I am seeking comments from anyone who has experience with the new 7mm LRM from Gunwerks. I am planning on building a new longrange hunting rifle on a Stiller action. It will be either the long tested 7 rem mag or the new kid on the block. From all my research the new7LRM shoots a heavier vld faster than the 7 Rem mag. The biggest advantage I see is case life with the new 7LRM. What am I missing that would make me not want to build the new 7LRM. I hand load my own ammo so ammo avalibility is not a problem. Gunwerks is not building it they would not give me the time of day becauseI wanted to use my action to keep cost down.
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7mm Rem Mag verse 7mm LRM
- Thread starter elkhntr
- Start date
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MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
I was looking to build one last year, but I couldn't find brass or dies. Everyone said to go to Gunwerks website, but I never could find anything on there, so I never built one. Not trying to dissuade you, just telling you my experience.
2 other options you CAN find brass for are the new .28 Nosler wildcat (uses .26 Nosler brass necked up to .284), or the old tried and true 7mm STW. Both will give great results with the heavy 180gr bullets.
2 other options you CAN find brass for are the new .28 Nosler wildcat (uses .26 Nosler brass necked up to .284), or the old tried and true 7mm STW. Both will give great results with the heavy 180gr bullets.
WildRose
Well-Known Member
I'm always amazed when I start thinking of all the different cases and powders we use to push the .284.
7mm STW gets my vote. I really don't see enough gain between the 7mm Rem and 7mm LRM to justify the expense and aggravation of trying to find brass, dies, etc.
7mm STW gets my vote. I really don't see enough gain between the 7mm Rem and 7mm LRM to justify the expense and aggravation of trying to find brass, dies, etc.
The 7 LRM's original reamer had a neck diameter that was discovered to be too tight with some more recent lots of 7LRM Hornady brass. There was quite a mixup with pressure spikes and loading issues with some owners till someone figured out the issue.
A friend in Tucson made his 7 LRM with a Stiller action and had it built locally. He borrowed the original reamer. Got everything else from Gunwerks. He had issues crushing the jackets on LR Accubonds while attempting to seat them. He asked for some help. I discovered that the supplied dies were setup for a specific neck wall thickness. His were several thousandths thicker. Another friend turned the necks which solved the issue. IF he did manage to seat some bullets and fire them in the tight necked chamber he would have had pressure issues too.
Gunwerks changed the reamer for the thicker brass.
As a side note you said the 7 LRM brass will have the advantage with longer brass life. I don't understand that one. If you don't over work the brass I don't see any difference. Perhaps your reasoning is the thicker brass may last longer?
I do know that my 7mm/375 Ruger has very thick case walls. After one or two firings I had to make a small base die to properly size the brass's body taper for easy extraction for the next firing. I had this issue with all four chamberings I had done and came to the conclusion it was the brass and nothing I did in making the chambers.
Now that 300 win mag brass is available I see no reason to go to the extra expense to use a 7 LRM when you can get the same performance with a 7mm-300 win mag.
That is not part of your question. I would stick with the 7 Rem mag rather than the 7 LRM. The practical difference with a 26" barrel is approx. 100 fps with a 180 gr bullet. If you were to lengthen the 7 Rem mag you can get closer to 7 LRM performance with less cost, fewer hassles and longer barrel life. I had a 30" 7 Rem mag and was able to get up to 3075 fps with a 180 Berger VLD.
Ross
A friend in Tucson made his 7 LRM with a Stiller action and had it built locally. He borrowed the original reamer. Got everything else from Gunwerks. He had issues crushing the jackets on LR Accubonds while attempting to seat them. He asked for some help. I discovered that the supplied dies were setup for a specific neck wall thickness. His were several thousandths thicker. Another friend turned the necks which solved the issue. IF he did manage to seat some bullets and fire them in the tight necked chamber he would have had pressure issues too.
Gunwerks changed the reamer for the thicker brass.
As a side note you said the 7 LRM brass will have the advantage with longer brass life. I don't understand that one. If you don't over work the brass I don't see any difference. Perhaps your reasoning is the thicker brass may last longer?
I do know that my 7mm/375 Ruger has very thick case walls. After one or two firings I had to make a small base die to properly size the brass's body taper for easy extraction for the next firing. I had this issue with all four chamberings I had done and came to the conclusion it was the brass and nothing I did in making the chambers.
Now that 300 win mag brass is available I see no reason to go to the extra expense to use a 7 LRM when you can get the same performance with a 7mm-300 win mag.
That is not part of your question. I would stick with the 7 Rem mag rather than the 7 LRM. The practical difference with a 26" barrel is approx. 100 fps with a 180 gr bullet. If you were to lengthen the 7 Rem mag you can get closer to 7 LRM performance with less cost, fewer hassles and longer barrel life. I had a 30" 7 Rem mag and was able to get up to 3075 fps with a 180 Berger VLD.
Ross
Thankyou all for your input, that is what I was looking for. Ross I really appreciate what you told me, now I am reconsidering. My statement on case life was based on input I was told or read stating that strait wall cases lasted longer in reloads. I shoot a 300 win. mag. and after 3 maybe 4 reloads they begin to stick. Now you are wondering why change caliber. Thought I would build something different, a little less recoil, and hearing more that 7mm is ballisticly better. Not to sure about that yet, but competition shooters seem to be going more that way from 30 cal.I have thought about resizing and going to the 7mm300. If push comes to shove Ill probably stick with the 300 win. mag. and 210 vld bergers for elk hunting. Anymore input greatly appreciated
Elkhntr,
Sharing information is what this site is all about. I am thankful for so many contributors here as well.
You said you have been using the 300 win mag for elk and thought you would consider the 7mm because it is ballistically better. IMO the only thing the 7mm Rem mag or even the 7 LRM have over the 300 win mag is less recoil. A few years ago, Broz, shared with us just what the 300 win mag is capable of doing. He was trying out the new 215 Berger hybrid and there is a very long thread that discussed the new bullet vs the 210 VLD. Later in the thread Broz documented a series of kills with antelope, deer and elk. If you read it you will most likely decide to stick with your 300 Win mag and switch to this bullet.
The link starts on page 9. A poster sectioned the 210 VLD alongside the 215 hybrid making jacket thickness comparisons. Then Broz shares specifics with his 300 win mag. Shortly after this the killing begins. I have it book marked. Any time an acquaintance asks what should they use in their 300 Win mag I send them this link. Sit down and enjoy. A big thanks to Broz for taking the time to document this bullet's performance.
http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f19/comparing-berger-210-vld-215-hybrid-88657/index9.html
Sharing information is what this site is all about. I am thankful for so many contributors here as well.
You said you have been using the 300 win mag for elk and thought you would consider the 7mm because it is ballistically better. IMO the only thing the 7mm Rem mag or even the 7 LRM have over the 300 win mag is less recoil. A few years ago, Broz, shared with us just what the 300 win mag is capable of doing. He was trying out the new 215 Berger hybrid and there is a very long thread that discussed the new bullet vs the 210 VLD. Later in the thread Broz documented a series of kills with antelope, deer and elk. If you read it you will most likely decide to stick with your 300 Win mag and switch to this bullet.
The link starts on page 9. A poster sectioned the 210 VLD alongside the 215 hybrid making jacket thickness comparisons. Then Broz shares specifics with his 300 win mag. Shortly after this the killing begins. I have it book marked. Any time an acquaintance asks what should they use in their 300 Win mag I send them this link. Sit down and enjoy. A big thanks to Broz for taking the time to document this bullet's performance.
http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f19/comparing-berger-210-vld-215-hybrid-88657/index9.html
Again thanks for the info. You are right no sense trying to fix what is not broke. After shooting a 300 win. mag. for 40 years I was more or less just looking at something new I load. I am impressed with the article on the differences between berger 210 vld and the 215 hybrid. After all the input so far I probably will stay with the 300 since I already am set up for it. I will try the hybrid since I have problems with the 210 being consistent in grouping.I load 75 grains of H 1000 @ 2900 fps .420 off the lands. Im restricted by mag box length. Another reason for building new gun. Hopefully hybrid will work better.
No Fear in Accuracy
Well-Known Member
I think a new caliber is coming out as 28 Nosler and it does everything you need. Fast and hard hitting.
You may be pleasantly surprised when the 215 hybrids shoot. I have use a wide variety of seating depths from kissing the lands to over .150" away with accurate results using hybrids. Let us know how it works out for you.
bullets.com has the 215 in stock:
Bullets.com
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I found a few places that list H-1000 as available but you never know:
http://steveswholsalenz.net/store3/...er/hodgdon-powder2013-06-09-03-02-03826088582
This also shows as being there. http://www.lohmanarms.com/product_p/hdh10008.htm
they say to e-mail or call to see if they have it: http://www.biggunoutdoors.com/HODGDON-POWDER_c52.htm?page=all
http://www.armslist.com/posts/33359...ing-for-sale--brand-new-hodgdon-h1000-8lb-jug
they list it but don't know: http://www.shydasoutdoorcenter.com/#!winchester-powder/c13vz
they list 1 lb cans as being available: http://macsreloading.com/inventory/powder.hodgdon.html
they claim to have it https://yournewgun.com/hodgdon-h1000-1lb-can.html
good luck
Bullets.com
----------------------------
I found a few places that list H-1000 as available but you never know:
http://steveswholsalenz.net/store3/...er/hodgdon-powder2013-06-09-03-02-03826088582
This also shows as being there. http://www.lohmanarms.com/product_p/hdh10008.htm
they say to e-mail or call to see if they have it: http://www.biggunoutdoors.com/HODGDON-POWDER_c52.htm?page=all
http://www.armslist.com/posts/33359...ing-for-sale--brand-new-hodgdon-h1000-8lb-jug
they list it but don't know: http://www.shydasoutdoorcenter.com/#!winchester-powder/c13vz
they list 1 lb cans as being available: http://macsreloading.com/inventory/powder.hodgdon.html
they claim to have it https://yournewgun.com/hodgdon-h1000-1lb-can.html
good luck
