New build, 7mm rem mag?

I also love the 7mm….whether it is an 08, SAUM, 280ai, rem mag or any other flavor. the specific stocks I would recommend looking at and possibly trying to shoot are
1) Manners EH1 (old but just works)
2) Manners LRH/PH (will have an Arca and a pic rail for using a tripod/bipod down the road. I personally really liked the feel of the Manners LRH)
3) McMillan Nimrod from unknown munitions. I am currently building a 300 wsm on a Nimrod and am very excited about that project.



Barrel
Quality Steel barrels will shoot well but you will have to be in a lighter profile to keep weight down. Some people love the look of a 2/2b steel. Carbon barrels are the same weight but a much larger profile and will also shoot well….your choice of what your eye likes better. Will you ever shoot suppressed? If so I would try to stay at 24" or less bc you will feel like you are hunting with a really long rifle if you stick a can on a 26"+ barrel.

Trigger
Can't go wrong with a trigger tech. I have several. Also have a jewel on a comp gun but don't think I would want that in the field. My most recent hunting setups are using BixNAndy triggers. They allow a tiny bit of over travel rather than hitting a wall like the TT. Can't go wrong with any of your choices

Bottom Metal
Let your smith use what he likes. The latch style work really well and the Hawkins hunter detachable is a great product also.

If you're loading, you can develop different loads with different bullets for different tasks with the one rifle. Even have a couple of scope and stock options.
I like Spuhr one piece mounts for that reason too. I can change scopes on rifles super easy if wanted and they are bomb proof.
Nosler ABLR's have worked well for me on game past 100 and out to 500 (Mule Deer, Antelope Whitetail) in central Montana whereas at home in western Montana, I lean towards Partitions, Hammers and Barnes (Mule Deer, Whitetail, Elk and bear).
I also used the hammers on an antelope this year at 500yds and it dropped where it stood.
With a good ballistics App, you just plug in the elevation and windage offset for the different load and work with one zero.
AG Composites make a great stock as well but not sure if they do it for that action.
Triggers, I have Trigger tech, Timney and Bix n Andy in different rifles. All work just fine. It's hard to buy a bad one these days I think.
As far as bullet weight in the 7mag, I think bullet construction for the job at hand is more important.
Have fun with the build!

I agree with the comments about customs becoming addictive. It hasn't been too long ago I jumped into my first custom. I was wanting a mid weight rifle (under 9lbs ready to hunt). It takes some planning to shave weight. Stocks, barrels, and actions come in wide variety of weights. If you are wanting a Manners, I would look a the MCS Pro. If you shoot prone or spend a significant amount of time shooting with rear bags, the negative comb can make a difference. Adjustable stocks open up obvious adjustments, but typically add significant weight. Will you be hunting suppressed? Long barrels are great for squeezing a bit more velocity, but add to some cumbersome handling in the thick stuff along with a bit of weight.
Best advice I received from my GS was to soak in knowledge, but in the end get exactly what you want.
Welcome to the poor house. It is expensive, but worth every penny.

bowhunterjae said:

Hay all,
Looking for a little insight from the forum.
My gunsmith is going to build me a custom 7mm rem mag.
It will be my primary hunting rifle. Looking for light weight, ergonomic, accurate rifle.
I have three stock 7mm rem mags that have been good to me but just want something that feels perfect. Or close to it.
My best accuracy load in all 3 guns is relatively close to the same. 20-55 off lands depending on rifle, 70 grains H1000, 160g Accubonds, Federal 215. They all run +/- 3000fps.
All 3 guns are 9" and 9.5" twist. 2 24" barrels and 1 26" barrel.
Now that I can choose twist and length it opens up the fact that I could shoot a heavy bullet, shorten barrel, longer barrel, muzzle break, can, whatever. I am just looking for input.
In reality I probably would not be looking at shooting over 500 yards at any game animal and definitely do not want to get into that debate. LOL.
I will be hunting Deer, Elk, Moose and Antelope with this rifle. Many have been killed shooting the 160 g Accubonds but I am open to other bullets and weights if there is a benefit.

Trying not to make any unnecessary mistakes on having my first custom rifle done.

We ordered a Valhalla Long action.

Thinking,
Shilen #3 in 8" "can shoot heavy bullets if needed. Just not sure if it's needed."?
McMillan, Game warden?
Bottom plate?
Timney trigger

Any input is appreciated!

Thank you,
John

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this is what I did. Game Hunter stock, OMR prefit Ramage barrel 8T in 7mag, 700 action. I designed it to shoot a 180 gr vld-h/heavies. It's pretty good at about .442 moa at 300 yards. Build it yourself. Imo any reloader who understands headspace can build a remage prefit set up.

Personally, i don't know how thick the woods are in Washington State, but here in Pennsylvania it can get thick!!!
The 26" barrel on my Weatherby Mark V's is a real PITA for moving in the woods!!!

Stick with the 24" barrel!!!

A 1:9 twist will stabilize all but the heaviest mono bullets and the 197gr Sierra MatchKing.

Within 500 yards, an animal isn't going to know the difference a 180gr bullet or the 160gr your already shooting.
It'll be just as dead. You can't kill it any deader.
Why increase your recoil shooting the heavier bullet for an animal that on one level of dead?

grgohio said:

I have a custom 7mm Rem Mag that I'm very happy with. I wanted to be able to shoot the Berger 195gr EOL.
I'm accurate to a mile (clay pigeons)
You just have to find the right load.

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So you are saying you are shooting consistent 4.3" groups at one mile?

It cracks me up reading post like this and all the different opinions people have. Guy isn't gonna know what the heck to do. Not to mention most of the stuff said on here is complete crap and inaccurate.

If you're shooting a lead core bullet 190gr and under, you don't need the 8 twist. Unless it's just something you want. Shilen barrels are awesome barrels and will shoot just as good as any cut rifled barrels, there is no disadvantage of a button rifled.

Agree. I've owned 2 and the Shilen button rifles barrels will out shoot 95% of the people that own them and the factory loads they stick in them. For non F class competition rifles. I.e. hunting rifles… put your money elsewhere.

I am not historically a big 7mm fan, but I am starting to play with the idea again. I wanted to see if the heavy bullets, particularly the heavier monos would get me excited enough build a 7 to keep in the stable. I picked up a Seekins PH2 in 7RM with an 8 twist thinking I would work with the Berger 180, the Badlands BD2 150 and the Hammer 169. I do like the 8 twist, I have also run some 165gr Sierra TGK and all 4 bullets look like they have promise to be very consistent now that I have formed brass and the barrel has settled in. I don't think the mid-weights suffer being pushed through an 8 twist, so personally I wouldn't limit my bullet selection by getting too fancy with an 8.something.

1mechanic said:

What is the contraption the rifle is sitting on?
Brand and model.

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Tipton ultra gun vise. $145 on Amazon. For cleaning. Building, leveling scopes. It's a must have. Has four feet you can adjust for making level. Just get one. You'll thank me later. Makes life so much easier.

That was what I was looking at been installing some scopes and trying to keep the rifle level on my regular gun cleaning rack sucks.

Looks like what the doctor ordered lol.

1mechanic said:

That was what I was looking at been installing some scopes and trying to keep the rifle level on my regular gun cleaning rack sucks.

Looks like what the doctor ordered lol.

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Try making a few wood wedges to slide down on each side of the buttstock (wedges used when installing doors & windows). Not as stable as the Tipton. But it does work if you're careful. If you have a short bipod on rifle. It works even better w/ just the shims at the rear.

I'm sure your gunsmith knows, but make sure he opens up the throat to handle the heavier bullets. The longer bullets can't be seated out far enough with just a standard saami reamer.

Have McMillans and Manners of different varieties, but my favorite lightweight stock is the Manners LRH.

7 Mags specialize in stacking meat. Have had great success with Retumbo (26" tube) and 180 Bergers. Good luck!

letzhunt said:

Man I hate spell check:
Shilen and Brownells are apparently not real words.

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proof read, proof read, proof read...lol