FINALLY got around to getting me a rifle, after hunting with a shotgun last year. I picked up a NIB Accu Trigger Savage model 110 in 7mm Rem Mag , with a Simmons 3-9x50 scope on it. I really went for a .308, but since I work at the shop, I got a good deal (traded my Springfield GI 1911) .

Anyway, whats the best factory load for hunting Whitetail ? I'm thinking Win BST 150gr, or the 140gr Failsafe. Just want some more experienced opinions before I set the scope up.


Thanks in advance guys.

Federal Premium 140grain Nosler Partitions. That factory load was a 1/2" to 5/8" grouper in my A-Bolt ... which is absolutely incredible for an unmodified factory rifle and factory ammo.

Not a single deer moved from where it was standing when I shot them w/ that combo ... and I hit them from 85yards to 145yards ... all were the proverbial "bang, flop" kills.

Give those a try, and give the 160grain Fed Prem. Accubonds a try ... both should give you great results, both ballistically and from a terminal performance standpoint .... at near and far ranges.

My hunting partner just got the same rifle and is looking at the Hornedy 139 grain bonded core bullet they make. He sold his old old Savage 110 and wanted another 7 mag cause he had loads of brass and the dies. he's shooting IMR 7828 I believe.

He is having some medical problems and recoil is getting him so he will load the 139s down a little for less recoil. He used to shoot 175's all the time.

We have mutual friends shooting this bullet and it is a real performer on deer and at around 3000 3100 fps and is a mild load to shoot.

I tried to talk him into a 280 Remington like mine, but being he has the cases and dies and all he was set on another seven mag. I get near the same velocity with less powder a lot lighter recoil.

Although for out west I will be shooting accubonds this year, 150 gr. core-lokts are what I've used for Mn. deer for the last 15 years, with no complaints.

Thanks guys. Fauce, did he have any complaints with his Savage rifle ?

The Deer don't care what you shoot them with, It's where you place the bullet that counts. Experiment with several rounds and find the one most accurate in you new rifle.

Good luck!! Alan

The Deer don't care what you shoot them with, It's where you place the bullet that counts. Experiment with several rounds and find the one most accurate in you new rifle.

Good luck!! Alan

Agreed. I've found that the 160 gr works better on deer than the 140 gr. Just my experience. I've had a few issues over the years with the 140's. I attribute the problem to speed and the bullet design. Just my $.02 worth

Thanks guys. Fauce, did he have any complaints with his Savage rifle ?

Nope, he shot that old savage for a lot of years and loved it. He just wanted a better trigger and to get a new gun. He looked at a lot of other makes and him and I shoulderd lots. I tried talking him into a Remington like mine, but he just felt more comfortable with the Savage. The Accu-trigger is nice and easy to adjust, but you got to take it out of the stock to adjust it.

I've never been a fan of the plastic stocks but he had one on his old 110 and likes it. We shot it day before yesterday and his first groups were 2.5 inches with factory ammo. Got some reloads to try, but he's going in the hospital to have a kidney removed on the 27th. I think that contributed to the large group as he usually does a lot better off the bench.

I'm going to take it out this week and see what kind of accuracy it will put out. This stock has dual piller bedding and unlike my Remington 700ML plastic stock appears pretty stiff. The barrel is fully floated. The stock screws are hex head and all in all it is a pretty nice looking rifle.

I ended up with the wood stock (I would have prefered synthetic), but I like it a lot. I took it out today and fired it once, just because I had never shot a 7 mag before. I was expecting .300 Mag type recoil, it was actually very tame. I didnt put much research in this trade, just started joking around and then I got it...lol

Is the 7mm good for everything from Deer to Elk, bear and Buffalo ?

The 7mm Rem Mag. is a good all around load. With the correct bullet you can take any game you wish. I would hesitate to call this a dangerous game load but it is capable of taking most any animal you would hunt in North American.

The key to all this is practice with your rifle and know it's balistics. Practice with it from the bench and shooting stick and free hand. Practice, practice, practice, you will not wear it out.

We have some reloading supplies in the shop, and I know there are several different weights of Nosler Partitions. I may get one of my friends who loads his own ammo, to fix me up some loads. Wheres the cheapest place to get new brass ?

I ended up with the wood stock (I would have prefered synthetic), but I like it a lot. I took it out today and fired it once, just because I had never shot a 7 mag before. I was expecting .300 Mag type recoil, it was actually very tame. I didnt put much research in this trade, just started joking around and then I got it...lol

Is the 7mm good for everything from Deer to Elk, bear and Buffalo ?

I've been using the 7Mag as my primary deer/elk rifle for over 30 yrs. I have one that is very accurate and over the years I gained confidence with the rifle/scope combination (3X9 leupold). While I trade handguns all the time and am nearly as bad about trading shotguns and leveractions I've never felt the urge to replace the 7Mag. It does a lot of things well without much recoil. I had a gunsmith friend tell me that if you get a rifle that shoots and that you can shoot well you'd better keep it and that's what I've done. BTW took a nice 6X6 with one shot last year in New Mexico.

I hate to ask so many questions, but I have more. Cleaning.

I use Kleen Bore products. My only question, is should I run a bronze brush down the bore after I sight it in, or will solvent on a bore mop be enough ?


Also, anyone know what pound the stock accu trigger is set to ?

Bein's as how you are just shooting whitetails :D , my 7 mag elk recipe oughta work rather well, if'n you load your own that is.

150 grain Sierra spbt, Federal premium brass and 61.5 grains H4350. This is a maximum load so you should reduce it by 10 % and work up. It runs about 2990 fps out of a 24" remthing 700 classic. :cool:

I hate to ask so many questions, but I have more. Cleaning.

I use Kleen Bore products. My only question, is should I run a bronze brush down the bore after I sight it in, or will solvent on a bore mop be enough ?


Also, anyone know what pound the stock accu trigger is set to ?

My buddies came set at maximum from what the book said. Measured about 3.8 pounds, nice and crisp. Took it out of the stock and following the directions using the little screwy thing that you need to adjust this turned it down all the way. Broke at 2.1 pounds. Be sure and put the trigger adjuster somewhere you won't loose it. It is real small.

I think they ship them all set at max. When you take it down to adjust it's a good time to clean and oil all the places you can't see before sighting it in. I personally like Tri-flon, but there are a lot of good lubes out there.

Make sure all the scope mounts are tight and put a little clear finger nail polish on them when re-assembling. This holds well and won't give you the problems lock tight can.

Do you think turning it to its lightest setting will cause any problems hunting ? Some have told me to leave it stiff, but I think I light trigger is just more bonus that you want get jumpy with nerves and pull off on that big buck.

Ahh, nevermind, my trigger was at the minium out of the box. Back to bullets.

Are the 7mm Bear Tooth bullets any good ? Seems like a good deal, $12.75 for 100 (yes I know thats just the lead part...lol)

Yes, BTB cast bullets are fine shooters - just remember they are lead and can't be pushed at jacketed velocities.

Shooting cast bullets calls for a whole different mind set. You must be willing to sacrifice velocity for slower, lighter loads. Tweaking cast loads is lots of fun and inexpensive. Just be prepared to spend time at the range developing a favorite bullet/powder/primer combination. There are guidelines for different cartridge loads, but your particular rifle will let you know what it really prefers.

Right now, I'm in the midst of developing a couple of loads for a Russian M38 M-N carbine 7.62x54R using a BTB gas checked 135 gr bullet and 13.2 gr of RL-7 with Rem 9 1/2 primers. The other is an original Swede M96 rifle in 6.5x55 using a 139 gr gas checked BTB bullet, the same 13.2 gr of RL-7 (easy to just keep the measure set for this load!) and the aforementioned Rem 9 1/2 primer. So far, things are looking good when strings are shot without the crosswinds blowing more than 10 mph.

The other is an original Swede M96 rifle in 6.5x55 .


My cousin has one of those he's quite fond of. He wants to get a bent bolt kit and tap it for a scope. Theres some pretty hot loads out there for it from what I've seen.

I have more rifles than I care to admit but the one I always grab when the chips are down is my 7mm mag. I have used it since I was 15 yeqars old. LOVE IT! I have shot many differant kinds of ammo through it. I am now shooting a 160 gr Sierra BTSP (my reload). In a factory load use the Federal premium 165 gr. Sierra BRSP. These preform VERY well on whitetail deer. They will exit and expand very well. You do not need the bonded bullets or the partions for whitetail. Save them for larger/heavier game. Partions do not expand well on whitetails unless you hit a large bone. Yes, they will kill them just like any other bullet made will if placed right but day in and day out the Sierras are better. This is all based on me shooting some 60 something deer with a 7mm mag. If they don't group well out of your rifle (I bet they will) then go to plan "B". You can't kill em if you cant hit em.

We have some of those Federal premium 165 gr. Sierra BRSP at the shop. We're getting ready to head out to Chantilly, VA for a gun show this weekend, but Ill pick some up when I get back. Honestly if I end up shooting at 100 yards, it will be odd. My spot where I hunt is pretty tight quartered, with an old home place for the opening in the middle of all the trees. I wanted the 7 mag so if I go down to the bigger fields, which can get up to around 350 yards, and that will be where I set my scope. I'm going to learn the balistics, and learn my scope, so I can click it up or down to where I need it.

TANG......On whitetail deer across the bean fields I used a 140 grain solid base bullet and a dose of RL-19 (63.3grn) for a velocity of 3220fps. Stay off the shoulders or spine, it will make you a real mess to clean up savvy!

On Muley's out west, it was the 160 grain Nosler partition, using 62 grns of IMR 4831 @ 62 grns, giving a velocity of 2970 fps.

Going after elk in the high country, it was the Nosler 175 grn partition, using RL-22 @ 61.5 grns for a velocity of 2960 fps, out of a 26 inch barrel rifle.

If I were you, I would give those new Nosler "Accubond Bullets" a try, as they are the best of both worlds and much cheaper than other premium bullets on the market.

Like WGM in post #2---140gr NOS PART. HAMMER'S EM outta my Stainless Stalker.----pruhdlr

We didn't have much left in the store in the line of 7 Mag. So I grabbed a box of Remington 140gr Core-Lokt, I'm anxious to shoot this thing some.

The ballistics say with a 150yd zero, that they will be 0.0" at 50yds and 0.5" high at 100yds . Seems to me I can just zero it at 50 and be good to go.

...and before someone asks why I just didn't go to another store to get ammo. I get my stuff wholesale at the shop I help out at.


Edit: I did a little more checking into my rifle. The twist is 1 in 9.5" , and it weighs a touch under 8lbs with the scope on it.