7mm rem magnum - what is it?!?

[Essexsussex]

It will be a hill rifle that comes out to shoot 3 or 4 hinds a year and a stag every leap year - so not critical to be that much bigger and tbh I could carry on with the 243 or the 6.5x55 but I just fancy a 'hill rifle'!

 

[icedog]

Chiming in a little late, but ... The 7mm RM enjoys a fairly strong following here (western/ northwestern Canada), and is sometimes viewed as "one gun that can do it all".
I have Voere in 7mm mag which was my first ( around 1969 or 1970), and for few years, my only big game rifle. If it was not an all purpose cartridge for this part of the world when I first acquired it, I would say that with all the developments in bullet composition and design over the intervening years, it definitely is now. Although there has been a recent growth of interest in the larger calibres ( the .338, the .35s, 45-70, 9.3x62 etc) for elk, moose, and bear, most folks here do not feel under-gunned carrying a 7mm RM.

My Voere is quite a light rifle, and the recoil and muzzle jump was a bit much until a few years ago when I had a muzzle brake installed ... not a way to make friends at a busy range for sure, but definitely much easier to handle, and a significant improvement to my shooting. Nowadays it only gets out to the field when the probability of long range shots is fairly high.

 

[NigelM]

It will be a hill rifle that comes out to shoot 3 or 4 hinds a year and a stag every leap year - so not critical to be that much bigger and tbh I could carry on with the 243 or the 6.5x55 but I just fancy a 'hill rifle'!

When I took my RM hind shooting I was politely asked by the stalker when we got back to the larder "don't bring that bloody thing with you next year". It's too much gun for hinds. A big Stag in fair enough, it will do a better job than your 6.5 or .243 if the bullet isn't perfectly placed, but a 270 Win is plenty of gun for that task. Unless you are into shooting Stags at 300 yds you just don't need one in the UK for stalking.

 

[Essexsussex]

Thanks Nigel. Sort of the answer I was expecting / conclusion I had come to after all the research I have now done. Just need to wait for a husky in 270 then.

 

[JH83]

Bit late on this one. I bought one recently with the mentality of stopping sika stags in heavy forestry, having had too many long runners with a 25 06 and difficult tracks on last light. I'm delighted with it, recoil is not bad at all, carcass damage is no worse than most other calibres, and it stops everything with ease. Currently using hornardy superperformance with 165g SSTs. I would happily shoot a large stag on the edge of cover in low light with it, which with my other rifles I would probably pass up.

 

[John Gryphon]

Yes JH,there are .270`s and then there are seven mill mag`s!

 

[Essexsussex]

Well it all got too much. I have had an offer accepted and can't wait for it to arrive. I can't say too often how good these husky 1900s are, if it's anything like my other two good times await. It will get used once or twice a year, I have done more work with the 6.5x55 and find it just as pin point accurate as the 243, so looks like they there were three in the bed and the big one said "roll over, roll over". Laters 243 (although it was my first centre fire so I may not have the heart.)

just need a Lee loader and a load of components and off we go...

 

[sinbad]

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.

Recoil isn't bad !!!!!, unless you are not using a moderator. factory ammo is easily available, and if you reload there is plenty of choice.
I wouldn't recommend light for calibre projectiles I run 162 gr SSTs In mine and they don't get up after being shot with them. (roe, red sika,fallow and goats).

 

[jon2]

I thought the same. The 7 mag isn't a harsh recoiling rifle at all. I had a .300 win mag sporter years ago (before moderators) and that was my limit for recoil. I sold it a year or so after having a play with it but a 7 mag is nice to shoot and a great cartridge for on the hill. Can't understand any pro stalker asking a guest to leave it at home. Silly comment in my opinion as it won't do any more damage than any other main stream cartridge.

 

[User00035]

This looks nice.
Tikka 7mm Rem Mag M65 Bolt Action Second Hand Rifle for sale. Buy for 595.

 

[deeangeo]

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.

Definitely displays recoil, but certainly not my experience re bullets. Handled Sierra Prohunters just fine.
But, I'd have thought not too different in performance from a .270??

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

Very nice semi custom Sako in the classifieds!

As a cartridge it is on a par with the 280rem with regards to bullet weight range
The 7RM will push similar sized bullets 200-300fps faster using 15-20gr more powder

Arguably the better bullet weight range for the magnums derived from the 375H&H belted case is at the upper end of the respective ranges
In the case of the 7RM 165-175gr bullets pushed at 3000-2900fps respectively

I personally would avoid anything lighter as the terminal velocities for UK stalking ranges will lead to heavy carcass damage and bruising with little or no gain in terminal energy.

Match a well made bullet to the quarry and carcass damage should be no different to a .270 or .30cal

Shoot a rifle that fits and the recoil shouldn't be any more noticeable than any other large case centre fire shooting 150-200gr bullets at moderate velocities.

 

[Essexsussex]

Well there it is in all its glory. My third Husqvarna 1900, fantasticly smooth actions.

not sure about the scope mounts they look quite heavy, but will do for now. my 243 came with April swing offs so they might find their way on this.

 

[User00035]

Nice. Don't know about heavy but the scope mounts look high.
Nice looking rifle though. Let us know how it shoots.

 

[Essexsussex]

Yes they look really high - I don't really understand why because I can only assume that when that rifle was made the fashion was more for 6x40 or so, not really requiring such enormously high mounts. Anyway, to be replaced once I have scrubbed it out and seen if it can shoot.

 

[User00035]

I want one now...

 

[Kalahari]

If you are looking for a particular rifle type/model in sort of 270/7mm don't ignore the 7 x 64.

David.

 

[shooternz]

Yes they look really high - I don't really understand why because I can only assume that when that rifle was made the fashion was more for 6x40 or so, not really requiring such enormously high mounts. Anyway, to be replaced once I have scrubbed it out and seen if it can shoot.

That is one very nice rifle I want one in 30/06 the 270 leaves me cold prefer the 7x64, the mounts look like real quality I would say it was fitted with a 8x56mm or 3-13x56 at some time,
you should be able to source a lower set of rings, We have a lot of Husquarnas down here just about all of them fitted with cheap Weaver bases and rings really spoils the look of the rifle.

 

[Essexsussex]

Thanks NZ. For some reason the Husqvarnas aren't particularly popular over here, to the extent that when I sell my .243 even with the Apel mounts, I doubt that it will make more than £350. I think its because there aren't many about (weren't many imported) so people view them with suspicion, which is fine by me because I think they are so smooth and have great lines compared to many others.
I have to admit that my 6.5 has Weaver / Warne mounts and rings, we haven't a lot of choice here for Husqvarnas because of the few guns about.
Final disclosure is that I may end up screw cutting this. Difficult to know what to do, because this really makes it an excellent working tool for me but its so sad to see the open sites gone! Anyway, that's getting ahead of myself because I will have to see if it shoots first, but my experience with my other Huskys is that they tend to.

 

[25 Sharps]

Thanks NZ. For some reason the Husqvarnas aren't particularly popular over here, to the extent that when I sell my .243 even with the Apel mounts, I doubt that it will make more than £350. I think its because there aren't many about (weren't many imported) so people view them with suspicion, which is fine by me because I think they are so smooth and have great lines compared to many others.
I have to admit that my 6.5 has Weaver / Warne mounts and rings, we haven't a lot of choice here for Husqvarnas because of the few guns about.
Final disclosure is that I may end up screw cutting this. Difficult to know what to do, because this really makes it an excellent working tool for me but its so sad to see the open sites gone! Anyway, that's getting ahead of myself because I will have to see if it shoots first, but my experience with my other Huskys is that they tend to.

I think I am right in thininking a Chap in our club has a clamp on adaptor for his blazer 7x64 so he can use an ASE mod with it without spoiling the rifle, can find out more details if you like.

PS very nice rifle and I'm still jealous...