ProHunter 7mm Rem Mag at the Range

[acearch72]

I finally got a chance to go to the range with my new ProHunter 7mm RemMag this morning.  I've heard a lot of talk about break opens not being accurate, but that's not what I found with mine.  I was trying out several different load combinations to see what shot best.  After zeroing in I shot several different bullets with these results:

1st group of 160gr Barnes TSX CPC Custom Load for my Kleingunther  --  .75"

160gr Nosler Accubond in FedPrem --  2.125"

140gr Nosler Partition in FedPrem  --  .75"

154gr SST Hornady Custom  --   2 in same hole, 1 at 2.25" left

2nd group of 160gr Barnes TSX CPC Custom Load [5 shot group]  --  .625"

I measured c-c of holes, not edge to edge.

I plan to go with the 160gr Barnes TSX load.  It will give me the same load in both guns that I will take along, my 7mm RemMag Kleingunter and my new 7mm RemMag ProHunter.  Actually the ProHunter shoots better than my Kleingunther.

[Redhawk1]

Thanks for the report, always good to hear good reports.

[acearch72]

I was able to try out a few more different loads over the weekend with the 7mm Remmag ProHunter.  They included the 160gr Nosler Partition and the 162gr Hornady BTSP.  Each of these shot less than 1" also.  So far I have tried 6 different bullets/loads with this rifle and the only one that didn't shoot less than 1" was the 160gr Nosler Accubond in FedPrem.  And the real interesting part is that in addition to shooting good groups, the POI are all very close and not all over the paper.  I wouldn't feel bad about picking up any one of the loads that I tried and going hunting without any scope readjustment.  This is the 1st rifle that I have had that keeps a consistant POI with different bullet weights/loads.

I am definatley satisfied with my new purchase.  Can't wait to try it out in the upcoming deer season.

[shootdonniebrook]

I bought a 7 mm mag pro hunter in sept. Iv'e never owned this cal before and need some info on what ammo to shoot. I'll be useing it on whitetail in tennessee where most of my shots are under 100 yards. I like a bullet that opens up fast and drops them in their tracks. Iv'e been looking at the hornady 139 gr. sst heavy mag. And the barnes tripple shock by in the black hills gold line 140gr. How does the barnes tripple shock perform on deer size game? I dont reload, so Ive got to go with factory ammo

[acearch72]

shootdonniebrook:

This is my opinion, and I know it's not shared by others on this forum, but I only use premium bullets.  I personally don't like the Nosler Ballistic Tip or the Hornady SST because I feel they are too fragile, expecially at high velocity.  I have shot a 7mmRemMag for years, and always used the 160gr Nosler Partition in FedPrem.  The 1st 7mmMag I had was very picky.  I sent it to Kole Conely in Como, MS, and he developed a good load for me with the 160gr Barnes TSX.  That particular gun just will not shoot anything less than 160gr, period.  It seems that the ProHunter is not so picky as it seems to shoot everything pretty good.

I, like you, don't have time to reload.  I get CPC to load for me sometimes, but he's pretty busy and sometimes it takes a while to get your bullets.  I use him mostly for my 264 WinMag and not the 7mmMag. 

I just got in a box of the Black Hills Gold in the 140gr TSX.  I'm going to give them a try with the ProHunter on Friday if I can get to the range. 

My opinion is that if your gun will shoot the 140gr Barnes TSX that I would go that way.  Or the Nosler Partition as a 2nd choice.  If you like Hornady I would stay with the Interlock and not the SST for the 7mmMag.

But, as I said, that's my personal opinion.  I will say that several years back we lost several deer trying out the Nosler BTs in 7mmRemMag and 264 WinMag because of lack of penetration and no blood trail.  I try to shoot something that I know will give me full penetration and a blood trail if the animal doesn't go down immediately. 

There's been lots of threads on To BT or Not To BT on this forum, and I'm not trying to start another, it's just my opinion, correct non-the-less.

[Flyrod444]

I don't care for BT's either. I shot a deer 10 years ago with one and it had two entrance holes. Lucky for me one of the pieces hit the shouder and went up into the spine which dropped him is his tracts. It was a fairly open shot, but I must have hit a small twigg or blade of tall grass that caused the bullet to brake up before it even got to the deer. I have since swiched to partion and am very happy with them. I think one could shoot thru a small tree and still have one bullet hit a deer on the other side. I don't want to depand on luck when I pull the trigger.
Jack

[shootdonniebrook]

Let me know how those barnes TSX , shoot in your 7mm. Black Hills Gold list them at 3150 fps and 3084 energy @ the muzzle. Do you know  what type of entrance and exit holes I can expect out of the 140 gr. TSX Bullet? I like the front shoulder shot if at all possible, Didnt know what the bullet would do in that situation. If not there, the right behind the front shoulder. I like Large Bullet holes, the bigger, the better.

[acearch72]

The Barnes bullet, by its design, will not give you a big entrance or exit hole.  Entrance will be the diameter of the bullet.  Exit will be the size of the bullet expanded.  However, if you shoot a deer broadside in the front shoulder the Barnes bullet will break both shoulders before exiting the other side.  The deer will not move, only fall.

[cam69conv]

Well My reply here will most assuradly get smacked at but here it is anyway.....You are WAY overgunned for probably 75% of Tennessee hunting....I was born and Raised there and hunted all over the state with a lil old 30/30 for alot of years. If you are expecting big holes in a Tennessee deer then you need to go Big and Slow...Meaning a Larger diameter bullet at slower speeds...Tennessee Deer are smaller and 80% of the bullets out there in the Mags wont even begin to open up on them...They just blow through them like a hot knife through butter...Plus I have YET to see a 7mm mag perform well in brush...Which again is a LARGE portion of Tennessee hunting. VERY rarely was I over 100 Yards on a deer in Tennessee. My advise would be to save that 7mm mag for when you may get a chance to hunt a field that you may have to shoot 200+ yards on and go get you a good 30/30 or .444 or a good 30.06 ( excuse to get another gun!! aint I nice) On the 30.06 get 180 grainers....The 30/30 all the factory loades work well on deer and the .444 the Remington corelocts 240 grain work FANTASTICLY and you dont have to worry if there is a dern twig in the way!! Just my honest lil old opinion there shootdonniebrook .... Ok let the firefight begin 

[Redhawk1]

Plus I have YET to see a 7mm mag perform well in brush...Which again is a LARGE portion of Tennessee hunting. 

Brush has nothing to do with caliber choice. Peoples misconception of what is a brush gun kill me. A brush gun is one that has a short barrel and easy to maneuver in the thick brush. Most of the short brush gun were chambered in 30-30, 35 Rem, 444 Marlin, 45-70 etc. Also all the listed rounds work great on game. No bullet is brush proof or will cut through brush without any deflection. It does not matter what the bullet design is, even round nose bullets can be deflected by brush.

My whole thought on the topic is, shoot whatever makes you happy.

[cam69conv]

Well Redhawk, My "missconception" is based on EXPERIANCE in the heavy brush with these calibers. I shot at a Nice fat doe once with my .444 Was a quick shot....A 2 inch Sapling fell to one side...the doe fell to the other side. YET....Ive seen a tiney 1/16 inch limb deflect a 7mm mag bullet off target by 10 inches. There are all kinds of calculations for explaining this....But the easiest way is HEAVY will get you through the crap. All these super fast mag loads do Have thier place but in the timber at 100 yards or less is NOT one of them. Even your GUN MAKERS will tell you that....Now yes The shorter overall length is why they are called brush guns persay' but its also because of the CALIBERS that you see them in....You ever seen a 7mm mag BRUSH GUN? Wonder why not? Because they dont perform well in the brush is why!!!

[Keith L]

Sounds to me like you got lucky.  If you shoot lots in brush you will have more misses and poor hits than kills.  Redhawk is right on.  Even a little twig will deflect a big slug.

[shootdonniebrook]

cam69, Iv'e lived and hunted all my life here in east tennessee. I have always used my remington bdl in a 270 with a 130 gr. core-lok for deer hunting, that combo puts them right down.  I just wanted a 7mm to try something different. I dont ever recall shooting a deer over 100 yards it's just too thick, like you said. I'm just looking for a good factory ammo choice to try out in the mag. I love to eat deer meat, but I don't care if it blows a hole in it that you can stick your head in, I'm after the buck plain and simple, and I need him to drop where he stands, so the bullet that does the most damage is what I'm looking for.

[Redhawk1]

cam69conv, the reason there is really no short barreled "brush guns" chambered in 7mm Mag is because it is designed as a longer range round. But if someone wants to use one in brush, by all means go ahead.

I still have to disagree with you on your bullets and brush, but believe what you want.  There is not magic bullet that will go through brush without deflection.  As Keith L said, you got lucky.

I never shoot through brush, I always make sure I have a clear and un-obstructed shot at any game I intend to shoot. 

[acearch72]

My 7mm RemMag will kill a deer at 100 yds in the brush. 

Your 444 won't kill a deer over a bean field at 300 yards.

Good thing that sapling was there or you would have missed that doe.

[Keith L]

"I never shoot through brush, I always make sure I have a clear and un-obstructed shot at any game I intend to shoot."

We will be going out to trim the shooting lanes by our stands in a few days.  There is no future in shooting through the brush.

[TCBrian]

The Barnes bullet, by its design, will not give you a big entrance or exit hole.  Entrance will be the diameter of the bullet.  Exit will be the size of the bullet expanded.  However, if you shoot a deer broadside in the front shoulder the Barnes bullet will break both shoulders before exiting the other side.  The deer will not move, only fall.

I just shot a mule deer at 200 yrds a few weeks ago with a 180 grain barnes out of a 30-06. Like it is supposed to the barnes held together and excited but the exit hole was quite big and the wound channel was impressive. I didn't think the barnes would open like that, but it did. They have a hollow point for fast opening, but he bullet shuts down about halfway and holds together. I have used many bullet, this was the first deer I shot with a barnes and it was only because my 06 has been finicky lately and the 180 barnes was most accurate. The perfomance was actually a surprise to me. Very good bullet for sure.

Good hunting,
Brian

[acearch72]

shootdonniebrook:

I tried the Black Hill Gold 140gr TSX over the weekend.  They shot about 1" group.  2 touching and 1 about 1" away.  I also tried the Federal Premium 160gr TSX and they shot about 2".  Neither as good as the CPC 160gr TSX, but still acceptable.  Since I can't get up with CPC to load me some more, I am going with the Black Hill Gold 140gr TSX.

[acearch72]

Since I made the above range reports, I have noticed that the really good accuracry that I initially got with my ProHunter has "got up and gone."  It seems that almost anything that I shoot will not group any more, and as well the POI seems to move between 1st shots.  I have checked scope mounting and it's solid.  Tonight I checked the fore end screws and they were not really tight.  I could make several turns with a screwdriver on each screw.  This is my 1st Encore so I am quite a novice, so could some of you experts out there tell me if the fore end screws being somewhat loose would cause the problems that I am seeing.  Also, how tight are the fore end screws supposed to be?  If it's not the fore end screws, any suggestions as to what it could be?  I don't think it's the scope as it's a brand new Zeiss, but I know that stranger things have happened, but very unlikely.

Thanks in advance for the advice.