Just bought a used Ruger M77, 7mm Rem Mag rifle to start deer hunting with and I need some recommendations for factory manufactured shells to use. The previous owner was shooting 154g shells and sighted the rifle in at 200 yards. I will probably resight the rifle in at 100 yards since I know I won't be taking many shots longer than that (at least for now) until I really feel comfortable with it.

What do you guys recommend for store bought shells for hunting S. Texas whitetails? Isn't 154g bullets just a bit much for the smaller deer we have here? What brands, bullets would you favor?

Please don't flame me for using factory shells and not loading my own. I am just getting started here. Eventually I may get into loading my own, but for now I will stick to factory loads.

Thanks in advance.

Anything between 139-160gr will be fine. Buy a few boxes from different manufacturers in a couple of different weights and see which one the rifle likes best. Then use it and have fun!

Good Dogwork and Good Hunting

Edited by - seattlesetters on 11/13/2002 16:47:09

yep, if you are going to sout Texas, keep it at 200

Hurry up and wait.

Any premium ammo will probally be fine.I like the Hornady 139 gr.spire point boat tail.

Danville Va.LAST CAPITAL OF THE CONFEDERACY

dont worry we don flame people around here, anything in the 140-160 range will be fine like seattle said but i might sight it at 200 because its that flat a shooting round that probly wont equate to more than 1.5" high at 100 yards. and 1.5" is insignificant on a heart lung shot


propmahn
save the world, reload your brass

Hornady 139 grain ammo shoots well in any 7 mag I have ever owned Sight it in for 200 1 1/2 high at 100 and your good to go. I usually sight them in 3" high at 100 but you have to do what is comfortable for you. Good Luck and nice Rifle...I used to own one and in a weak moment sold it.

I use Hornady Custom loads...1/2" groups at 100 yards....works for me!

140gr. nosler partition

I think the previous owner of your 7mm Rem. Mag. was using Hornady 154 gr. Soft Point factory rounds if you are getting good groups with this round there is no need to change it. The Hornady bullet (154 gr. SP) will work well on deer, and shooting dead on at 200 yd. will also work well for you. You should be somewhere around 1.6" high @ 100 yd. The kill zone on a deer figuring in human error is 4" Max. Point Blank Range (MPBR) this means when the bullet is in flight you don't want the bullet to rise or drop more than 4". Out to 200 yd. your bullet should not rise more than 1.6", so you are well within MPBR. Pick up a box of Hornady 154 gr. SP and see how it shoots. If it groups well (1.5" @ 100 yd.) you have a good load, and now all you have to do is pratice shooting your new gun. Good luck.

Edited by - handloader1 on 11/15/2002 01:00:35

Edited by - handloader1 on 11/15/2002 01:02:32

The Rem. 150 Gr. corelokts worked well out of my 7 Mag. I wish I still had it. My buddy uses the 175 gr. corelokts, and they usually anchor deer fairly quickly too.