7mm Rem. Mag. and 180 grn. Bergers???

[brentc]

I have my best luck with 180s and 69.0 grains of H1000 at 2980 fps or 69.5-70 grains of Retumbo at 3025-3060. The 168s shoot great as well. My reason for choosing the 180 in hunting situations is because Bergers work by shedding mass inside the animal. It only stands to reason that when using the heavier of the two bullets you'll have more mass to shed, therefore increasing the amount and/or size of wound channels. For me, recoil difference is negligle.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Neither of my 7mm RM's that I use for hunting like any of the Berger 180gr bullets, VLD or Hybrid. I guess they both have a 9.5 twist. I know the Browning does, but I thought the Remington barrel was a 1:9, but it doesn't like them either. However, the Remington slings 168 VLD's into a 5/8" 3-shot group @ 100 yards, so I'm not complaining. For a lightweight custom built hunting rifle with a 26" sporter barrel, that's more than good enough.

 

[ann brezinski]

any one shoot either in a 7 mm weatherby factory rifle.just asking...

 

[AZShooter]

If you have 180s to try then do so. A friend shoots a Craig custom with 180 berger target hybrids with H1000 for 2950 fps and has done well with coues wt making shots out to a bit over 600 yds.

IMO as to using the 180 or the 168, the two will have very similar downrange performance. The 180 will be slightly ahead in energy and a tiny bit less wind drift while the 168 will have less drop. Use the bullet your rifle likes.

 

[General RE LEE]

I've got some Berger 180 grain VLDs to try in my 9.5 twist 7mm STW. Fingers crossed they do well.

 

[ann brezinski]

with the 168 i have seen on best of the west and long range pursuit on elk out to 1000 yard shots and 1 shot kills.what are your thoughts on this.

 

[dxlbaile]

I have a Lane precison that I shoot the 180 hybrid with cci 250 WW Brass, 72 gr of Retumbo.. It hammers at 3050 fps.. No pressure signs.. I have dumped everything with this gun.. Very solid combo.

 

[Longtine88]

My last load for the 180 VLD
Nosler Brass
Fed 215M Primers
H1000 Powder 70.1 Grains
2958 FPS AVG ES 13 SD 6
.051" off jam
1.46" 4 shot group at 650 yards best group.

I tend to agree somewhat about the 180's being a little heavy and the 168's a better fit a little. So I started last week a ladder on the 175 Elites. The ladder yielded a node with 3 shots and .6 grains difference all hitting same hole at 200 yards. So I loaded 5 different seating depth charges and I'm currently waiting for a calm day to shoot groups on them.

The load charged I settled on was:
Perterson Brass, pockets uniformed, flash holes uniformed, LE Wilson expanded necks only.
Fed 215M Primers
H1000 Powder 70.8 Grains
.106" off Jamb
3 ladder. shots same hole clover leaf group @ 200 yards and those 3 shots where 3066 fps, 3068 fps, 3069 fps. Crazy good.

I'll post the results of the seating depth testing when complete. I'm guessing it will be way off jamb.

Granted I wouldn't hesitate a minute to shoot an elk size game at that yardage either. I think the combo is very good. I think the 168 will do the same if not a little more killing explosiveness so that's what intrigued me about the 175's.

 

[Jumpalot]

Interesting to see a thread I started 10 yrs ago get revived. I like it!

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

Interesting to see a thread I started 10 yrs ago get revived. I like it!

zombies !!!

 

[sierracharlie338]

Good info here though!

 

[m3mike]

I use 175 Elite Hunters with 70.0 of H-1000, 2950 FPS Picture is a 5 round group.

 

[fishdundee]

Have had a lot of success with 180 Berger Hybrid Targets with 69.0 grs of Retumbo around 2975-3000 fps. has been accurate in many 7mms I've tested. It's a warm load so use caution.

 

[lancetkenyon]

R-P brass (up to 10 firings on some)
CCI250
H1000
180 Hyb
2996fps with 2.5gr off max
Crazy accurate
Lethal on elk from 60ish to 882