Anyone shoot a 7mm RUM?

[Rob]

Was talking to my dad last week and he has a 7mm RUM that he does not use much.  I plan to borrow it from him and play with some loads for it later this year.

I'd like to work up a longer range hunting load for it (For me, Long Range =  500 yard max shot on an animal, with 1,000 yard MOA accuracy on paper targets).

I believe the twist is 1:9.5 but not sure.

Anyone shoot one of these?  Any suggestions on bullets to try out?  (brand, weight, etc)

[h20hunter]

Tag

[HUNT]

I shoot a 7 RUM. 

I use the Barnes TTSX 150 G bullets.  They shoot Sub MOA and muzzle velocity at 3550 with hand loads using Alliant RL25 powder.  Its a flat shooter. 

My rifle is a Sendero.  What kind of rifle is your dads? 

I really like the round but it never seemed to catch on.

[Rob]

I am nearly positive that his is the Sendero.    It is a Rem 700 with a fluted heavy barrel.

He got it to shoot from deer stands down long fence lines in Texas.  Never really got it out much so it has been a safe queen for the past 10 years or so.  I offered to fix that for him!

150 seems like a light bullet.  but at 3.5K fps that would do a number at distance to your target!  I figured that folks would want to shoot the 160+ grain bullets with this one.

[HUNT]

I wanted a flat shooter.  With the Barnes TTSX great weight retention I figured it was the same as shooting a heavier bullet with less weight retention. 

Its put over 10 elk on the ground at distances up to 550 yards.  Never an issue.  Its all shot placement and a high quality bullet.

[Rob]

Makes perfect sense to me.  Shot placement is always more important.

Do you find the 150 grain bullets at that speed deal with wind well?

[DRobnsn]

I have one, nothing fancy just a sps with the plastic stock. Does have a Timney trigger though. I shoot the berger vld 168's using reloader 25 as well. If I remember correctly I'm at 3150fps with them, I can check when I get home tonight. Even being a cheap gun it still shoots under MOA.

[HUNT]

Makes perfect sense to me.  Shot placement is always more important.

Do you find the 150 grain bullets at that speed deal with wind well?

I haven't noticed any real issues with the wind that stick out.  I've only shot targets out to 600, but no tumbling of the bullets at that range.  But I haven't looked for them either. 

One thing I've heard about the 7 RUM - the hotter you load them the better they shoot.  Not sure why.  But it held true with my rifle as well. 

The TTSX bullets can be loaded hotter because of the 3 ring design.  It produces less pressure than a conventional bullet with the same powder charge.   

[carpsniperg2]

I had the same sendero in 7 RUM for a little bit. They are a nice rifle and one of the best older Remington's a guy can buy.  I just liked my 30 and 338's much better and traded or got rid of the mag 7's I had.

[Nimrod]

154 g hornady Interbonds 94 gr retumbo 215 federal mag primers... 3.65 oal

[Rob]

Thanks for the info on that load.

Folks seem to like those light bullets in this cartidge.  I would have thought that more folks would be taking advantage of the 160 to 170 grain bullets.

[longrange7mm]

I have had a couple and just Re-Barreled it into a 7mm LRM. I had a Christensen BBl on one and a Benchmark on the other both shot this load great <1/2 MOA @ 1000 I was using 180 gr bergers VLD's with 91 gr Retumbo and Fed 215 primers 

[DRobnsn]

Hey longrange, do you happen to know what speed you were getting out of those 180's with that load? Also what kind of life were you seeing from the brass.

[huntnphool]

The 168's work well.

[dr.derek]

I shoot one, bought it used and once I run out of ammo I am going to sell it or get into reloading. still have a good stash left before I do.