7mm WSM

I have plenty of brass and bullets and it's a tested caliber. All we need is more rifle offerings!
The cow elk in my pic was taken at 456 yards with my Win 70 Black Shadow in 7wsm with a 160gn trophy bonded bear claw. All she presented was head and shoulders so I made a choice...
 
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 .
I actually think the .325 was the best WSM, and the most under appreciated.
 
I bought my Browning Ti 7mm WSM because I was looking for a light rifle for aoudad (5.5 lbs.). I have used 168 gr. VLD hunting bullets for everything: javelina, deer, bear, aoudad, ibex, and elk with no issues. Because the bullets are so long, it is basically a single shot. But one shot is enough. I debated between 7mm-08 and the WSM, and went with the magnum knowing I could always load it up or down as needed. I load it to 2750 fps, and it has worked like a charm. During the Obama era, I couldn't find brass. I finally got some after Trump won. I even bought Federal factory rounds just for the brass. If I had to do it over again, I'd probably buy a .270 WSM instead, just for the brass availability and the longer neck length.
 
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.
R26 and a 26" barrel in mine and I could get a shade over 3100 with both Berger's and ELD's. I had no sign of excessive pressure but accuracy was at 3035 so I shot it there
 
Here is the data I used and I'm getting 3050 with the Federal 160 Trophy Bonded tip and the max load of IMR4350 out of a Model 70 24 inch barrel.
Baggy, I don't think I would trust that load data. For one there's no difference in the load data between the 140 gr and 160 gr bullets. Usually you have to slightly decrease the powder charge when increasing the weight of the projectile. Also there's no way 63 gr of IMR4350 is compressed in that case. That should take nearly 70 gr. Also according to Nosler MAX pressure is at 58.5 grs of IMR4350
 

Attachments

  • 7DF7845D-1631-49C4-BBD0-F3F7B08C8F29.jpeg
    7DF7845D-1631-49C4-BBD0-F3F7B08C8F29.jpeg
    121.8 KB · Views: 132
Last edited:
Baggy, I don't think I would trust that load data. For one there's no difference in the load data between the 140 gr and 160 gr bullets. Usually you have to slightly decrease the powder charge when increasing the weight of the projectile. Also there's no way 63 gr of IMR4350 is compressed in that case. That should take nearly 70 gr. Also according to Nosler MAX pressure is at 58.5 grs of IMR4350
Here is what the Hornady and Sierra app shows for 160's
Screenshot_20201211-224525_Hornady Reloading Guide.jpgScreenshot_20201211-224627.jpg

Then here is what Hodgdon says

Screenshot_20201211-231806_Samsung Internet.jpg
 
Last edited:
Baggy, I don't think I would trust that load data. For one there's no difference in the load data between the 140 gr and 160 gr bullets. Usually you have to slightly decrease the powder charge when increasing the weight of the projectile. Also there's no way 63 gr of IMR4350 is compressed in that case. That should take nearly 70 gr. Also according to Nosler MAX pressure is at 58.5 grs of IMR4350
Well it crunches when I seat the bullet....never noticed it's the same load as the 140 but it's straight from Federals website.
 
Top