I have a 7mm Remington in a Ruger 77 stainless that I want to give to a friend's son. He has just passed Hunters Saftey and is 14 years old. Are there any 7mm shooters that have reduced loads for this caliber that shoot well. Please advive!

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tsiero, Any Remington and most other factory loads (Except Hornaday HM and Federal HE) are reduced loads.
For handloads check out starting loads which will about equal .280 loads. IMR or H 4831 or IMR7828? I used to shoot 139gr Hornadays with a mild dose of IMR4831 (don't remember exactly how much) - kicked less than my .280 with 140gr factory loads and was 1/2 moa.
Wish my dad had a friend like you!

(Didn't mean to say use .280 data - meant to say some loads are about equal to .280)
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Ignorance is curable, but stupidity is terminal.

[This message has been edited by Ol' Sarge (edited 07-10-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Ol' Sarge (edited 07-10-2001).]

Be very careful about reducing loads to much or 280 Rem loads with the 7mm Mag and slow burning powders they can be explosive. I'd use the starting loads and bullets in the 140gr area depending on what your hunting. I'd also maybe begin with a varmint bullet and work him into it.

Sarge is right -- virtually all factory loads are "reduced loads" in 7mm Remington. I really don't understand this, but it's true.

A medium burning rate powder like 4895 or 4064 using the starting load from most manuals would be good for a try. Drop back to 130 or 140 grain bullets. This should about equal a moderate .270 Winchester load.

For reduced loads, there is two ways to go. SR4759 under a 150 gr bullet (28 grains) will give about 2,000 fps. (Speer manual). 14 grains of Unique will give about 1600 Fps under a 140 grain bullet. (Neco manual). There are other reduced loads out there, see the Lyman manual in particular. Beartoothbullets.com makes cast bullets in 7 mm --- cheap shooting. HTH, Dutch.

Hello Tsiero

Use a 140-grain bullet with a 3000 fps load and your friend will be plenty comfortable. The Nosler 140-grain partition bullet is a good choice for most game, good point-blank range and sufficient poop for any medium game. I shot an elk with it last year.

Tom