7 Rem mag or 7 PRC

[RidgeReaper3]

If I was going to shoot Bergers in a 7mm it would 168 VLDs which you could shoot out of any 7mm RM. Based on my research the 180 ELDM is amongst the best of the best killing bullets out there.

I'm a fan of Browning rifles. They have their shortcomings but it would be my runner up to Tikka for a factory rifle.

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Good to know on the 180 ELDMs, I will definitely be giving them a try. Tikka was next on my list. The only reason I have leaned towards the browning is the twist rate and the 26" barrel. Wish browning had the action/aftermarket support that tikka has.

 

[TaperPin]

I like the 7 rem mag so much I couldn’t imagine switching to a cartridge that doesn’t do anything special. Even with a bare bones old school 160 gr Accubond, old school 7 mag shoots quite fine to 600. I reload, but am content with 160s. I think a lot of guys are pulled into the PRC marketing by focusing on ballistic charts. Normal 1:9 twist shoots many 175’s just fine, so the benefit of heavier PRC bullets is marginal.

 

[RidgeReaper3]

The real question is do you want to handload everything or do you want the option to use box ammo in addition to handloading. There are no heavy factory ammo loads for the 7mm RM. If you are handload only, the 2 cartridges are about a wash with speed variations that are generally in the realm of barrel speed differences.

The real question is do you want to handload everything or do you want the option to use box ammo in addition to handloading. There are no heavy factory ammo loads for the 7mm RM. If you are handload only, the 2 cartridges are about a wash with speed variations that are generally in the realm of barrel speed differences.

Jay

With the 1/8 I can shoot all the factory loads offered for the 7 Rm between 162g-175g. For 180s I can shoot HSM trophy gold, choice/Copper creek if desired. Everyone purchasing a 7 prc will be searching for the same 175g factory ammunition, which could easily lead to having to reload the 7 prc regardless if I want to or not. Based off the results I found the 7 prc shooting the Hornady factory 175 eldx loads are right around +/- 2,890 fps. Which is almost identical to the 7 rm federal 168g Berger hybrid factory loads (2870). There are 5 factory loads I know of that have 7 RM just in 175 alone excluding all the 168s. Which I believe the 7 prc has total of six the 175s.

 

[406RoadToad]

Surprised nobody has mentioned the new 7 Backcountry yet.. wonder if that’s a glimpse into its future as a viable cartridge or not.

 

[LightFoot]

I have a 7 PRC and if I had it to do again… I’d get a 7mm Rem 1/8 twist.

Hornady factory ammo sucks for 7PRC.


>>>——JAKE——>

 

[menhaden_man]

Great information, I have really enjoyed the browning rifles. I am leaning towards the 7 RM and reloading. Any recommendations on brass/powders to start with? Have heard good things about the H1000 with 168s but not much on the 180s. Read federal brass is good for the 7 Rms as well.

I was using whatever I could find in 2020 so have gone through a bunch of different loads. H1000, H4831sc, and Retumbo are all good options and temp stable. Funny enough one overlooked one is IMR 4350.

Shot a lot of PPU brass which is pretty solid for the price, but after moving to Peterson I get better consistency. You can grab 2 boxes from Graf’s and shoot/reload/track firings pretty easy. I finally got into annealing - can’t say I notice much in accuracy but pretty confident you’ll get more life.

I had a Retumbo load with 180s pushing over 3,100 fps, but started seeing pressure signs and that brass started splitting around 5-6 firings. Supposedly the Peterson brass can get to 20 firings if you don’t hot rod and anneal.

I have a spreadsheet with maybe 150 loads (3 to 5 shot groups) where I was fiddling around with seating depth, primers, powders, bullets, brass, etc. I can send it on PM if you’d like to check it out. Shit is worse than Kokanee fishing.

All told, I think what the Hornady podcast and others say on here is about right - a good powder and bullet combo should outweigh all the other stuff you can mess with.

 

[menhaden_man]

Surprised nobody has mentioned the new 7 Backcountry yet.. wonder if that’s a glimpse into its future as a viable cartridge or not.

I’ll pass on 12 passes through the reloading die. Wager you’ll find 7 BC parked to other classic ideas like this one in less than 5 years. Sometimes they take a good idea a few steps too far.

Unless they get some handout $$$ from Uncle Sam of course.