Probably interesting only to Jeff H.

[pwd72s]

A long case for making the 7mm Rem. Mag the best all around hunting cartridge:

[Jeff Higgins]

Hard to argue. I bought an early '60's Model 700 (the one with the stainless barrel that was actually blued) in the late '80's from a coworker. I sold it in the mid '90's to my hunting partner, and subsequently bought it back about ten years ago from him.

It's still hard to beat for more open country Western hunting. I used to haul it to Wyoming to hunt antelope every year. Loaded with a 150 grain bullet at darn near 3,100 fps, it was effective on them as far out as anyone would reasonably try to shoot one. With 160 grain bullets, it could well be the ultimate mule deer cartridge, and I've taken a number of them with this combination.

Very easy and forgiving to handload. Pretty much any reasonable combination shoots very well out of my particular example. My only complaint is the weight of the rifle (just over nine pounds with a Leupold 3-9x), but mine is a very old school example, dating from the early '60's. The weight does help with recoil, though, making it very easy to shoot.

So, yeah, a wonderful "old" cartridge. Seems to be somewhat overlooked these days, with the proliferation of all of these huge "ultra mags" and whatnot. They lack balance, though, where the old "seven mag" hits a real sweet spot.

I don't think I'll sell mine ever again. Made that mistake once...

[Rusty Heap]

Nice new coat of stain on Higgins Deck or just an old photo? hah

[pwd72s]

Here's the website of the custom rifle first shown in the video. I don't know about Jeff, but I'd be nervous about carrying a 6 or 7 thousand dollar rifle through the Oregon brush & weather...

https://bordenrifles.com/

[Bill Douglas]

I found that interesting too - thanks Paul.

This is my Sako 7mm Rem Mag.

[pwd72s]

I've heard nothing but good on the Finn Sako rifle...

Jeff & I share the same Leupold scope...3-9, mine with duplex hairs. But my rifle a Ruger M-77. Of course, 7mm Rem. Mag. That was for elk...for deer, a Remington 721(?) topped with a straight 4 power Leupold with duplex hairs...in .257 Roberts. Dad gave it to me as a birthday gift. Never could see a reason to switch to the supposedly "superior" .243 winchester round. Back in the early 70's, I had a local smith glass bed it, and upgraded to the Leupold. It's a plain Jane tack driver.

[Bill Douglas]

I don't really fire mine. I've probably only fired a dozen shots I turned up at a range and mentioned to the other guys it may be a bit noisy LOL After ten minutes I thought it was best to leave.

Yeah, someone who knows all the years and models said it was a fairly good one.

[pwd72s]

Don't know about there, but if shooting factory ammo here, it can get a bit $pendy to shoot 7mm Rem. Mag. Not to mention giving you a sore shoulder. Not a round to shoot for fun...

[Bill Douglas]

Expensive for sure. When I don't know what the gun likes I buy Hornady ammo to start off with. Wow, I did get a surprise

I was going to buy a limb saver recoil pad, but instead I just don't shoot it. It really was a bit too loud for shooting around other people. My .223 is more my style.

I think it's a 1980's gun that has fired very few shots. I guess this is why.

[Jeff Higgins]

Yeah, those $6,000 custom bolt action hunting rifles just aren't for me. I use mine to part brush in front of me, leave it out in coastal Alaskan rain for a week, backpack in the snow with it, and on and on. While I take very good care of my rifles, lavishing untold attention on them, I just don't want one I'll be shedding a tear over if it does get damaged. It's a tool, not a status symbol.

Hand loading makes calibers like this eminently affordable to shoot. The biggest issue is brass life, with that damn belt (if properly utilized to headspace the round in the chamber) causing all of its problems with short case life. Switch to head spacing on the shoulder, like beltless rounds, and brass life is very good owing to the lack of taper.

These things don't even need the belt, but there was a time when "magnums" all wore belts. The old .375 H&H, and its younger brother the .300 H&H, do require the belt, owing to their excessive taper and very shallow shoulder angles. Both meant to help them feed well in a bolt action (and they do), but really unnecessary in the end.

I actually shoot mine quite a lot. It's one of the most accurate rifles I have ever owned. As Townsend Whelen once said, "only accurate rifles are interesting". This one is very "interesting"... That, and having hunted my entire adult life with the .375 H&H (I have three rifles so chambered, each suited to slightly different kinds of hunting), the relatively "mild" recoil of the seven mag is a welcome relief.

Yes, it is "loud", compared to lower pressure rounds, but not as "loud" as, say, my .220 Swift or one of those damn short barreled AR's with their muzzle brakes (who needs a muzzle brake on a god damned gas operated .223 anyway?). There are plenty of rifles that show up at my range that are far, far louder. Things like the .338 Lapua, .300 RUM, etc. with a muzzle brake. So I won't feel bad about my relatively "mild" seven mag.

[VINMAN]

Rem 700 7mm was the first bolt action I ever bought. Way back when I was 20.

.

[id10t]

Just based on ammo availability I am shocked that 30-06 or 270 didnt get the nod

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by id10t

Just based on ammo availability I am shocked that 30-06 or 270 didnt get the nod

As Tim Taylor said, "More power".

A range memory of sighting in my 7mm...trying to decide which factory load, which bullett weight. Doing several groups of five, 100 yards. Also wanting the rifle to shoot 1" high at 100, figuring that would be a good picture out to 300 for hunting purposes.

This particular Ruger shot the various groups, despite up to 30 grains of bullet weight dfferences, all within 5 inches of each other. My buddy, looking at the target: "If you ever decide to sell this rifle, call me first."

I eventually settled on a Norma load...