I have picked up a used 7mm in a Remington 700 left hand that I would like to start reloading for. I will use it for deer ( 98% of the time) and at the range. I have never shot a magnum, so I would appreciate it if someone has a load(s) they can recommend that won't beat me to death and is accurate. How bad is the recoil anyways ? I have shot a 6.5 x 55 for years and do a lot of shotgun hunting for ducks and geese. Thanks in advance for your help.

Marcus,

Check out our Reloading pages, there are a few loads for the 7mm Remington magnum.

If the rifle fits you well, you will notice very little difference in recoil between it and the 6.5x55.

I do not think it will bother you at all.

This is a great cartridge for general hunting.

------------------
saeed@ emirates.net.ae

www.accuratereloading.com

In addition to AR's reloading information consider...

160gr Nosler
215 Federal primer
61.0gr to 66.0gr H-4831SC

You will generally find your most accurate loads near max published loads. Never exceed max published loads.

Good piece. Just be sure when range shooting to allow the barrel to cool one minute (by a watch) between shots to extend your barrel life.

marcus -

You mention doing a lot of shotgun hunting for ducks and geese. Those are generally some pretty substantial loads. The 7 MAG recoil is nowhere near what a 12 Ga. high brass load is; it's more on the order of the light field loads. It'll be a piece of cake. Be sure to wear ear protection, because the 7 MAG is pretty loud. A lot of 'recoil' is actually reaction to the muzzle blast.

R-WEST

Recoil with a rifle when shooting from an offhand position is not an issue (at least not until you get into the really big stuff). Recoil of even "mild" rifles like a .270 can be disconcerting from the bench, which is where most shots from hunting rifles are fired (25 or 30 shots to work up the load, 5 to fine-tune the zero, but only one or two at the actual game animal).

For deer, a good 140 grain spitzer is more appropriate than the heavier bullets.

Your 7mm Magnum won't be a problem from the bench if you use extra shoulder padding, or a recoil-absorbing benchrest. Watch out about shooting from a bench that is too low (or a seat that is too high in relation to the bench) because you'll be humped over with the top of your shoulder-collarbone area receiving the recoil -- and this can hurt.

When you set your full length sizing die try to fit the sized case's shoulder to your chamber. Instead of following the standard directions to bring the shell holder hard up to the die bottom I stop short of that on the first case I size and then try it in the rifle. Once you get the bolt to close with just a tiny bit of "feel" of the case in the chamber you set the locking ring there.

Your cases will last longer and sizing will be easier.

I would not bother will waiting a minute beteen shots but it is a good idea to check each shot in the spoting scope. I shot a Ruger #1 in 7mm Mag for 28 years before I had a new bbl put on.

I shoot all heavy kickers with my left (in your case right) hand holding the forend and then the back of my hand rests on the sand bag. It takes some practice to shoot like this but it's good aiming practice. The much greater benefit is that the felt recoil is a lot less. Besides this is more like the way a rifle is shot in the field.

As suggested a 140 gr bullet is just fine for deer. The Sierra is a very good one. Also the 130 Speer is very good.

I used 4831 powder and magnum primers. It's an excellent cartridge. Not one that gets a lot of play here but it's easier to shoot than a 300 mag.

Marcus. You have picked up a fine, overall hunting caliber. I have loaded 150 and 160 gr Noslers(elk and mule deer) for my 7mm Rem Mag with the same powder charges that Zero Drift mentioned(61-66 grs of H-4831SC..SC meters well). I have found a couple of powders that work well with 140 gr bullets, for whitetail deer loads. Ditto what DonMartin29 said about being easier to shoot than a 300 Mag!! I have a 300 Wby Mag and it is not as "pleasant" to shoot as my 7 Mag. I think you will find the 7 Mag tolerable to shoot. Some people don't like muzzle breaks, but if you find recoil to be a problem, they do help reduce "felt" recoil. Be sure to have excellent ear protection though!! They are LOUD!! FWIW, if I had to get rid of my hunting rifles and keep ONLY ONE for ALL of MY hunting, my 7 Mag would be THE ONE!! Good luck and good shooting. GREG

I find the recoil of my 7mm Rem Mag about like a 30-06, and the noise and muzzle blast are very mild, I have a 26" barrel.

GSF1200 said it, the 7mm Rem.Mag is no worse than a .30/'06. It has way less recoil than the shotgun loads you have been shooting!! For deer-size game, I have usually used a 140-grain bullet, but at 7mm Mag velocities, the 140 is very destructive at short to medium distances (so much so that I bought a 7X57mm to use the 140's in rather than the Maggie!!) If you go to a 150, 160, or even 175 grain bullet at slower speeds, the 7 Mag. probably would not ruin as much meat. But the 7mm Rem.Mag is one of the classic great cartridges, even though faster ones have recently been added to the 7mm lineup. Personally, I don't believe any of the bigger ones are enough faster to justify their existence!! Enjoy!!

I've got the same rifle you mention in LH and it kicks a little harder then an 06,but not much. Use the method of holding the forend on the sand bag or rest and recoil is very tolerable. The 7mm mag just doesn't kick that bad,because it isn't loaded but a few grains over what the .270 and 06 are loaded to. I've killed alot of deer with just the cheap 150gr core lokt loads.

Gentlemen,

I love the 7mm Rem Mag. It's my most used caliber, both here and in Africa. I have taken game from Blacktail deer to 2000 lb. eland with it.

I have usually shot 175 gr. Nosler partitions loaded to around 2950 fps, and they don't destroy too much meet on smaller deer or antelope. They also penetrate A LONG WAY..!!

Check out our 7mm Website for more info.
www.slatesafaris.com/7mm.htm

Joel Slate
Slate & Associates, LLC
www.slatesafaris.com

Hi Marcus

I've gotten very fond of 140-grain Noslers, the Ballistic Tip for antelope, the Partition Bullet for bigger stuff. Also the Speer 145-grain boat-tail seems to be very consistent in my M70. IMR7928 is the favored powder, and I use medium loads.

Tom