Downloading and accuracy

[corbanzo]

So I have been kicking around the idea of getting a 7mag for the little lady, most likely a 700bdl, she likes the wood. 

Now here is my question...  I have never really downloaded... ever. 

But for my sake...     I was thinking of just going ahead and getting a 7mm ultra magnum, same gun/price/etc, and loading it to 7mm rem mag levels for her, and then make some hot stuff for me to play with. 

Now my question is, when I am loading down to those levels, am I going to suffer in accuracy at all?  I just wonder taking powder out of an already large case if it will cause any inconsistancies for me?  Now I'm not talking about dropping to light 7mag levels, just mid-midhigh levels.  So these would be at about the minimum charge for most powders in the 7rum, or experiment with others which are safe to drop lower. 

[Grumulkin]

In working up numerous loads for numerous different cartridges I have never had a case where the lower loads listed in the manual were as accurate as loads in the middle or upper range.  I have a couple of suggestions:

1.  Reconsider the 7mm RUM.  Look at the ballistics and you'll see that compared to the 7mm Rem. Mag. you don't get a whole lot more velocity but at the cost of quite a bit more powder.

2.  If the rifle is for "the little lady" I would suggest getting her something she would really enjoy shooting and I doubt it would be a 7mm Rem. Mag.  I'm sure you could find a rifle with wood she likes minus the recoil like a 7X57 Mauser or a 7mm/08 Rem.

[CyberSniper]

Generally speaking, the larger the case volume, the more difficult finding an
accurate reduced load will be. Too much empty space in there with reduced loads.
Also, trying to load down with slow burning powders has been known to cause blow ups.
This was talked about a lot some years back, using the .25-06 even.
Reduced loads with slow powders have supposedly wrecked some .25-06 rifles.
Thus, the much larger Ultra Mag case would suffer the same possibility with
reduced loads of slow burning powders I'd think.

I had some success with IMR-4895 in reduced loads in a 7mm Remington Magnum though.
( The original 7mm Mag that is. ) Loaded 175 grain round nose down to 7 x 57 speeds for
close range use in the Texas Hill Country.

[Ruskin]

If one wants to stay in the 7 mm arena, consider the .280 which has same qualtities without the bite.

[corbanzo]

I should have specified.

We live in Alaska.  She will be using it for brown and black bears, moose, caribou, sheep, etc.  So going down to the 7mm-08 or 25-06 is not an option. 

The 270 or 270WSM would work, and I had considered it, but really, she isn't afraid of recoil, I just don't want to beat the hell out of her, and I want her to have something that she won't feel undergunned with, because when we moose and caribou hunt, there are always opportunities for brown bear. 

This is one of the reasons I picked the 7mm round, so as to not knock the heck out of her like a big 338 would, or even some .300's. 

[B. Miville]

For those with the knowledge....would a case filler help out in this situation???

Brian

[GameHauler]

Maybe you dislike breaks but I have on on my
700BDL in 7MM Rem Mag and it is not at all unpleasant to shot.
Just a thought,
Mike

[CyberSniper]

For those with the knowledge....would a case filler help out in this situation???

Brian

I consider that to be a bad idea also.

[Catfish]

Just my thoughts, but I would not want to try to stop a mad brown bear with a 7 mm bullet. I personally would feel much better with a bigger bullet even if was alot slower. I don`t this I would want anything smaller than a .35 Whelen, but I am a student of blastics and have never shot a brown bear.

[Grumulkin]

Maybe you dislike breaks but I have on on my
700BDL in 7MM Rem Mag and it is not at all unpleasant to shot.

I have a braked 7mm Rem. Mag. myself and it is quite pleasant to shoot.

[roper]

I shoot a 300RUM but looking at the data for a 7RUM seems the minimun load is a max load for the 7Mag so may be hard to come up with a load.  The barrel length for the RUM calibers is 26" you can get a Rem CDL in 7mag with a 26" barrel  other wise the BDL model 7mag has a 24" barrel and I put a brake on my 300RUM with 90 plus gr of powder.

Nosler has some loading data for the 7RUM at around 77% load density and those are starting loads and I think you want to research those type loads but the recoil would more than likely be on the upper of what a 7mag would be.

My wife shot a 243 then moved up to a 270 now she shoots a ULA 280AI with a brake and that is her rifle, her 243 we got new in 1965 (we still have that rifle also the 270) and I've learned to get her "her " rifles.  I just had a 270WSM build that she may like as a back up rifle as we have a 8 day deer/elk hunt planned.

Well good luck

[corbanzo]

Yeah, the brake was going to go on there anyways.  I think I'm just gonna say screw it, and build a 7mm ultra mag... If it's a little too much for her.... OOPS!  I have another rifle

One other thing, has anyone noticed the "relative recoil" factors in ammo and ballistics #3?  It says the 7mm RUM has less relative recoil than the 30-06... even though it generates 15% more energy....  I guess they are talking about 7mm with 130 grainers and -06 with 180 grainers...