7 rum

[kdog70]

I tried the search function, I searched other forums and Google can anyone tell me something besides it eats barrels. I read some places where people were getting 1500 plus and read some places where they were getting 450 rounds out of a barrel.

I shoot 22lr, 243 AI, 260 AI currently with a few others in between and I shoot a spotter/shooting buddies 300 Win mag. I have tasted the 1400 mark and flirted with the 1600 mark. Where do I need to go next? Here in Michigan there isn't a lot of long range shooting on game but if there was a chance it would be whitetails.

7 RUM? 7 stw? If I get the Ultra gun I could use the action towards an edge build when I am not a poorish college kid.

 

[liltank]

From my research a couple of years ago, I was really sold on the 7STW. It will slightly out run the RUM and with a 162 A-max or 180 Berger you are going to kill anything within 1500yrds with that round. Barrel life is a tough one to assume. It depends on bullets, powders, and velocity. The slower the powder the better the barrel life. The lighter the bullet, higher velocity, more throat erosion due to faster burning powders, equals shorter barrel life. So it is a matter of what you want to do. You don't have to push it to its max either if you can find a lower power load that works. Making sure you clean regularly but not over cleaning will determine your barrel life. If you run 180's with slow powders, you can probably expect 800 to 1000, but that might be pushing it.

Tank

 

[4xforfun]

Tank,

I can't imagin the STW will out run a RUM, all things being equal.....But, I have never even seen a RUM, and my experiance with the STW was very short lived due to a very poor factory chamber.

 

[liltank]

Tank,

I can't imagin the STW will out run a RUM, all things being equal.....But, I have never even seen a RUM, and my experiance with the STW was very short lived due to a very poor factory chamber.

I just looked at reloadersnest.com and did some comparing. It looks as though they run neck and neck in the 168 and 180 grain bullets. I did see that there is a load for the STW that is almost 3200fps and the RUM is at 3125fps. That's not a real significant difference. Maybe the real question is, which is easier to find a load for. It seems to me both were very picky rounds for load development. My brother-in-law did some loading for an STW. If I remember correctly he loaded with IMR 7828, but not sure what powder. He said it was a tack driver, but this is on a custom rig. Unfortunately I don't know what the specs are on the rifle.

Tank

 

[bigbrother]

My brother's runs the 180bergers at 3190 avg from his 26" barrel. He had been shooting 168SMK's but to be honest I could run them in my 7REM almost as fast as he could push them with a whole lot less powder. From what I've seen the 180 Berger or heavier bullets are the only ones that make sense for this round due to huge powder capacity.

He hasn't had it long enough for me to tell you how it's throat / barrel is doing. He's probably only to 400 rounds through it. Currently it will still smack a bowling ball at 950 yards with the first round....

 

[4xforfun]

I would agree that these will shine with the big bullets. I always wanted to do a RUM or similar with the 200 gr ULD RBBT bullet, but it sounds like getting bullets is "iffy".

 

[kdog70]

I emailed looking for bullets and never got a response for the 200gr maybe it just didn't go through or I put the wrong email in.

I am torn between 7 rum or 7 something compared to a 300 RUM or similar because the same crappy barrel life essentially. I just want a new toy but I am on a semi tight budget so I opted out of a 338 class anything.

In my head I can get a Rem 700 in 7 RUM with scope, new stock and shoot out the factory barrel and practice then save up for action work and new barrel be on my way.

 

[kiwi3006]

Why don't you try a 338 RUM, it will be the same price to buy as a 7 RUM, but will last longer. It won't give you the same velocity as the 338 Edge etc but is not far behind.
I am pretty sure that Royinidaho and Long time Long ranger have been using the 338 RUM with good results.

If you want to stay with the 7mm there is noting wrong with the 7mm Rem mag.

Stu.

 

[coyotezapper]

I have never owned or shot a 7RUM but I have been shooting a 7STW for 10+ years now and I love it. For years I shot a 140 grain Barnes X bullet ( original X ) acculubed at 3450 fps with a 24" barrel and this was a moderate/accuracy load. When I do replace the barrel it will be a 26" Rock. I am now shooting a 180 Berger at 3000 fps pushed by US869. I am at almost 1000 rounds now through the barrel and accuracy is still in the .6's. That being said I have babied this barrel never ever letting it heat up. This could all change at anytime, my 7REM Mag went south all at once at 1800 rounds. As noted in other posts high velocity burns barrels.

 

[4xforfun]

Why don't you try a 338 RUM, it will be the same price to buy as a 7 RUM, but will last longer. It won't give you the same velocity as the 338 Edge etc but is not far behind.
I am pretty sure that Royinidaho and Long time Long ranger have been using the 338 RUM with good results.

If you want to stay with the 7mm there is noting wrong with the 7mm Rem mag.

Stu.

I know we are getting off topic, and I don't mean to pull a hyjack, but...

My thoughts about going to a 7mm rum or improved version vs a 338 rum or Edge. Now, these thoughts may be WAY off........and...this is for deer sized game, not elk/moose.

First, obviously, the energy requirments for deer are far less than that of and elk/moose/bear/ect.... My concern would be energy transnsfer.....or skock....I feel that a bullet needs to expand (mushroom) and dump the energy INSIDE the animal.

So, and these are only MY thoughts, I would think VELOCITY would be a key factor.....you need the FPS to get a bullet to open up. It would be easier to keep the velocity up (using a regular .535 mag bolt face) on a VLD type 180 - 200 gr. 7mm at , say 3200- 3400 fps muzzle velocity, which would be do-able with a big 7, than a 300 SMK or berger at 2850 FPS, which would be very do-able with a rum/edge.

Now, if the animals get bigger, the range goes beond, say 1500, or you can go with the bigger boltface and more horse power, then it's the 338 by a landslide!!! But, given the constraints of the .535 boltface and the energy requirements for deer, I gotta think that the BIG 7 would be great.

Tell me where I am wrong. I am sure I missed something.... What would a reliable speed be for a berger/jlk/uld to open up reliably? Does this number go up with the bigger cal bullets? This is the reason I am working for MAX FPS in my 300 WBY/210 (see other thread..300 rum vs wby). I feel I need the FPS to get the bullet to open up.

Now, all that being said.....I would love to get a .338 tube for my match gun and go all out and get , at the very least, an EDGE, or buy a bolt and go with either a Lapua Improved or a Chytec based round. It's just not in the cards right now. Ill have to make do with the "lowly " 300 WBY.

FUN STUFF!!

 

[davewilson]

i had a 7rum for a while and could never get consistent with it. rebarreled it to an edge and couldn't be happier. very easy to load for, in fact, will shoot anything pretty well. a 7rum will throw a 180 about 3200. a 300rum will throw a 200 gr about 3200, and an edge, same case, will throw a 250 gr about 3200 fps. the 7rum is a VERY overbore cartridge and in my opinion should only be reloaded by very experienced reloaders.
i agree with the suggestion of getting a 338 rum. great cartridge and a much better choice for someone just starting out!

 

[bigbrother]

4X, I agree completely. Out to 1200 yds, the big 7 will handle anything we've go on our side of the pond. I also hunt with a partner that shoots a 338 Tomahawk. There is a dramatic impact difference on whitetails at 1000 yards between the two BUT, dead is dead. For that matter, when I smack one with my 6.5x284 at 1000 it's just as dead.

Bullet expansion with the 180 berger is a lot better on a whitetail than a 250SMK or 250 Lapua at those ranges. From what I've seen the 338 bullets may work "better" on bigger animals but again, if it's dead....what's the difference? JMO

 

[J E Custom]

I emailed looking for bullets and never got a response for the 200gr maybe it just didn't go through or I put the wrong email in.

I am torn between 7 rum or 7 something compared to a 300 RUM or similar because the same crappy barrel life essentially. I just want a new toy but I am on a semi tight budget so I opted out of a 338 class anything.

In my head I can get a Rem 700 in 7 RUM with scope, new stock and shoot out the factory barrel and practice then save up for action work and new barrel be on my way.

There are many good 7mm cartriges that are available and will do anything that you want
so here are your options as I see it.

As far as velocity the 7 RUM will be the fastest because of case capacity the STW is next and
on down.

Barrel life depends a lot on how hard you load it and ALL over bored cartriges are hard on
barrels not just the big sevens. But with good maintenance they should last a long time as
a hunting rifle.

If you are looking at buying a factory rifle and later using it as a donor then the 7 STW or a 7
Rem Mag would be the easiest to re barrel to another belted 7mm. but if you want to re barrel
to a larger 300 or 338 RUM then go with the 7 RUM and every thing will work.

Ammo is harder to find and more expensive for the 7 RUM but you get what you pay for.

If you like the short actions then the 7 WSM is a great round and the ballistic equal of the
7 Rem Mag.

As in most cases the big sevens can use a longer barrel 28'' or longer. if this is to long
for the intended use then go with the 7 WSM or 7 Rem Mag.

The 200 grain bullets have not been proven yet but anything up to 175 grains will work well
and for long range I use the 160 accubond for hunting and the 168grain SMK for 1000 yard
matches.

J E CUSTOM

 

[arthurj]

7 Rum is a fun round though! I don't know the velocity but I was shooting the 162 amax and it only took 18 MOA to get to 1000 yards! Thats moving pretty quick. I can't say about barrel life because I sold mine at about 400 rounds.