Need help on 7mm build....

[whitec22]

I am green when it comes to rifle building so I need some help...

Looking to build a hunting rifle with long range capabilities. I have no intentions of attempting to take game at 500+ yds but I am intrigued by the precision. So here are my questions.

1. Which chambering would fit the bill best...7RM, 7WM, 7STW, or 7RUM? And why?

2. With the 7 Weatherby Mag...what is the recommended freebore? I intend to shoot 180 Berger Hunting VLD seated at the optimal depth.

Thanks for you help

 

[olympian]

7mm-08, 284 Win, 280 Rem, or 280 Improved.....no need to go with a magnum. These are all 1000 yd capable rounds in a well built rifle.

 

[placek59]

+1 to go with a non-magnum. I have a 7rum in a rem 700bdl and it is pretty brutal to shoot off a bench. A shooting buddy has a savage in 7stw and it is also a bruiser. I also have a 7-08 but have not tried to shoot it at any great distance but it is much more pleasant to shoot. I have heard/read good things about the old .284. If you do want to go magnum look at the saum and wsm, but in the end, it's your money and you should do what makes you happy.

 

[BoydAllen]

I have a friend that has a lightweight 7 WSM that has a muzzle brake. It is his "go to" rifle. He has taken all of his non dangerous African game with it, all with one shot kills. He uses 175 SMKs, H1000, and 215s, loaded to about 2,950. It is very accurate.

 

[kellyc33]

If you are building a long range hunting rifle for deer and elk, the 7mm mag is an excellant choice. If you currently have no dies or brass then you can look only at performance and affordability. The 7RM has good performance and cheap brass. With the 168 VLD's, it is an excellant long range gun. The 7WM will shoot 150 fps faster, and with a custom reamer from PacificTool, you won't have the excessive freebore that could negatively affect accuracy. The brass is more expensive and some shooters don't like the shoulder angle. The 7STW and the 7RUM are on par with the Weatherby velocity. All are good choices.

 

[Raptor]

Unless you shoot a lot and are and experienced shooter I would stay away from the magnums.

I have seen it time and time again with people who have 7MM or 300WMs for hunting rilfes. They don't shoot them other than when they go hunting and the recoil makes them "Flintch" so bad they can't hit squat.

Build a 280Rem. it will kill anything you want to hunt out to 500yds. My soninlaw is nearly a professional guide/hunter and has killed elk with his out to 500yds using the Berger 168s. His rifle will shoot sub half moa 3 shot groups to 1000yds.

Yes, you can use a muzzle brake but then you need ear muffs unless you don't care about you or your partners hearing. And they are no fun to wear while hunting. Good luck in your quest!!

 

[Rtheurer]

+ 1 on the 280 and 280AI

Second choice 7 Rem Mag.

BergerVLD or 162Gr Amax Hornady.

 

[M700]

If you haven't already read it, I highly recommend the article here on Ric Horst's long range hunting rifle, a 7mm WSM:

http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek064.html

I've used the 7mm Rem mag quite a bit over the years, it's a wonderful hunting cartridge. Recoil seems about the same as a .30-06 to me, in other words, it's just a peach to shoot. With the larger 7's, like the RUM or the STW, I'd probably want a muzzle brake.

Nothing wrong with going with a magnum for a hunting rifle. It adds some muzzle velocity, which is a good thing in a hunting situation.

One shot, a mere 180 yards, at nearly 10,000' with a decidedly low budget 7mm Rem mag. I was using 175 grain Nosler Partition handloaded to about 2900 fps from the 24" barrel. The 7mm Rem mag has a wonderful history of taking western big game for the past 40+ years, and the 7mm WSM produces very similar ballistics.

Take your pick, I'd choose either the 7mm WSM or the good old 7mm Rem mag. Likely the 7mm Rem mag as it's well known to me. Both are accurate, easy shooting, very lethal hunting cartridges. Lately I've been working quite a bit with the .300 WSM, and have grown fond of it. I'd suspect that the 7mm version might be even better for general purpose hunting. Have to admit though, that I do like that big 210 grain .30 cal Berger VLD.

Oh yeah, just remembered, there was a young guy hunting with me last fall who saw a bear come over a ridge not five minutes after I'd shot mine. We watched the black sow come down the ridge, and I ranged her at 504, then 485 yards. Chris dialed his scope for 500 and planted a 140 gr Barnes TSX into the bear, breaking her spine and sending her tumbling down the ridge. He then followed up, and came upon the wounded, ticked-off bear, at about 10 yards.... He finished her off with a couple of very rapid shots. It was impressive performance both from a young hunter and from the 7mm Rem mag. Just a factory built sporter rifle, a Remington as I recall, but I could easily be wrong.

The 7 is capable of superb accuracy and great performance on game. I'd say that goes from whichever case you choose to use. Somehow I'm most drawn to the .280, .280 AI, the 7mm Rem mag, and the 7mm WSM. The smaller cases are okay, but why? It's a hunting rifle. Might as well go for power. The bigger cases are okay, but why? If I want more power than the 7mm Rem mag or the WSM I'd just as soon go for a .30 cal or larger.

Regards, Guy

 

[whitec]

Thanks for the advice guys. It certainly helps.

I got some information from PTG on the 7WM. They recommended a Match Reamer, .318 neck, .248 freebore, 1 deg -30 lead. I asked what the 1deg -30 lead represented as I have no clue. They told me it was the very best throat lead and what is used by most competition shooters. Any comments on the reamer?

As far as my choice for the mag...the donor (7RM) and I have a long history together. I just want to look at some other magnum options based on yall's experience.

I have a 300 wsm factory xbolt that shoots moa out to 300yds with handloads. Took my first muley with it this past fall in Montana.

 

[lurcher]

no one's mentioned the 7mm saum? similar to .280/.280AI in a short format. Can neck down norma 300 saum brass supposedly 7mm saum norma brass is in the pipeline. I hunt with one and it does the business