To anyone who has purchased and is working out the kinks in this model 7mm WSM, I could use all the input and help and advice you may want to impart. I have one arriving soon, and will have a Leupold 4.5 X 14 on top, with the B & C System. Thanks in advance to anyone who wants to chime in!

My first thought is to go to find and enter the caliber. You will get a load of information while waiting for posters. You have plenty of scope for the rifle. They are nice.

Dwight,
I agree on too much scope, but I wanted a 30mm tube, and as it turned out I had to go that much magnification for the B & C feature. I have googled the caliber, but it's always good to hear first hand knowledge on AR. Some of you guys here have such a vast depth of knowledge and experience that counts for more than what a featured article writer can impart.I especially like hearing the repartee between some of you who have been on the site for a good length of time. I also hear that the 325 WSM is not destined for the greatness some had originally forecast. I hope to get into a 338 Federal sometime soon also. I used to have a 375 H & H that McGowan's built for me (S/S with a 22" tube, and camo exterior with a surface that would not slip, no matter how wet the weather), but due to economic conditions had to let go. That rifle shot genuine 2" groups @ 200 yards with hand loaded 300 grn Sierra's, many visual observers for confirmation, back in the early 90's.
I have wondered if I made a mistake not going with the 300WSM, but too late now. I broke both my hips in Dec 2004 in a MVA (not my fault, and hope to settle that lawsuit by July 07), and I'm not sure how much recoil I can endure, so I went just a little lighter in caliber.

dano,
While I'm not one of the individuals with vast knowledge and experience, I've been working with a M70 Classic in 7mmWSM. It has a VXIII 4.5-14 LR on it, which is one heckuva good scope. Not sure how I will like the scope for hunting yet (because of the side focus), but so far I luv it. My rifle loves the Federal Fusion 150's, with the WW 140gr. Accubonds only slightly less so. It shoots the Fusions near to a half inch. If you don't reload, or even if you do, try the Fusions. You may be pleasantly surprised. I originally started shooting the Fusions during break-in/sight in, and they shot so well, there was no point to work up a handload. I love it when that happens! This rifle with the Fusions is going to be hunting deer with me next week! Good luck with your 7mmWSM!

i have the same scope you do dano36, its not good for close range really. they seem to have a fairly limited F.O.V.

anyway, i read here in a magazine a guy was working up loads for a rifle just like yours.

winchester cases and Fed 215 primers

with nosler 160gr accubond, 73gr of H1000 produced 2958FPS with 1" groups

74gr of H1000 produced 3012fps with .6" groups

and the nosler 140gr accubond produced .6" groups with 72gr of VV N-165 getting 3250fps

the bullets were best seated to the lands.
those are the average group size, and were 3 shots at 100 yards

Is it possible to get 73 to 74 grains in that case? Just curious, seems like a lot of powder, for that case. Steve

quote:

Originally posted by dano36:
Dwight,
I agree on too much scope, but I wanted a 30mm tube, and as it turned out I had to go that much magnification for the B & C feature. I have googled the caliber, but it's always good to hear first hand knowledge on AR. Some of you guys here have such a vast depth of knowledge and experience that counts for more than what a featured article writer can impart.I especially like hearing the repartee between some of you who have been on the site for a good length of time. I also hear that the 325 WSM is not destined for the greatness some had originally forecast. I hope to get into a 338 Federal sometime soon also. I used to have a 375 H & H that McGowan's built for me (S/S with a 22" tube, and camo exterior with a surface that would not slip, no matter how wet the weather), but due to economic conditions had to let go. That rifle shot genuine 2" groups @ 200 yards with hand loaded 300 grn Sierra's, many visual observers for confirmation, back in the early 90's.
I have wondered if I made a mistake not going with the 300WSM, but too late now. I broke both my hips in Dec 2004 in a MVA (not my fault, and hope to settle that lawsuit by July 07), and I'm not sure how much recoil I can endure, so I went just a little lighter in caliber.

Not too much scope. I have one also in the LR 30mm tube. The feature I like the best is the focus knob on the side. The 7MM is not will serve you well. What I meant on the search was to click on the find button here on the forum and put in the caliber. You will get all the old post on it. I did not give you load data since I use the SAUM and yours will hold just a little more powder. If the recoil bothers you much just add brake.
Good Luck and have fun loading.

Dwight,
Thanks for the clarification. I was not thinking of your suggestion. Great idea, appreciated. I guess one thing I was hoping to hear was that generally there were none of the problems faced by some of the early Montana, or 8400 owners: feeding problems, inconsistent accuracy, breaking in process (which has brought out many interesting takes on site lately). Dwight, what do you do for break-in period.

Break in can really open a can of worms. I don't worry about it much. On a new rifle I shoot a half dozen and clean a couple of times.
Again click on the find tab at the top of the screen and enter the topic of break in.
I believe the Shilen web site has a good description for break in. A lot of things you will run into on the forum is that a lot of things you here may be from a compeitive shooter and other comments from guys shooting mainly hunting rifles. Competitive shooting has a lot of little variables that guys try to eliminate that are never a factor for a hunting rifle. You will figure it out after a while.
The only feeding problem that you may run into is if you load your rounds too long. If they are too long they can jam going up the ramp. My magazine box was about 1/16 too long where the bullets move up on the ramp causing scratches and I cured that with a file.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Hanson:
Is it possible to get 73 to 74 grains in that case? Just curious, seems like a lot of powder, for that case. Steve

sure why not? run them through the long funnel kit after they have dropped through the 2ft of pipe, make sure all the little granules are lined up so you can get as many as possible in it.

Mudstud,
Thanks for the feedback. What did you find the 160 grn AccuBonds doing in your Win 7mm WSM.
And yes, it's a beautiful thing to find one's rifle shooting over the counter loads as well as we ever could do reloading. I hope I have as much success as you have with yours. I was at my dealers shop yesterday, and he let me open my rifle from the factory wrapping. Ser # is over that #10900 figure that they supposedly recalled. I am on an easy payment plan- 2 more weeks ande I can call it entirely mine. It's been slow recovering from my accident, and am only now starting to "bring home the bacon" in the amounts I previously expected of myself.

So I should have some live reports on the gun in 2-3 weeks. Thanks, guys , for the help searching for data and your personal input. I hope I can count on such responses and advice if needed in the near future.

In addition, I was pleasantly surprised by the workmanship from Kimber. All stock, action, barrel tolerances were very tight, but very even in appearance. I did notice some bright, fresh scratches, rather, polishing where the rounds feed into the throat. I'm sure their QC is looking at everything very closely now with some of the bad publicity they have gotten recently. It was also obvious that they had run (shot more than just) a few rounds through the rifle checking everything!

Dano, The Kimber 8400 7 WSM that I had shot the Federal premium 160gr accubonds pretty well. Here is a 200 yd group with them:




You might want to give them a try. My handloads could match the velocity and accuracy of the Federal Premium Accubonds but I never exceeded them. I forgot the velocity's exact numbers but I do remember that they were 50-75 fps faster than Federal listed them!..................DJ

DJ,
Now that's what I'm talking about. Sweet, indeed. Thanks,

Dano36

dj, your factory stuff shoots well! only tried one lot of factory stuff in my 300WSM, just some federal 180gr round nose stuff, shot about 1.5" at 100 yards. finally found a load that worked in my wsm, 150gr nosler BTS, .3 - .4 inch @ 100yards 3 shot groups.

dano 36,
I think you would be better served with a little less magnification. 4.5-14X is great at the range or for long range shooting, but it can make things tough on close up shots or on moving game. You CAN get the B&C reticle with the VX III 3.5-10. I just bought one.

I use 66.5 gns of H4831SC with the 140gn Nosler ballistic tip or Accubond for about 3150 FPS . Shoots 5 under MOA in my model 70 . Mild in my rifle but over Hodgdon's recommended maximum so work up from below .

SST,
I agree on availibility in 1", but to the best of my knowledge not in 30mm, which is what I wanted soecifically for low light conditions. I would rather have had the 3.5 X 10, but considering this rifle is going to be used for a whitetail hunt in Manitoba in 2007, I felt I could deal with the tradeoff of higher magnification vs. FOV and quick target acquisition. Most of these shots up there are 150 yds minimum with many out to 300-350 yds realistically from shooting blinds with good rests. I used to be a still hunter almost exclusivly, but had an accident whereas my mobility is limited now to stand hunting from the ground, so this is all part of the equation on deciding on that scope.
Thanks for the input.
Dano36

quote:

Originally posted by dano36:
SST,
I agree on availibility in 1", but to the best of my knowledge not in 30mm, which is what I wanted soecifically for low light conditions. I would rather have had the 3.5 X 10, but considering this rifle is going to be used for a whitetail hunt in Manitoba in 2007, I felt I could deal with the tradeoff of higher magnification vs. FOV and quick target acquisition. Most of these shots up there are 150 yds minimum with many out to 300-350 yds realistically from shooting blinds with good rests. I used to be a still hunter almost exclusivly, but had an accident whereas my mobility is limited now to stand hunting from the ground, so this is all part of the equation on deciding on that scope.
Thanks for the input.
Dano36

i have been told my many sources a 30mm tube brings in no more light that a 1" one, only a little more adjustment for the reticle

quote:

Originally posted by Paul from nz:

quote:

Originally posted by dano36:
SST,
I agree on availibility in 1", but to the best of my knowledge not in 30mm, which is what I wanted soecifically for low light conditions. I would rather have had the 3.5 X 10, but considering this rifle is going to be used for a whitetail hunt in Manitoba in 2007, I felt I could deal with the tradeoff of higher magnification vs. FOV and quick target acquisition. Most of these shots up there are 150 yds minimum with many out to 300-350 yds realistically from shooting blinds with good rests. I used to be a still hunter almost exclusivly, but had an accident whereas my mobility is limited now to stand hunting from the ground, so this is all part of the equation on deciding on that scope.
Thanks for the input.
Dano36

i have been told my many sources a 30mm tube brings in no more light that a 1" one, only a little more adjustment for the reticle

You are correct. The 30MM tube is only alloy more scope adjustment for long shots. The thing that allows more light in is the 50mm afjective. The tube size has no effect on light.

Dano I've got a 4.5x14 on my .25-06 and like it a lot. I keep the Adj Obj at 100 yards and set the power for 4.5 when moving, or 6 when on a stand. It works out great. The only time it seemed to much was on a deer that was probably no more than twenty yards.

It worked great on last years at 350! Nate

Interesting thoughts on 1" VS 30mm. Now I have another subject to research. I was going on the advice of a respected gun shop owner who has been in the business for a long time. Now, I don't feel he recommended the 30mm just to pump up the $ on me. I have done him favors in the past and trust him. I understand that a 50mm objective will let in more , but I also thought with a larger diameter tube would help also. I think this could be the beginnings of a deeper discussion on tube size merits. Who's next with more experience than I to help enlighten?