7 RUM - 180 Gr Berger VLD's

[petey]

Welp,

Got to run out to Ridgeway Rifle club today to shoot my new 180 Grain Berger VLD loads prior to deer season and to double check my drop chart and Exbal readings.

I'm pushing these Bergers at 3210 fps out of my 7RUM and they have an exceptional BC. As you've probably read in previous posts, I've gained whopping elevation and trippled my energy b/c of the Ballistic Coeficent and bullet weight. (8 feet at 100 yards and still punching over 1500 ft lbs!)

The best I could get them to shoot at 100 yards was right under 1/2", verses under a 1/4" with my previous load. I wasn't hesitant to change, but I first wanted to see what it would do at 500 yards before I sold it as my new long range round. Well the results are in and I'm definitely hooked on these Bergers.

It was a perfect day to shoot. 34 degrees and very little wind. We placed a 10"x10" I-beam at 400, and one at 500 yards for the short shots. I then had numerous targets at 838, 900 and finally 978 yards.

I fired up my Exbal in my Dell Axim palm and dialed in the 2 MPH tail wind read from the Kestral wind meter and lined up on the 400 yard target. First shot was right by 4" b/c of a little crosswind but dead center for elevation. The crosswind died and I lined up on the 500 yard and fired as Ol_spark was spotting thru the Big Eyes. The shot hit 2" below the bullseye and blew easily thru the I-beam. My bullet is still traveling at 2600fps and I have over 2500 ftlbs at 500. I chamber another round and fire again. The second 500 yard shot hit the same hole as the first. We both looked at each other and said, "looks like in the same hole to me!" Sure was. Well, good enough, lets move on to 838 yards then.

At 838 yards I'm pushing 2150 fps, with 60 clicks and 130" of drop. I have a few targets to choose from, a couple bowling pins hanging and a bowling ball. I dial in and choose the bowling ball. First shot and I miss the ball about 4" to the right. The wind had kicked up just a little. I dial in one click for the wind and fire my second round. It centered the ball and split it into several pieces. Sweet!..Elevation is good out to 838 yards and those Bergers put a whallop on a bowling ball! Welp, I'm good here, lets move on back further.

At 978 yards I'm pushing just under 2000 fps with a whoping 1567 ftlbs. At 76 clicks I'm 195" in drop (yeah that's a little over 16 ft). I'm shooting at a 12" high x 4" wide steel gopher. My first round hit 6" low and 6" right. Oh geesh, 1 click off. Dial in an extra click for elevation and 1 for wind and fire a second round. I just missed it. Hey I'm shooting at a 4" wide target, what do you want? If it was a deer, it would have been dead. My third shot, I tagged that little sucker! Hey that was quick, I'm all done!

My main goal today was to check my clicks and to truely see how good these things shoot. Welp the results are, that it shoots just as good at 500 as it does at 100, practically 1 hole. I'm sold on these, and couldn't ask for a better shooting round for long range (Beyond 500). My load is 91.5 grains of Retumbo and did I mention this was a stock gun?? Oh yeah...makes a guy feel good when his gun with the right bullet and handload shoots just as good if not better than all the custom guns lined up next to ya!

I have pictures of the 500 yard group on my cell phone. I'll have to download and post it so you can see it with your own eyes. It's a fun ol girl to shoot and to load for. She isn't to picky at all.

Just like the Berger commerical says. "They hit where you hold em"...out to 978 yards anyhow

[Ridge Runner]

what twist ya shootin in that rum, my 7 AM is a 9 so I may give the 180's a whirl, I've shot a few 200 wildcats and they stabilize ok
RR
Btw, great shootin, congrats, ain't it kewel when it works like its sposed too?

[petey]

It's a 9.5. Nice looking rig you got there. Only one problem though....it's a lefty! You shouldn't have any problem with the 180's if you have a 9. If I can recall the BC is .698 or somewhere around there abouts so afaster twist will be even better. They explode travelling 3200 fps, but I'll bet they'll be perfect for deer at 2000 fps. All I'm recovering from my sand box is the jacket laid flat.

I have new spot we'll probably try out this year up North. You can see farther than you can shoot in almost all directions. It's a pretty unique spot that's on some of my company ground. No more of those short 400-700 yard shots.

Hope the snow sticks in for the next couple of weeks. Can't wait. Got one deer down with the recurve at 5 yards now need to shoot one with the long range rig, way out there. I'll fill the rest of my tags in between with a flintlock

[gd357]

Thats some performance... I'm jealous. I've got a few bergers loaded up for the 7 mag, but haven't had a chance to test the out yet. I may have to make time.

gd