I have used a 7 Mag. extensively for many years. While the 139-grain is a good weight for KILLING deer, I have gone to a heavier bullet at lower velocity in order to have a LESS DESTRUCTIVE load! If you can take a broadside shot every time, and put it through the ribcage behind the front shoulder EVERY TIME, then the 139-grain load is good. It will put them down on the spot. However, if it gets into some meat, it will not only kill the deer, but cost you a lot of edible meat too!

I use the 175-grain Nosler Partition these days, loaded to about 2900-3000 FPS or thereabouts, and find it to be very flat-shooting with less meat damage, should it hit a meaty part! In addition, it provides you with ONE load that you can use on deer, plus anything larger you might encounter in North America.

For powders for the 7mm Rem. Mag. these days, I recommend H4831 on the fast side, followed by Norma MRP, Alliant RE 22, IMR 7828 (this powder was created by DuPont especially for the 7Mag.), and RE 25. Ffaster powders, like IMR 4831 and the various 4350s, will work but I prefer to fill up as much of the cartridge case as popssible for better shot-to-shot consistency. I recommend WW cases, because they are usually made from tougher brass, and Federal 215 primers for magnum cases.