7mm rem magnum - what is it?!?

Essexsussex

Well-Known Member
Hi all - I have been looking for a husqvarna 1900 (just because that's all I ever want in a rifle) in 270 for the hill. I have a 243 and 6.5x55 in the same that are clinically accurate, but fancy a big boomer for my hill trips, usually taking the 243 at the moment.

I have found a husky in 7mm rem mag - is it going to be a similar thing, fairly flat shooter etc? And what is the availability of factory ammo? I could get a lee loader and get into it, but that's as far as I would want to go with re loading.

answers on a postcard please!

thanks ES
 
Google is your friend......
7 Rem mag a good deal more powerful than your current line up.
Ammo will be more expensive than the standard 243,270,308, 30-06 suspects.
Likewise reloading, will burn more powder and demand better quality bullets.
 
I had one, kicked like a mule...very powerful and flat shooting though if that's what you're looking for. As Border says, you will need to run bonded bullets or solid copper as the velocity will break up normal round nose or ballistic tips.
 
I had one, kicked like a mule...very powerful and flat shooting though if that's what you're looking for. As Border says, you will need to run bonded bullets or solid copper as the velocity will break up normal round nose or ballistic tips.

Certainly not been my experience, I use it for reds and wild boar, they don't get up afterwards!
 
"you will need to run bonded bullets or solid copper as the velocity will break up normal round nose or ballistic tips"

Are you quite sure about that? I have been shooting a 7mm Rem Mag for years and just load regular off the shelf ProHunters or Hornady bullets. Not solid copper or special core-inter locked stuff at 3000 fps over the chrono and they've be magic. I have also loaded some STTs. They were fine too. I have to be honest and say I've never heard of 7mm RM rounds breaking up. Not saying they don't - just that I've never heard of it. Perhaps that is dependant on the twist rate of the rifling, as velocity alone isn't going to do that; it's the rate at which it's spinning. Perhaps I don't push them fast enough.

It's great round and I find it perfectly acceptable to shoot. Milder than a .270 I'd say.
 
The recoil isn't as bad as some say but it's more than your average calibers (.308) for example it certainly kills well but so do most Iv got one don't use it as much as others but if long range is your thing it's perfect and factory ammo is stupidly expensive but if you reload you'll certainly get the best from it
 
I think that to a degree, recoil does depend on how frequently you visit the pie shop. I drop in regulalry I'm afraid and rarely notice recoil, even on my .300 WM.
 
Good choice for the hill. It usually gives up a bit of mag capacity to the .270, but can run heavier bullets more efficiently. I've settled on running 162gn SST over RE25 @ 2950fps, the bullets can break up a bit at closer ranges (still very lethal, pick your shot placement) but perform very well at distance, no free lunch!
I have run monolithics extensively and would not use them by choice.
availabilty of ammunition hasn't been a problem, usually managed a decent discount on bulk factory ammo.
 
Thanks for all your replies. It seems the only advantage I would have over 270 (on the Scottish hill at least, don't see me shooting in Africa etc) is a couple of inches less drop over long range when I would need to be holding over anyway - although logically point blank should be a wider range of differences based on that, I guess. Still, only disadvantage is ammo cost and it's a nice rifle. Maybe I should just wait for a husky in 270 to come up, let's see!
 
I think that to a degree, recoil does depend on how frequently you visit the pie shop. I drop in regulalry I'm afraid and rarely notice recoil, even on my .300 WM.

Some say that being bigger can make recoil worse, at least the long-term effect on bones and ligaments, because your mass means you absorb more of the recoil than rolling with it. Your flesh might have extra padding but your frame is the same as everyone else's and its taking more punishment underneath.
If you've got a lively rifle in a cartridge you really like you can always fit a heavier barrel. A mate has a .338 WM which used to be a really spiteful thing till he shot it out and had it re-barrelled in a heavier weight. Its a different rifle now. Still packs a punch and short relief scopes are out of the question but you could actually plink with it. Before, I'd have had enough after two or three shots.
 
probably better to wait for a 270 the 7mm does not have any advantage over the 270 unless you use heavier bullets and reload for accuracy i used one extensively in Africa as i could not tolerate the recoil of a 300win mag i loved it but now use my 270 more than anything else
 
Whats all this poop about recoil?

Try this recoil table and compare the .308 Win with a 7mm RM,there is bugger all in it really and once you have a 7mm RM you then have a better calibre so whats the fuss about.

Even if you dont take it out of the safe you still win the "mine is better than yours" at the pub or online and if you have to cope with an extra foot pound or so its no big jump like heading up to something that really boots.


http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm
 
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Well John that much is becoming evidently clear. It's almost worth having it just so that I can say I have one, and taking the 243 out anyway!
 
There many Aussies that trot out the "I have an ********* rifle" but dont use them,meanwhile the new chums sit around the fire and listen to the owners in awe lol!
 
The rifle recoil table is a bit dubious in it's loadings and the .308 is 8Lb and the RM 9Lb. In real life I loaded the RM to 3400 ftlb and the .308 to 2800 ftlb. That's over 20% more recoil in rifles of the same weight.

I swapped from the RM to a 280AI. it only looses 200 ftlb to the RM, about 100 fps, but for some reason it is much more pleasant to shoot. I will not be going back to a Magnum cartridge for UK species. No need to and I am more accurate without the extra recoil too.
 
Well John that much is becoming evidently clear. It's almost worth having it just so that I can say I have one, and taking the 243 out anyway!

On the other hand you did say it would be a hill rifle. With that in mind its not entirely such a bad idea. Depends how often you need a heavier hill rifle I guess.
 
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