First Post & 7mag load testing

[Darkhorse]

Just signed up a few days ago to try and glean some knowledge from you Nosler shooters.
I have a M700 BDL LH that has been a safe queen since '96, that is when I bought my first synthetic stainless. So, last year I decided to hunt with her and found the forend had warped badly during the years in the gun safe. I glass bedded the recoil lug and tang, then bedded the first 2 inches of barrel tight, then bedded the rest of the forend leaving the barrel free floating.
Added a Limbsaver recoil pad. Works great. And took the old remington walker trigger apart and polished the sear and transfer bar and it breaks like glass at 3 pounds. The trigger is a longer story but I'll save that for now.
I have been testing the Nosler 150 gr. Ballistic Tip. I have several targets I'll post if I can figure out how to attach photos. The results were interesting. But I have a question or 2 to ask. I'll try and get to this in the next few days.

 

[Vince]

Welcome Darkhorse.
From this angle that rifle looks nice and it's nice to have another left handed shooter here as you know we are the only ones in our right brain.

Vince

 

[Blkram]

Welcome,
Always nice to see another shooter in his "right" mind...and a Model 700 to boot!
Hopefully, you will be able to get the information that you are looking for on this sight. There are a number of very knowledgeable shooters and reloaders here that can help you out in solving any issues you may be experiencing.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

Nice set up but wrong side. What powder are you using with the 150 Btip? I have some 150s in the mail as I type to try in the 7mag.

 

[Guy Miner]

Welcome Darkhorse.

Love the wood-stocked 7mm Rem 700. Very nice!

 

[DrMike]

Welcome aboard, Darkhorse. Hate to see Blkram and Sask Boy (to say nothing of Gerry and Vince) encouraged by another lefty. C'est la vie! The BDL is certainly a proven rifle, and the 7 RM qualifies as one of the truly great cartridges. I'll be looking forward to your targets. Again, welcome to the forum.

 

[wayno945]

Welcome! It's always great to see new members on here.

 

[6mm Remington]

Welcome and nice looking rifle. Just be careful here as these guys like to assist you in spending your money!!

 

[JD338]

Welcome to the forum, glad you are here.

JD338

 

[skidmark]

I love hunting powerlines...

 

[DrMike]

That does appear to be a potentially good spot. I definitely inspect cut lines very carefully.

 

[skidmark]

Wonder if they still have the billboards telling you what hunting
area your in up the highway north ? I remember driving by one then a day or so later of driving see another telling you your leaving the one you saw a day ago....ah thats a big area.

 

[DrMike]

Wonder if they still have the billboards telling you what hunting
area your in up the highway north ? I remember driving by one then a day or so later of driving see another telling you your leaving the one you saw a day ago....ah thats a big area.

You do have to be careful as the signs can be easy to miss. Yes, they are often still posted; however, it is not wise to rely on them. You still are responsible to know the boundaries.

 

[skidmark]

Everything is big in the Territory"s.
I like the Darkhorse Hunting set up.
7 mag and a nice long shot.

 

[sask boy]

Good day Darkhorse, I can see by that first photo that you are going to be able to contribute to this forum nicely :wink:.
Now to make it complete in your gunsafe you wouldn't happen to have a 35 Whelen :mrgreen:.
The 7mm mag in a BDL is great workingman's rifle. I am looking forward to your load workup with photos I hope.
PS. Welcome to the forum I believe you are going to like it here as there is a vast amount of knowledge & we have a lot of fun as well. However they do tend to pick on us southpaws :shock:.

Blessings,
Dan

 

[DrMike]

However they do tend to pick on us southpaws :shock:.

Blessings,
Dan

It never happens, Dan. Surely that is a figment of your imagination. :grin:

 

[gerry]

Really nice LH Rem 700, from your other posts it shoots like many Remington's do which is very well.

 

[Darkhorse]

When I was a teenager in the mid to late sixties this was my dream rifle. The rifle was still fairly new and the cartridge was the hottest thing going. This combo was plastered all over the gun magazines of the day. It took awhile but I finally got one. Build date December '81, I bought her in early spring of '82.
So, when I decided to bring her out of retirement I really didn't know what to expect. I wanted to keep her as near to original as possible. If she would still shoot. She "was" a shooter back in her day. Looks like she still is.
The old BDL walnut stock might be out of date but it's got some good grain to the wood. I just enjoy hunting with a nice wood stock. And it appears my bedding job works like I hoped it would.
The old belted 7 mag is no longer considered a hot cartridge my many, but I like it and think it is sadly underrated and under loaded.
She will get new rings. And a new scope, most likely a 4X16 of an undetermined brand.
And possibly a new lighter firing pin. But I'm not totally sold on that yet. But anything that makes you a better shooter on game is worth considering.
I'm really looking forward to taking her for Antelope or Mule deer in a couple of years.

 

[DrMike]

The 7RM is a fine cartridge that will do about all a person would need in North American game fields. It may not be the hottest cartridge available, but it works. Mine doesn't get near enough use anymore due to the plethora of cartridges begging for use. However, when it is used, it performs quite well.

 

[YoteSmoker]

My m70 7mm rem mag is my go to big game rifle and has accounted for deer, elk, and bear. The longest shot on game so far was 368 yards. 160 Partition is the only bullet needed. It even worked great on a blue grouse last fall lol.