Thread: Optimal projectile weight for a 7mm rem mag

Hey guys, I’m about to acquire a rifle which I have always wanted since I was a young fella and first got into hunting. The first centre fire rifle I owned was a weatherby vanguard in .308 win but I always wanted a weatherby mk v but it was always out of my reach due to cost. long over due and despite purchasing many rifles it’s only now I’m about to come into possession of a mk v accumark in 7mm rem mag. Looks like they come with a 1:9.5 twist rate, this is an area I am not as well versed in so I wanted to see what wisdom others have to share in what projectile weights I can expect to group well with this. Cheers

160’s is where I’d start.


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For years I shot 140's in mine, killed everything I shot with it. Kinda semi retired it for a while, other toys to play with. Then somebody gave me some factory ammo loaded with 154SST's - holy shit did they make the 140's look pretty mild. And I tried some 160-162's to see what they would perform like - every bit as accurate and deadly as the 140's. Some say its a waste of a good cartridge to settle for 140's, better to use the ability to throw 160 and up.

I asked Greg Duley the same question when I got my first 7mm (always been a 30 cal prior).
He said if you are only going to shoot to 300, 140 grain Accubonds. Past 300 go to softer 160 grain.

150 or 160 partitions for up close to 300, then 162 ELDMS or Xs or 168 VLDS for longer range.

Determine your performance requirements then select a bullet to meet them. What do you want it to do?

Something in the 160 weight class will kick arse. It'll kill anything in the land of the long white cloud out to a long way. You don't need to go any heavier than that but as said above you can go lighter if you want less recoil with full power loads.

Been shooting 162ge SST's in mine with good results out to 650yrds so far, the 7 deer in the last month have not put in any complaints.

I've used SST and ELDX 162gn and they both work great. ELDX probably slightly better but can be more difficult to get hold of at times.

Originally Posted by gimp

Determine your performance requirements then select a bullet to meet them. What do you want it to do?

It’s going to be a long range rig for reds, potentially thar if I get the chance to go down south. Won’t be anything crazy far so I would prioritise accuracy over energy down range.

Looking at what’s available I’m leaning towards trying some Norma 160gr tipstrike and Hornady 162gr precision hunter

162....

Originally Posted by ElDax

Looking at what’s available I’m leaning towards trying some Norma 160gr tipstrike and Hornady 162gr precision hunter

I had good results with the Hornady 162 ELD-X near and far (longest was a chamois at 500 yards, shortest was several goats at 50 or less) but people have had some very mixed results. You want to hit bone with them, shoulder or neck .

The Norma stuff I have no experience with in 7mm but have heard good things about.