory ammo to put it through its paces to see if its worth getting dies, brass etc. It is strictly a hunting rifle (deer and elk) so if I can find some factory ammo that shoots well enough I may not even handload for it. Thanks for any replys

I'd try any of the Hornady offerings. I haven't bought factory ammo for my 7mmRM since the early 90s..

 

[ttfreestyle]

I cant remember when the last factory ammo I shot was either other than 22 lr lol. I have been reading the reviews on Midway also trying to get a few ideas.

 

[nastynatesfish]

Mine shot the factory federal 175gr decent. I'll tell you right off you will do better reloading for it.

 

[ttfreestyle]

Yea i know as i reload for all my calibers but i just didn't want to invest in more dies etc as i will probably change calibers soon. See i have this problem , maybe i need help but i am addicted to changing calibers.

 

[hogpatrol]

Yea i know as i reload for all my calibers but i just didn't want to invest in more dies etc as i will probably change calibers soon. See i have this problem , maybe i need help but i am addicted to changing calibers.

Funny, I've got the same malady. Having said that, save yourself the the trouble and go for the barrel swap fix. ;D

 

[2506]

I have a friend that has a gun shop/sporting goods store in east NC where deer hunting it BIG. Gun season last about 3 months. He will sale 10 to 1 of Hornady 154 gr SP or SST to any other brand or bullet weight for the 7mm Rem mag. When I used the 7 Rem Mag for a short stent I found that my handloads with the 154 Gr Hornady Interlock SP was the best bullet I tried for dropping deer in their tracks or having them run off the shortest distance which was a BIG problem with this caliber for me even though I was putting the bullets into or exiting a shoulder. It killed in their tracks much better over 300 yards than it did under 300 yards.

 

[BigDMT]

When I used factory ammo many years ago, I would only use Federal Premium ammunition in my serious hunting rifles. Generally gave me really good accuracy, it has good premium hunting bullet offerings, and excellent box to box consistency. Not perfect consistency, but a lot better than most cheaper brands of ammo.

 

[ttfreestyle]

I know I should just swap the barrel to something I load for but I picked up one box of Federal premium and Hornady to try, if it doesn't show promise ill get my nut wrench out as I have a straight 284 barrel on the way. I was just curious and bored this winter . Thanks to all for the replys

 

[wapiti25]

Hornady makes a good bullet for killing game in their interlock line, they shot good for me. I shot a lot of game with the 162 BTSP out of my 7mm mag's.

 

[Flintlock]

I had great results with Barnes 140 gr TTSX Vortex ammo in a M-70mm Mag.

 

[XTR]

I know I should just swap the barrel to something I load for but I picked up one box of Federal premium and Hornady to try, if it doesn't show promise ill get my nut wrench out as I have a straight 284 barrel on the way. I was just curious and bored this winter . Thanks to all for the replys

Man, for a hunting rifle I'd leave it alone if it will shoot. If we are talking about long action/magnum loads here, 7mmRM has probably killed more critters that anything other than the 30-06. (but the wimpy 30-30 has probably killed more than anything) My 7mmRM sleeps in the back of my safe waiting for the day that I go out west to hunt again.

Personally I think using pretty much any case that requires a long action on game east of the Front Range is pretty well over gunned. I'm a big fan of the 308 based cases and they take care of all my needs.

 

[ttfreestyle]

Ok just got back from the range trying out the factory ammo. The Hornady not so good. The Federal Premium 150 grain sierra game king box shot a .600 and a .725 back to back groups . They were only 3 shot groups but maybe I will just shoot it some more before I tear it apart, I read the reviews on Midway about the Remington 150 grain doing well so for kicks I may try a box of them. It only has the cheap plastic stock on it and I shot these off a bipod. I know that's not good by handloading standards and custom barrels but for the money($350 pawn shop and a 4.5x14nikon I had laying around) I am happy.

 

[BigDMT]

That's awesome for a factory rifle with factory OR handloaded ammo. It's not a competition or even a custom gun.

Might do better with a custom rifle, but can't really expect much better accuracy with handloading.

I never could get Hornady factory ammo to shoot very good whenever I tried it either. Federal premium is usually a pretty sure bet for good hunting accuracy.

 

[ttfreestyle]

The plastic stock flexes some so I think a bipod probably is not the best thing to use(well that cheap stock is not the best thing lol) I may look for a replacement stock used to pick up later, gotta say the Federal have a little more snap on the shoulder than the Hornady though.

 

[BigDMT]

That Sierra GameKing is an excellent hunting bullet too.