7mm WSM

[1894C]

How many rounds did your barrel go?

13-1500 when I pulled it, but I pushed it too hard. Shot multiple matches with it and did some serious crop management kills with it three summers in a row.

the current barrel has seen zero matches and no shot strings over 3 rounds. Should see 2k rounds on this one

 

[Send it 284]

13-1500 when I pulled it, but I pushed it too hard. Shot multiple matches with it and did some serious crop management kills with it three summers in a row.

the current barrel has seen zero matches and no shot strings over 3 rounds. Should see 2k rounds on this one

Dude thats impressive, what powder and velocities are you running?
Guys aren't getting any better barrel life with a 7 saum running 75-100 fps slower.
My theory is that guys think they're gaining something by going to a smaller more "efficient"
case, then they load it hot as hell trying to match velocities of the "less efficient" larger one..

 

[baggy270]

I find guys saying they get 3000 FPS or more out of 180 grain bullets hard to believe. I'm compressing powder and getting just over 3000 with 160 grain bullets.

 

[tahoe1305]

The new WSM I put together is shooting a lot quicker than I expected. Still under max load per Alliant reload data but saw pressure and backed off .5 gr. to what's shown in photo. Will back it down a tad more to closer to 3150 for the 162s. Shoots well though for my hunting purposes.

Going to try 175s now and thinking 3050 is realistic with good accuracy. I'm assuming if I ran 180 VLDs they'd be about the same. I'm a bit longer than SAAMI but still in savage short mag.

 

[Jud96]

I find guys saying they get 3000 FPS or more out of 180 grain bullets hard to believe. I'm compressing powder and getting just over 3000 with 160 grain bullets.

You're using the wrong powder then.

 

[Hand Skills]

I find guys saying they get 3000 FPS or more out of 180 grain bullets hard to believe. I'm compressing powder and getting just over 3000 with 160 grain bullets.

The Berger 180 shoots a lot faster than the hornady 180's for example. There are a few reasons for this, mainly bearing surface. Not all bullets of like weight will shoot at like velocity. I wouldn't be surprised if you have trouble breaking 3000fps with a 160gr Accubond, for example.

 

[baggy270]

You're using the wrong powder then.

Just what the manuals say so no....

 

[Overkill338]

Just what the manuals say so no....

The manuals aren't always right. Check out some RUM data, different "manuals" can be as much as a grain or more different for max loads. Instead of demanding that you are right, why not ask some of these guys thats already doing what you want to do, for help?

 

[Pmacc60]

7 WSM should have been the star of the WSM three! So many things I don't understand about what is king and what is forgotten. In 2003 my son wanted a 7 in short magnum and tried to order a WSM in 7mm . There was none available in 7 WSM so he ordered the 7 SAUM . It has worked out for him because it's a great cartridge in its own right . Ten years ago a local gun shop put on clearance a case of 7 SAUM Remington ammo because no one had a rifle in this chambering and I bought every round . That with a set of dies and my son is set for the life of the rifle. The 7 WSM is MHO even better and I always thought it would take off like the 270 and 300. Even with the bullet selection and rate of twist in commercial rifles and ammo this chambering should have not only thrived it should have been the WSM's best seller .

 

[tahoe1305]

Just what the manuals say so no....

Obviously many powders will work. Some will just get more velocity and sometime sacrifice accuracy or temp stability.

I am pretty sure the go to powder if you care about velocity is RL26. There are some others that get close but on my QL charts it wins and on the online manual data I've seen.

it's a newer powder so not in all/a lot of manuals though. My powder charges are all below the neck shoulder junction and closer to 98% so it's a good ratio.

 

[1894C]

Dude thats impressive, what powder and velocities are you running?
Guys aren't getting any better barrel life with a 7 saum running 75-100 fps slower.
My theory is that guys think they're gaining something by going to a smaller more "efficient"
case, then they load it hot as hell trying to match velocities of the "less efficient" larger one..

N565, as the throat wears I was walking the VLDs further and further out until I eventually dropped below my acceptable accuracy. It started life out at a 1/3 moa or better rifle. Past about 900 rounds it was closer to 5/8 moa and past 1200 it started dropping quickly.


this is hardly different than the 6.5-284s of which I've burned 4 barrels (matches only)

 

[1894C]

I find guys saying they get 3000 FPS or more out of 180 grain bullets hard to believe. I'm compressing powder and getting just over 3000 with 160 grain bullets.

If you're in southern TN you can shoot me a PM and come by and check out over 3000 FPS from a 7wsm. Rl23 rl26 n570 all do it in my 26" tube. Seat them long.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

Just what the manuals say so no....

If you only stay to what the manual says, you'll never release the true potential of any rifle cartridge. Im running 3037 in my 26in 7mm rem mag with the 180 eld.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

I ran 175gr Elite Hunters in my 25" Bartlein 7WSM bbl. Both 7828 and RE26 achieved 3,000 ft/sec with no signs of pressure and IIRC were not compressed loads.

I'm currently running the Hammer Hunter 143gr bullets at 3,200 ft/sec and there's plenty of room for growth. Most of my brass has been reloaded 6-7X and then I just toss them even though the pockets are still tight. I do not anneal cases and just prefer to limit the number of times I reload each case.