A magnetic recording medium for use in reproduction with an MR head, which comprises:
a non-magnetic substrate; a non-magnetic layer including a binder resin having
dispersed therein a non-magnetic powder on the non-magnetic substrate; and a magnetic
layer on the non-magnetic layer, wherein the magnetic layer is obtained by applying
a magnetic coating material on the applied, dried and cured non-magnetic layer,
the magnetic layer includes a metal magnetic powder with a mean major axis length
of from 0.03 to 0.08 m, and a saturation magnetization s
of from 100 to 130 Am2/kg, and the center line mean roughness Ra of
the magnetic layer surface is 5 nm or less.
