7mm Remington Magnum reduced loading

[KiloTrooper]

Seeking info from those who have worked with reduced loads for 7mm Remington Magnum.

I would like to develop an reduced recoil accuracy load for the Berger 168 VLD-Hunting bullet for my Remington 700 Sendero. The the Berger manual shows 57gr H4831 as a start point achieving ~2600 fps. My objective is to find an accuracy load with less recoil that will still do the same job as the .308 Win. from 20" AR (i.e. 168 gr bullet at ~2600 fps) as a multi-purpose hunting round that won't loosen my teeth.

I am wondering if one needs to use the same caution at the low end of the charge weights as the high end, as I do not want a chamber kaboom from an unexpected pressure spike from a reduced charge.

thanks.

 

[MihiT]

One always should "use caution" when letting off explosives near their head.

Same ballistics for less recoil. Let me knw when you work that one out. I want .338LM ballistics out my. 22lr

 

[Homerange]

IMO you're far better off to reduce the projectile weight and still maintain some reasonable velocity and acceptable trajectory.
However much depends on the size of the game you wish to harvest and ranges they'll be taken at, yet you can never ignore the chosen projectile's terminal performance so to get reliable quick kills.

Some study here of 7mm calibers and bullet selection is strongly recommended:
https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase.html

When looking to use something lighter than 140's in a 7mm-08 I tried some cheap flat based soft point 120gr Hornadys and comfortably dealt with good sized Red deer hinds out to 250 yds.

One must be a little careful using the heavier weight pills in the bigger capacity rifles at slow speeds as they can be inclined to drill and cause little damage resulting in lost game.

 

[centerlineseal]

load for the Berger 168 VLD-Hunting bullet for my Remington 700

I'm currently working my way up with a powder ladder test for the same bullet. Mid 1970 700 BDL, capable of 1/2 moa with Nosler 150 Solid Base (hard to find these days) IMR7828 (I've previously used IMR4350 for a 7mm RemMag) 62.0 to 66.0 grains IMR7828 paying attention to pressure indicators. Should get a 300 yd ladder this weekend, depending on rain.

Won't be reduced load, but will give some indication of a powder node. I'll let you know.

 

[243winxb]

Hodgdon Youth Loads using H4895. https://www.hodgdon.com/resources/data-sheets/

 

[AckleymanII]

120g sierra
59-61g of IMR 4350
Rem 9 1/2
Rem Brass
3000-3100 fps

Ya gonna love it!

 

[243winxb]

low end of the charge weights

57gr H4831 May need a magnum primer? https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/ammunition_st_mamotaip_200909/100079

We tested loads at both maximum normal pressures and at the starting loads (some labs calculate start loads — we shot them). Standard primers caused no ignition issues at the max load but posted higher extreme variations in pressure and velocity in the lower pressure regimes of the start loads. In extreme cases, the start loads produced short delayed firings — probably in the range of 20 to 40 milliseconds but detectible to an experienced ballistician. Switching that propellant to a Magnum primer smoothed out the performance across the useful range of charge weights and completely eliminated the delays.

Down loading large capacity cartridges is a bad idea. Imo.

 

[jetboat]

Get a 7x57 and have fun.

 

[lb-ft]

IMR 4064, 52.5/54.0 range
139 BTSP
Magnum primer (do not overlook this detail)
Google the combination, there is a published load out there from major component manufacturer.
Super accuracy @ 52.5, inexpensive, pleasant load in my unbraked Sendero.
It’s 7mm/08 power level and a fraction of the recoil normally associated with the great 7mm Rem Mag

 

[Brians356]

Down loading large capacity cartridges is a bad idea. Imo.

Not if you follow Hodgdon's published reduced load procedure for H4895.
-

 

[243winxb]

Not if you follow Hodgdon's published reduced load procedure for H4895.

The head to shoulder measurement gets shorter from light loads. Use the same brass for full power loads and it stretches.

I have measured it in 30-06

To much stretch my produce case separations.

Keep brass seperate.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?377629-Is-drilling-out-flash-holes-dangerous

 

[AckleymanII]

IMR 4064, 52.5/54.0 range
139 BTSP
Magnum primer (do not overlook this detail)
Google the combination, there is a published load out there from major component manufacturer.
Super accuracy @ 52.5, inexpensive, pleasant load in my unbraked Sendero.
It’s 7mm/08 power level and a fraction of the recoil normally associated with the great 7mm Rem Mag

This load shot great for me also in a Rem 700,
139g Hornady Flat base.

USE OF IMR 4064 DEMANDS A MAG PRIMER OR HANG FIRES WILL RESULT!

I think that a small explanation is in order, if you don't use a magnum primer, you will get hang fires....trust me on this.

 

[krummarine]

Tag.

 

[4xforfun]

I did some testing for a reduced load for hunting in my 7mm Rem Mag many years ago. I ended up shooting 50 gr. H4895 under a 120 NBT. It worked VERY well!!

A side benefit....my gun was exactly zeroed at 200 yards with the reduced load 120's and exactly zeroed at 300 yards with my full house loads under the 150 NBT. No adjustments needed.

I would think that a load could be found with the heavier bullets.

Good luck and BE SAFE,
Tod

 

[ridgeway]

6.5x47...heck with those magnums!

 

[david kieffer]

6.5x47...heck with those magnums!

what!!! why would anyone shoot a 6.5 x 47 , I don't get it lol . dave

 

[David L]

use 284 win data

 

[akajun]

If your gonna do it, use a filler like Dacron or Puff Lon on top of the powder charge to keep it up against the primer , for safety and performance sake.
Loading trapdoor smokeless loads in 45/70 left a lot of empty case. Left a lot of unburned powder in the case and mediocre accuracy until I started using a filler.
Also, and I don’t know if this is true, but an old timer blew up a big bore Africa gun with reduced loads. Determined it was that the primer flashed over the whole powder charge, igniting it at once causing a pressure spike.
Said thAt a filler prevented this

 

[Webphut]

I just went through the same thing as I have become recoil sensitive to my normal 7 mag load. I found several reduced loads. Most focus at the 140 gr bullets, but I found some that go as low as 115 gr and 120 gr bullets. Off the top of my head, H4895, Trailblazer, 5744, and there are a few others. Most of these loads though are from 30-40 years ago and have been removed from the books. So I googled reduced loads .pdf and found some old magazine articles with recipes. Now for the heavy bullets that you mention, slim pickings.

The trailblazer load caught my eye as its muzzle velocity is as low 1700 compared to the more common 2000-2800 range. That’s getting down to .243 win recoil.

I will post them up on here for you tomorrow.

 

[Intheshop]

Just a friendly word of caution using dacron as a filler..... it should not be "packed in". The more fluffy,the better.... it needs to fill the space,not be a lump shoved down against the powder. I occasionally use it,and will even say in some situations,it works well..... but prefer not to. YMMV. Good luck with your project.