Thread: Cartridge advice 2.0 - the 7mm version

Originally Posted by tnankie

Hey peeps a I posted a thread a while back asking for some cartridge advice (https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....estions-77490/). Got a lot of great responses and food for thought. After spending some time with a ballistic calculator I settled on the moderate-high powered 7mm's, 7mm WSM, 280 AI, 7mm Rem Mag. I prefer the WSM and AI to the Mag, as they burn a bit less powder for similar results. I prefer the aesthetics of the WSM case to the AI, I think those short fat rounds just look hilarious. But I also don't think any of these reasons are sufficient to pick one cartridge over another. I had also considered a 7mm 300 WSM, for better brass availability but I think that would mean a custom rifle build which I'm not ready for yet. Also I'm not sure how advanced down sizing brass necks is on ones reloading journey. Not interested in the 7mm RUM.

After looking at factory ammunition availability and options I've come to the conclusion I'll probably have to start reloading eventually. So...is one of these cartridges going to be better for a novice hand loader? Is there going to be better availability of brass for one of these? I get the feeling poking around the internet that the WSM is on the way out, so long term brass availability could be a problem? There does seem to be broader factory rifle availability in the Mag. Does a belted cartridge introduce any complications? Is there some subtly that I've missed by only looking at the ballistics? I do appreciate the long action/short action difference, likewise magazine capacity.

Whole lot of questions I know, so thanks for any time/thoughts you can share.

P.S. my approach on the ballistics was to beat the 6.5 CR by at least 20% on range the projectile drops below 1800fps, 20% less drop at 500m and have 20% less wind deflection at 500m. So I am aiming to push a 139gr Mono at ~3100fps, according to the Barnes load data this is achievable with all the cartridges I've mentioned. I'll probably also develop a load for distant steel using something heavier with a lead core.

Honestly sounds like you been reading on the internet.

Forget barns bullets if you want to beat the wind (forget drop if your dialing it dosnt matter) they have the bc of a brick

A sleek high bc bullet at medium speed will smoke a fast light bullet everytime.

7rm will do everything with 162eldm or x and is easy to shoot i had one with 20" barrel and dpt can was great all rounder.