Which 7mm projectile for long range varminting?

[Fordnutter]

Ok guys I'm putting together an F Class / long range varmint rig & have questions relating to projectile of choice. I'd love to run the same projectile for club level F Class matches & varminting. On paper at least the 180gr Berger hands down wins in the winddrift department so looks like a fantastic candidate but I'm guessing pretty stoutly constructed so minimal expansion on varmints way out there - the next logical choice seems to be the 162gr Amax which although on paper doesn't buck the wind as well but should still offer some expansion at extended ranges. The last varmint trip I used my 6BR out to 800yds & want to stretch it further to 1,000+ hence the 7mm build in progress. I'm still deliberating on 284 Win, 284 Shehane or even the 280AI for the cartridge. What is your projectile of choice in the 7mm?

 

[dennisinaz]

180 Berger for everything, second choice is 162 Amax. It is more explosive but doubt you will notice it on varmints at long range.

 

[BigDMT]

Are you talking about shooting coyotes to save pelts? Or prairie dogs? Gophers? All of the above? : )

For long range coyotes where keeping the pelt intact is important. Then the Bergers would be a good place to start. For closer to medium ranges on prairie dogs, I think it would be cool to load some Sierra 100gr Varminter bullets or some Hornady 120gr V-Max's. Of course if you're barrel is twisted for the 180 gr Berger VLD's, it may not shoot those lighter bullets very well.

But could you imagine what would happen to a prairie dog being hit with a 100 gr Hollow Point varmint bullet at 3400-3500 fps? That's what varmint hunters call a good time : )

I know I'm probably preaching to the choir, but if you decide to use a heavy bullet...PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE be careful about knowing what's beyond your target. Those big bullets WILL ricochet and they WILL go a long, long way afterwards. Light skinned varmints won't stop them one bit. I hear about errant bullets killing cattle and horses in eastern Montana all the time. Even going into houses and farmer's out buildings. I'm sure you know this and are a safe shooter. Just re-emphasizing safety when varminting with heavy bullets.

P.S. And of course that goes for all bullet styles and types of shooting : )

 

[Fordnutter]

The varmints i hunt range from small to large. Typically rabbits & magpies with a suppressor majority of the time but annually make a trip hunting wallaby (small kangaroos) & feral goats. It doesnt matter what you use on a rabbit or magpie but on the larger wallaby & goats I like a "deadrightthere" which a more explosive projectile typically gives even if you get a wind call wrong. Now if Hornady were to make a 180gr High BC Vmax 8)

 

[TonyR]

The varmints i hunt range from small to large. Typically rabbits & magpies with a suppressor majority of the time but annually make a trip hunting wallaby (small kangaroos) & feral goats. It doesnt matter what you use on a rabbit or magpie but on the larger wallaby & goats I like a "deadrightthere" which a more explosive projectile typically gives even if you get a wind call wrong. Now if Hornady were to make a 180gr High BC Vmax 8)

You could use a Berger 180 Hunting VLD with the thinner jackets. You might loose a bullet now and then if your barrel gets hot and dirty but you would get the high BC and have a more fragile bullet on impact. The 162 A-Max has been a very accurate bullet for me and you can get up to 3100 fps with the Shehane and probably a 280AI. I have always used the 180s at about 2900fps because it takes more powder to get the 162 to 3100 and I worried about barrel life. i have also heard good things about the Matrix Ballistics 168 gr 7mm bullet but have not tried them myself.

 

[dennisinaz]

The varmints i hunt range from small to large. Typically rabbits & magpies with a suppressor majority of the time but annually make a trip hunting wallaby (small kangaroos) & feral goats. It doesnt matter what you use on a rabbit or magpie but on the larger wallaby & goats I like a "deadrightthere" which a more explosive projectile typically gives even if you get a wind call wrong. Now if Hornady were to make a 180gr High BC Vmax 8)

You could use a Berger 180 Hunting VLD with the thinner jackets. You might loose a bullet now and then if your barrel gets hot and dirty but you would get the high BC and have a more fragile bullet on impact. The 162 A-Max has been a very accurate bullet for me and you can get up to 3100 fps with the Shehane and probably a 280AI. I have always used the 180s at about 2900fps because it takes more powder to get the 162 to 3100 and I worried about barrel life. i have also heard good things about the Matrix Ballistics 168 gr 7mm bullet but have not tried them myself.

I shoot the 180 thin jackets to 3200 and haven't lost one yet. With the calibers listed, he won't be blowing any up. I will see if I can download a photo of a deer we shot Friday with the 180 Berger. It made a mess of the innerds.


OK, here is a 100# coues whitetail deer taken with a 7 RUM and 180 Berger orange box VLD.

Bullet entered behind shoulder and exited opposite side at last rib. Deer was peeking out from behind a tree and quartering towards us. Lost one strap and half of other. No damage to quarters!

Did not gut the deer but you could smell them!

 

[dennisinaz]

Here is a better perspective

Range was 375 yards.

 

[BigDMT]

I think it's safe to say that a 7mm RUM with 180gr Bergers is more than enuf gun for coues deer : ) Hahaha!
Congrats on the kill

 

[Fordnutter]

Wow looks like they work pretty well when driven at speed 8) Looks like I'll have the give the 180gr Hunting VLD's a try then should be the ticket for the "larger" tasty varmints.

 

[.260 james]

My brother shot a cow elk at about 100 yds. this season with the 180 gr. hunting VLD. she dropped right over, kicked twice and slid into ablout 200 FT. deep gully. Internal damage was i,mpressive , I was told. this bullet loaded warm out of a 7 MM Weatherby has never lost a bullet yet.

 

[jamesh]

In my 7 SAUM wind drift and elevation are identical between the 180 VLD and 162 A-max at 1000 yards. The 180 leaves the muzzle at 3005 fps and the Amax at 3120 fps. Ballistic programs would indicate there should be a difference but when shot side by side in high wind (20-30mph crosswind) I have not seen a difference. For Benchrest target shooting I use the 162 A-max 162 BTHP and 180 BLD depending on what the barrel likes this year I am going to try the 180 Hybrids. For deer though if I use a 7mm I use 162 A-max bullets, that would be my recommendation because of better expansion at extended ranges.


James