7mm rem mag reloading

[300backfire]

maybe someone can help me out here, ive been reloading for my brother in law, he has 2 7mm mags both ruger77 with24" bbl
i know that velocity isnt everything, but jeez youd think it could at least beat a 270. heres what ive got going 54gr sst over 63.5 gr of r22 velocity in both guns is 2750.
then tryed h4831 59gr velocity 2750. im a little disturbed with these results because i can better that with 150 gr in my 270
another question 300wby 165gr sst 84gr r22 gives me 3350 where as 84gr h4831 gives me 3150 seems odd that two powders with very similar burn rates can give 200fps difference.
ive used two different scales and two different cronograghs same result. any ideas

[gitrdun]

As far as the 7 goes, they seem lame, even though your H4831 load is above max. Are you using magnum primers?

[hal53]

Originally Posted by gitrdun

As far as the 7 goes, they seem lame, even though your H4831 load is above max. Are you using magnum primers?

just a suggestion, I would try IMR 4831

[300backfire]

ya, using fed 215.

[gitrdun]

Originally Posted by gitrdun

As far as the 7 goes, they seem lame, even though your H4831 load is above max. Are you using magnum primers?

Actually, I was on the wrong page, max for H4831 is 61.0 @ 2800 FPS, so you're not that far off on that one. Max for RL22 is 63.4 @ 2900 FPS, your load of 63.5 yields 2750 FPS, that one seems rather slow. Don't know as you actually have something dynamically wrong though. Why not try RL25 or Retumbo. Funny though, the 7mm-08 can push the 154's to 2800 and a bit beyond with a lot less powder and recoil. Now that'll push the wrong buttons of a 7mag shooter

[DaleJ]

R22 and H4831 are great for heavy bullets in 7mm Rem Mag but too slow for 150 gr bullets. I would try IMR 4350.

[hunter0968]

second the 4350

[tchardy1972]

Some barrels are just slow and some are fast. I have a fast one on my 7 mag but I once worked with a 270 that wouldn't break 2600 with a 140 grain bullet. I would like to think that there is a powder that would have worked but I gave up on it first.

[300backfire]

ok try retumbo, i was wondering if the bbl was slow, thats why we tryed the other rifle. both were exactly the same. both slow i guess. disheartening it is.

[bdub]

I have loaded for a few 7mm rm and have not been able to match published velocities although I haven't had them as low as you are finding them. Depending on which reloading manuals you are using the test barrels may be 26" while most hunting rifles are usually 24".

[DaleJ]

Originally Posted by 300backfire

ok try retumbo, i was wondering if the bbl was slow, thats why we tryed the other rifle. both were exactly the same. both slow i guess. disheartening it is.

Retumbo is quite a bit slower than R22 and H4831 and it will require a heavier bullet to build pressure to a point where powder is burnt while bullet is in barrel. I would take another look at the powder charges you mentioned. Hodgdon's website shows the charge of H4831 you used as less than their recommended starting load. I would also try a standard large rifle primer.

[Jordan Smith]

Load up 68-69ish grains of IMR7828ssc, and your troubles will be over

[super7mag]

66 gr of RL22 and 160 gr Ab is just under 3000 (2985-90) in my 7 . 24 " barrel. If your not getting pressure signs start working up slowly. I switched a couple of years ago to the 139 gr gmx and ramshot magnum, pushing them very accurately @ 3200 ish . You may have to play with bullets and powders a bit. Also have loaded175 TBBC's in dads 7 mm chrony right around 2800 with Rl 22 . You seem pretty low on the velocity s for sure .

[32-40win]

I used to hit 3050 with a 160gr partition out of my old BBR with H870/CCI250. Same load in a tang safety 8" twist Ruger was only 2950. IMR 7828, H1000, & MRP used to crack 2900 mark. My Merkel is 3100 with Win factory 140 Accubond, 2990 with Fed 140 Partition in factory round. I will have to work up some loads for the Merkel, at present I have 140 Sierra Prohunter over 56-61gr of IMR4831 and an F215m to check out in it one of these days. I will likely try
some H4831 or RL19 in it after that. Although, with that rifle, I'd be happy with a good load at around the 2900 mark on the 140 for a little less recoil, as it is a very light gun.

[300backfire]

thanks, i guess im gona have to start broadening my powder collection, the main manuel i use now is hornady 7th edit.

[gopher]

Originally Posted by gitrdun

Actually, I was on the wrong page, max for H4831 is 61.0 @ 2800 FPS, so you're not that far off on that one. Max for RL22 is 63.4 @ 2900 FPS, your load of 63.5 yields 2750 FPS, that one seems rather slow. Don't know as you actually have something dynamically wrong though. Why not try RL25 or Retumbo. Funny though, the 7mm-08 can push the 154's to 2800 and a bit beyond with a lot less powder and recoil. Now that'll push the wrong buttons of a 7mag shooter

The only thing magnum about a 7mm rem mag is the name. 7mm-08 lame neck the suck out of it.

[gopher]

Originally Posted by 300backfire

maybe someone can help me out here, ive been reloading for my brother in law, he has 2 7mm mags both ruger77 with24" bbl
i know that velocity isnt everything, but jeez youd think it could at least beat a 270. heres what ive got going 54gr sst over 63.5 gr of r22 velocity in both guns is 2750.
then tryed h4831 59gr velocity 2750. im a little disturbed with these results because i can better that with 150 gr in my 270
another question 300wby 165gr sst 84gr r22 gives me 3350 where as 84gr h4831 gives me 3150 seems odd that two powders with very similar burn rates can give 200fps difference.
ive used two different scales and two different cronograghs same result. any ideas

What is the OAL. Cases black and sooty ? Dents in case after shooting ?

[bulletman]

IMHO the 7mm Remington Magnum is one of the top cartridges for what we hunt here in Alberta! The slowest velocity I ever got out of a 160 load was 2865! Most 160 loads do at least 2950 in rifles that I have tested. Consult several manuals, not just one.

[skinnykid]

Another for Retumbo. It is dirty but it's one of the most stable and temperature resistant powder out there.

I load 72gr of Retumbo with a 168gr Berger, CCI250 Mag Primers. This combination yields an average of 3075fps from a 26" barrel.

skinny

[shakeyleg02]

70 grains of H1000 with 162gr SST for me my rifle hated retumbo

[rembo]

I've been loading 70 grs of Rel22 under a 140 TSX/TTSX in my 24" Rem 700 for right around 3300.

Another 24" 7 Mag I had years ago actually hit 3400 with a 139 Hornady and IMR4350,..though I won't say how much of it. This was from a late 60's Hornady manual. It was a bit warm so I dropped it back a grain and it ran 3350.

I don't usually shoot 160's but I had Accubonds going over 3000 with Rel 25.

A load I shoot a lot is not a fast load but very accurate...a 150 Ballistic Tip and H4350 for 3100.

You really have to load it like you mean it to make a 7 Rem Mag work like it should. The lawyer proofed manuals of late don't help in this regard.

You have to try lots of powders to find one your rifle likes.

[Dean2]

I a standard 7 Rem Mag, 4350, RL 22 should produce good results with bullets 154 and under. Over 154 I would use 4831 or RL 25. Then 7828 with 175s all with Fed 215 or Win Mag primers in WW cases. I reserve the Retumbo, H1000 for the 7 Ultra mag. To me they are too slow for the 7 Rem Mag.

If the 5 I mentioned powders won't give you a good accurate load at a proper velcoity for the mag, then I would start looking at the gun.

[depopulator]

Originally Posted by shakeyleg02

70 grains of H1000 with 162gr SST for me my rifle hated retumbo

Same load here for 162 SST and AMax, but in my case H1000 and Retumbo performed almost exactly, with maybe a slight edge to Retumbo. I stuck with H1000 because I have a stockpile - avg 3/4 MOA @ 3030 fps out of a 26" barrel.

[molly09]

Originally Posted by hal53

just a suggestion, I would try IMR 4831

you took the words out of my mouth . try 61.5 gr.

[Rocky7]

I like H4350 for 140 gr. TTSX bullets. 65gr. gives me 3280 fps on my chrony and bughole groups. With 160 gr. AB bullets, I'm using 69.5 gr. of RL25 for 3,050 fps. CCI 250 primers in both recipes. That's a 24" custom single-cut barrel that has been fire-lapped so use normal cautions but you should be somewhere ahead of .270 ballistics for sure.