7mm Rem Mag Memorial Build

[Titanium700]

Looks like a stinking ICBM.

lol

Nice build and love those velocities.

[clartro]

Awesome build, wish I had a rifle of my grandfathers to do the same with. Thanks for sharing the info, I've just finished putting together my first long range build in 7RM as well topped off with a vortex PST. I haven't shot it much but am pleased with the results so far. I am going to pick up some 180 vlds to try now. I have been shooting the 168 with great success so far and can't wait to see how the 180's will stabilize but mine is the 1 in 9.25 so I'm guessing the 168's will be better.

[CraigK]

I just noticed looking back at your ladder test the "disregard the 20 warm up shots" from your 6.5 at 300 yards... That's pretty incredible!! Not to take away from the 7 mag highlight but holy cow!! Nice shooting.

[lancetkenyon]

I got out to test the 183 SMKs this weekend. Nothing spectacular, but not too shabby either. .54" to .68" groups with every load I tried, so some potential. Good speeds too. I have a meplat trimmer on the way, so it will be interesting to see how they open up once I find out how far back I need to trim them.

 

Setting up @ 100 to test.

 

 

Loads ready to test. The L to R differences was me dialing to try and center my temp scope.

 

 

 

 

 

[CraigK]

Thanks for sharing. Good groups with some great velocities! Just curious what will opening up the meplat do?

[lancetkenyon]

Trimming the meplat would do couple things.

 

First and foremost, when you trim all of the bullets to have the same ogive to meplat length, you are trueing the Ballistic Coefficient. You lose about 2% of BC, but at distance (800+), a true BC across all bullets will help minimize different drops due to that variation. It doesn't make a huge difference, about 1/4moa of drop @ 800 yards. But think of it this way, at 800 yards, you are looking at about 2". At 1000, 2.5". That is just due to the loss in BC. Add to that difference, if you have bullets that have different BCs by 3% due to different lengths, meplat differences, meplats that are deformed, etc., you could be talking 5" difference in drops at 1000 yards easily. To eliminate that variation is a huge bonus in accuracy before any other factor is considered. Also, having a trued up point f the bullet might help with drift a bit, and it sure can't hut accuracy having every bullet with the same meplat either.

 

Second, it allows a slightly larger (maybe going from .002" to .007") hollow point to help in expansion on game. I have used the .264" (6.5mm) 142 SMK on coyotes, and they have the same pointed meplat as the .284 (7mm) 183 SMK, and the .308" 210 SMK as well, and the 142s put a hurting on coyotes. So I do not know if the meplat needs trimmed for hunting purposes, but it won't hurt.

 

I have used SMKs on many animals with fantastic results. I know Sierra states they are "not intended for hunting", but they work. From the .224" 69 SMK on coyotes/javelina/rabbits/mule deer doe (I have given some out to numerous people with kids hunting with a .223), to a .257" 100SMK on javelina/mule deer (several)/coyote @ 1327 yards, .264" 142 SMK on coyotes, .308" 175 SMK on bull elk, .308" 210 SMK on coyotes. All were DRT.

[CraigK]

Thanks for the explanation and for sharing your knowledge. Always enjoy reading your posts.

[lancetkenyon]

I think I finalized my loads finally. Went out today with the new S&B 3-20x50 mounted up, sighted it in very easily as tracking is perfect. I only shot at 200 today, but I think I am good on load development (except I might be getting some 175 NABLRs to try out too).

 

Brown Santa brought me a present this week.

 

 

Locking turrets, especially windage, will be nice on a hunting rig that rides in a pack a lot.

 

Mounted up in Badger Ordinance "Max 50" rings on a Seekins 20MOA Picatinny rail, Vortex Lowpro level, & Tenebraex covers

 

Shooting at 200 yards today

 

These are the 180 Hybrids @ 2975fps, 1" orange dot, so about 3/4" 3 shot group, or about .375moa. (These were targets left by the previous shooter, so the black dot is not covering my shot).

 

These are the 183 SMKs at 2975fps and 180 Hybrid light loads at 2860fps for my kids to shoot. I shot these two groups about 2 hours apart, but pretty similar results. Not exactly sure why they are stringing a bit, but both groups do it. Not bad @ 200, about 3/4" group, or .375MOA.

 

 

Got home and took a couple family photos. Front to Back: 7Rem Mag, .25-06 AI, 6.5 SLR, .300RUM.

 

L-R: 6.5 SLR w. 140 HVLD, .25-06 AI w. 115 HVLD, 7Rem Mag w. 183 SMK, .300RUM w. 215 Hybrid

[mattys281]

Thats some pretty fancy hardware. Whats your home security system like?

[lancetkenyon]

A gun safe, 4 mean butt dogs, a wife with a .45ACP, the nosiest neighbor you will ever meet who never leaves her property, and a very fast response time by the PD.....after they hear shots fired.

[lancetkenyon]

Pretty much refined my loads. I only have photos of the 183 SMK load, but it should work fine. The 180 Hybrid actually shoos just about the same.

 

183 SMK @ 2985

[452b264]

What color (exactly) is the cerakote on the 7 mm? I am about to re-barrel my rifle and cant make up my mind to try and get the action color to match the SS barrel or go all black.

[lancetkenyon]

Cerakote Armor Black. A true flat black. Almost looks like an old blackboard color.

[lancetkenyon]

Sneak peak to lighten it up by a full pound.

 

[Big or Bust]

Manners makes a nice stock...