1400 Yard Goal 7mm Rem Mag

[warnera1102]

Hello everyone!
I have a R700 7mm rem mag that I am changing the barrel from the factory barrel 1:9.25 twist to a Remage Criterion 26" 1:8 varmit barrel (super excited about this). The gun originated as a hunting rifle and over the years has progressed into a target rifle (800-1000 yrds). My goal is to be able to stretch this gun out to shoot 1400yrds as this is the fartest i can shoot safetly around my house. Originally I had planned on going from the 162 ELDX to a 180gr but after I went over my inventory i realized I have alot of IMR 7977 and 162 bullets. On my pervious loads i was running the 162 ELDX at a little above 3000fps (off the top of my head). What are you thoughts of sticking with the 162 for this range?

 

[TheBoctor]

It'll make it no problem. 180's would be preferable but run what ya brung.

 

[kyzim311]

Shoot the 162's for now. you will see a little more drop past 1000, and more wind drift but it will shoot just fine to that range. consider it good practice for stretching out further with the 180s (should be able to get to a mile easy).

 

[Steel head]

I’ve shot 168 Berger’s to a mile quite a bit and the do fairly well but you’ll want to look at the ballistics as at 1400 I suspect the 180 has an advantage by that point.

You have the case capacity and twist for 190’s and they do surprisingly well.

I’ve gotten hits from 2000 yards to 2 miles this year with them with a 7 saum.

 

[warnera1102]

I’ve shot 168 Berger’s to a mile quite a bit and the do fairly well but you’ll want to look at the ballistics as at 1400 I suspect the 180 has an advantage by that point.

You have the case capacity and twist for 190’s and they do surprisingly well.

I’ve gotten hits from 2000 yards to 2 miles this year with them with a 7 saum.

How fast are you running the 168gr?

 

[Steel head]

How fast are you running the 168gr?

3000ish with a 28” barrel.
I’m not pushing them hard at all.

 

[deersniper]

I hit 2914 with 162 amax loaded with black hills and it doesn’t hit subsonic till 1450 so you should be more than fine.

 

[harleytuner]

Our range is currently 1925 yards. My 7mm RM has no problem with 184gr Berger Hybrids. 2920FPS.

 

[f>b25]

Not sure your barrel will agree, but I wouldn't be surprised if you pushed 162s 3050 plus without too much trouble.

 

[warnera1102]

It wont be much longer and I will be able to do load development. My action wrench and headspace gages come in today!

 

[Steel head]

The 7mm’s are certainly fun.

 

[blksno]

My 7mm has been to 2400 yds a couple times, but I'm running 180 hybrids with RL33 (3000+) pretty easy.

I havea bout 900 hybrids left, but the next barrel I'm going to test 183 smk and 184 hybrid.

Right now I have some 190 Atips I'm going to send this weekend to see where pressure starts and then see how they group. 195's EOLs were just a little to heavy for the Rem Mag case IMO, but I think I had those going about 2925 a few years back.

 

[warnera1102]

My 7mm has been to 2400 yds a couple times, but I'm running 180 hybrids with RL33 (3000+) pretty easy.

I havea bout 900 hybrids left, but the next barrel I'm going to test 183 smk and 184 hybrid.

Right now I have some 190 Atips I'm going to send this weekend to see where pressure starts and then see how they group. 195's EOLs were just a little to heavy for the Rem Mag case IMO, but I think I had those going about 2925 a few years back.

View attachment 7505090

Awesome! Please keep us posted.

 

[7mmFanBoy]

I start out @ 1600 take it out to 2000-2200 Krieger barrel 28" 8.5 180 eld hard to spot impacts

 

[blksno]

very very very hard to spot impacts...and without dust kicking up, it's even harder to spot misses

 

[Steel head]

Big rock faces really help see impacts at distance.

 

[harleytuner]

Indicator lights are great. We run them on every target past 1000

 

[warnera1102]

A little update on the build.
The factory barrel was a complete PITA to remove but the new criterion is locked down and ready. I had to do a little grinding to fit the barrel nut into the Stockys Stock so that it is free floated from the recoil lug forward.
Next will be shooting a few rounds followed by load development!

 

[Chargerguy]

I'm having fun with the 195 EOLs in my 7 Rem Mag. Played around yesterday at 1150 yards. 8.0 mils, just above freezing. My rifle just loves them. 1150 was boring. 28" barrel, SAAMI chamber, and Retumbo. Just had a barrel throated for the 190 Bergers though. Can't wait to try them out.

 

[blksno]

Preliminary testing looks really really nice. Ran 10 shots increasing to find the limit in my rifle. The three groups on top of the photo below was all the same charge, a full 1.4 grain below where I feel my rifles limit is at.

190s look like they will be supersonic till roughly 2100 for me.
180s are supersonic right up to 1 mile

 

[Chargerguy]

Got out again with the 7 Rem and 195 EOLs today. I was inspired by this thread to go for 1400 but without my spotter there I decided not to waste the ammo (when shooting off my bench I can't see the bottom 2/3 of the target at 1400 because of a hill in the way. Standing with the spotting scope is fine). So I went for my 1147 yard plate. Dialed 8.1 mil up and 0.6 left. First shot on a cold bore was bottom right, sent the next 2 quickly before the wind changed.

 

[warnera1102]

So I have an update. I finally got a very short window to shoot my OCW with 162 ELDX and 7977. I loaded everything at 0.020 off the lands as this is what my previous barrel liked and I needed a standard for depth. This has been done with brand new brass that as been run though my FL die to get the necks consistent.This is the first time I have shot this gun prior to a few rounds for break in and everything was done at 100yards on the targets shown.
My understanding would be I need to stick with the 69.5 charge as 69.2-69.8 seems to have the same POI and group size. I can mess with setting depth next, according to the books 69.5 of 7977 is max charge but I didn't see any pressure signs or hard bolt lift. What are your thoughts?

 

[stello1001]

A little update on the build.
The factory barrel was a complete PITA to remove but the new criterion is locked down and ready. I had to do a little grinding to fit the barrel nut into the Stockys Stock so that it is free floated from the recoil lug forward.
Next will be shooting a few rounds followed by load development!

That is a beautiful look stock and overall rifle. Let us know how those projectiles work for you.

 

[warnera1102]

That is a beautiful look stock and overall rifle. Let us know how those projectiles work for you.

Thanks !
Check out my last post.

 

[DJL2]

@warnera1102 - my personal thoughts are:
1. choose accuracy over speed
2. decide up front if you're gonna "hot rod" - you might not see the pressure, but you can't make velocity without it

If you've got a flat spot/plateau/node in our ladder around 69.5, definitely play with your seating depth and see what you get! Sounds like you're on the right track. What did you see for velocity? Did I miss that?

 

[warnera1102]

@warnera1102 - my personal thoughts are:
1. choose accuracy over speed
2. decide up front if you're gonna "hot rod" - you might not see the pressure, but you can't make velocity without it

If you've got a flat spot/plateau/node in our ladder around 69.5, definitely play with your seating depth and see what you get! Sounds like you're on the right track. What did you see for velocity? Did I miss that?

Here are my average velocities, I don't know how the explain the average up and down at 68.6 @ 69.8
68.0- 2905
68.3- 2931
68.6- 2909
68.9- 2939
69.2- 2984
69.5- 2981
69.8- 2970

 

[DJL2]

Yeah...don't know if that's us or the nature for things...I see that as well. 66.1 w/ RL23 and 64.6 w/ H4831sc to point out two in my own data.

RL23	162 Amax	3.3 COL	June 27, 2020
64.3	64.6	64.9	65.2	65.5	65.8	66.1	66.4	66.7	67
2862	2898	2903	2915	2921	2937	2933	2967	2984	3011

Yes, I really did find a box of old AMax...only have 90 of those left...almost seems a waste "working up" a load for a defunct bullet, heh. Might just load @65.8 and call it a day just to burn it ;-).

Matrix 168	3.3 COL	H4831sc
62.5	62.8	63.1	63.4	63.7	64	64.3	64.6	64.9	65.2	65.5	65.8	66.1	66.4	66.7
2602	2664	2759	2749	2781	2824	2836	2808	2791	2841	2842	2849	2886	2889	2903

Sad to hear about how Matrix is getting the shaft from DoS. I guess that means the 250 or so of these I have left are "burn it and move on" now as well. I suppose I need to start waiting for some 160-170 grain stuff to come up on sale...should play nice with my Tikka's slower twist without any issues.

 

[warnera1102]

A little update. I was able to sneak out of the house for do my seating depth test. Here are the results, I did screw up and forget my cheap loads I use for cold bore so that kinda messed up my -0.010 test. I'm thinking of trying the -0.010 and -0.050 depths again.
Now my shooting platform is the bed of my truck so I feel that has a little play in this.

 

[warnera1102]

So I'm bringing this one back with a successful update.
I got the chance to shoot out to a mile yesterday with success. I got some data all the way out to 1380 then moved to 1 mile. I am running imr 7977 which I thought was temp stable but I'm wondering about it now.
The reason I bring this up is I shot the across the magneto speed first thing in the morning 46f at 2850fps. So by time I got to distance 1300+ (at noon 60-65f) was having to back into my data with the strelok app to show a velocity of 3020.
Does this sound normal for this powder? There was an elevation change from the 100yrd range to the mile range of maybe 200ft.

 

[kyzim311]

So I'm bringing this one back with a successful update.
I got the chance to shoot out to a mile yesterday with success. I got some data all the way out to 1380 then moved to 1 mile. I am running imr 7977 which I thought was temp stable but I'm wondering about it now.
The reason I bring this up is I shot the across the magneto speed first thing in the morning 46f at 2850fps. So by time I got to distance 1300+ (at noon 60-65f) was having to back into my data with the strelok app to show a velocity of 3020.
Does this sound normal for this powder? There was an elevation change from the 100yrd range to the mile range of maybe 200ft.

That is way more velocity swing than just temperature would explain. You might see 20 fps from 20° temp swing and I bet it is less than that. Either your bullet bc is higher than advertised or your environmental data was off. Higher temps will make the air thinner.

 

[warnera1102]

.

That makes me feel a little better, I need to figure out how to "true" the app. Out of curiosity, I typically shoot at sea level (eastern NC ) but yesteday was done at Coleman Creek in NC which I assume the elevation is like 400ft. How much do you think my data will change just due to elevation change from there to sea level?

 

[jasent]

Rocks make the best targets imo

Big rock faces really help see impacts at distance.

 

[kyzim311]

That makes me feel a little better, I need to figure out how to "true" the app. Out of curiosity, I typically shoot at sea level (eastern NC ) but yesteday was done at Coleman Creek in NC which I assume the elevation is like 400ft. How much do you think my data will change just due to elevation change from there to sea level?

162 eldx at 2850 gives this for the altitude change (1.4 moa or 0.4 mils). You also have some other earth based effects that can make a difference at those ranges, as can wind.

 

[Steel head]

Congrats on the mile!

 

[warnera1102]

View attachment 7733901
Congrats on the mile!

Thank you
Haha yeah my buddy i shoot with uses MIL but everything own is MOA.. its a constant fight between us haha. I keep a conversion chart handy.

 

[warnera1102]

162 eldx at 2850 gives this for the altitude change (1.4 moa or 0.4 mils). You also have some other earth based effects that can make a difference at those ranges, as can wind. View attachment 7733898View attachment 7733899

Awesome. I have some more 184 bergers on the way, so hopefully I can test this out soon.

 

[Steel head]

Awesome. I have some more 184 bergers on the way, so hopefully I can test this out soon.

You’ll like what the Berger’s do at distance.

 

[warnera1102]

You’ll like what the Berger’s do at distance.

Yeah thats what I shooting. 184 bergers , ADG Brass and IMR 7977.

 

[BJames]

Bone stock M70 (9.5 twist), bushy XRS, 7 Rem mag, 168 berger VLD’s (have a ton) @ 3100. Has been to 1200 easily in gusty winds (18-25 mph), the bou was only 371 but the only pic of the rifle I have. Conditions were sea level to -500 DA. Hit 1201 repeatedly 2 days after this pic.

Current load is ELDx 175’s @ 3030, groups aren’t the best, basically a 3/4-1 minute gun, suspect marginally stable. 168’s were great, switching back to those. It’ll do it fine.