Reloading help needed for 7mm Rem Mag

[Hugh204]

A friend of mine asked if I would build some bullets for his new 7mm Rem Mag. I'm wondering if there is anything special I need to know about loading this caliber??

I load .204, .22-250, .25-06 and .30-06. I don't have any experience with the mag's and the belted case. I have only been loading one year so I'm no expert.

I picked up a used set of RCBS full length dies for him, a bullet holder, bullets and primers.

I was surprised at how much pressure I had to apply to deprime/size the case. Is this typical for FL sizing a case like this? I pretty much only neck size so not alot to compare to.

Tonight I got as far as priming and realized that I must need a special primer since the magnum primers don't fit my Lee hand held loader nor would they fit the lee primers that mount on my Lee press. I don't feel like spending alot, any recommendations?

I measured the AMAX 162 bullets to sit about 20 thou off the lands and then found that I was wwaayy longer than the max recommended overall length. I will seat the bullets deeper and just have the overall length equal max given in manual??

Anything else I'm missing??

 

[markm87]

If you seat those AMAX to mag length, they probably won't shoot worth a crud.

I've had good results loading them as far as .140 off the lands in .308.... I mean under 1/2 MOA out to 500 yards.

Are you using good case lube? I load 7mag and don't notice anything different than any other cartridge when FL sizing.

If they guy wants mag length ammo, you may need to find a Tangent Ogive bullet for him.

 

[wapiti25]

nothing different, any large case takes more force to full length re-size than a small case. Has the brass been fired in the rifle you are loading for? Set the dies up to just "bump" the shoulder the same as you would a 308. I really like Imperial Dry Neck sizing lube on the neck when using an expander type die for sizing as it reduces the force required to pull the expander Thur the neck. You still need a case lube on the body. Some 7mm RM have a long throat that will be too long for the mag. I load for the throat and then check to see if they will go in the magazine, then adjust as you have to. I load for five 7mm Rem Mag hunting rifles. I just bought a used Winchester M70 barrel and I shot a few rounds at 300yds using the Berger 168 VLD and it looks like it is going to shoot about 1" groups at 300. I'm using the Berger 168 using H1000 powder for hunting in two rifles, one uses the 150 NBT with 7828 powder, one likes the 160 NBT or Sierra using IMR 4350 powder. The Lee collet die works good for neck sizing for me and is not as expensive as my Redding Competion bushing die. I have not experienced any advantage using the bushing die in my rifles. Only one rifle has a match grade barrel and it is a Kreiger and it shoots the Bergers in about 3" @500 yds out of an 8lb hunting rifle over my back pack. Two rifles are 7.25lbs with scope Colt Light Rifles and I use them as good to 500yds with the loads that I use. I went a long range school put on by GunWerks, they recommend and shoot the 168 Berger in their ammo.

 

[markm87]

I went a long range school put on by GunWerks, they recommend and shoot the 168 Berger in their ammo.

Yeah... that's their bullet and caliber of choice. We have some of their ammo. The 168 VLD in 7 mag has a really high BC. We're going to mess with that soon.