Texas Hunting Forum

7mm reloading

Posted By: Team By-God

7mm reloading - 08/18/15 03:07 AM

We loaded some 7mm rem mag for a new gun. Really nice sako and the leupold with the custom turret.. we got a load that would group,finally. we started with h1000 and 168g accubondlr, we never got a load to group good enough. We went to retumbo and 160 accubond.. got a load to group respectable, but its only shooting at 2790 fps, not quite what i would like but im not all that familiar with bigger bullets from the 7mm, ive been using 140 g in mine.. we were getting mid 2900's with the 168 and h1000.. is that enough velocity for that bullet with big game and long range in mind? Mule deer , elk and oryx possible targets...
Posted By: Cleric

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/18/15 03:16 AM

How long of a barrel? I think you may need a bit faster powder to get more velocity...but I will defer to the reloading experts
Posted By: dawaba

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/18/15 10:07 AM

Originally Posted By: Team By-God
We loaded some 7mm rem mag for a new gun. Really nice sako and the leupold with the custom turret.. we got a load that would group,finally. we started with h1000 and 168g accubondlr, we never got a load to group good enough. We went to retumbo and 160 accubond.. got a load to group respectable, but its only shooting at 2790 fps, not quite what i would like but im not all that familiar with bigger bullets from the 7mm, ive been using 140 g in mine.. we were getting mid 2900's with the 168 and h1000.. is that enough velocity for that bullet with big game and long range in mind? Mule deer , elk and oryx possible targets...


I've shot mule deer, elk, and oryx with the 7mmRM, mostly with 160 NPTs, but also with 160 ABs, 175 NPTs, 140 NPTs and 140 TTSXs. You can throw in a moose, some caribou, stone sheep, mnt goat, and others....all with reloads in 4 different rifles.

IMO, the top all-around performer for your criteria will be IMR4831, which almost always gives top velocities with fine accuracy. Expect 3050 fps with the 160s and 3250 with the 140s. Re-22 is almost as good. H-1000, in my hands, burns too slowly, especially with the 140s; save this powder for 175 gr and heavier bullets.
Posted By: ChadTRG42

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/18/15 04:22 PM

2790 fps with a 160 grain out of a 7 Mag with Retumbo is basically a starting load on the slow side. It's running about 280 Rem speeds. You can easily get 200 fps more if you keep moving up your powder charge. It's plenty of velocity for the bullet to work properly, but why shoot a 7 Mag if you run it slow. When you say "long range", that tells me beyond 600 yards. So, all the speed you can get is better, but it will still possible.
Posted By: Team By-God

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/18/15 05:46 PM

My brother took it out and shot it at 600 yds and also his 7mm ultra with the same bullet, shooting steel plate.. ultra blew thru, 7mm rem exploded on impact, that kind of bothers me ..
Posted By: Team By-God

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/18/15 05:50 PM

Posted By: cabosandinh

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/18/15 05:55 PM

Originally Posted By: Team By-God
My brother took it out and shot it at 600 yds and also his 7mm ultra with the same bullet, shooting steel plate.. ultra blew thru, 7mm rem exploded on impact, that kind of bothers me ..


that tells me you don't have AR500 Steel Plate
Posted By: ChadTRG42

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/18/15 05:59 PM

Originally Posted By: Team By-God
My brother took it out and shot it at 600 yds and also his 7mm ultra with the same bullet, shooting steel plate.. ultra blew thru, 7mm rem exploded on impact, that kind of bothers me ..


They all do that!!! If you are using thin mild steel (non AR500), almost all bullets will blow through mild steel. And all bullets will fragment (not explode) on impact on steel.
Posted By: J.G.

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/18/15 06:47 PM

What is your powder charge of Retumbo that is pushing a 160 gr @ 2790 MV?
How long is the barrel?

My 7 Rem Mag has a 26" Rock Creek stainless 1:8" twist
Retumbo 71.2 gr compressed
180 gr. Berger, 3020 fps MV

I have loaded for two other 7 Rem Mags and they all started shooting the best on a compressed load of Retumbo. Once I see extractor swipe I proceed with caution.
Posted By: Team By-God

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/18/15 08:10 PM

Not max.. only had time for 2 loads after that lost 1st day. 68 and 69 is all i did, but with my brother shooting the 68 grouped better.. maybe i need to get the gun and try upping the charge..
Posted By: Team By-God

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/18/15 08:12 PM

He shot the same plate with both guns and same bullet, the ultra went thru, the.7mm rem exploded on impact..
Originally Posted By: ChadTRG42
Originally Posted By: Team By-God
My brother took it out and shot it at 600 yds and also his 7mm ultra with the same bullet, shooting steel plate.. ultra blew thru, 7mm rem exploded on impact, that kind of bothers me ..


They all do that!!! If you are using thin mild steel (non AR500), almost all bullets will blow through mild steel. And all bullets will fragment (not explode) on impact on steel.
Posted By: Team By-God

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/18/15 08:40 PM

24" barrel
Posted By: ChadTRG42

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/18/15 08:44 PM

The 7 RUM is pushing that 160 about 3200 fps compared to your slower 2790 fps, which is a difference of about 400 fps. That's a big difference. Also, bullets never explode, they fragment.
Posted By: Team By-God

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/18/15 10:24 PM

Ultra mag is at 3130fps, still a big difference.
Posted By: Team By-God

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/21/15 01:23 AM

Chad was saying that 2790 was basically starting loads for the 7mag/160g/retumbo combination.. my load data says 69.5 max we went with 68 and 69, even the 69 wasnt flirting with the 3000fps mark, dont remember the exact number , but not alot over the 68g charge and the 2790fps. How is that 180 building speeds over 3k? Is it all barrel length? Kind of confusing..
Posted By: Team By-God

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/21/15 01:53 AM

Found the 69g retumbo speed.. 2923,2905,2915.. when i went to my notes i found the 68g velocity we clocked here in odessa.. 68g retumbo speeds of 2867,2876,2846.. when my brother got the gun up to farmington nm , he shot it again and it was at 2790fps.. he went up in elevation and down 25 degrees in air temp.
Posted By: Team By-God

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/22/15 10:51 PM

Driving myself crazy, short trip, looking to find the right bullet/powder/charge combo on this stupid 7mm. Thought about trying the reloader22 powder but read where its very temperature sensitive. This gun will see temperature extemes.. thought about accurate magpro with the 160ab or possibly retumbo and the 168ablr.. to dang many options.. the 24"vs 26" barrel thing seems to affect the veocity i want to see as well..
Posted By: J.G.

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/23/15 03:15 AM

Quit making it more complicated.

Pick one temperature stable powder and go with it, i.e. Retumbo.

The longer the barrel the more velocity it will make. Many of us subscribe to the theory that every 7 Rem Mag and every 300 Win Mag should have a 26" barrel. Some barrels are slower than others. Go with the load that shoot the most consistent, not what shoots the fastest. Obviously we want all the speed we can get, but velocity does no one any good if it doesn't shoot consistent.

Is your chronograph light dependent? It is unless it is a Magneto Speed or a Lab Radar. That can give a velocity descepency day to day. That is the reason to get a load that shoots, reproduce it, and see what trajectory changes you get in various ambient temps and density altitudes.
Posted By: Team By-God

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/23/15 01:06 PM

Guess we need to stay with the retumbo and live with the velocity. Lesson learned on barrel length. y'all know alot more than i ever will ..thanks
Posted By: dee

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/24/15 01:34 AM

Another factor to velocity is the bearing surface of the bullet. The Berger like fireman is using like has a small bearing surface thus less resistance.
Posted By: Patweldon

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/25/15 03:15 AM

I load 63.5 grains of rl22 with a 140grain accusing and can stack bullet inside one another.. Shooting over 3000 fps.. I have a Winchester with a 26" barrel and muzzle break as well.

Always remember you can only shoot as good as your scope will allow. I have a ikon monarch3 6x24x50
Posted By: Jgraider

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/26/15 07:58 PM

I always reach for RL22 first when loading for my 7RM's. I also start the bullet seated out near the lands, .010 off, find pressure, then adjust seating depths accordingly. I've never had problem getting 160AB's to shoot extremely well especially when near max pressure, or 3030fps in my 26" HCR. My 24" Tikka does like 71.5g/160AB's of Retumbo, at 3060fps though.
Posted By: Team By-God

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/26/15 10:55 PM

My book shows 69.5c max charge for 160g..
Posted By: Jgraider

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/27/15 01:57 AM

Manuals are a great resource, but are usually on the conservative side, especially when dealing with max loads. That's why I always like to find pressure in my individual rifles, as they usually all vary. I see you're from Odessa. Do you shoot at the Midland range? I shoot there, and would help you in any way I can if you so desire. What rifle are you loading for?

Check out this resource: It has alot of great information.
http://www.reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=48
Posted By: Team By-God

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/27/15 02:24 AM

I have a lease west of odessa that we shoot at.. the rifle we were having trouble with was my brothers from new mexico.. mine, which was my dad's, is the only 7mm i actually own.. i load 140's with retumbo in that one with good results. My brothers ultra mag does well with retumbo and 160ab's.. the gun was a really nice sako and leupold combo, i only had access to it for a wknd then it went home with my brother.. the 68g seemed to shoot better than the 69g with my brother shooting and the limited time we had to shoot, only issue was velocity. Although its not like it was stacking bullets on top of each other..
Posted By: bside

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/31/15 02:22 PM

You really should be able to do better than 3000 fps on a 140gr bullet in 7RM -- this data is with a 24" barrel



Hogdon data is really pitifully low here (IMR 4350 at a 62.8gr 3,045 fps max vs 65gr 3283 from Nosler), btw
Posted By: Team By-God

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/31/15 04:03 PM

140 is what i load for mine, 3079fps in that.. 160 is what we're loading in my brothers and having issues with.. they did kill an antelope woth it this wknd, not a huge test but drew blood anyway..
Posted By: bside

Re: 7mm reloading - 08/31/15 04:41 PM

Originally Posted By: Team By-God
140 is what i load for mine, 3079fps in that.. 160 is what we're loading in my brothers and having issues with.. they did kill an antelope woth it this wknd, not a huge test but drew blood anyway..


Sorry!

~3000 is very attainable with a number of different powders, I would use a faster powder for a mid-weight 7RM.

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