ISO 7WSM owners to answer some questions

[Tahoe1305]

Folks

Just ordered a 7WSM barrel for a savage SA. Curious if there are any other folks out there who load or shoot 7 WSM that I may PM to get some info on.

Specifically looking for data in regards to performance with 150-162 class bullets loaded to under 2.95”. I plan on using RL26 and have a 23” barrel on order.

I know many will say I should have got the SAUM or something else. I appreciate that, but my research at least showed the WSM would outperform by just a tad and I don’t mind Hornady/ Winchester brass and both were available when SAUM brass was not at the time of ordering and I don’t feel like going full Wildcat with the amount of shooting I do (and I like having a small amount of cheaper factory ammo options).

Appreciate the help in advance.

 

[rootacres]

I too ordered a 7mm wsm barrel and am putting together a build. I was looking at H1000 and RL26. Id be curious to hear what info you received. Ill probably end up using a 168gr or 175gr projectile if they shoot well.

 

[Tahoe1305]

I’ve been doing the same on a few other forums. I’ll copy and paste what some other folks are providing if that helps. Curious to hear more about your build too.

I have a 23” Carbon6 CF barrel and a XLR magnesium element chassis with smoke composite butt stock on the way. It’s on a savage SA, just because I had an older 308 I wanted to breathe some life into...I’m not the biggest savage fan but being able to barrel nut on a barrel is appealing. Goals are sub 7lb (8.5 full up) naked with folding stock that can push 162gr about 3100fps and about .5MOA.

—————

27" barrel, Copper Creek 162gr AMax 3095fps

25" Bartlein bbl. 69.0gr RE26 will shoot 3,100 ft/sec with all 160-162gr

24” custom barrel that with Fed 215 primers and Win brass push 150 gr Hammers out at 3350 fps with 71 gr RL 26 for one hole 5 shot groups

—————

 

[lyle_destroys]

Did you guys build off of large or small shank actions?

 

[Tahoe1305]

Still building (just ordered parts...4 month wait now) but small shank for me.

 

[vermeire]

I've got a Bansner built on a Model 7 under my bed; it was my dads. I've never shot it. I know it was delivered with a load but have no clue what it was. I'm commenting mainly to follow the thread. It's nice to see a discussion on the 7WSM; it doesn't come up very often compared to the 270 or 300.

 

[kevlar88]

I reload for a 7wsm. I really don't like the gun too much (a Winchester coyote) but I love the caliber so much I can't seem to part with it. Unfortunately I will be in Germany for the next 3 months and won't have any of my load data available to me until then. One mistake I did make was to push 120 gr SSTs to 3500+ fps. It was very accurate but wasn't thinking at the time that the SST is way to soft of a bullet for those speeds. It pretty much exploded on impact and made for about a 400 yard track job on a small Texas white tail doe. Needless to say I didn't make that mistake again.

Now you have me looking for a new stock for the rifle to hopefully give it a new lease on life.

 

[Jonoton]

Hi,

I think I see one of my data points in there (the 27" w/ CC 162gr AMax)

My reloading for it is limited to 143gr HH:
66gr Re22
3290 fps, 3294, 3280 @ 43* F
That was the charge I picked in order to have plenty of safety margin on HOT days:

65.9gr Re22
3351 fps @ 95* F (load workup day)
Got to 3425 fps and stopped with ejector swipe and the start of bolt lift resistance

Note that 143gr HH weigh 145.5gr on the nose across the 10 i weighed.


Edit: I do seem to have a fast barrel, but Re22 might have be able to provide the speed of 26 at lower charge weights at least in my rifle. Id sure like to try some 26!

 

[Tahoe1305]

Those hammers sure do move. I wish they didn’t cost a buck a pop!

I’m going to try the 155(157 actual) I think when the rifle gets built up. I’ll start there and then with with 150 ELDX and 162 ELDX. I think with these shorter bullets it will mitigate the magazine restrictions and bullet jump that many say are the weakness of the 7 WSM. If I can push a 150-160 class bullet 3050-3200 it will nearly match ballistics if the 180s out to 1k.....past that the 180s do a bit better but I’m not much on target shooting and by no means plan to hunt much past 500yds or so.

I snagged 4lbs if RL26 last week when powder valley had it in stock for 3 minutes.....

 

[Axlrod]

Those hammers sure do move. I wish they didn’t cost a buck a pop!

I’m going to try the 155(157 actual) I think when the rifle gets built up. I’ll start there and then with with 150 ELDX and 162 ELDX. I think with these shorter bullets it will mitigate the magazine restrictions and bullet jump that many say are the weakness of the 7 WSM. If I can push a 150-160 class bullet 3050-3200 it will nearly match ballistics if the 180s out to 1k.....past that the 180s do a bit better but I’m not much on target shooting and by no means plan to hunt much past 500yds or so.

I snagged 4lbs if RL26 last week when powder valley had it in stock for 3 minutes.....

The Hammers are very easy to get shooting well, so the cost is not as high. If you email or call and talk to Steve, the owner, he will give you some load suggestions. I have worked up loads with hammers in 8 different rifles and they are very accurate with very little trouble. The 155's Hammer recommends a 1-8.75" twist barrel or faster.
I had a factory 7wsm and a custom one some years ago. I was using R25 and H4831sc with good results, but I think you will probably like R26. I sold both of mine because brass was difficult to get. The 7wsm was my favorite of all the wsm's.
Here is some older data on the 7wsm from Accurate shooter:

7mm Cartridge Guide

Most complete 7mm precision shooting page. Info for 7mm cartridge gun shooters. Brass bullet primer powder 7mm data for .284 winchester, 284 win, 7mm S.A. Ultra Mag, 7 SAUM and 7 WSM. 7mm rifles from Remington and Browning. BOSS tuner, Winchester, Remington, Norma and Lapua brass. Hunting...

www.6mmbr.com

 

[Jonoton]

I view the bullet cost as mitigated by the ease of load development, as well as me not being a target shooter. Less material cost in powder, rifle wear, and time etc.
At 184 yards, all 7 of my work-up shots excluding the clean cold bore shot printed within 1.5 inches of each other, and then the two 3 shot groups I shot for accuracy were both well under MOA. Dead elk with the next one. They wouldn't be my choice for competition, but for hunting I think they are a no-brainer solution ill stick with.

 

[Tahoe1305]

Sounds good to me. I’ll have to give him a call my twist is 1:9 but I’m guessing with them coming out at the “faster” speeds the slightly slower twist rate may be mitigated. I’m sure they will fly fine.

 

[Tahoe1305]

Dropping over some more stuff from other forums:

-143 Hammers with 72.0 RE26 at 3,350 ft/sec 215 primers, 25” barrel 2.350" CBTO (my math puts it about 3” OAL, someone can back me up if they like)

As expected RL26 moves them along well.