139 gr 7mm Remington Magnum hunting loads

[Troller1234]

I just started loading for my Ruger M77 7mag, which I have hunted deer with for years and have always used factory 150 Remington coreloct ammo with decent accuracy. I purchased some blemished, 139 gr polymer tipped, bonded, boat tailed spitzers from midway that I plan on loading. I was hoping to get some input on where to start. I have some reloader 22, some 4831, 4350 and 4064. Any advice would be appreciated

 

[jimbires]

I get good results with RL22 in my 7 rem mag . I've used it with 139gr and 160gr bullets . Jim

 

[MrMajestic]

Between the 22 and the 4831 should should find something that works. IMO, 4350 would be a little fast and 4064 even faster.

Many list RL22 as the accuracy/velocity powder but as many state temperature issues.

 

[sdneil]

IMR 4350 is excellent in the Rem 700 7mag I load for with 139s

 

[Troller1234]

How many grains o powder are you using with 139 grain bullets?

 

[sdneil]

Troller I will try to remember to look when I get home from work tonite Neil

 

[jimbires]

I don't remember my powder charge with the 139's , it's been a few years . I'm now loading 160 gr accubonds with 66.0 grains of RL22 , getting 3000FPS . RL22 is my powder choice for both bullets . Jim

 

[AckleymanII]

I shoot a load of 65.0-66g of IMR 4350, Rem case, Rem 9 1/2 primer, bullet touching the lands. Velocity is in the 3250fps area.

Your rifle may or may not like those bullets, and best accuracy will probably be where the bullets are seated very close to if not touching the lands.

If your gun does not like that bullet, try the 140g Nosler Accubond. I get very small groups with the above load in my Remingtons and family's also.

 

[BigDMT]

all of those powders (except maybe 4064) will work well with the 139's. Just gotta try them. I think the IMR 4350 will give you the best speed with that bullet weight. IMR 4831 will probably give pretty good speeds too. RL-22 is more tailored towards the heavier bullets of 150gr+ for good speeds.

Of course accuracy depends on what the rifle likes and who knows what that will be. Just gotta try them all.

 

[WyleWD]

A dearly departed friend of mine had several Ruger M77 in 7mm Mag. He had exceptional results with the 139gr bullets using 4064.

Check your reloading manuals on that powder, but as I recall he was able to work up to approx. 56gr. As you probably know ..... it is a pretty good idea to weigh each charge when using 4064. It is a very useful powder, but doesn't meter very well. WD

 

[Troller1234]

Thanks for all the advice. It really helps since I am just getting started reloading.

 

[sdneil]

Troller --looks like 57 gr IMR 4350 was my load--not on hot side at all--Neil

 

[wapiti25]

IMR 4350 is a good accurate powder for a lot of bullet weights in the 7 mag.

 

[jsthntn247]

I'd go with h4350 with the 140 weight bullets.

 

[Jazz]

I just started to load the 139 gr Hornady SST's in my 7mm Remington Magnum. I will be starting with Re-22 and see where I am at. I'm looking for speeds in the 3,250 fps range. If that powder doesn't work out I will try Re-25. I prefer to use the slower powders with close to or max case fill. Hoping to get to the range today, will report my results.

 

[BigDMT]

I just started to load the 139 gr Hornady SST's in my 7mm Remington Magnum. I will be starting with Re-22 and see where I am at. I'm looking for speeds in the 3,250 fps range. If that powder doesn't work out I will try Re-25. I prefer to use the slower powders with close to or max case fill. Hoping to get to the range today, will report my results.

That's a wise start because a lot of times good accuracy will come with a powder that completely fills a case.

However, why don't you load recipes using ALL the powders before you go to the range? Will save you a lot of time and perhaps fuel if the RL-22 doesn't work out for you.

When testing a new rifle, or working up loads in an old one for a new bullet, I always load at least 5 different powders before I go to the range so I have a better chance of finding the best accuracy with minimal trips to the range. Just some thoughts. Of course, how you want to do it is totally up to you. Good luck with testing and can't wait to hear your results. Take care

 

[Jazz]

What you say makes perfect sense. It would be nice to just use Re-25 or H1000 and buy it in the 5lb container as I have an accuracy load for both with the 162 SST and 162 Amax. I've had this 1lb container of Re-22 for a few years now, so I thought I'd give it a try. As far as the full case of powder, my other rifles seem to shoot best at full case fills as well. I've loaded rounds with different charge weights of powder and am using different primers at the same given charge weights to see what the difference will be.

 

[Jazz]

I loaded charge weights from 68-70 grains of powder. I wasn't impressed with the results. At 68 grains I was at 3,000 fps and at 70 grains I was at between 3,200-3,240 fps and accuracy wasn't very impressive. I'm going to try Re-25 or H1000 now and see how it works out.

 

[BigDMT]

RL-25 will give even slower speeds. Like i said before, RL-22 is for larger bullets in the 7mm mag. RL-25 is an even slower burn rate and meant for the heaviest of bullets in the 7mm rem mag. 3240 fps is pretty good with that bullet though.

However, imr 4350 is much better suited for a 139gr bullet. If u want to use a reliant powder, RL-19 and RL-17 will give u the proper burn rate for high speed with light bullets

 

[Jazz]

When I went to the range to test my loads it was 90 degrees out that day. The Re-22 load at 70 grains gave me the speed I was after, but the ES varied by 40 fps. I think I could definately go with a higher load of it because there were no pressure signs at 70 grains. I will try loading between 70-71 grains and see if I can find a node in there, otherwise I'll switch powders. I'm going to work on this a little more.

How about H4831 is that an easier (less fussy, more consistant) to work with than the Alliant RE powders? I prefer Hodgdon powders personally.