Help: Ammo for my new 7mmRM Tikka T3 Lite

[SC Hunter]

Hello everyone,

I just purchased a Tikka T3 Lite 7mm Rem Mag rifle. I have never owned a 7mm, so I was looking to maybe get some help. I have come to prefer the ballistic tip type of ammo, I feel they are more accurate and better results in my experience with take down. So I was curious on what type of ammo I should get to sight it in and use this season. I am hunting white tail deer with it primarily.

Any suggestions on grain, type, etc. I'd like to get an ammo that is relatively affordable, and hopefully something I could find at a store, so I don't have to order online or from the manufacturer each time. Thanks for your help.

SC Hunter

 

[älg]

If you reload, I would suggest using the 162 hornady amax.

You may find this also sold as commercial cartridges by Hornady but I am not sure.

 

[CoachChris]

I have had very impressive groups from my 7mmRM with Winchester Supreme Ballistic Silvertips 150gr. They are about $36.00 a box.

 

[Pdvdh]

I have two Tikka T3's in 7mm RM. They both shoot 140 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips and Accubonds less than .75 moa, and they both shoot 160 gr Nosler Accubonds to about 0.6 moa. These are bullets I have reloaded. Never fired any factory loads.

Berger 168 gr VLDs shoot the best - about 0.3-0.4 moa out of one of my T3 Lites.

Neither rifle shot the 139 gr Hornady Interbonds very well. The plastic tips were crooked on my Hornady bullets right in the box. In fact some tips were loose and one fell off in my hand. So I'm not into Hornady Interbonds. I hear their A-maxs shoot pretty good but the A-max's are pretty explosive on game from what I've read.

If you're buying factory loads I'd look for some Federal brand shells loaded with either Nosler Ballistic Tips or Accubonds.

 

[Willys46]

I have had very impressive groups from my 7mmRM with Winchester Supreme Ballistic Silvertips 150gr. They are about $36.00 a box.

I completly agree. My 7rm loved the 150 ballistic tips. I think Winchester supreme line has 160 accubonds! I would give them a try. I switched to the accubonds to due meat damage.

I reload So i have not tried the factory loaded 160 accubonds, but the ussally shoot just as good.

Good luck!

 

[Pdvdh]

I switched to the accubonds to due meat damage.

I reload So i have not tried the factory loaded 160 accubonds, but the ussally shoot just as good.

Good luck!

Good idea and I do the same the Accubonds. They'll throw a little less lead out into the wound channel and cause a bit less meat damage compared to the Ballistic Tips. They both shoot just about the same out of my rifles. Which is to say... good.

I forgot about the Winchester's being loaded with Nosler's ballistic tips. I don't buy factory loads, but I agree that's another good way to go to try some BTs or ABs out of your rifle.

 

[GlennRMK]

What cartridge were you shooting before?

At 7mm velocites, ballistic tips are going to want to blow up.

I would look at Winchester or Federal Accubonds, Hornady Interbonds or SSTs, Remington with the Swift Scirroccos. Or give the Barnes a try.

Those bullets are going to hold up a lot better.

I would think a 140 grain ballistic tip at 3200+fps is going to equal a lot of meat damage.

 

[CoachChris]

Right On!

I guess I'll have to give the Accubonds a try as well. I shot some Federal loaded 140gr. Partitions at the range. They grouped nicely as well. 1 pair of a group of 4 were nearly 1 oblong hole and the other 2 rds. in the group were about .95 MOA.(?) in kind of a cloverleaf at 200 yds. But they weren't consistently like that.

I think the Lubalox coating is a big contributor to the consistent accuracy I've had with the Silvertips.

 

[GlennRMK]

I have a Tikka T3 Varmint in .223 that loves the 50 gr Winchester Silver tips. I handload them with 27grs of Varget(3300 fps) and it consistently shoot less then .25" 3 shot groups at 100 yards. Have shot as good as .17".

I have shot about .25" groups with 40, 50, 55 and 60 grain Ballistic tips(1-8" twist)

Don't know why but it likes the moly ones better then the regular ballistic tips.

I've had two different 300 WSMs that refuse to shoot any nosler bullets though. Go figure!

 

[Slyder27]

I've used the ballistic tip bullets in the 7mm rem mag on whitetails. I've shot a few with them...basically, never again.

They fragment on impact. One deer I shot broad side and he literally had a 4 inch wide hole through him. Another I jumped and he was trotting away from me, got him in the right ham and destroyed a lot of meat. Not only that, but down he went, and still quite alive. The bullet blew up...fragmented. There was nothing left of the bullet to hit vitals. Out came the Glock to finish that.

Once I saw what the ballistic tip did on the 2nd example I decided I'd never use them for deer again.

After that I switched to fail safes, which are no longer made. I think the Accubond replaced them? I might try them myself.

 

[SC Hunter]

Unless it is a big buck, I pretty much take neck shots. So the meat dessimation isn't really a problem. I am looking for accuracy, and when I do shoot at the big buck, for him to be down DRT. I shot a buck with my .270, which I am sure I hit this year but never found blood and never found him. It was also drizzling rain.

SCH

 

[CoachChris]

Unless it is a big buck, I pretty much take neck shots. So the meat dessimation isn't really a problem. I am looking for accuracy, SCH

I second that. Although I'm not much of a trophy hunter. Accuracy is my priority. So far no bullet groups out of my 7mmRM like the Silvertips. Partitions are a close second. Soft Points are great at 100 yds. I shoot "hands on the clock" with them. After 100 you never can be sure were they are going to hit.

Slyder27, It has always been my impression that you shoot an animal in the ham to anchor him and then you have to kill him. Never done it myself.