Beginner reloader, your top two 7mmRM powders?

Grady.J

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So, I'm looking to work up a good all around load for my 7mm Rem Mag. I've got some TSX's and Accubonds, both in 160gr waiting to try out, but need some powder, and some primers.

If you were to recommend two powders to start with, what would they be? I'm leaning towards IMR4350 and IMR7828, or possibly Retumbo, to start, but would love to hear opinions.

Also any general tips would be much appreciated. I'll just be working with a Lee Classic kit, nothing fancy.
 
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H1000 and retumbo work get in my 7mag. Roughly 70 grs of each push a 180 vld at 2950

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stevevan

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H-1000 is THE 7mm Rem Mag Powder. I tried them all and H1000 was at the top for both accuracy and velocity using 160 & 175 grain bullets.
 

Shrek

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H1000 or maybe Reloder 26. H1000 would be my go to in 7mm Rem Mag with 160's to 175's. 180's + I'd look at Retumbo or N570 as long as your barrel is 26"+.

I should add that if the barrel is 24" or shorter then the Reloder 26 or 7828 speeds are more suited. I found that Reloder 26 was a little faster burning than H1000 and closer to 7828.
 
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stevevan

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I just got done testing quite a few loads using Rel 26 in the 7 Remmy. Specifically with 160 and 175 grain bullets. Accuracy was good but I could not get near the velocity that I could with H1000.
 
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Grady.J

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Thanks for all the replies! Barrel is 24", 9.5 twist. Looks like H1000 will be on the list, and either IMR7828, or RL26.
 
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All the above mentioned powders are good suggestions. I have both a 24" and a 26" 7 Rem mag. I've tried RL23, RL25, RL26, 7828ssc, H1000, Retumbo and RL33. All have shown good accuracy at varying velocities in my guns. For 168-180 grain bullets, I seem to always get top velocities with Retumbo in both guns. H1000 seems to be 50-75fps behind. I am just now playing with RL33 with the new Berger 175s, jury still out there. With 160 grain Accubonds, RL23 and RL26 have both been excellent in the 24" barrel - I settled with RL26 for that gun.

So, for my rifles its like this:

24" barrel 9.5 twist - 160 AB w/RL 26
26" barrel 9 twist - 175 Berger w/Retumbo (at the moment, still testing RL33)

Good luck!
 

16Bore

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Mar 31, 2014
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RL-22 and 162 Amax @ 2,950 is long proven. I also like RL-19 and 120 TSX @3,400.

Both loads shoot same POI, as do 140 Corlokts. Go figure. Mono, Walmart Special, and high BC. Nothing not to like about that.

 

cooperjd

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Dec 30, 2016
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Imr 4350, 60gr @3k .020" off lands doing OCW testing. that load was 0.327" . Gonna try some h1000 and see what results I get. R700 in a b&c alaskan bedded by me and timney trigger
IMG_5927.JPG
 

cooperjd

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Dec 30, 2016
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i tested H-1000 this weekend with 160gr ABs. i tested 8 loads, the best one was 0.183" 3-shot group, at ~2865 fps with 66.0gr seated .020" off the lands.
the H-1000 is a touch slower in my rifle than the IMR-4350 i tested a couple weeks ago. assuming, of course, consistency and accuracy of my chrono.

i'd like to try RL-26 to see if i can get a touch more speed, but a sub 0.2" group is tough to give up. the RL may come out next year.
 
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