Reloading 7mm mag-few questions.

[hunter399]

Ok I will list what I got so far for components
H4831 powder
CCI magnum large rifle primers
160 gr nosler acubonds
160 gr Hot cor soft points

The goal is to reach 3000 fps , but don't have crony,And I know that I may have to go with a different powder , but wanna try with this first.
I will post a pic of load data that I do have.Do you guys think it's possible to work this load half grain at a time up to 64 or 65 grain load from what I can tell every two grains add about 100 fps to load .
Any advise,so someone who already has used this powder for this type of load please chime in.

[Magnum_Willys]

I doubt you will be happy with loads that much over book max even if you could reach it unless your barrel is longer than 24" or have extended throat?  Could use quickload software but you need a crony ( the magnetospeed are great and not much over $100 if I recall )

[JeffRaines]

problem is, unless you own a chronograph there is NO WAY to know what the velocity is. Different rifles act different, that load data might say it’s at 2800 but it might be 2900 out of your rifle, or it may only hit 2500. I used to be the same way, I figured I could get by without it. Then I bought one, and one of my loads for a 260 was running some 2400fps when the book suggested it should’ve been 2700 

Another thing, I think I’d try something like h1000 or RL26 with those bullet weights. At least in my experience, the slower powders tend to work better in the bigger cases. I know that’s not always the rule, but it’s whats worked for me.

[BULLBLASTER]

Check out nosler online load data for the 168 grain bullets. It should give you a starting point. Nosler doesn’t list h4831 for the 160 but that doesn’t mean it can’t work.

And also I second getting a Chrono. If you were near Spokane I’d meet you and chrono your ammo.

Edit. Saw your location. If you ever shoot at mica let me know and we can meet and slap my chrono on your gun.

[h20hunter]

From your OP I think you are making a mistake that most have including me. Why set the goal of fps? Accuracy kills, not speed. Get you load accurate then tweek out fps. I use rl26 and avg 3100 but that is with a Travis tack driver. Also, thats shooting a 180 gr berger.

[hunter399]

Thanks for advise guys,sounds like I need a crono pretty bad if I'm gonna set fps goals.

From your OP I think you are making a mistake that most have including me. Why set the goal of fps? Accuracy kills, not speed. Get you load accurate then tweek out fps. I use rl26 and avg 3100 but that is with a Travis tack driver. Also, thats shooting a 180 gr berger.

 
That is sound advise I guess I should of said all my goals ,is 3000 fps , and 1in groups at 500 yards at least that's what you hope for.ya I won't even use a load for hunting unless I can consistently kill milk jugs at 500 yards with a 100 percent hit rate out of ten shots.

intell I can afford a crony I will work up load starting at 60 grains ,load three rounds half grain higher each time ,shoot for accuracy and high pressure signs ,intell I see high pressure,then back off to most accurate load I think ,crony or no crony ,the gun tell me when it's time to stop I guess.

[Hilltop123]

1" groups at 500, with a stock rifle? You have high expectations, good luck!

[Magnum_Willys]

1" groups at 500, with a stock rifle? You have high expectations, good luck!

  Only with a 6.5 CM ! 

[hunter399]

I said that's what you hope for is 1in groups at 500 , you can always hope for it.
1 in at 100 yards would make me happy though,moa of milkjug at 500 would be ok.

[hunterofelk]

My range has chronographs for loan, but I haven't tried them yet.  The range does have a 200 yard range, so I sighted my .270 to hit the center at that distance, than shot at the 100 yard.  I measured the center of group to bull and since I was using Speer 130 grain pointed soft points, I could match the ballistic coefficient and ballistic charts to find the velocity.  Close enough for me.
In my 7mag I tried Hornady's all copper bullet which is supposed to create lower pressure so you can push the charge a little more for higher velocity.  I use RL 22.  With neck-sized cases, the groups are very consistently small.

[M_ray]

I tried h4831 and loaded everything from 60-68 in my 7mm and wasn’t happy at all. Now it’s h1000, although I didn’t try it with a 160 I shoot 168 bergers but I cant imagine it being that much different. Also would you be just as happy with your one inch group at 500 if it were 2800 instead of 3000 so like h2o says go with accuracy first.

[Crunchy]

H-1000 is your friend.  69.5 grains and a 168 grain berger just off the lands is the money for mine.

[Biggerhammer]

H-1000 is your friend.  69.5 grains and a 168 grain berger just off the lands is the money for mine.

Great powder for the 7mm Magnum. I’ve used it allot in the 7mm WSM chambering also. Great for big temperature swings. 50-60 degree fall season and 100 degree days shooting chucks with the same load.

[huntnphool]

 For temp swings I've had good luck with 4831SC in my 7mm loads as well.

[PA BEN]

I shoot 160 accubonds, RL19 cci mag. primer. Right at 2900 fps. Very accurate out of my M77.

[Piscatory_5]

Just shot a 7rm Browning hells canyon speed xbolt today with 160 and 162g Handloads using rl22. 26 inch barrel and 61-65g of powder for 3100fps with the top load of 65g. 16 rounds in 1.25" group. First time rifle was shot.

[birddogdad]

From your OP I think you are making a mistake that most have including me. Why set the goal of fps? Accuracy kills, not speed. Get you load accurate then tweek out fps. I use rl26 and avg 3100 but that is with a Travis tack driver. Also, thats shooting a 180 gr berger.

  and I'm right there with 168 bergers and h1000.... in my 7mag... find the guns sweet spot for accuracy not goal of speed~ recommend OP goes back to research on what they are doing here.....

[C-Money]

Though I have never used it...I load a 160 Accubond with if memory serves me right...61gr IMR 4831 @ 2800...Accurate load. I have never hunted with that particular load. Worked it up for a spare rifle. Killed a muley doe a long times ago with Federal classic ammo using that rifle.

[JeffRaines]

I'm not a velocity guy either, but my take is this - if I buy a magnum, I want magnum velocities. Its pointless to buy a rifle chambered in something thats capable of 3000-3100fps, and shoot it at 2800.

You can almost wring that out of a 7mm-08 while burning less powder.

You can get close to 3k out of a -06 with the right load/barrel. You can shoot 180s out of an 06 at 2750-2800. All with less powder.

I get that accuracy trumps, but at the end of the day I want what I paid for. If I buy a 7mag, I want 7mag velocities. If I wanted less, I'd buy a 280 or 7mm-08.

[h20hunter]

Very true.

[C-Money]

Very true Jeff. This is why I dont hunt with the 7mm rem mag. I CAN get very similar results with a .270 win, 7mm-08 with less recoil. Getting a 160gr bullet over 3000fps out of a 7mm rem mag is really maxing out the cartridge.  May need to bump up the the 7mm Rem Ultra mag to get those velocities consistently with more powder choices.

[BULLBLASTER]

Very true Jeff. This is why I dont hunt with the 7mm rem mag. I CAN get very similar results with a .270 win, 7mm-08 with less recoil. Getting a 160gr bullet over 3000fps out of a 7mm rem mag is really maxing out the cartridge.  May need to bump up the the 7mm Rem Ultra mag to get those velocities consistently with more powder choices.

It really isn’t that difficult to get 3000 with 160 class bullets. My factory win 70 is shooting 162 Eld x at 3070 with retumbo

[BigGoonTuna]

Very true Jeff. This is why I dont hunt with the 7mm rem mag. I CAN get very similar results with a .270 win, 7mm-08 with less recoil. Getting a 160gr bullet over 3000fps out of a 7mm rem mag is really maxing out the cartridge.  May need to bump up the the 7mm Rem Ultra mag to get those velocities consistently with more powder choices.

sounds a lot like my frustration with my old .264 mag.  mine was almost impossible to get any kind of respectable velocity out of...with a 24" barrel, it would barely do 6.5 creedmoor velocities(think 2700FPS with 140s) with book data.  it was pretty consistent though...always around 300fps less than what the load manuals called for.  i did load it hot enough to hit 2950 with 140s and 3100 with 120s, but going 4 or 5 grains over the max is a bit spooky.  i ended up trading it for a really nice .270, which will outrun that .264 without breaking a sweat, without the headache of reloading a belted cartridge.

wouldn't mind another someday...but with a 26 or 28" barrel.

[birddogdad]

Very true Jeff. This is why I dont hunt with the 7mm rem mag. I CAN get very similar results with a .270 win, 7mm-08 with less recoil. Getting a 160gr bullet over 3000fps out of a 7mm rem mag is really maxing out the cartridge.  May need to bump up the the 7mm Rem Ultra mag to get those velocities consistently with more powder choices.

love my 7mag, yea its a hot loader.. starting to look into a 28 nosler.... has my attention.... think I may even be able to re- barrel my existing gun to run that round...  7 mag performance now in a much heavier bullet... as far as recoil, just brake it and that goes away....

[hunter399]

To hit 3000 fps with h4831 my load will have to be 65-66 grains of powder ,i forgot I had a load calculator on my phone from other calibers I load .Now there's no way of knowing for sure without crono but it's based off of these numbers.
But as far on paper that's the load I need to hit.