I own a Howa 1500 in 7mm REM Mag.I was wondering what would be the best "Bang for your Buck" ammo.

I will mostly be hunting whitetail and wild boar.I know that almost any caliber with proper shot placement will kill either.I also understand that for whatever reason some guns like one ammo; where another like a different ammo.

I was looking at trying either of these two and was wanting your thoughts and suggestions.

1. Federal® 7 mm Rem. Mag. 160 Gr. BTSX 20 rds.

2. Federal® Premium® Vital-Shok™ Trophy Bonded Bear Claw® 7 mm Rem.® Mag 175 Gr. 20 rds.


Thanks for reading and your suggestions.

I shot a nice bull moose last season with the Federal Vital Shock 160BTSX, great performance. You couldn't go wrong with the Trophy Bonded Bear Claw either but they're probably both more than you need for deer. They would both be excellent choices for elk and moose.

Bang for your buck what about Winchester power points 150gr???

I think you may find 175gr too heavy/hard for Whitetail and Boar,that said i don't know how big the Boars are you are shooting.

The most, "bang for the buck", is the 175 gr WW Power Point, but I'd choose the TSX for sheer performance.

I tried many Federal factory loads for my new to me 7mag last year. I was ready to ditch the rifle when I last tried Remington's Core Bonded Ultra 160gr load. Wow, honest repeatable 3/8-7/8 groups! Took an Elk with them also. Going to have to try very hard to come up with a better handload. Try em.

irish30 i used federal premium 160 grain nosler partitions for a good many years in two rifles and had good results. one inch groups from either rifle. i would use this load on anything from deer,boar or elk with GREAT confidence.
YMMV

I shot a few factory round through one of my 7RMs several years ago and they weren't all that bad. It was the Remington Premier line when it first came out in the late 90s their 150 NBT load would go into .75 at 100. As far as $ are concerned, the best bang for the buck would have to be the Rem CLs IMO. The 150s aren't worth a hoot on deer(too soft) if you hit more than ribs and lungs but, they are usually pretty accurate and explosive on soft tissue impacts. If the 175 CLs will shoot in your rifle, they'd be hard to beat for the game your after. The premier line went to SSTs a few years back instead of Noslers, I personally wouldn't suggest using the "Accu-tip" on game unless you go for the broadside ribs/lungs impacts.

Winchester loads their supreme line w/ the CTNBTs or what they call the Ballistic Silvertip which are pretty effective on whitetails and you also may want to give the Accubond a try.

Good Luck

Reloader

Id go with a 160 grain bullet, but you don't need an X bullet or anything like that, I might try the hornady 162 grain heavy mag load, and the standard version witch I think they call custom. and use witch ever shoots better in your rifle.
then after hunting season, start handloading ! ...tj3006

When I first got a 7mm RM I was curious in the same manner. I bought Federal and Winchester and in different weights from 150 to 175's. I shot them for group size and trapped them by firing into a row of water filled milk jugs. I saved some slugs, and have some pictures of others. The bottom line IMHO is that most any of them would be fine on deer. My Win PP 175gr looked to be enough bullet to hunt elk,moose, ect. with no reservations. A well placed shot from the 7mm RM with a Power Point will bring down any deer. Regular Rem Corelocks have taken a lot of game too, in spite of not being a "premium" bullet. If you start with a 175gr Winchest PP you may not find a reason to be buying much else.

PM me your email address and I'll see if I can find the pictures, weights, and bullets I captured. I also sectioned a few just out of curiosity. The one bullet I was not able to buy that I had heard great things about was the Speer Deep Shock.

For reloading purposes, it's not hard to get bullets that work well in your rifle. It's more an issue of how many different ones do you try before settling on just one. Nate

Logic itself points toward accurate 175gr load. The 150gr bullet weight is for .270 and 165gr for the '06!

I don't believe there is any such thing as the best factory ammo. The "best" factory ammunition fits, it's that simple. It is the same principle on which hand loaded ammunition is based.

quote:

Originally posted by buckshot:
I don't believe there is any such thing as the best factory ammo. The "best" factory ammunition fits, it's that simple. It is the same principle on which hand loaded ammunition is based.

True, find what shoots best. Personally, I load 140IB with 65 gr RL19 in mine.

Hey Irish,

My brother uses 160gr Fed Premium TBBC in his rifle, with devastating results on hogs. PM me and I'll send you a picture of the results he's had with them last year. I don't think you'll need anything heavier in a 7mm for deer or hogs, IMHO.

In general, I think the Federal Premium stuff is pretty damned good.

I personally use Federal cartridges with 165 grain Sierra Game King BTSP. They work excellent on deer and hogs.

For deer and boar anything at or above 150grs that shoots good and on sale will be fine. You don't need premium bullets and expensive ammo for either of these animals. Put you hard earned dollars into something else....like a good hunt.

The only decent factory load is by Hornady, the 139gr btsp is excellent in my M70

For deer and hogs Remington core-lokts will work fine. As mentioned, you simply don't need an expensive premium bullet to kill a deer or hog.

quote:

Originally posted by Paolo9,5x73:
Logic itself points toward accurate 175gr load. The 150gr bullet weight is for .270 and 165gr for the '06!

Huh? How is that logical? A 175 for deer?

Irish30, you don't need anything bigger than a 150 for deer and hog. Moreover, you don't need anything tougher than a good old Winchester power point or a Remington Core Lokt but don't expect accuracy to be stellar. It might happen but don't hold your breath.

If the factory Barnes TSX 160 shoots good by chance then you'll have found a do all for your rifle.

Federal, of course. NPs or TBBCs, whichever shoots better or best.

The guy is asking for the best bang for the buck on factory ammo for deer and hogs and you're recommending ammo thats well over $30 for 20?

Midsouth 7mm RM ammo Midway ammo

The one bang for the buck listed is the 175gr Federals with Grand Slams at $20. That's cheap Rem corelock or Win PP prices for a premium bullet. If I didn't load for myself I'd be tempted to drop at least $100 and have ammo I can hunt everything with up to and including moose and elk. In fact those would work fine on bear if the shooters up to it. Nate

BigNate, the NPs and TBBCs are a bit pricey compared to some others, now that you mention it. They're the best, but not the best bang for the buck.

And you're right, of course, when you say that they're not strictly needed for deer and hogs.

But I have just got into the habit of using ammunition loaded with premium bullets like these for everything. IMHO, it's short money well spent.

Wow, thanks for the great reply's.

I have misused my words. I shouldnt have written "Best bang for your buck".

I actually do not get to go hunting alot due to being a single father.I am part of a club and will hunt a great deal more this year than last.I am not however going to go out everyday or weekend.I am aiming for every other weekend.

Needless to say, I will not be shooting alot.Unless, I become a lucky SOB very soon. LOL

I should have put what ammo for my gun will give me the most stopping power.I understand that proper shot placement is key. I also understand that all ammo is not made equal.

I want the most accurate, devastating round I can shoot out of my gun.

Thanks again,

I

quote:

Originally posted by Irish30:
I want the most accurate, devastating round I can shoot out of my gun.

You'll have to purchase a few different boxes of factory ammo, and find what shoots best. As for deer and hogs, I think they'll all consider whatever you poke at them from this caliber will be considered "devastating!"

I favor the TSX bullet, partition next.