7mm Reg Mag Frustrations

Would like some suggestions.

I have a Rem Long Range 700 7mm Rem mag that I have had customized with Kreiger 1:8:25" twist 26" barrel - sendero contour, Manners Stock, Timney Trigger. I'm shooting it with 4x20 Burris XTRII. I can't seem to get better than 1" groups from 100 to 300 yards.

I've tried shooting 180 Berger VLDs with 68.g - 70.6g RETUMBO. I think this gun should be at .5" vs. 1" gun.

I've also tried 175 Hornady ELD-X with Retumbo and that shot even worse.

Nosler Brass, CCI Mag Primers...

Any other suggestions on Powders with the heavier 7mm Rem Mag bullets? Going on an elk hunt this fall in MT.
Try another powder. I couldn't get Retumbo to work in any of my rifles. Try IMR 7828 SSC or IMR 7977. Also, try seating the Bergers 0.015" off the lands.
 
I've gotten under 1/2 MOA in two factory 7mm mag with 4831sc and h1000. Berger 180 VLD .015" into lands, fire formed brass and cci mag primers

H1000 would be good for MT, I've shot it at 80 degree temp variation, (95 degrees and 15 degrees) with only a small ES change.
 
If it has a bipod, I would get it off and shoot from some good sand bags or an adjustable front shooting rest with a good rear bag.

Like others have said, I would try a faster powder like H1000 or RL23 or even RL22.

Even though it has a 1-8.25 twist, I would try a lighter more forgiving bullet, like the 160 Accubond.
 
I've gotten under 1/2 MOA in two factory 7mm mag with 4831sc and h1000. Berger 180 VLD .015" into lands, fire formed brass and cci mag primers

H1000 would be good for MT, I've shot it at 80 degree temp variation, (95 degrees and 15 degrees) with only a small ES change.

Yeah! What he said.
Retumbo is mostly for BIG stuff like 375ct and improved variants where you are launching 350gr + bullets faster than a 7mm mag would shoot most 180gr bullets
 
One other thing, I decided for the hell of it to try CCI br2 primers in my win mag which I load very stout, shooting the 225 eld match at 2865fps from a 27" barrel and in doing so, it lowered my ES well down into the single digits and I'm also running H-1000 and nosler custom brass. Primers hold up just fine and 7fps ES does wonders as range increases.
 
If your shooting VLDs and did NOT work up seating depth....your probably just guessing on optimal seating depth.

7829, retumbo, H1000 or R26 are all good powders to try.

jjw
ND
 
28" 8.5 krieger 7mm rem mag .25 Moa 300yards SD 5 trued factory action. Winchester brass, .02+- grain , annealed, cci or federal mag, Sinclair neck mandrel . 70% loads work up .75 Moa less for .5moa cherry picked .25 moa
 
As a few others have said, my vote goes to the H1000. I have used it nearly exclusively, for the 7mag, with all bullet weights.
And believe it or not, my best groups, sd, es, came with using winchester, WLR primers, not the magnums. Two senderos, and my sons m70. I agree, you should be in the .5 groups size.
My smallest group, was .089, @200 yards. (168 Berger match)
 
Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

To answer a few of the questions...

Seating Bergers .015" off the lands...

I have a couple of other rifles I reload for .243 and 7mm-08 that I have shooting .5" out to 600 yards...



I think I will start with some other powder options (H1000 and RL23 - need temp tolerant loads for developing in Texas and shooting Elk in MT) and then start again with several bullets that I have to see if I can get some more accurate loads... 160 NOS Accubonds, 162 and 175g Hornady ELD-X... I have my work cut out for me...

One again, appreciate everyone weighing in on their experiences. What makes this forum great.

tb
 
Make sure you do trajectory validation when you arrive in Montana at the el cation you will be hunting!

I haven't come across a gun that wouldn't shoot Berger VLD's at or under .5 MOA.

Good luck this coming season.
 
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