Best 7mm Magnum in regards to barrel life

[icebug]

For a while now, I'm planning to get a custom made R8 barrel chambered in one of the 7mm Magnums, for long range shooting/hunting. However, I would like to have a decent number of rounds fired before the accuracy goes south.
It should be a at least 26" long, jagdmatch profile with 1:7"-1:8" twist rate.
I want to use the latest Berger's 195 grain Elite Hunter bullets.
The round has to be in C.I.P. standard and has to fit an R8 magazine.

The ones I was thinking about are:
- 7 Remington magnum
- 7 Weatherby magnum
- 7 WSM
- 7 SAUM
- 7 Blaser magnum
- 7 STW

Looking forward to your opinions.

[stokesrj]

I would stay away from the 7mm STW as brass is very hard to find, I'm down to a couple of hundred left and making brass from 8mm Rem Mag. I would just go with the 7mm Rem Mag as it is good enough and plentiful. Most of my long range hunting friends have returned to the 7MM Rem Mag and 300 Win Mag after chasing the others for a few years.
Bob

[KZ45]

From the above, I'm going to say you'll get the most barrel life out of the 7 SAUM, although I'm not too sure bout the 7mm Blaser Magnum.

[icebug]

From the above, I'm going to say you'll get the most barrel life out of the 7 SAUM, although I'm not too sure bout the 7mm Blaser Magnum.

I also thought the same, since I was playing a bit with QuickLoad and 7 SAUM had the lowest muzzle pressure (in theory).

However, I'd like to hear other people's opinions.

Thanks!

[Corjack]

I would do the 7mm Remington, as components will be easier to get, and barrel life should be decent. Good Berger bullets, it should sling them accurately a long ways.

[thechamp]

Same from here. 7 Rem mag is one of the best ever. They've never been known to be tough on barrels. And as others have pointed out they are everywhere with components easy to get. The 7 SAUM might be a hair better when it comes to pressure, etc., but here in the states they are on life support. A check of Cabelas found no ammo at all for the 7 SAUM. The 7 Rem was showing 25 loads. Checked another site that checks ammo dealers all around and the only ammo they showed for the round was made by Nosler in the 160 gr Accubond.

[icebug]

Thanks Corjack and thechamp, valid points.
However, I do reload, so the only thing at this point I'm worried about is brass and as I've mentioned before, barrel life.

[deerhunter338mag]

I'm for the 7mm rem mag easy to get stuff for it and will kill just about everything your going to hunt icebug.

[red853006]

My 7mm Rem Mag (Steyr Prohunter) has had heaps put through it, and it still shoots super tight groups. Best thing now, the barrel is run in pretty well it literally takes 10 mins to clean

I shoot it with 139 Grain hornady interbonds, which will have 5 shots pretty much cloverleafing, and the next best load is with 140 grain Barnes TTSX which is dynamite on Red Deer. It is pretty accurate, and I found the seating depth was the biggest determinant in accuracy with this particular projectile.