Thread: 7mm mag and 180gr ELDM

Originally Posted by ChrisW

Now we’re talking. How does one make the brass?
If made by die sizing it could suit me, if it needs fire forming then it’s not for me.

Talk to Grant, he has built a few now

Originally Posted by r87mm

I've got some 7rem brass somewhere and some 180eld's and should have my load specs. I'll throw a dummy one together and give you a coal when I get home The powder did rattle so I knew I had plenty of space left for the load. Which gives the option of a slower powderqnd more if it

That’d be awesome. Thanks mate

Have a read of the info on terminalballistics.com. Nathan Foster has a wealth of knowledge with the 180 eldm and the rem mag in general. I think I remember him saying on there the ideal twist for the 7mm rem mag being 1:9 even with the heavier projectiles.

Originally Posted by Rated M for Magnum

Have a read of the info on terminalballistics.com. Nathan Foster has a wealth of knowledge with the 180 eldm and the rem mag in general. I think I remember him saying on there the ideal twist for the 7mm rem mag being 1:9 even with the heavier projectiles.

I'd def go faster than 9 twist.

If you go with a 7-300wm I'd def go 8 twist. As you have enough case capacity to push the 195 Berger if you want. And you'll need an 8 for that.

Better to over twist than under.

I run an 8 on my 28 Nosler and run 195s sweet. Of course it shoots 180s just fine too.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

3.475" coal with 10thou jump. As I said my mag etc was long and had more room to put more powder in. My 2850fps was over a lab radar so should be pretty accurate and blaser have about a 24.5 inch barrel. Probably with another 5 inches it wouldn't have been far off 2950-3000fps with that charge. A 7mm practical should do it with only a 26inch without much bother. Just had a look on Nathan Fosters site and he mentioned 28-30inch barreled 7rems pushing 180's(likely berger vld) into 3000-3050. So yes possible but at it's limits. Practical would be a first choice as blaser mags brass price works against it. Though brass is a small cost compared to a build and if you get 5+ loads before it's done then maybe not so bad?
Good luck with the project

@GWH Yea ill definitely be going 1/8 twist. It might also future proof it a little if someone comes out with some longer/heavier/ or A-tip projectiles.
@r87mm I should be able to fit 3.475" in the "300wm" mag so that's all good.

I take it the 7mm practical also takes more powder? Where does one get dies?

Originally Posted by ChrisW

@GWH Yea ill definitely be going 1/8 twist. It might also future proof it a little if someone comes out with some longer/heavier/ or A-tip projectiles.
@r87mm I should be able to fit 3.475" in the "300wm" mag so that's all good.

I take it the 7mm practical also takes more powder? Where does one get dies?

I think dies are as simple as using a Redding S type 300wm FL die with a bush for the neck, change the bush out for the appropriate 7mm bush, not 100% sure on the seater but a universal 7mm seater die should work fine as long as the 300wm case fits in it.

Thinking about the 7mm practical. It sounds quite practical in the overall scheme of things, but i think its also moving away from what im trying to do...which is to be even more practical.
I think unless there is a way to get something for nothing (only thing i can think of is more barrel length?) then ill probably stick with the basic 7mm rem mag.

Originally Posted by ChrisW

Thinking about the 7mm practical. It sounds quite practical in the overall scheme of things, but i think its also moving away from what im trying to do...which is to be even more practical.
I think unless there is a way to get something for nothing (only thing i can think of is more barrel length?) then ill probably stick with the basic 7mm rem mag.

What about 7mm dakota or 7mm stw? I think the brass is not so easy to come by but certainly got potential.

But maybe it will be a bit of a pickle. In that it'll be a case of decreasing returns but more hassle.

Nathan Fosters 7mm Practical also changes the shoulder angle. You can make brass by necking down 300 win mag brass, but then need to just neck size unless you get a custom die made.
Other option might be get your own reamer made. I don’t know if you can run a 300 win mag reamer into a 7mm barrel (prob can’t without stuffing up the throat )

A straight 7=300 is easy to form. 300 wm through a die with appropriate bushing. I seat with 300 wm Redding die with 7mm stem.
It’s so easy. If you don’t have the dies already something else may be better.

Yea all that is getting a bit too much hassle for me. Im not really keen to get into any sort of wildcat, or another cartridge with expensive brass or unique loading requirements.

As it happens I had my new 7 Rem Mag out today for the first time for zeroing and barrel break in.

Specs are:

Borden Timberline magnum action.
Bartlein 2b barrel at 25” and 8.7 twist with a T2 brake.
Jewel trigger.
Remington Mag box and bottom metal (as I don’t like DBM setup for hunting).
Ken Henderson tactical stock.
Norma brass.
180 ELD-M.
RE26.
Can’t recall COAL, so will measure up in the morning.
2780 fps with 65 grains is all I have shot so far. Quite a bit to go before pressure signs are likely.

If you have your barrel reamed for the OAL you want there’s no problem with seating deep into the case. Mine are reasonably long and fit easily in the factory Remington Mag box. A Wyatt’s bottom metal and Mag will give you around 3.8”, which will fix the Mag length issue. I have a spare Wyatt’s and mag unused, which I would be willing to sell for sensible money if that interests you.
8 twist will be good for very long, heavy projectiles, but I’m not sure it’s really necessary and is more aggressive than I felt was necessary. Too much twist is not a good thing.

Cheers

Originally Posted by ChrisW

Yea all that is getting a bit too much hassle for me. Im not really keen to get into any sort of wildcat, or another cartridge with expensive brass or unique loading requirements.

I run a FB group for the 7mm Rem SAUM, theres a couple of yankie guys on there been posting about some awesome velocities they are getting with 180-195gr bullets from long barreled 7mmSAUM's. 195's at 2920 fps from 25" barrels, another guy with 180-184's at 3k no prob. The Saum is an efficient little case.

Maybe another option for you to fling 180s at 3k plus from a 28" barrel or something.

Heres the link to the FB group if you wanna join and read up on them https://www.facebook.com/groups/1766464586985039/

Originally Posted by Spitfire

As it happens I had my new 7 Rem Mag out today for the first time for zeroing and barrel break in.

Specs are:

Borden Timberline magnum action.
Bartlein 2b barrel at 25” and 8.7 twist with a T2 brake.
Jewel trigger.
Remington Mag box and bottom metal (as I don’t like DBM setup for hunting).
Ken Henderson tactical stock.
Norma brass.
180 ELD-M.
RE26.
Can’t recall COAL, so will measure up in the morning.
2780 fps with 65 grains is all I have shot so far. Quite a bit to go before pressure signs are likely.

If you have your barrel reamed for the OAL you want there’s no problem with seating deep into the case. Mine are reasonably long and fit easily in the factory Remington Mag box. A Wyatt’s bottom metal and Mag will give you around 3.8”, which will fix the Mag length issue. I have a spare Wyatt’s and mag unused, which I would be willing to sell for sensible money if that interests you.
8 twist will be good for very long, heavy projectiles, but I’m not sure it’s really necessary and is more aggressive than I felt was necessary. Too much twist is not a good thing.

Cheers

COAL is 92 mm.