Help 7 mm rem mag powder selection

[Mtaylor]

I have a Tikka T3 Superlite 7mm rem mag (stock), i am shooting 160 gr Nosler Accubonds through it with IMR 4350 (handloads) the OAL is the length of the magazine (cant remember off the top of my head what it is). I have not been happy with this combo, maybe its the seating depth and maybe its the powder, heck maybe its me but i need to change it up and get this gun shooting right. I have been looking at other powders to use, I would like to still use the 160 AB's but i would be willing to try Berger 168's too eventually. I have been reading and looking up different powders for the 7mm Mag and have come up with these: H1000, RL22, RL25, RL26?, H4831, and Retumbo. Does anybody have a suggestion which one or two I should try? How about seating depth, has anybody found a sweet spot for their Tikka? Any help is appreciated!

Thanks,


MT

 

[N2TRKYS]

What velocity are you getting with the IMR 4350? Don't be afraid to jump the bullets to the lands.

 

[MHWASH]

I'm currently using Ramshot Magnum with 160 ABs. Velocity is just over 3000. When I couldn't find Magnum I used IMR 7828 SSC. Velocity was real close, close enough that I used th same number of clicks as the Magnum loads.

 

[PathFinder]

I have the exact same rifle. My load is 168 Berger HVLD, CCI mag primer, 71.2 gr of H1000, in Nosler cases. At 3.390 they function well in the magazine and shoot .5-.75 MOA three shot groups. Velocity is 2910 average. I was very happy with those results for this rifle, and never bothered to mess with seating depth.

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[Jon Boy]

Running same rifle. 71.5 grains of retumbo with a 168 Berger seated to full length of magazine (can't remember off top of my head) getting 2950 fps with a one ragged hole 3 shot group.

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[awaldro7]

I'm loading h1000 in my 7 RM tikka with phenomenal results. I love it. Even if you don't choose h1000 I suggest you do stay within hodgdons extreme line of powder.


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[Ranger619]

I have been loading H4831 58.0 gr, 160 gr AB and CCI 250 primer. OACL 3.355 this puts me 0.005 off of the lands in my model 700. I get good results with this.

 

[cooperjd]

i've had very accurate results with both 4350 and h1000, both seated .020" off the lands with my remington 7mm and 160 ABs

 

[Mtaylor]

What velocity are you getting with the IMR 4350? Don't be afraid to jump the bullets to the lands.

61 gr of IMR 4350- 2886 fps
62 gr of IMR 4350 - 2945 fps

OAL of the cartridge that i have relaoded is 3.352 which just barely fits inside of the magazine. I'm not sure how far away it is from the lands, I have not measured it yet. Would it help to measure it?

 

[5MilesBack]

I'm shooting 168gr Classic Hunter Bergers with H1000 and getting one-hole groups at 100. I'll have to look up my specs.

 

[N2TRKYS]

61 gr of IMR 4350- 2886 fps
62 gr of IMR 4350 - 2945 fps

OAL of the cartridge that i have relaoded is 3.352 which just barely fits inside of the magazine. I'm not sure how far away it is from the lands, I have not measured it yet. Would it help to measure it?

Nosler's tested OAL@ 3.290". I've had good luck with several different rifles and cartridges by seating them at their tested length. YMMV

 

[Mtaylor]

Thanks guys! I'm going to try the IMR 4350 one more time then I will probably get some H 1000 and try that. Plus I will try changing my seating depth to what nosler did in their test loads.

 

[N2TRKYS]

Changing primer brands has tightened up loads for me, too. YMMV

 

[Mtaylor]

I'm currently using cci magnums.

 

[204guy]

Couple thoughts.
1 if you change primers drop down a bit and work back up.
2. Seating deeper is going to reduce your velocity.
3.4350 is pretty fast for 160+ in the 7 mag. H1000, rl26, 7828 or 7797 would be what I would be trying. Rl22 is a well known for excellent velocity but isn't very temp stable.

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[LaHunter]

I get sub .5 MOA out to 700 yards with IMR 7828 pushing the 160 grain Accubonds a little over 3100 fps in my 7mm rem mag semi custom rifle.

 

[scott]

Same rifle 160 Accubonds 61 grains of RL17 2950fps 2 inch groups at 200 yards.

 

[HvyBeams]

I am seeing good results with H1000 in my Tikka superlite 7mm with 160 gr accubonds. I am still working on a load to fine to it. I have used 66.5, 68.5, and 70 grains of H1000 with federal primer. Seated at 2.80 to the ogive, which is really close to mag length. All three loads have been under 3/4 moa and really close to 1/2 moa with 5 shot groups. If I could shoot better it would be under .5 moa.

 

[Mtaylor]

So I tried the IMR 4350 again with a couple different loads, seating depths and primers. To no avail nothing helped, so i bought some H 1000 to see if i can get better results. One concern i have is, I'm shooting 160 gr Accubonds, Nosler does not have load data for 160 gr AB's and H1000. So looking at the 175 gr bullets it says start at 65 gr and work up. I recently went to Hodgons site and it said for a 160 gr Partition with H1000 start at 63 gr and work up to max velocity of 66 gr. ????????? Originally I was going to start at 66 gr and work up, but now im not so sure. Any advice from those who have done it? Is 63 gr really necessary or can i start higher?

 

[N2TRKYS]

I usually start a grain below book max. I haven't had any issues with this.