7mm rem mag
 

I just bought a 7mm rem mag Savage with the accutrigger. I am wondering what bullet, brand, grain, people have had success with as far as with deer hunting and accuracy.

RE: 7mm rem mag
 

I dont own a 7mag.. but my buddy has one and used 140 .. said they went through a deer too fast not causing enough damage so he went to a 160, dunno if that helps but something to think on..

RE: 7mm rem mag
 

My rem mag shoots 14o-160 grains bullets very accurately. The best shooter is 150gr Nosler ballistic tips, this also happens to be my choice for deer. Accurate and works very well for my situation. If I were hunting where shots of 200+ weren't a real possibility I would pass on the expansion designed polymer tipped/boattail designed bullets.

RE: 7mm rem mag
 

I have a savage rifle in 7mm mag and Iuse 175gr winchester power points some say too big but all my deer dont go too far.

RE: 7mm rem mag
 

Best advice I can give is only "second hand". I do not own, nor regularly shoot, a rifle chambered for 7 mm Rem. Mag. But I have 4 hunting buddies that do, and I have helped each one of them along the way over the years sight in their rifles at the range. And have hunted along side most of them for 20+ years ... mule deer, white tail and feral hogs.

As you probably know, every rifle is unique when it comes to which bullet and "load" groups the best. From my experience, unless you are good at hand-loading, the best route to go would be one of the so called "premium" loads. The guys I hunt with almost to the person use factory ammo loaded with bullets in the 150-175 gr. weight. Unless you plan to hand load, I'd try at least 3 different factory loads. Remember that the muzzle velocity of a 7 mm Rem. Mag. is blistering fast, so any close range shots will truly test a bullet's ability to hold together. Though a "bonded" bullet or something like a Partition might seem "too tough" for white tail, these sorts of bullets will at least mitigate fragmenting a on short range shots and almost always result in a pass though shot with a tremendous wound channel.

RE: 7mm rem mag
 

I use the 7mag and have really become fond of the Fusion bullet. I hunt a lot of open county and have a good chance of a shot over 300 and the bonded bullet gives me the best down range accuracy with penetration. Not to mention the price is excellant.

Kelly

RE: 7mm rem mag
 

Been shooting and reloading for my Savage 7 mm mag. for over 20 years. Mine likes loads with a 150 gr. bullet. If you are buying store bought, spend the little extra for rounds with Nolsar Partition bullets or Acubond. You'll appreciate the difference.

RE: 7mm rem mag
 

There is really no such thing as "too fast to expand!" That is, assuming that the bullet is designed to expand in animals that you are shooting! I shot 2 bucks a couple of years ago with heavy 7MM RM loads. The bullets zipped right through, leaving very little damage and no blood trail! I was lucky enough to recover both bucks.
I started thinking about the "too fast" theory. But, if you think about it, the faster a bullet is moving, the faster and better the expansion will be!
The real problem is that Whitetails are light skinned game and most of the heavier bullets are designed to penetrate and expand on much larger animals!
Still, the 7MM RM is an excellent Whitetail cartridge. I would recomend a 139/140 grain bullet with a softer type of point, designed to expand on lighter game. Just don't go too far in this direction! The ballistic tips are known for too much expansion and not enough penitration!

RE: 7mm rem mag
 

"But, if you think about it, the faster a bullet is moving, the faster and better the expansion will be!"

I HIGHLY disagree....but thats your theory

RE: 7mm rem mag
 

150 core lokt's.

RE: 7mm rem mag
 

I've taken deer and hogs with the 7 MAG and have really good luck with Federal Premium's 140 gr. Nosler Partition.
There are so many bullet designs out there now, but with a high velocity round like a 140 gr. bullet in a 7 MAG, I want something that will open up and close AND longer ranges to transfer KE into the animal and start a good wound channel, BUT also have the ability to hold together and penetrate all the way through the animal.
Every deer and hog I've shot with this load has been a bang/flop....maybe just lucky so far....but it sure builds confidence.....actually as I type this I cant imagine why I've posted so many questions about "deer and hog caliber opinions" looking back on those kind of results.......huh...kinda' feel like a dork now.

Anyway, I'm also really interested in playing with some of the Nosler Accubond bullets. Just think....a bullet as accurate and flat shooting as the famous Nosler Balistic Tip.....but not NEARLY as prone to over-expanding on a close up shot. Pretty hard to ignore how effective this bullet could be in a fast round like the 7 MAG.

RE: 7mm rem mag
 

There is no such thing as "too fast to expand!" UNLESS the bullet is not designed to expand or if it is designed to expand on thougher game! Other than that, higher velocity, more expansion!

RE: 7mm rem mag
 

I pump my 150gr NBTs out at over 3100FPS from my 7 RM. I have harvested canadian bucks from 30 feet to over 483yards with this bullet. Never not got a pass through and never have one run more then 50 yards(most are down very quickly). Up close expect bigger holes more expansion but after the bullet has slowed down they are extremely reliable. 2 years ago i shot a mulie buck lasered at 428yard through both shoulders - bullet exited, meat damage was very minimal considering the location and DRT was the result. I expect the chance for a 100 yards shot is as likely as a 300 yard shot so the NBT is a good fit for me. The fact I have had excellent performance on gamewith it and its scary accurate in my rifle makes it even easier to load with confidence. Now If I were hunting where 100 yards shots were the norm and 300 were highly unlikely I'd pick a flat based bullet like the NP, Speers GS, etc. I have used the Bonded polymers as well, they work for a situation where ranges of short and long are likely. Maybe a little more insurance at top velocity or heavier bone but when you hit shoulder expectsome losses. I see no need going light gr for cal., polmyer tipped or boattailswhere range isn't really a factor (250+). Quite simply match the bullet to the usage and you'll be pleased.

RE: 7mm rem mag
 

i shota 7 point this year 7mm 140grain core lok shot his shoulder about a 15 yard shot we jumped him out and he ran through a small stream up a hill across the hill jumped over a fence and through a grass field we tracked him for prolly 200 yards until we didnt have permission to cross the on neighbors property would have been my biggest kill not that it was big just my biggest so far isa 5 point but my farthest shot is only 100 yards so learning from what you all are using is what i was planning on bying for this deer season so 160 grain bullets i found federal brand they have some kind of a lead tip on them?? do you guys think that will help be a better choice? instead of buying a new gun lol

RE: 7mm rem mag
 

Absolutely as well as some time at the range. At thatdistance it must have been an excitable moment. I know it's hard to get the body and mind to settle in situations like that but it does make the difference between chasing or gutting. Also give them some time to bleed out if you don't think you made a fatal shot. A little patience will go a long way. He might have just run a little way, lied down and bled out. Patience is key to becoming a successful hunter (I know it is hard to control the excitement but weall learn something each time we go out there). Better luck next time.

RE: 7mm rem mag
 

Since you never found the animal no way to know where you actually hit him so blaming the rifle or bullet wouldn't be fair.Bullet placement is the key, no matter how big or what cartridge if you don't hit them properly your going to be in for some tracking. I agree with whitetaildreamer you need to lay off deer that aren't well hit, seen them go a long ways seemingly on adrenaline alone, a poor hit makes it even worse.

As far as range 100 and under no need for the lightest/fastest load, I'd up the grains to 160 or even try the 175. Then use the one that is most accurate in your rifle.

G/L

RE: 7mm rem mag
 

thanks guys for you feedback. we never saw him leave the cover of brush so we didnt think he went anywhere boy were we wrong. thanks for telling me about patience i sure do need to remember that. but if i should tell you a little more if i dont bore you with another long post i seems to me like my bullet never opened up we waited for about a half hour even tho we thought he didnt come out of the brush and we didnt hear anything cross the creek i guess it was excitement (while i set here and shake my head lol) but he never bleed that much at all the hole time we were tracking him we were following only 50 cent piece spots of bright red blood even when he went up the hill the most was dollar sized and thanks skeeter i will do that i will try both grains and see what works i always sight my gun at 100 yards every year thanks!

RE: 7mm rem mag
 

The 7mm Mag is not large enough for deer, you really need to start at .30 and up :D

RE: 7mm rem mag
 

There is no such thing as "too fast to expand!" UNLESS the bullet is not designed to expand or if it is designed to expand on thougher game! Other than that, higher velocity, more expansion!


Thatsyour opinion....I have used lighter fast grains at close range and had PIN size holes i havent lost one yet, because even the pin size holes work when you put it in the kill zone but i beefed up from 130 grain to 150 grain and have shot them at 10 - 15 yards and had NICE holes....

Out past 50 yards the 130's work fine, but too close and they dont do enough damage for me..

RE: 7mm rem mag
 

I've been shooting the 7mm Mag since 1977.There was nota lot of choice back then. Just Remington core locks and Winchester silver tips. When the new stuff started coming out I just had to try them but in the end, for deer, the less expensive oldfashion 150gn Winchestersilver tips killed them just as fast and just as dead as the premium stuff and my Remington 700 BDL shot them well.;)

RE: 7mm rem mag
 

your saying silver tip you mean the winchester ballistic tip right?? i thought about using them does that bugger up any meat? given the right shot tho shot in the pocket just wondering

RE: 7mm rem mag
 

ford, no not a ballistic tip. It is just a shiny, exposed lead point. Some deer dropped and some made a short death dash.[ 20 yards ]. It pretty much makes jello of the heart / lungs and dose cause blood shot meat where it passes through.Shots were from thirty toone hundred yards.

RE: 7mm rem mag
 

Look at an ad sometime that shows the same bullet at different velocities to imitate different ranges. The higher the velocity, the more radical the expansion. This is comparing apples to apples not apples to oranges.