[45-70 nut]

what is your favorite powder for the 7mm rem mag using 140 to 160gr bullets. R22 or h1000 looks like the best place to start, but numbers on paper dont compare to the personal experiences of thoes of you who have been there, done that. Also I shoot when the temps range form the teens to the upper 80's, so any temp sensitive powder I should know about would be appreaciated.

 

[hailstone]

Hunting buddy and I use IMR-4350 for best performance. He's been using it for over twenty years and I just started when that chambering was acquired.

 

[TMan]

what is your favorite powder for the 7mm rem mag using 140 to 160gr bullets. R22 or h1000 looks like the best place to start.

Over the years I've reloaded for three different 7mm Mags, I would place my biggest bet on IMR-7828 for the best balance of accuracy and velocity, with the widest range of bullet weights. R22 would be close behind. If you have a lb of H-4831 on hand, don't pass on that either. If you said 160-175gr bullets, I'd throw in the H-1000, but with lighter bullets I have not had the best, or even decent results.

 

[big dan]

ramshot magnum with 162gr hornadys is a great combination in my experience... brian pierce has also listed it as one of his favorite loads in rifle/handloader magazine.

 

[whitehunter35]

Sir,

You've picked a couple of good ones there. I use Re22 for the lighter bullets, and H1000 for the 160 class and up. Pretty good results with accuracy, although the 140s with Re22 will just occassionally get 3100 fps. For speed in the light bullets, I've used IMR 4831, and its done pretty well, generally quicker and with acceptable accuracy- although not as good as Re22 for tight groups.

The thing I've found with the 7mm, is that it can be particular, and it'll take awhile to get to that true pet load. Case density and atmosphere between the base of the bullet and the top of the charge can make it a challenge, by my blush.

Best to you Sir.

Steve

 

[winbag338]

61 gr of rl19 under a 160gr pill did very well in mine.

 

[spitfire_er]

My best load right now is H4831SC I believe off the top of my head. (too many calibers to remember!). I've used IMR 4350 and R22 with good results also.

 

[smokinfz1]

Out of my Vanguard 24" barrel I am having luck with the H4831sc at 62.1gr pushing a 160gr hpbt #1925.
Using cci large rifle magnum primers.

I haven't chronographed it but according my sources it should be around 2950fps.

This has been my most accurate load thus far.

 

[Sinbad12-2007]

Back in 1962, when the 7mm Remington Magnum came out, the factory was loading with 7828, which was at that time not available to reloaders. That said, I used 4350 and 4831 with fine results.

 

[purpledragon]

vihta n165 is also very fine for the 7 mag. although the other powders mentioned have worked well. If I was put in the position to bet on it, my money is on 7828ssc..............

 

[flashhole]

I haven't shot 140 grain pills for some time but H4831 worked well. For 160 grain and haeavier bullets give Retumbo a try. H1000 was good but Retumbo was better and burned cleaner too.

 

[TMan]

The thing I've found with the 7mm, is that it can be particular, and it'll take awhile to get to that true pet load.

Steve

That's what I have found. The best loads in one rifle may or may not be the best in the next one off the line. My current CDL, and the one I'll probably hang onto, shoots the best with MR3100/139 & 140gr, IMR 7828 with 154's, and R22 with 160-162gr bullets. Shoots honest 5 X 1" with each one. Switch powders and bullet weights, and it becomes a 2.5-4" rifle in a single pass.

 

[Math Teacher]

I have used IMR7828 in the 7mm Mag ever since it became available on the market and found it gave me superior performance to 4350, both 4831s, and H870 with 160 grain bullets. Recently I have been loading 65 grains of Reloader 22 behind a 160 gr Nosler Accubonds for three of my friends. They get the same velocity and accuracy as with my 7828 load, but with lower pressure. In my rifle, I get a hundred feet per second more with the 7828, but with an admittetly hot load. I strongly recommend the Reloader 22 load, though work up to it, as it is a max load. We have taken 15 moose so far with that load, so it must be doing the job.

 

[flashhole]

I've used 7828 with good success too but like I said above, my go-to powder is Retumbo. Curious though, how long does it take to eat 15 moose? Is mooses a word? Maybe the plural is meece? No matter, sounds like a testiment to your shooting ability.

 

[Darin115]

When I did load for a 7mm Rem Mag I used IMR 4350.

Darin

 

[tnekkc]

I shot 3 mule deer in 2010 with 180 gr VLD moly 7mmRemMag RE22 at 3025 fps with 26" barrel.

I have been shooting 7mmRemMag for a while, and I also get good results with H4381sc.

For 162 gr, sometimes I use H4350 at 2950 fps.

 

[ForneyRider]

50gr IMR 4064 with 120gr Nosler Ballistic Tip at ~3000fps has been my most accurate 7mm Mag load. Kicks like a 7mm-08.

 

[tnekkc]

Some time has gone by and I have a new load.
I have tried to move in to some of the Hodgdon Extreme powders, for long range hunting; Varget, H4895, H4350, and H4381sc.

120 gr Nos Bal Tip moly 3.34" 72 gr H4350, 26", 3633-2652 fps
150 gr Nos Bal Tip moly 3.34" 66 gr H4350, 26", 3333 -3375 fps

I shot ~ 50 of each between 100 and 600 yards.
Quickload put those both at ~ 65kpsi, and I am getting great accuracy [by my standards] and long brass life.

 

[Larry in Bend]

My, those 120s zip right along and I'll bet they fly flat. Nice load.

I've loaded 160 grain Nosler Partitions since 1980 in my 7 Mag. I use IMR4831 -- Rem brass -- Federal 215M primers. My load (from a 1973 Speer manual) does 3090 fps in a 24" barrel. My 7 Mag is only used on Elk hunts, now, so I don't shoot it as much as I once did. When it was my deer-sized-game rifle, I used Sierra 140 grain bullets.

 

[shawnbo]

RL-22 with a Speer 160 spitzer boat tail. Chronographed 2950 fps out of my 24" barrel, will group 3 shots into 1" to 1.5" @ 200 yds. in calm conditions.

Don't know about temperature sensitivity - never gets that hot up here during hunting times.