anyone have experience with 7mm LRM

[kupper]

As the title suggests I'd be grateful if anyone had experience with the 7mm LRM that they would be willing to share. The amount of useful information Ive been able to pull up so far has been sparse. I'd like to know how finicky they are with seating depth, achievable velocity, pet loads, and how easy it is to get components through gunworks. I am looking to to build a 284 of some sort with the hopes of using 180 hybrids or 195 bergers for long range shots out to 1000 yards. the build will be on a blue printed rem 700 action with a 28in 1:8 brux number 5 contour, McMillian game scout, trigger tech, and holland 3 port break. I have a 6.5x284 norma im running now with the same components but want to have the option to reach out a little further with a little more authority. Ive narrowed it down to a 7mm LRM, 7mm saum, or 7-300. any insight would be greatly appreciated, thanks for your time!

 

[FURMAN]

I think the 7 SAUM is an awesome benchrest/fclass round but I believe there are better long range hunting cartridges unless you are set on a short action. I have two buddies who have 7 LRMs. Components have not been an issue yet. I think the brass leaves a lot to be desired. My 7-300 is very easy, uses 300 win mag bushing dies, has lots of brass options, and yields more speed than the LRM. Of the three I would pick the 7-300 Win for sure.

 

[Fire_9]

Of those three 7-300 hands down. You will have no problem at all pushing a 180 at 3000+, .300 brass is easy to come by, and the brass is easy to form. Second choice would be the 7 SAUM on a long action. Correct me if I'm wrong but you have to go with a gunwerks rifle if you want the LRM? If that's the case I would avoid the LRM like the plague. You could have a reputable smith build whatever you want for almost half the cost of their LR1000...

 

[kupper]

I'd go 28 nosler but I don't want to deal with the added recoil. My smith has the reamer for 7mm LRM, I'm not willing to shell out the coin gunwerks wants for their rifles. I heard the brass had inconsistent necks and that the issue was solved? The only thing that was holding me back from the 7-300 is the neck, I feel like it might be picky in seating depth but I haven't looked into it all that much to be honest. Thanks for all the insight so far!

 

[Fire_9]

Why do you think it would be picky in seating depth?

 

[c-ne-elk]

I have 2 -7 LRM's.my first was made by Matt Spoon and the second is a Gunwerks MtnX rifle. I also have 2 buddies that have Spoon 7 LRM's. All the Spoons are built on Remington actions with 1-8 #5 contours and all including the Gunwerks shoot lights out using 180 grain Bergers right around 3000 fps. I had no issues in getting my Gunwerks rifle in the 6 months they told me I would get it in. I did not have them build my turret or collect load data. I did that myself.
We get about 5 loads out of a piece of brass before the primer pockets get loose, can usually get a 6th load out of them but it gets tricky at that point.
We have all had our rifles about 3 years now. No issues with them nor were they finicky to load for.
If I were going to do it all over today, I think that I would look at building a 7 RUM though. (Not a short)It will shoot the Berger 195's at the same speed a 7 LRM shoots a 180. Much more recoil in the RUM though.
I have shot a little over 1500 rounds down the tube of my original Spoon 7 LRM and have no signs of any throat wear.
Brass is easy to obtain from Gunwerks at a modest price.
We have not regretted going to this caliber.

 

[FURMAN]

The 7-300 will push a 180 hybrid to 3200 with a 28" barrel but accuracy seems to be around 3150. If building the rifle yourself I would go 7-300 if buying one off the shelf I would go 28 Nosler. You can get a 7LRM reamer and have anyone build it but, as stated, I would go a different route. The short neck does not make it picky it just doesn't allow a lot of adjustment if you need it. I have never seen Bergers be picky, obviously others have stated otherwise.

 

[Mtnman84]

I built an lrm and couldn't be happier I am running a 28 pac nor in a 5 contour and am getting 3160 with sub half minute accuracy. I am shooting the 180 hybrids at a ten thousands jump you might be able to get more performance out of a larger cartridge and the 28 nosler would be my second pick to shoot the 195 s. I doubt you would be disappointed with the lrm great performance for a few more grains of powder than a 7 rem mag

 

[Schnee's]

As the title suggests I'd be grateful if anyone had experience with the 7mm LRM...

I have shot one a handful of times. Nice round, but to much work and cost to me imo. I am building a new rifle in 7mmRM. It can do everything I want and can shoot 180's at 1000+ yards easily. Plus, I can easily buy ammo in a pinch when I'm in the middle of nowhere out here in Montana.

If you really don't want to go 7RM and had to pick between the rounds mentioned, I'd go 7-300 purely for brass availability.


Matt

 

[kupper]

I ended up going with the LRM for a couple reasons. The first and most important was my smith already had the reamer and has experience building them. the second reason is I want to have it throated for 195's and still have enough neck to shoot the 180's without having to worry about tension issues. I have already ordered dies and brass from gunwerks and while i'm not thrilled about hornady brass its probably the only items gunwerks has for a halfway reasonable price. I don't doubt that other 7's will out perform it but for the powder capacity its very efficient and should be low recoil/better barrel life. I always cuss when I read these threads where everyone offers great advice and the original poster seems to never listen, and now here I am doing the same thing. I really do appreciate everyone's advice and I may just have to build another 7 to add to the stable in the future.

 

[FURMAN]

Although it would not have been the route I would have chosen I have little doubt you will love it. Let us know how it shoots when it's complete.

 

[mkollman74]

I ended up going with the LRM for a couple reasons. The first and most important was my smith already had the reamer and has experience building them. the second reason is I want to have it throated for 195's and still have enough neck to shoot the 180's without having to worry about tension issues. I have already ordered dies and brass from gunwerks and while i'm not thrilled about hornady brass its probably the only items gunwerks has for a halfway reasonable price. I don't doubt that other 7's will out perform it but for the powder capacity its very efficient and should be low recoil/better barrel life. I always cuss when I read these threads where everyone offers great advice and the original poster seems to never listen, and now here I am doing the same thing. I really do appreciate everyone's advice and I may just have to build another 7 to add to the stable in the future.

I think you'll like it. I just had one built my my 'smith this hunting season as well. I did load development for the 195s with H1000 and was able to get them to 3000 fps, but the load was a bit hot for my liking. I backed it down to 2940-ish, and have excellent accuracy with it out to 900 yards so far. I am talking witnessed routine hits on a 5" flapper at 900 yards from prone off a bipod laying on the side of a hill. In other words, actual field conditions. She's a real wind cheater too. Unfortunately for me, she went the whole hunting season without being fired at a critter...

 

[kupper]

well that's good to hear! I would have sure liked to have something a little larger than my 6.5x284 this year. Ended up taking my muley at 837 and required a follow up shot at 875. It was flat out too far for that round and I should have known better. On a brighter note, my action should be here in the next week or two. I switched up this build a bit because I'm an impatient person. I couldn't find a used stainless 700 in a mag so i just ordered up a blue printed 700 from NW action works with a fluted bolt, tactical bolt nob install, and pinned recoil lug. I think it only ran me just over $800 including the work done to it. it doesn't come with bottom metal but a Wyatt's box will take care of that and give me plenty of clearance. I also went a different route with the barrel because I found a number 5 contour bartlein with a 5r 1-8twist, this will be my first bartlein barrel but I've heard good things. I'm still up in the air about throating it for 180 hybrids or 195's but leaning more towards the 180's and wanting to push them at around 3050. Running my made up numbers the 180 wouldn't be over taken until its out far past my shooting ability.