I found a Savage 111 chambered in 7mm RUM the other day on the used rack at Cabela's. I tried to tell myself that I really didn't need it, but it didn't work. I bought it and 2 boxes of Remington factory ammo for it. It came with an old Tasco 3x9 mounted on it, which was replaced with a VX3 3.5x10 Leupold as soon as I got home. Anyone have experience with this rifle/caliber? any preferences for bullet type and weight or powders? I am not at all familiar with this caliber, so any and all advice is appreciated. It's main purpose will be long range targets and maybe a shot at a hog every now and then.
Savage 111 7mmRUM
- Thread starter GaryLC
- Start date
kyotekiller25
Well-known member
I just sold mine, didn't like the caliber, didn't live up to its promise in velocity, nor accuracy in my rifle...
I had one of the older model senderos, trigger job, vx3 LR 6.5-20 leupold and was using 162 amaxs and 160 accubonds with rl25, h1000, and retumbo. Remington cases, CCI 250 primers.
First off let me say this was going to be my long range big game rifle out to 1000 yards. I sold my semi-custom 700 in 338 EDGE because I was tired of getting beat up by the 300g SMK. I know what 7 mags are capable of, so I looked real hard at the senderos in 7 RM, 7 STW, and 7 RUM...after a bit, I decided to go with the biggest and baddest despite everything I've read online about them. I had owned a rem 700 LSS in 300 RUM and shot the barrel out which was later rebarreled to the 338 EDGE. It was a superbly accurate/non fussy rifle/round. So I figured the 7 RUM in a sendero would be great for my application with the 162 amax at 3300fps for the long stuff and the 160 accubond for inside 300 yards.
Best groups I got at 100 yards off a benchrest were 5/8" with both the amaxs and accubonds, with both h1000 and retumbo. Only problem is consistency and trying to close in on the 1 lone flyer always seem to get. Velocity with H1000 was 3200-3225, retumbo was 3250-3275. These velocities were about max for this rifle as well, it seemed to shoot the best loaded near the redline which I did not particularly care for in this cartridge. It was leaving BAD ejector marks, bad for primer pockets I'm thinking...
Tried a bit of rl25, same story, nothing great in accuracy or velocity.
One day it would shoot 5/8" at 100 yards, next day it would do over an 1.5" with same load.
One problem is the freebore in this rifle...Impossible to reach lands with anything which is why I think I wasn't getting the accuracy or velocity I was hoping/looking for.
I was expecting at least 1/2 MOA at 3300fps with a 160 and I was getting more like MOA at 3200fps...
I never did try 7828, but I might next time around because my cousin bought the rifle and I will likely be doing the load development. He is not as picky as me and wont be shooting near as far with it so he doesn't mind an MOA rifle. I dont think its going to magically make it into a shooter however. Its the most accurate powder ya, but if you notice there all accurate at the lowest end, which is pointless if you ask me. Why own a RUM if your gonna have to download it to Rem Mag velocities to get the accuracy from it? Retumbo shoots good at the top, as well as RL25, so its a good idea to start there if you want speed and accuracy IMO. I tried 3 good powders, 2 great bullets, about 4 or 5 different lengths.
Just very picky and inconsistent so far is my experience and take on it. Almost too overbore for 7mm, if there is ever such a thing LOL. Never thought Id say that, but an STW will do the same thing and burn at least 10g less powder...It also needs AT LEAST a 28" bbl, and would be even better served by a 30" tube...
Work up to the upper end with H1000 and Retumbo with a 160-162 and see what you get and what your rifle likes. Typically a rifle will really prefer one over the other with these 2 powders.
I still have a very nice model 70 classic sporter in 7 Rem mag w/26" bbl that shoots very well and will still do what I need/ask of it at 1000 yards, so I think I'll stick with the "lowly" 7 RM from now on. Kick myself in the rear for getting rid of my 338 EDGE for that stupid sendero 7 RUM, one of the dumbest if not dumbest things I've done...
Good luck! let us know how she turns out!
I had one of the older model senderos, trigger job, vx3 LR 6.5-20 leupold and was using 162 amaxs and 160 accubonds with rl25, h1000, and retumbo. Remington cases, CCI 250 primers.
First off let me say this was going to be my long range big game rifle out to 1000 yards. I sold my semi-custom 700 in 338 EDGE because I was tired of getting beat up by the 300g SMK. I know what 7 mags are capable of, so I looked real hard at the senderos in 7 RM, 7 STW, and 7 RUM...after a bit, I decided to go with the biggest and baddest despite everything I've read online about them. I had owned a rem 700 LSS in 300 RUM and shot the barrel out which was later rebarreled to the 338 EDGE. It was a superbly accurate/non fussy rifle/round. So I figured the 7 RUM in a sendero would be great for my application with the 162 amax at 3300fps for the long stuff and the 160 accubond for inside 300 yards.
Best groups I got at 100 yards off a benchrest were 5/8" with both the amaxs and accubonds, with both h1000 and retumbo. Only problem is consistency and trying to close in on the 1 lone flyer always seem to get. Velocity with H1000 was 3200-3225, retumbo was 3250-3275. These velocities were about max for this rifle as well, it seemed to shoot the best loaded near the redline which I did not particularly care for in this cartridge. It was leaving BAD ejector marks, bad for primer pockets I'm thinking...
Tried a bit of rl25, same story, nothing great in accuracy or velocity.
One day it would shoot 5/8" at 100 yards, next day it would do over an 1.5" with same load.
One problem is the freebore in this rifle...Impossible to reach lands with anything which is why I think I wasn't getting the accuracy or velocity I was hoping/looking for.
I was expecting at least 1/2 MOA at 3300fps with a 160 and I was getting more like MOA at 3200fps...
I never did try 7828, but I might next time around because my cousin bought the rifle and I will likely be doing the load development. He is not as picky as me and wont be shooting near as far with it so he doesn't mind an MOA rifle. I dont think its going to magically make it into a shooter however. Its the most accurate powder ya, but if you notice there all accurate at the lowest end, which is pointless if you ask me. Why own a RUM if your gonna have to download it to Rem Mag velocities to get the accuracy from it? Retumbo shoots good at the top, as well as RL25, so its a good idea to start there if you want speed and accuracy IMO. I tried 3 good powders, 2 great bullets, about 4 or 5 different lengths.
Just very picky and inconsistent so far is my experience and take on it. Almost too overbore for 7mm, if there is ever such a thing LOL. Never thought Id say that, but an STW will do the same thing and burn at least 10g less powder...It also needs AT LEAST a 28" bbl, and would be even better served by a 30" tube...
Work up to the upper end with H1000 and Retumbo with a 160-162 and see what you get and what your rifle likes. Typically a rifle will really prefer one over the other with these 2 powders.
I still have a very nice model 70 classic sporter in 7 Rem mag w/26" bbl that shoots very well and will still do what I need/ask of it at 1000 yards, so I think I'll stick with the "lowly" 7 RM from now on. Kick myself in the rear for getting rid of my 338 EDGE for that stupid sendero 7 RUM, one of the dumbest if not dumbest things I've done...
Good luck! let us know how she turns out!