Magnum 7mm's for F-open

[Keith Glasscock]

I'm looking at moving to a magnum for rough conditions for the next year. I'm already successfully shooting a 284, so I'm looking for a little more performance windage wise without losing the easy tuning characteristics.

My rifle is designed around a 32" barrel - I'll likely keep that length.

What cartridge do you use? What velocity are you getting with which powder and brass? What barrel life? What problems have you encountered?

Yes, I've already searched the forums and read the 7mm page.

Thanks,
Keith

 

[ShootDots]

Since you already have a .284, going only slight faster, it is doubtful you will see enough "gain" to give you what you want. In order so see any appreciable gains worth going to a "magnum" for, would be to go to the 300 WSM and shoot 215's or 230's. Then you will see some gains. However, as you are well aware of, "gains" come at a cost! And in this case the cost is in a substantial gain in recoil.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

I should also specify that this rifle would be used with 180 hybrids until the 195 becomes available. If / when the 195 materializes, the 7mm Magnum will be king until the next development.

Any recent data from the 7 RSAUM and 7 WSM (or variant)?

 

[nastynatesfish]

Why not just do a 280 AI?
My next 7 will be a 7mm practical

 

[Spin Drift]

I cannot add very much to this discussion but I have found very high velocity with 7mm Rem Mag 168 VLD's and Retumbo. 71.5 gets me 3050 fps and 73 gives 3150 fps. I saw no pressure signs.

Accuracy has not been great with this rifle. It has been hit and miss and I could only ever truly count on 1 MOA with it regardless of what I powder or bullet I tried. Somedays were 0.300 most days closer to 1 MOA. The accuracy I found with Retumbo was about the same as all the other stuff I fed it but the velocity is unreal.

With the heavier 180's etc I would start at Retumbo and go from there. I've found this cartridge loves slow powder. If starting from scratch I would jump all over the 180's. I have a hunting load that works so I don't mess with it and instead shoot my target rifles.

I am using Rem brass. I've only tried two primers, WLRM and Fed 215M. Lower es with WLRM in my tests.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Get a 7mm-300 WSM if you intend to shoot the "magical" 195's. I hear that Berger will include a high master card with each box of 195's! ;D

 

[Lbart]

Keith,
FWIW the last few years almost all my shooting has been done with a 7/270 WSM. I shoot Berger 180 Hybrids using H-4831sc and with 31" barrels get 3020 fps. I will not start a large championships (200-300 shots) with more than 700 rounds on a barrel.

 

[dragman]

My vote would be the 7SAUM you can run the hybrids at around 3050fps pretty easy and barrel life isn't much worse than the .284 your used too. I agree if you can take more recoil to improve over the .284 your shooting now I would just skip to the 300WSM with the heavy pills.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

Get a 7mm-300 WSM if you intend to shoot the "magical" 195's. I hear that Berger will include a high master card with each box of 195's! ;D

Does that mean I'll have to turn in my old one? :

 

[Erik Cortina]

Get a 7mm-300 WSM if you intend to shoot the "magical" 195's. I hear that Berger will include a high master card with each box of 195's! ;D

Does that mean I'll have to turn in my old one? :

If you already have one, then you will become a second degree HM! ;D

 

[Keith Glasscock]

Do I then become a third degree when I get the rocket propelled projectile working? No lag time = no wind drift

 

[maxpower]

Get a 7mm-300 WSM if you intend to shoot the "magical" 195's. I hear that Berger will include a high master card with each box of 195's! ;D

Should it be IF they release the 195s? Any news on them?

 

[dragman]

Only word I know is not this year. probably the 2016 shot show.