7 MM Mag, What is a good all around grain to start with?

Joe.G

FNG
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Jun 19, 2025
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Hi, I have a new to me Savage 110 in 7 MM , I would like to get it sighted in and was wondering what would be a good round to start off with, Rifle would be used for Deer/Bear in the 300 and under yardage. I know it is what the rifle likes but Iam looking to grab a couple boxes to get started.

Thanks
 
Hi, I have a new to me Savage 110 in 7 MM , I would like to get it sighted in and was wondering what would be a good round to start off with, Rifle would be used for Deer/Bear in the 300 and under yardage. I know it is what the rifle likes but Iam looking to grab a couple boxes to get started.

Thanks
What’s the twist in your barrel? Know that will tell you your max.

140-160 grain projectiles will work nicely for your quandary.
 
When I was 12, I bought a used 7 Mag for deer hunting. I was using Remington core lokt ammo, 150gr if I recall. It shot great, but it really destroyed a lot of meat at the under 125 yard ranges that I was using it. I would have been better served with a mono metal like a Barnes TSX. This in the early 1990’s and I didn’t know what was what anyway.
 
Honestly I don't know much about the 7 MM Mag, wasn't really in the market for one but sometimes you come home with things you weren't in the market for. I have not done a lot of research on the round. I will research the barrel twist. I was thinking the 150/160 range is what I would like to try.
 
Anywhere from the 140's to 175's, just pick a few boxes of premium brands, different weights, different bullet types, see what your gun likes.
One shot, one kill from a cold barrel,. Unless you are shooting at phenomenal ranges, don't worry as much about groups as what you will do with a cold barrel and one shot. 3 shot groups are fine for me, I'm not trying to shoot 1,000 yards.
 
Slight thread drift.....I've got a Douglas barrel on mine actually not sure of twist. When I was crazy into reloading mine shot everything from 115 -160 extremely well. 7mag is a great round.
 
I have yet to have a 160 gr bullet bounce off of anything. It has been my all around bullet in an all around cartridge fired in an all around rifle. Easily the one combination if I had to only have one hunting rifle.

There’s nothing wrong with any of the different weights though. A 140 gr still hits harder than anything out of a 270 and has a nice flat trajectory for most practical distances, and 175 gr has a great reputation for deep penetration. One close friend shoots antelope with 140s, deer with 160s and elk with 175s.

I used to penetration test all my bullets and 160s and 175s weren’t very far apart so I stopped loading the heavier one altogether back a few decades.
 
300 yards and under out of a 7RM? I would shoot Remington Cor locts, or Federal powershock.

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