What grain would be best for Remington 7mm BDL?

[themixedgamebag]

I hunt in an area that affords me 1-300 yard shot apportunities at deer (most well under 100 yards) I would like to ensure accuracy and downrange knockdown on a deer. It is so thick from the clearcuts grwoing up, I would not want to track one far through the rough stuff it the energy of the bullet didn't do the job... :shock:  I am not very "up" on the bullet size and grain...any suggestions on what to use? I have been shooting the remington 175 grn.

[Zachary]

It is so thick from the clearcuts grwoing up, I would not want to track one far through the rough stuff it the energy of the bullet didn't do the job...

Well, first off, a faster bullet is NOT going to fair well through the "rough stuff."   In fact, a test was done recently where different cartridges were used.  Some people think that smaller, faster, ligher bullets are better through brush.  Others believe that bigger, slower, heavier are better.

Well guess what?  NOTHING is good through brush.  A 45/70 was used and it was just as bad as a .270 Winchester.  Oddly enough, the .338 WM came out with the best results - but even those were not great.

You say that you use a 175 grain bullet.  I guess the 7mm you are talking about is not the 7mm-08, but probably the 7mm Rem Mag (not the Ultra or Weatherby Mag).  In any event, my best advice is try to avoid the brush, and PLEASE don't think that a heavier bullet is better.

Zachary

[Ron T.]

I'd recommend the 140 grain Nosler Partition Bullet.  Regardless of the range to the game or the bullet velocity (within reason), this bullet will both open up/expand and penetrate deeply... and should leave you with a good blood trail that you can easily follow if the deer isn't knocked off his feet and killed instantly.

Good bullet construction is very important to you since you have the possibility of shooting at game at a great variation in range and, therefore, a great variation in bullet velocity.  With your Remington 7mm magnum, your bullet velocity at 60 yards would be very high while at 300 yards, your bullet velocity would be considerably lower.  Naturally, bullet velocity has a dramatic effect on bullet performance.

A bullet constructed to expand well at 300 yards (lower velocity) is not going to hold together at 60 yards (very high velocity) unless it is constructed in such a way that it will accommodate both extremes.

The Nosler Partition Bullet is such a bullet, I.E., it is designed with a "belt" inside the middle of the bullet effectively making the rear half of the bullet a “solid” that will drive deep into the vital areas without expanding while allowing the front half of the bullet to be constructed with a thinner jacket so that it will still expand well at lower velocities/longer ranges.  This is why the Nosler Partition Bullets are still one the most popular “premium bullets” made.

Heavier bullets, like the 175 grain Remington bullet you are shooting now are generally constructed using thicker bullet jackets than the lighter bullets in the same caliber... and are designed for larger, heavier game like elk, bear or moose.

Heavy bullet with heavy jackets often will not open up and expand very well on smaller, lighter-boned animals like deer or antelope.  When this happens, the bullet's wound channel is often only slightly larger than caliber-size and the bullet exits the animal on the off-side leaving only a caliber-sized hole which doesn't make for good blood trails.

If you’d prefer a heavier bullet, Nosler Partition Bullets in 7mm (.284”) also are available in 150 grain, 160 grain and 175 grain weights.

There are other well-designed premium bullets available, but I sincerely believe the Nosler Partition Bullet is still the preferred choice.

Good Hunting!

Ron T.

[longwinters]

You have some good advice given here by these guys.  I am new to shooting a 7mm Rem.  But have done alot of research on bullets etc... for the caliber.  I really dont think you can go wrong with the 140 or 150 Nosler partition.  But I would not shy away from their Ballistic Tip either. I have had excellent results for several years shooting the various ballistic tip type bullets out of my 30-06.  I also think you may get a better blood trail with the BT.  That being said . . . the Nosler Partition IS the standard for premium bullets.  See which one shoots best out of your gun and have at it.

[Graybeard]

First off let me say I don't own a magnum rifle, did once, a .300 Win. mag. Won't ever again. I have no need for one. If a .30-06 or 7-08 won't do the job then I've not done mine. Bare in mind I don't hunt in Africa or Alaska and likely never will. But for anything up to elk or moose or black bear the '06 is more than adequate.

Now I look at magums much differently than most as a result of my lack of appreciation of them. I see them not as a means of pushing a light pill at super fast velocity that will tear apart all but the most premium of bullets. Instead I see them as a vehicle to push a heavy for caliber bullet to the speeds the .30-06 or .270 Win. push their bullets.

So for a 7 mag. I'd chose either a 160 grain for an all round bullet or maybe a 175 if I was after the real big stuff with it. For a .300 mag I'd start and likely end at the 200 grain weight. Just the way I think. Don't make it right or wrong just my way of looking at it.

GB

[jhm]

Mixedgame:  Under the reloading section there is some excellent posts on the 7mm mag. that you may be interested in:  But like some others I used the 160 gr. as my bullet of choice in the 7 mag. it never failed me or any of the gentelmen I was priveledged to hunt with.   JIM

[Carl l.]

I have been watching this site for awhile and I thing everybody tries to help others out so I became a member. This is my first post so bear with me. On the 7mm which bullet is the best is a good question. I have found out over the years there is no set bullet for each cal. I have a Rem.7mm BDL and I have hand loaded all bullets for it My 7mm handles the Serria 160 gr BT's with 60 gr of 4350 powder the best. I can hold 3/8" groups at 100 yd's. I couldn't get the Nosler 160 gr to group 1" at 100 yd's. Your gun might handle them ok. My advice is to try different bullets with different grains of powder and see which shoots the best in your gun. I like to have an acurate load and maybe I can miss the brush. ( sometimes )

[Zachary]

Welcome Carl!

I just wanted to mention, to all, that I think that you guys may have overlooked a very important point from the original post.  Specifically, everyone wants to talk about what is the best bullet weight for the 7mm Rem Mag, but they key question was contingent upon and involved shooting through brush.  

Am I reading the original post wrong? :oops:   Please tell me that none of you advocate shooting through brush - regardless of the bullet weight.


Zachary

[savageT]

I hunt in an area that affords me 1-300 yard shot apportunities at deer (most well under 100 yards) I would like to ensure accuracy and downrange knockdown on a deer. It is so thick from the clearcuts grwoing up, I would not want to track one far through the rough stuff it the energy of the bullet didn't do the job... :shock:  I am not very "up" on the bullet size and grain...any suggestions on what to use? I have been shooting the remington 175 grn.

Hey Guys!
Has anyone else thought about this?  What if our new member is NOT a handloader?  What are the choices for him if he is limited to factory ammo only?

[acearch72]

I us'ta handload for my 7mm Kliengunther and got 1/2" 5 shot groups consistently.

Then I got to busy to handload so I tried the 160gr. Nosler Partition in Federal Premium.  Guess what?  Still shoot 1/2" groups consistently.

But as one of the other posters noted, not every gun shoot every bullet the same, so do some experimenting to get the best load.

[jhm]

Zachary and SavageT:  I read it as though he didnt want to go into the thick brush after he shot it in the (clearcuts) not thru the thick brush, and if not a reloader I cant answer his question as I never shot any factory ammo thru my 7mag but if I was forced to I would go with the 150 or the 175 that I believe rem. manu. and sells.  And no I dont advocate shooting thru brush not a vary good idea never has been proved that a particular round is going to do what you want.   JIM

[longwinters]

I agree with JHM/  I figured mixedbag was hunting in brush . . . not trying to shoot thru (ie bust thru) brush.  No one should ever attempt such an unethical method of hunting.  I guess I just never figured anyone on here would go that route. :eek:  But Zachery . . . your point is well taken.  If we are talking about ,good shooting,  factory bullets I would still give the ballistic tip (maybe a Winchester ballistic tip supreme) a try.  I am able to keep my shots inside 1" @ 100 and the bullet has a good record with me in other calibers for putting game down fast.