ORIGINAL: Rhodes4025
I can't imagine buying bulk ammo for a 7mm mag because I can't imagine shooting that caliber for more than 5 shots at a sitting. For hunting, the two most important considerations for a clean kill are bullet placement and terminal performance of the bullet. Spend some time with your rifle at the range and find out which premium ammunition that it likes the best, then buy 100 rounds. Spending $1.75 for a round of excellent performing ammo versus a $1 for bulk will seem like a great investment when the buck of a lifetime is in the scope!
A standard target practice for me with my 7mm Rem Mag is between 15 and 18 shots depending on how much time I want to spend. The issue is with the barrel getting hot, not recoil. It takes a while to cool down and it heats up pretty quickly.
I ran a little over 60 rounds through mine shooting at paper and on my trip to Montana I shot twice at 220 yards and 175 yards with no external rest (1 sitting shot and 1 laying on my side with my thigh as a rest) and had 2 clean kills. I had a bi-pod with my both times, but due to the shot situations was unable to use them.
As far as finding out which ammo my gun prefers I haven't found any that it dislikes very much. If anything itprefers the soft points over the more expensive ballistic tips. All of it hits the paper good enough to feel pretty good about hitting an animal where I want with it. I'll shoot some Federal Accubonds through it before I take it Elk hunting, but unless they spray out of control, I think I'll use them for Elk over any of the soft points even if the soft points group a little better.