Rem 700 Reasonable Expectations

tmas · January 8, 2012, 08:58 PM

I've finally got a new scope and have started again shooting my 7mm Rem Mag i inherited from my Dad. I've started reloading for it, and the best groups i've yet to acheive is about 1.3" @100. I'm used to reloading for my .223 CZ and get .3-.5" groups regularly, and most loads shoot around .7-1". I know all guns are different, but I can't decide what should a resonable goal would be for this gun. It doesn't seem to have much throat erosion, as my 154 gr interlock's touch the lands at 3.343".

Anybody have any great pet loads for their 700 7mm that they'd like to share with me?

mrawesome22 · January 8, 2012, 10:33 PM

I loaded some 7MMRemMag for my buddies Ruger a while back. IMR 7828 and Hornady BTSP 139gr.

They printed under an inch at 100yds.

He called 'em good to go.

hoffbill · January 8, 2012, 11:55 PM

Some of my rifles are a little picky about certain bullets, sometimes just a .5gr or 1gr difference in will change the group by up to .5". Not familiar with that caliber but seems a Rem 700 could do a little better assuming stock, scope et al are good. What kind of load and accuracy did your dad use?

243winxb · January 9, 2012, 10:45 AM

150gr Nosler Spitzer ( yes, Spitzer, old bullet) IMR 4350-55.0g (lite) 3.346" COL. CCI Mag Primer. Groups run 1" to 1 1/4" @ 100 yds. Never tried to improve or make adjustment to this Rem. Bought used @ a low price, had to buy it. Had about a year, sold it. Good Rifle.

tmas · January 9, 2012, 02:58 PM

I have one load recipe of my Dad's...it's from "9-11-1990". 65 grs H4831 140Gr Nosler Partition, Fed 215 primer, "2950" fps. I have one bullet left of this load and i've started with the same OAL as his'. According to modern reloading books i've looked at, this would be 1 grain over Max recommended load, but a bit slower than the books forecast them at.
I've got some 140 gr Noslers on order, when they arrive i plan on starting lower...62 gr starting load, and with his same OAL and work from there. The Scope is a Leupold VX2 4-12, and the barrel has been bedded, and the trigger done by my father, he was a gunsmith for Davis company in the 80's before running his own shop for several years.
Thanks for your input, i'll try experimenting with some different weight bullets and see if she prefers one over the others.

er775 · January 9, 2012, 08:32 PM

I have a new Rem 700 in 7 mag I just got a few months back, I havent reloaded for it yet but when I got it I bought a box of Hornady 154 gr sst, three shots with these and it was zeroed at 100 yrd with all holes touching , when I do reload for the mag I plan on using the sst Im very impressed with this bullet, I shot a doe with it and wholly crap! what devestation

PunchinPaper · January 9, 2012, 09:27 PM

You should be able to get 1" or better without much trouble.
I had a 700 270win that would shoot 3/4" groups allday at 200yrds with handloads if held true.
My 700 30-06 will do 1/2"-1" at 100 usually if I do my part, I am still in the process of load development with this one.

tmas · January 12, 2012, 12:07 AM

Well I just got done @ the range this evening. I had 6 loads to try, and got some interesting results. All groups were 5 shot, 100 yd benchrest. I had a 120 gr hornady SP with 68 gr H 4831 that gave me a 1.3", two 150 gr sierra hpbt match with 59gr 4831 with different oal that gave me 1.03" and .717", and a 139 gr Hornady SsT bt with 63 gr H4831 that landed a .64" group.
That same 139 gr load seated .020 deeper shot at 2.5", and a 150 gr sierra with h1000 that shot 1.8" at one depth, and 2.9" when seated .015 deeper.
I was thrilled with my results today, it gave me a few really good starting points to work with. I think those 154 gr hornady interlock's with a flat base do not get along with my gun at all and it was discouraging me. Thanks for all the input!

jdillon · January 12, 2012, 11:21 PM

A few years ago I bought a 700 CDL SF in 300 WSM that grouped poorly. Discovered the action was moving in the stock so had it pillar bedded, floated and installed a Timney trigger. It was like a different rifle after the work was done shooting groups at 100M that a dime would cover. The rifle definitely shoots better with fire formed brass that is neck sized than with new brass.

farmerboy · January 13, 2012, 01:45 AM

Should group great you just haven't matched everything yet. You will if you keep trying.

cheyenne'sfinest · January 13, 2012, 01:53 AM

i would say a good goal group is sub moa. my dad shoots that out of box with his rem 700 7 mm mag

January 8, 2012, 08:58 PM	#1
tmas Member Join Date: May 1, 2011 Location: Ninilchik, Ak Posts: 38	Rem 700 Reasonable Expectations I've finally got a new scope and have started again shooting my 7mm Rem Mag i inherited from my Dad. I've started reloading for it, and the best groups i've yet to acheive is about 1.3" @100. I'm used to reloading for my .223 CZ and get .3-.5" groups regularly, and most loads shoot around .7-1". I know all guns are different, but I can't decide what should a resonable goal would be for this gun. It doesn't seem to have much throat erosion, as my 154 gr interlock's touch the lands at 3.343". Anybody have any great pet loads for their 700 7mm that they'd like to share with me?

January 9, 2012, 10:45 AM	#4
243winxb Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 1,730	Remington 700 in 7mm Rem Mag. 150gr Nosler Spitzer ( yes, Spitzer, old bullet) IMR 4350-55.0g (lite) 3.346" COL. CCI Mag Primer. Groups run 1" to 1 1/4" @ 100 yds. Never tried to improve or make adjustment to this Rem. Bought used @ a low price, had to buy it. Had about a year, sold it. Good Rifle.

January 12, 2012, 11:21 PM	#9
jdillon Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 2011 Location: Southern NM Posts: 141	A few years ago I bought a 700 CDL SF in 300 WSM that grouped poorly. Discovered the action was moving in the stock so had it pillar bedded, floated and installed a Timney trigger. It was like a different rifle after the work was done shooting groups at 100M that a dime would cover. The rifle definitely shoots better with fire formed brass that is neck sized than with new brass. __________________ "Emergencies have always been the pretext on which the safeguards of individual liberty have been eroded" - F.A. Hayek

January 8, 2012, 10:33 PM	#2
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	I loaded some 7MMRemMag for my buddies Ruger a while back. IMR 7828 and Hornady BTSP 139gr. They printed under an inch at 100yds. He called 'em good to go.

January 8, 2012, 11:55 PM	#3
hoffbill Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 246	Some of my rifles are a little picky about certain bullets, sometimes just a .5gr or 1gr difference in will change the group by up to .5". Not familiar with that caliber but seems a Rem 700 could do a little better assuming stock, scope et al are good. What kind of load and accuracy did your dad use?

January 9, 2012, 02:58 PM	#5
tmas Member Join Date: May 1, 2011 Location: Ninilchik, Ak Posts: 38	I have one load recipe of my Dad's...it's from "9-11-1990". 65 grs H4831 140Gr Nosler Partition, Fed 215 primer, "2950" fps. I have one bullet left of this load and i've started with the same OAL as his'. According to modern reloading books i've looked at, this would be 1 grain over Max recommended load, but a bit slower than the books forecast them at. I've got some 140 gr Noslers on order, when they arrive i plan on starting lower...62 gr starting load, and with his same OAL and work from there. The Scope is a Leupold VX2 4-12, and the barrel has been bedded, and the trigger done by my father, he was a gunsmith for Davis company in the 80's before running his own shop for several years. Thanks for your input, i'll try experimenting with some different weight bullets and see if she prefers one over the others.

January 9, 2012, 08:32 PM	#6
er775 Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 2011 Posts: 129	I have a new Rem 700 in 7 mag I just got a few months back, I havent reloaded for it yet but when I got it I bought a box of Hornady 154 gr sst, three shots with these and it was zeroed at 100 yrd with all holes touching , when I do reload for the mag I plan on using the sst Im very impressed with this bullet, I shot a doe with it and wholly crap! what devestation

January 9, 2012, 09:27 PM	#7
PunchinPaper Senior Member Join Date: March 24, 2011 Posts: 148	You should be able to get 1" or better without much trouble. I had a 700 270win that would shoot 3/4" groups allday at 200yrds with handloads if held true. My 700 30-06 will do 1/2"-1" at 100 usually if I do my part, I am still in the process of load development with this one.

January 12, 2012, 12:07 AM	#8
tmas Member Join Date: May 1, 2011 Location: Ninilchik, Ak Posts: 38	Well I just got done @ the range this evening. I had 6 loads to try, and got some interesting results. All groups were 5 shot, 100 yd benchrest. I had a 120 gr hornady SP with 68 gr H 4831 that gave me a 1.3", two 150 gr sierra hpbt match with 59gr 4831 with different oal that gave me 1.03" and .717", and a 139 gr Hornady SsT bt with 63 gr H4831 that landed a .64" group. That same 139 gr load seated .020 deeper shot at 2.5", and a 150 gr sierra with h1000 that shot 1.8" at one depth, and 2.9" when seated .015 deeper. I was thrilled with my results today, it gave me a few really good starting points to work with. I think those 154 gr hornady interlock's with a flat base do not get along with my gun at all and it was discouraging me. Thanks for all the input!

January 13, 2012, 01:45 AM	#10
farmerboy Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,343	Should group great you just haven't matched everything yet. You will if you keep trying.

January 13, 2012, 01:53 AM	#11
cheyenne'sfinest Member Join Date: December 29, 2011 Posts: 32	i would say a good goal group is sub moa. my dad shoots that out of box with his rem 700 7 mm mag