Triple shock, swift scirroco, swift A-Frame, trophy bonded bear claws, are all choices for guaranteed high speed short range performance on anything in North America out of a 7mm mag. If you can find any of these that give you the accuracy you're looking for out of your rifle, shoot them.

nosler partition (I'd suggest 160 grain) is a fantastic all around choice (accubond is probably another good choice, but I have only shot them in 140 gr for deer so limited experience)

obviously just my opinion only....but based on actual hunting experience

 

Triple shock, swift scirroco, swift A-Frame, trophy bonded bear claws, are all choices for guaranteed high speed short range performance on anything in North America out of a 7mm mag. If you can fin any of these that give you the accuracy you're looking for out of your rifle, shoot them.

nosler partition (I'd suggest 160 grain) is a fantastic all around choice (accubond is probably another good choice, but I have only shot them in 140 gr for deer so limited experience)

obviously just my opinion only....but based on actual hunting experience

Of the bullets mentioned I've not worked with Swift A-frame or TBBC but they are held in high regard - Elk seem to be the "testing ground" that bullets get judged by on game, with good reason I'd say - Nosler Partitions and Accubonds are purpose built to stay together in impact, they do that well - Barnes Triple Shock TSX, TIPPED Triple Shock TTSX are also well designed bullets and I doubt you will EVER hear of one fragmenting or not expanding unless it was recovered from a dead elk to examine - Hornady ELD X bullets seem to be "all the rage" these days but that's mostly with the long range crowd so you've already dismissed that "need" and I'd personally take a Hornady Interbond over the ELD X every single time I could

Not meaning to start the "common argument" over "lead vs. all copper" but since you are starting from scratch it might as well be mentioned - You didn't say whether or not you handload but I'm assuming you do, you might give Nosler etips, Hornady GMX, along with the Barnes a try since there "may" be other benefits to using all copper in the future anyway, I like TSX's personally because they seem easier to work with (IMO)

 

No, I don't reload yet (I have equipment but haven't had time to learn to use it yet). I'm mainly looking for factory loads. I was hoping to hear that the Barnes VOR-TX or Hornady Precision Hunter would fit the bill.

Unfortunately, I understand that this caliber isn't the right tool for the job when it comes to short range hunting. I tend to spend half my time hiking through the woods and the other half sitting on meadows or clear-cuts. A good woods gun isn't ideal at 300 yards, and vice-versa.


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the precision hunter shoots well in my 7rem mag, but seems to be a little bit messy, if you care. I went to barnes and like everything about it, pretty much the perfect bullet in the 7rem mag for what I do.

I think the Hornady is worth a test if you don't mind a big exit hole at close range. i'm sure they will reliably perform, but I like a tougher bullet for less mess

 

I would second the Nosler partitions.

 

I like what Winmag said. My top choices in bullets would be the A-Frame and Partition, 160 gr. Overkill for deer, just right for elk.



You've got a considerable amount of time between now and next summer to set up your reloading gear and that should be a first priority simply because you may not be able to buy what your looking for and you should do it just because you have it. If you're intimidated by the loading process its self, get someone to guide you through it, it's really pretty simple. Break it down into one step at a time. I'd show you the process but you can probably find someone closer than SW Beaverton.



Lots of (most) cartridges make good woods guns out to 300 yards. The one's that don't are obvious like a .35 Remington or .30-30.

 

140gr Accubonds from Nosler.

 

I shot a 7mm mag a number of years. What I found important was bullet weight. I reloaded and my bullet was a 160gr Speer. I never got into the 175 gr back then but am pretty sure it would be super. The thing to keep in mind is that bullet's lighter than 160gr have a habit of coming apart when they hit something. That old Speer Hot Core I'd compare to today's bonded bullet's, catch it for that! If you couldn't find a factory load with the Ht Core Speer, I'd first go to 175gr bullet's and if they didn't work drop back to a 160gr bonded bullet. Range's your hunting, really no need for any magnum load. But if you do, use heavier bullet's more likely to stand up to the cartridge. I read years ago that the beauty of magnum's is their ability to deliver exceptional power at normal range, not normal power at extended range. To get the most out of it, go heavy bullet's. Lot more cartridge than needed but even with a heavy bullet, it will kill deer at the range' you said without the bullet coming apart if you use a heavy bullet. Probably say the same thing for lighter premium bullet's, in particular the monolithic bullet's but the price goes way up!

 

Have killed many deer and elk with Federal Premium 160 grain Trophy Bonded Tip. 30 yards up to 200 yards. Bullets expands, but holds together well. My favorite.

 

I have a Tikka in 7mm Mag. I have used it to harvest 6 blacktail (30-127 yards), 1 blackbear at 25 yards and 3 elk (100-150 yards). I use the Federal premium nosler partitions in 160 grain. I don't plan on shooting anything past 300 yards either.......until I draw a mule deer tag.

The bullets I have recovered typically hold their weight pretty good. Most shots were in the heart/lungs so I would find them in the skin on the opposite side. I have never had any problems with bloodshot meat to speak of..........basically eat up to the hole. EXCEPT........1 bad shot where I hit a blacktail at 30 yards as he jumped downhill over a stump. The shot entered through the rear leg bone and opened up a 3" exit hole along its back.

As mentioned before maybe a bit overkill for blacktail but I can hunt anything I want to with that gun and bullet and be extremely comfortable knowing exactly where everything is how it shoulders where the safety is etc.

 

I went through this same exercise when I bought my Browning X-bolt long range in 7mmRM. Shot every factory ammo through it initially. Pretty much everything I shot through it was fine at 100yd range for accuracy. For both long range accuracy and short range performance, the Nosler stuff just works.

I settled on 168gr Nosler ABLR factory ammo for my 7mmRM.

Attached is what 168gr ABLR does at 40 yards to a deer......it went through with enough force in the lungs, it actually sucked the stomach (in tact) out the bullet hole on the exit wound. And the deer flipped over at that range at the shot. Sorry for the gross image, but it's a representative example of what a 7mmRM will do at close range.

Honestly, at your stated 40-150 yards I'm not sure it matters which bullet you're using in a 7mmRM if you aim for the vitals.....that's a lot of energy being delivered on impact. I'm a Nosler fan, that way I have flexibility if I have a quartering-to shot and am going through the front shoulder of an elk to get to the heart/lungs...and I shoot the ABLRs out to longer ranges for practice so for me it's the ultimate in flexibility. The Trophy Bonded Federals mentioned above are also a great choice, and less expensive than Nosler factory ammo.

 

TTSX, Partitions, Swift A frames, Trophy Bonded bear clars. We can add accubonds and scirocco to the list if the rifles wants a boat tail.

For me, a 160 -175 grain bullet in a 7rm makes the most sense.

For short range, you want a bullet that will not blow up at high speed impacts. Hard angles that are encountered at close ranges require a modicum of penetration. The above bullet designs will do just that every time.

 

I run 160 grain Accubond handloads. To date it has worked flawlessly on all of the animals I've shot (and probably the ones I've missed). Closest shot was probably 40 yards and longest is right at 400. Recovered bullets have all been perfect mushrooms with diameters seemingly corresponding to velocity at impact. closer range shots being wider. I have zero complaints and see no reason to change anything.

 

The 160 grain Nosler Partitions or Accubond will do just fine. The 7mm Mag is my preferred Pronghorn cartridge. It is fast so it can reach out there, it carries energy well, and shoots flat. Welcome to the 7Mag club. It is a great all around cartridge for Oregon, close range or long range.

 

160 or 175 Nosler partitions or Accubonds work best for me
killed several deer under 150 yds that just dropped in their tracks

 

I have shot many deer, a few elk and a bear with plain old Hornady 154 gr. Interlock bullets with no issues at all. If fact, I don't remember having to track any of those animals, they either fell immediately or went down soon enough that they never got out of my sight. Most of there animals were within 200 yards and a lot under 100 yards.

The 154 gr. Hornady Interbond bullets also work well. I used them on two animals this year, both under 200 years and both bullets passed through the animal. Both fell instantly.

ClearCreek

 

I shoot federal premium 160 nosler partitions for everything. I get a fair number of clean pass thrus on broadside deer at short range, and they may run a ways, but always die. I dropped a big stud Rosey bull in its tracks with 1 shot at 10 yards. Bullet went thru both lungs, hit the skin on the far side, and traveled under the skin to the rump, where I recovered the slug around 60% intact. I’ve never had a NP fail on any animal at any range, shooting them for over 30 years.

 

Back when I was deer hunting with a 7 mag I was shooting a tungsten core barns bullet in 160gr. Don't think they make them anymore. Fantastic bullet if your rifle likes them, they can be finicky.

The problem you'll face is finding a bullet that will stay together at the extreme speeds of this cartridge at close range. Stay with your heavier options, not baceause you need weight, but because it'll pull your velocity down a touch. barns, accubond, a-frame, partition, all bullets that'll hold together well at those velocities.

-Scott

 

i don't shoot 7mm mag, but here's another vote for Barnes TTSX at close range. Lots of other responses here have even more experience than I. I shot a bear at 75 yards with 300 Wby Mag, (quartering) and the bullet sure didn't blow up, but did it's job and didn't blow a big hole on either end. Boom flop.

 

Thanks for all the responses. I have some testing to do!


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THat is the gun my dad used most of my growing up. He found it very adabptable and it was really effective. Good gun in my book.

 

If there's one all around big game cartridge it's the 7mag imo.

 

I too recently purchased a 7mm. I chose to start with 162 grain hornady eldx and I was not disappointed. I topped it with a leupold vx-5 and plan on getting the custom turret to match this bullet. I'm not a huge gun nerd but for me my bullets are touching at a 200 yard zero and I have never had that much consistency. This will be my new spring bear killer.....hopefully. good luck.

 

I have killed half a dozen or so deer with my 7mm mag at 50 yards or less (one I can think of was more like 10 yards).

Factory 160 gr Nosler Partitions did great. None of them exploded and all were clean pass-throughs with minimal bloodshot. That said, none of these shots hit bone other than ribs. If you hit a shoulder at that range (or any range really), I don't think it matters what caliber or bullet you are shooting, it's going to be a mess.

All deer either tipped over on the spot or went less than 30 yards before dying.

 

when you shoot a bull elk with a "7" IF you are shooting 140's he'll stand around for a bit looking real sick then tip over in slow motion or he might go a short distance then die

when you hit him with a 160 or 175, he'll just die … end of the story

that's not "this bull last year or one a couple of years ago" - THAT is after killing and watching kills on many, many elk

BUT, that said, a 150 TSX/TTSX ends the chapter plenty fast just like the 160/175 class do

 

when you shoot a bull elk with a "7" IF you are shooting 140's he'll stand around for a bit looking real sick then tip over in slow motion or he might go a short distance then die

when you hit him with a 160 or 175, he'll just die … end of the story

that's not "this bull last year or one a couple of years ago" - THAT is after killing and watching kills on many, many elk

BUT, that said, a 150 TSX/TTSX ends the chapter plenty fast just like the 160/175 class do

As does a 130gr tsx or ttsx from my 270. Depends on the bullet.

You can think of a fired bullet like tires on a racer. It's where all the forces involved come together at high speeds and with high force loadings. Usually predictable but not always.

Just like you might not want to run 2 ply baloney skins at a hundred mph, you might not want to launch fragile bullets into an animal at 3000 fps. :flag2:

 

I shoot a 7mmRM and I’ve never had any issues at short range. I use 150gr CoreLokt for my 7mm. I have been thinking of increasing the weight of the bullet since I use my 260 for deer now. But I am so dialed in with the 150 CL’s....

 

I have used Federal 160 gr. for years thru my trusty old Ruger m77 tang safety. I have have shot 3 moose, bear, multiple elk, and to many deer to count in over 35 years. I love the gun and the caliber, just find the ammo the gun likes to shoot and stay with it! close or long range. :twocents:

 

I shoot the 160gr AccuBond out of mine. I handload, but you can buy factory ammo with them. I used to just shoot 150 gr Corelocks, but got in to reloading a couple years ago. Since then I have killed 3 blacktails, 2 whitetail, a mule deer, 3 antelope, 2 elk, and a bear with the Accubond. Shots ranged from 15 to 450 yds. The farthest anything went was 50 yds, but almost all of them drop or take a few steps and tip over.

 

I've never been a particular fan of the 7 Mag. because I don't need such a cartridge for coastal Blacktail hunting. I've only fired one in my life and it was one of the first off the assembly line back in the beginning. I thought it was a pleasant cartridge to shoot, not much recoil. If I were today want a longer range deer rifle, it would be the 7 Mag. I think it's a great compromise for the fellow who has but one rifle. If I didn't want to compromise, the .300 PRC might be my choice.

 

I've never owned or even been around a 7mm mag until I bought this. Two of my hunting mentors convinced me years ago that a do-all rifle had to be 30-cal or bigger, so I hunted for 15+ years with a .300wm. I have finally gotten over the "bigger is always better" mentality, and I have hunted blacktail deer quite a bit the last 5 years with a 7-08 and even a .243. However, since I made the mistake of selling my trusty .300 about 5 years ago, I haven't had an elk rifle that I feel confident in. Instead of doing the smart thing and having the trigger improved on my current .300 (I have been fighting with inconsistent groups, and finally figured out that it shoots fine on days that I am relaxed enough to deal with the heavier trigger pull, but I start pulling shots with it anytime I'm stressed at all), I decided to start over with something new. I'm hoping this lower recoil rifle (came with a muzzle brake) with a sexy trigger will bring my confidence back so I don't have to keep elk hunting with my girlie gun (7-08).


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