7 mm Remington Magnum

Infobox Firearm Cartridge
name= 7 mm Remington Magnum


caption= 7mm Remington Magnum Cartridge
origin=flagcountry|United States
type= Rifle
service=
used_by=
wars=
designer= Remington Arms Company
design_date=1962
manufacturer= Remington
production_date=1962-Present
number=
variants=
is_SI_specs=
parent=.375 H&H Magnum
case type=Rimless, bottleneck
bullet=.284
neck=.315
shoulder=.491
base=.512
rim_dia=.532
rim_thick=
case_length=2.5
length=3.29
rifling=1-9 1/2"
primer=Large rifle magnum

is_SI_ballistics=
bw1=140
btype1=Soft Point
vel1=3175
en1=3133
bw2=150
btype2=AccuTip BT
vel2=3110
en2=3221
bw3=160
btype3=Soft Point
vel3=2900
en3=2987
bw4=175
btype4=Soft Point
vel4=2860
en4=3178
bw5=
btype5=
vel5=
en5=
test_barrel_length=24"
balsrc= Remington [http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/ballistics/results/default.aspx?type=centerfire&cal=20 Remington Arms Co. ballistics charts] ] The 7 mm Remington Magnum rifle cartridge was introduced as a commercially available round in 1962,cite book
last = Accurate
title = Accurate Smokeless Powders Loading Guide
edition = Number Two (Revised)
year = 2000
publisher =Wolfe Publishing
location =Prescott, AZ
pages = 247
isbn =
id = Barcode 94794 00200] along with the new Remington Model 700 bolt action rifle. It is a member of the belted magnum family that is directly derived from the venerable .375 H&H Magnum, unlike the Weatherby family of belted magnums whose double shoulders are unique and are not based upon the .375 H&H Magnum. [The original purpose of the belted magnum concept taken from the .375 H&H is for precise control of the headspace, while easing cartridge extraction, relative to setting headspace of a cartridge in relation to the shoulder of the cartridge and possibly decreasing cartridge extraction reliability while hunting dangerous game, which would be of concern when needing a fast followup shot.]

The 7 mm Remington Magnum offers ballistics superior to the .30-06 Springfield with all equivalent bullet weights, the most popular load being a 160 grain spitzer loaded to 3000 ft/s. This cartridge is capable of taking any game in North America, although one may do well to select a larger caliber for big bears. [Speer Reloading Manual] The 7 mm Remington Magnum also generates the heaviest recoil that many shooters can shoot well, having recoil comparable to the .30-06 Springfield, in contrast to the heavier recoil generated from more powerful magnum rounds such as the .338 Lapua Magnum. Because of this, the 7 mm Remington Magnum is especially popular for Western plains use in the United States, as well as for use on the African plains on non-dangerous game, where longer reach than commonly achieved with the .30-06 are most often needed. The US Secret Service counter-sniper team has also deployed this cartridge in urban areas, in specially modified rifles, and its use out to 1,000 yards has been commonly demonstrated in competition.

The choice of bullet made when reloading is critical, as the velocity of bullets at unintentionally close ranges may result in a less tough bullet disintegrating without providing significant penetration on especially tough game. The choice of barrel length is also critical, as a 26 or 27 inch barrel is commonly needed to achieve the full velocity potential of the cartridge. In shorter, i.e., sporter, barrels, of approximately 22 inches, the cartridge ballistics deteriorate to much the same as achieved in a .270 Winchester, while having the apparent muzzle blast increased relative to that seen even with a 7 mm Remington Magnum fired from a longer barrel, and while generating much the same heavy recoil as experienced in shooting a 7mm Remington Magnum from a longer barrel. Used with a 26 or 27 inch barrel, though, the true benefit of the cartridge over the .30-06 and .270 Winchester becomes apparent.

On its introduction, the 7mm Rem. Mag. substantially usurped the market share held by the .264 Winchester Magnum, which went into sharp decline in popularity and sales after 1962. [http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/PerCaliber2Guide/Rifle/Standarddata(Rifle)/264Cal(6.5mm)/264%20Winchester%20Magnum%20pages%20233%20and%20234.pdf .264 Win Mag data from Accurate] ] Maximum pressure is set by SAAMI at 61,000 PSI.

Remington has recently offered Managed Recoil ammunition for achieving reduced recoil when shooting and for generating less meat damage when hunting smaller game.

Popular web gun author Chuck Hawks calls the 7mm Rem "one of the great all-around rifle cartridges." [http://www.chuckhawks.com/7mmRemMag.htm The 7mm Remington Magnum by Chuck Hawks] ]

ee also

* .375 H&H Magnum
* 7 mm Weatherby Magnum
* 7 mm Remington cartridges
* List of rifle cartridges
* 7 mm caliber

References

External links

* [http://www.slatesafaris.com/7mm_history.htm History of the 7mm Rem Mag]
* [http://www.chuckhawks.com/7mm_musings.htm 7mm Musings] at Chuck Hawks
* [http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/7rm.html 7mm Remington Mag] at The Reload Bench