I tried to use the slowest powders like H1000 and Retumbo in the 7mm WSM so that I wouldn't burn the second barrel out.
The first barrel had about 600 rounds through it when I went to a 600 yard match in Bridgeville, in Dec 2005. I ask the shooter next to me to watch where my first shot went, as I was coming up from a 200 yard zero. The shot went through the target at 3 o'clock in the 9 ring, but I watched the vapor trail as it went to the target and ask the guy next to me if he saw how fast it got to the target. He said yes and agreed with me that it was definately faster than 2950 fps. I chronographed it the following weekend and recorded almost 3200 fps. Then went to Clay Spencer's the next weekend to bore scope the barrel as I couls not find the lands with seating the bullet. The throat was burnt out over eight inches.
I assumed that it was just a soft barrel and told Clay to put one of his barrels on it.
I got the gun back two months later, worked up a load and shot it with some success throughout the Spring of 2006. When getting ready for the World Open in Pa., I checked my seating depth and had one thread left in the seating die to seat the bullet kissing the lands. The barrel had just over 450 rounds. It shot competitively, but I could not bring myself to shoot a caliber that would have to be set back every 400 rounds.
I took the gun back to Clay and when he asked what was wrong, I told him that it needed a larger hole down the center.
I spoke with others at the Pa. club who shot the same and they said they would set theirs back as they liked the way it shot. More power to them. I don't spend my money that freely and I don't have my own lathe.
In conclusion about the 7mm WSM, I believe that it is overbore. To get the bullet speed up to 2900 fps with a 9 twist, I don't believe there is a powder that will not burn the barrel out.
Maybe the 7mm SAUM case will do that, but I am going to let others play that game and stick to the 7mm Rem Mag.
On another note, the gun now has a 300 WSM barrel on it & seems to be doing quite well as the stats will show from the IBS nat'ls this year
It surprised me more than anyone.
Ric,
I would like to know, what powder and bullet combination Chris is shooting in his 7 WSM. And what the bore looks like in a couple hunderd more rounds, just for the sake of knowledge.
Danny
