Thread: 7mm magnum

Still working on acquisition
recent Pm11 purchase got in the road.

the 2217 load 7mmsaum mentioned works for me. had trouble with amaxes with 2225 2217 got things tightened up.

That's good news horihunter, it's that time of the year now to stock up on BBQ venny !!!

Originally Posted by jakewire

Still working on acquisition
recent Pm11 purchase got in the road.

Did you end up getting a rem mag ?

No not as yet
Nor the the 300,
Talk about it to mates alot, possibly getting to old.

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

...the little ADI powders reloading manual can be purchased online ($4) ...

Don't know why you buy it when it's free online:

ADI Powders Handloaders' Guide

A point Nor-west misses re the ADI manual max loads for 7mm Mag vs what he gets from his .280 is that the ADI manual gives maximum loads that barely qualify as starting loads, in order to protect themselves from anything going wrong if they listed genuine max loads (understandable) - 7mm Mag vs .280: my 7mm Mag drives a 180 Berger VLD at 3050fps as a sub moa load, and The 120 TTSX AT 3500 as a sub moa load, must be a really fast .280. Could never get mine near that.

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

Did you end up getting a rem mag ?

Did you end up with one in the long run ?

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

No trouble with the 162 A-Max, I think the rifle was made especially for them

Your magazine will have an internal length of 3.736 inches.
The overall length of your 162 A-Max load can be 3.460 inches (Or very close to this length) for a just touch.

72g of ADI AR 2217 will give you 3050-3080fps.

You can use all these projectiles with 72 g of 2217

A 140 NBT @ 3.385 inches long
A 150 NBT @ 3.385 inches long
A 150 E-Tip @ 3.420 inches long
A 160 AB @ 3.426 inches long
A 162 Amax @ 3.460 inches long
A 168 VLD @ 3.472 inches long

Federal 215 primers and Norma/Nosler brass work well, take the expander ball out of your FL die and your groups should shrink.

If you are so inclined anneal the necks and shoulders of your brass after each firing for consistent neck tension, moly powder lube the case necks and projectile when assembling ammo.

Use a comparator when measuring your ammo when seating the last 5 thou, a micrometer adjustable seating die ensures they will all be the exact distance from the lands.

Deer will fall at your every shot...... well nearly


A-Max damage

Hi there came into this conversation quite late but just wondering given your excellent info on the Sako 85 in 7mm rem mag is this information interchangeable for the T3 lite as well that I use. On the face of it quite similar same twist, barrel length etc. What are the differences (if any @7mmsaum). I ask because I love the 162 Amax and the 140 Barnes TTSX ( for under 100) but I usually drive these with IMR 7828 (from memory ) and they run real well (ragged single hole) at 2900 ish for 63 grains of powder with a little bit of tolerance either side(0.5).

How full is the cartridge with the Amax you run? - is it a compressed load at 72 as I'm usually building these to a length to still fit the T3 magazine which is a bit of a commonly acknowledged limiting factor and to be honest they're quite full when seating.

Be interested to get your learned opinion on the differences similarities as the IMR's getting difficult to find from time to time.

Thanks again.

HI @Carpe Diem,
I don't know if it will help you but here is a photo from early today when i went to check my "zero" at 100Mts.
My Tikka T3 Lite in 7mm Rem Mag loves the Amax and SST(162gr) with 69.5gr of ADI2217 and setting at only 3.300" to fit in the magazine. I have try other setting depths but it is the one working in my rifle.
By the way, they are 4 shots in there from a prone position of my bipod.

Cheers


Mac

Originally Posted by Carpe Diem

Hi there came into this conversation quite late but just wondering given your excellent info on the Sako 85 in 7mm rem mag is this information interchangeable for the T3 lite as well that I use. On the face of it quite similar same twist, barrel length etc. What are the differences (if any @7mmsaum). I ask because I love the 162 Amax and the 140 Barnes TTSX ( for under 100) but I usually drive these with IMR 7828 (from memory ) and they run real well (ragged single hole) at 2900 ish for 63 grains of powder with a little bit of tolerance either side(0.5).

How full is the cartridge with the Amax you run? - is it a compressed load at 72 as I'm usually building these to a length to still fit the T3 magazine which is a bit of a commonly acknowledged limiting factor and to be honest they're quite full when seating.

Be interested to get your learned opinion on the differences similarities as the IMR's getting difficult to find from time to time.

Thanks again.

I have this exact rifle mate, mine didn't stabilise the amax and I couldn't get it to shoot them at all.
I use 168gr bergers and 168 nosler lr accubonds.
2225 for Berger and re22 for noslers. Both running about 2950. Seating depth made the big difference in accuracy.

Hi @jimmy6.5,
So, i do understand that "every rifle is different", however in my opinion a fine tune on the loading should work out with the amax(remember it is just "my" opinion and i am FAAAAAAAAAR(FAR) away to be an expert).
I use to load my 140/139gr with RL22 but because price and availability i opt for the ADI powders and the 2217 work for both projectiles with their own load.
I never use the 2225 or projectiles heavier than 162gr but i love the idea of do it one of these days. A friend of mine has swap the 2217 to 2225 and is loading his 162 amax and 160 AB up to 3gr over the book recommendations and that is still in the safe side in his Sako Finnlite(not sure if it is a 75 or 85).
My load is pushing the amax's at the same velocity as yours(2950 avg.) with some variations depending the weather(temperature mostly).
Thank you for share and good luck!

Cheers

Mac

Originally Posted by jimmy6.5

I have this exact rifle mate, mine didn't stabilise the amax and I couldn't get it to shoot them at all.
I use 168gr bergers and 168 nosler lr accubonds.
2225 for Berger and re22 for noslers. Both running about 2950. Seating depth made the big difference in accuracy.

Hi mac
Yeah you could be onto a good point, I went through a whole box of amax trying to find a load that would work using re22, 2225, 2217 and I even tried 2209 which produced about an inch group but was very slow and not what I was after. I really wanted to use the amax for my go to projectile too! I ended up getting frustrated and ditched the idea....I have found it is an extremely fussy rifle and needs to be really fine tuned but once I found a load it was really good. It has a fluted factory barrel maybe that's the cause? Dunno?
Cheers mate
Jim.

Hey @jimmy6.5, please can you confirm what rifle you have? I am got a bit confused regards your factory fluted barrel.
The fluted barrel should not affect the riffle accuracy "that much", the fluting make the barrel more rigid and in my little understand less affected by the harmonics. Other little point I have in "MY" Tikka T3 Lite like the projectiles seated to the magazine length, in my case 3.310".
I am sure we will have more 7mm Rem Mag shooters coming along and giving more info regards this matter.
Have a great weekend!

Mac

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

Did you end up with one in the long run ?

Nope, had a 300 for awhile but it was a Winchester Classic model and just too pretty to mess with so I sold it on.