Hello Everyone,

I chronographed my 7mm Rem Mag for the first time and got a BIG surprise!
Federal lists MV for the 160gr Trophy Bonded Bearclaw Tipped Bullet load at 2900fps...the chrono showed that for 10 shots my MV averaged 3061fps!! Their testing is done with a 24"barrel..my barrel is 26" and is a custom Hart barrel.
Does this sound right to you?? 161fps FASTER does seem damm fast...I am not complaining, but would like to hear your opinions.

Thanks!

I'm not surprised. A tight chambered custom barrel 26" long. Now you can honestly see and explain why it's so well liked. Nate

longer barrel= more speed. no brainer.

I am not surprised.

My 280 Ackley Imp gives such velocities with Nosler manual loads using N560 from a 24 inch barrel.

Yes very feasible. 160gr Sierra Gamekings gave an honest 3000fps in my 26" barreled 7x61, with Norma factory 160gr ammo doing 3050fps (published MV 3100fps).
The 7mmRM case has a fraction more capacity than the 7x61 so should perform as good if not a little better in a good 26" barrel.

You've got a real winner.

I once had two IDENTICAL BRNO ZKK600 rifles in 270 Winchester. Both had typical continental European 23.5" long barrels.

BOTH were as alike as peas in a pod. Same model etc., etc., etc..

Except....one shot with the identical loading a full 45-55fps FASTER than the other.

So if you can get that variation from one barrel to another of the same length then I wouldn't see why not...although a full 161fps seems unusual.

I'm not surprised if you look at Nosler data with a 24" Wiseman barrel the 160gr AB or Partition max velocity is 3077fps. Back in the early 80's I check load was shooting factory 7mag 63gr/IMR-4831 with 160 Parittion @ 2991fps.

I chronographed some Federal Gold Medal .300WM 190gr other day because I couldn't get any MK248. Federal lists that load at 2960fps. It chronographed out of my guns from 3030-3070fps from 24" barrels.

Thanks for the reply's fellas!

I thought that the high velocity was too good to be true....I'm so happy that it's not.

My rifle is a M70 that was rebarreled-Hart barrel, pillar bedded, timney trigger, etc by Hill Country Rifles in Texas.

With this factory load, Federal Premium 160gr Trophy Bonded Bearclaw Tipped, it shoots consistantly at 1/2 MOA give or take.
Also, the chrono showed that there is only a gap of 55fps between the fastest and slowest shots for 10 shots...I do not handload but I think that this must be extremely consistant for factory ammo.

I cannot be happier with this load...I have killed a ton of game in Africa with it from small Klipspringer to a 2,000lb Eland. On a Zebra which I shot in the chest as he was looking at me at 50 yards, the bullet penetrated all the way to his hip where it was lodged in the hip bone all the way to the base in a perfect mushroom shape.

By the way...I do not work for Federal!!

That's good for a factory load.My max load in my mod 70 with a 160gr was 3140fps with 65.3grs of IMR-4350,but that was pushing it.

Which 160gr bullet were you using?

The thing about factory ammo is the cartridges may be consistent inside the same box but the next box from a different manufacturing lot might be a good bit different.

The listed velocity is the manufacturers average. One lot might shoot faster while another shoots slower.

No doubt the longer custom barrel is contributing but I'd think you probably are starting with a hotter lot as well.

BigGuy,
I heard back from Federal today and they also state that the extra 2" plus the smooth custom Hart barrel make the extra 161fps.

How much, in your experience, could velocity vary from lot to lot??

Don't misunderstand I believe the barrel is the biggest contributing factor here. I just wanted to point out that lot tolerance could also contribute.

I don't know what Federal's tolerance is on the variation. It is something that they can control when starting a new lot.

They have to test the new batch of components and make adjustments accordingly between lots.

If their tolerance is +/-25fps or +/-50fps I don't know.

So I assume that it won't be THAT MUCH of a difference then?

quote:

Originally posted by Leopardtrack:
So I assume that it won't be THAT MUCH of a difference then?

Enjoy your results.

Thanks Mick!!

quote:

I heard back from Federal today and they also state that the extra 2" plus the smooth custom Hart barrel make the extra 161fps.

I agree. Not unusual for a quality,smooth button barrel to deliver somewhat higher velocity...plus your barrel is 26" which will also account for some of the increase.

I have had a couple of Douglas barrels chambered 7 RM that consistently gave higher velocities than M70 barrels with the same loads.

3060 or thereabouts is more or less"normal" with a 160 from a properly loaded 7 Rem Mag.