7mm rem mag with 180s velocities?

[Creedmoor shooter]

Hey gang, I'm looking to build a 7mm of some flavor to shoot the 180 class bullets. I was originally thinking 7mm-300win mag, but I think that's going to cost more than what I can really afford at this point of my life. I'm looking to see what you guys are getting with your 7mm rem mags and the 180 class projectiles. This rifle will have a 28in tube without the brake. I'm hoping for 3000 fps. Is that unrealistic? I'd plan on running along the lines of rl-26, h1000, retumbo, etc. I feel 3000 is reasonable since I run 162s out of my 26in at 3125 fps. I have the dies and enough brass at my disposal to last the barrels life.

 

[lancetkenyon]

With a 28" barrel, 3000fps should be easily attainable in a 7RM pushing 180s.

I shoot the 180 Hybrids over 69.0gr H1000, which is not a top end load in my rifle. I get 2996fps from a 26" barrel.

I am also working up a new load using the new 184 F-open Hybrids over RL26. I hit 3065fps and no pressure yet.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

With a 28" barrel, 3000fps should be easily attainable in a 7RM pushing 180s.

I shoot the 180 Hybrids over 69.0gr H1000, which is not a top end load in my rifle. I get 2996fps from a 26" barrel.

I am also working up a new load using the new 184 F-open Hybrids over RL26. I hit 3065fps and no pressure yet.

Good to hear!

 

[codyadams]

I have loaded lots for my cousins rem 700 Long Range in 7mm rem mag, with a 26" factory barrel. You will get best velocity probably with reloder 26, but h1000 and retumbo may get you there too, especially if you throat it for the 180's.

Starting off with naked bullets, hornady brass cci 250 primers, I maxed h1000 out at about 2975 with 180 VLD's, then switched to Reloder 26. Maxed about 100 fps more at 3070ish which was a great node, but it was max for the brass and a touch hot, so we backed it down to another good node at 3015. Shot that for a season, now we just hbn coated his 180's, and we were able to hit the next node at 3065-3070 without excessive pressure, and it shoots fantastic. This is in a SAAMI spec chamber.

With a custom, 28" barrel, using reloder 26, better brass, and possibly throated for 180's, you will have no problem reaching 3000. In a custom gun honestly, I would twist and throat a 7mm rem mag for the 195's, because it has the hp to push them over 2900 fps, stick a Wyatts extended mag box in, and your gtg. A 195 Berger going 2950+ will kill anything really dead, and will buck the wimd in a fantastic manor. Just a thought

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

I have loaded lots for my cousins rem 700 Long Range in 7mm rem mag, with a 26" factory barrel. You will get best velocity probably with reloder 26, but h1000 and retumbo may get you there too, especially if you throat it for the 180's.

Starting off with naked bullets, hornady brass cci 250 primers, I maxed h1000 out at about 2975 with 180 VLD's, then switched to Reloder 26. Maxed about 100 fps more at 3070ish which was a great node, but it was max for the brass and a touch hot, so we backed it down to another good node at 3015. Shot that for a season, now we just hbn coated his 180's, and we were able to hit the next node at 3065-3070 without excessive pressure, and it shoots fantastic. This is in a SAAMI spec chamber.

With a custom, 28" barrel, using reloder 26, better brass, and possibly throated for 180's, you will have no problem reaching 3000. In a custom gun honestly, I would twist and throat a 7mm rem mag for the 195's, because it has the hp to push them over 2900 fps, stick a Wyatts extended mag box in, and your gtg. A 195 Berger going 2950+ will kill anything really dead, and will buck the wimd in a fantastic manor. Just a thought

Thanks for the info! If I shoot a real heavy 7mm it will be the 197 smk. The 195 berger isn't out of the question though. I'll order some 180 eld-m and some 197 smk and throat it in between those 2 projectiles. That way it will cover up to the 195 eol if I decide to shoot that round for hunting. This will have a 1:8 twist barrel light varmint contour.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Hey gang, I'm looking to build a 7mm of some flavor to shoot the 180 class bullets. I was originally thinking 7mm-300win mag, but I think that's going to cost more than what I can really afford at this point of my life. I'm looking to see what you guys are getting with your 7mm rem mags and the 180 class projectiles. This rifle will have a 28in tube without the brake. I'm hoping for 3000 fps. Is that unrealistic? I'd plan on running along the lines of rl-26, h1000, retumbo, etc. I feel 3000 is reasonable since I run 162s out of my 26in at 3125 fps. I have the dies and enough brass at my disposal to last the barrels life.

28" barreled 7mm RemMag with a tight match chamber and a SAAMI neck, and stuffed with 7977 should get you there easily.

 

[tim_w]

I think the 180 class bullets are he heaviest for best 7RM's performance. 180 ELDM 183 SMK etc. The new 167 SGC looks interesting as well. If they sell well I would expect one in the 180s range to come out in the next yr or so. The 190s IMO are to heavy for the 7RM

 

[codyadams]

Couple tables out to 1400 yds of the 180 VLD, 180 ELD-M 195 EOL, AND 197 SMK at velocities that are possible for each. If your throwing big 7mm pills (180+) then I assume 1400 yds is not out of the realm for what you will be shooting steel and such at, at least.

In velocity, the heavies catch up and surpass around 2,000 fps, at about 1100 yds. Drop is so similar it's nearly neglegable. Wind drift, they simply outperform the 180's. Energy, the 195/197 has much more. If I were to build one, the only reason I WOULDN'T build a long range 7mm rem mag for the 190+ class is if, such as in your case, I was building a rifle without a muzzle brake that would be on the lighter side. Recoil is the only downside. Which, you will still have a good amount with the 180's.

 

[Remmy700]

I built a little shorter 7mm RM with a 22" proof barrel on a defiance and with H1000 in the 69.5 realm with 180 berger hybrids and a gemtec tracker I am getting 2940 and have broken the 3k mark during load work. I am currently doing load work with 180 eldm to see how it compares in performance to the bergers since the eldm is easy to find vs the 180 hybrids.

 

[Canhunter35]

If it's throated for 180s you should be able to experiment with the 195/197. In each particular rifle I would guess a person won't know until the rubber meets the road, per se

 

[Hand Skills]

What twist rate did you go with on your 7mm RM @Canhunter35 ? I'm looking forward to some updates on that build! I've been thinking about ordering a Gaillard (now that I'm a Saskatchewanean) but he only does a 1:9.

@Creedmoor shooter I don't have any experience with 7RM this decade, but I've been doing a ton of research for my next 7 (now between .280 and 7RM). For the latter, VV N570 looks like 'the' powder for 180's. Very similar to retumbo, but notably higher bulk density and perhaps even a hair slower burning. Seen reports of 3100fps with Berger 180's.

 

[Canhunter35]

What twist rate did you go with on your 7mm RM @Canhunter35 ? I'm looking forward to some updates on that build! I've been thinking about ordering a Gaillard (now that I'm a Saskatchewanean) but he only does a 1:9.

@Creedmoor shooter I don't have any experience with 7RM this decade, but I've been doing a ton of research for my next 7 (now between .280 and 7RM). For the latter, VV N570 looks like 'the' powder for 180's. Very similar to retumbo, but notably higher bulk density and perhaps even a hair slower burning. Seen reports of 3100fps with Berger 180's.

I went with a 1:8 twist. Still waiting on it to return, but every week joe keeps posting rifles he's built/rebarrelled on fb so shouldn't be too much longer.
A few years ago I talked to ted about a barrel never ended up building the rifle though. Talk to jccustom, he'll make any twist rate you want. I've heard they're darn good barrels.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

What twist rate did you go with on your 7mm RM @Canhunter35 ? I'm looking forward to some updates on that build! I've been thinking about ordering a Gaillard (now that I'm a Saskatchewanean) but he only does a 1:9.

@Creedmoor shooter I don't have any experience with 7RM this decade, but I've been doing a ton of research for my next 7 (now between .280 and 7RM). For the latter, VV N570 looks like 'the' powder for 180's. Very similar to retumbo, but notably higher bulk density and perhaps even a hair slower burning. Seen reports of 3100fps with Berger 180's.

Wow 3100 would be really awesome. I wont get my Hope's up though. I'll be perfectly happy with a 180 eld at 3000 fps. According to the numbers on paper, it leaves the 300 winmag behind once you get to 1,000 and will stay supersonic to about a mile.

 

[GSP814]

I'm getting 2900 fps with the 180 Hornady ELD-M in a Gunwerks 7mm Remington Magnum, 25" barrel. The powder is H-1000.