Where to start in 7MM Remington?

[scubohuntr]

I have been loading up some of the brass lying around the place. I went to buy some powder the other day for the first time in a couple of decades. After regaining consciousness, I realized I would have to minimize the powders I keep on hand. I have a bunch of Varget around for the .223s (I know it’s not the optimum powder for .223, but I have it on hand and don’t really load .308 any more), and some pulldown 4895 that works quite well to feed the M1. I bought a pound of H110 for 44 mags and a pound of RL-15 which barely loaded 100 rounds of .375 H&H. 270 and 280 are on the schedule for later, but either Varget or 4895 will work for a starting point for them. I’ll be picking up a can of Unique or Bullseye for 9mm and .44 Special. The unifying theme is that all these powders either load a bunch of different cartridges (Varget and 4895) or are nearly ideal powders for a single caliber I shoot a LOT (RL-15 and H-110).

The problem I have is I’ve never done any load development for the 7MM magnum, and none of my manuals give a preference. I’ll be loading heavier bullets for elk, and I’d like to hear preferred powders from veteran loaders. I don’t mind buying powder when I need to, but I’d rather not buy a half dozen different powders if I can avoid it.

I’m not looking for anyone’s pet loads, I just want some opinions on the overall best powder for heavier bullets in 7MM Rem. Since nothing else I load uses most of the powders listed, I don’t want to try a powder that I can’t use in anything else.

 

[AckleymanII]

I killed two big bulls with 140g Nosler ballistic tips out of a 7 mag, so don't think that they are armor plated.

140g Barnes tipped tripple shocks will not stop in an elk, seat the bullet .050 off the lands
65-66g of IMR 4350
Rem case
Rem 9 1/2
Expect 3/8" groups
3200 fps

150g Nosler partition
72-73g of R#25-start off at 69g and work up
Win Mag primer*****
Rem case
3200 fps

160g partition
61g of IMR 4350-max load in several rifles, 3/4" load
Rem case
Rem 9 1/2
3000 fps

Place your shot, know your range you are capable of making reliable hits or do not pull the trigger.

 

[PDS]

The different flavors of 4350 and 4831 are all good for heavy bullets in many cartridges.

 

[Gb300wm]

My 7 rem mag preferred RL22 and N560. You will like either of those two powders. N560 with the 175 berger elite hunter and RL22 with bullets like the barnes 145 lrx.

 

[Duhawk]

Mine likes 70grn's +/- of Retumbo shooting the heavy's...I've used the VVN560 and RL22, both close, but Retumbo seems the most consistent of the 3 for me anyway. Nice thing about Retumbo is you can load a compressed round and not blow yourself up.

 

[strut64]

I developed a good load with the new IMR 7977 and 150 gr bullets. Go to Hodgdens site for info.

 

[6MMsteve]

re22 for good metering

 

[sbhooper]

Reloder 22, 25 and 33 if you have a 26-inch barrel. I got over 3000 fps with 33 and Hornady 175s. Also, 4831 and 4350 will work fine. My go-to for elk, is with Re 25 and 160 Nosler Partitions at 3000 fps, from a 26-inch barrel.

 

[snert]

7828...150 grain NBT. Not a heavy, but very accurate.

 

[K22]

Trade it for a 270 or 30-06. Just an opinion from an non-expert and lifetime hunter.

 

[scubohuntr]

Trade it for a 270 or 30-06. Just an opinion from an non-expert and lifetime hunter.

I have a .270 and a .30-06 (although the .30-06 is an M1, and while I have taken whitetails with it, I’m far too old to be humping it up and down the mountains). My go-to hunting rifle is a .375 H&H, not because it’s needed for elk or deer, but just because I have one and purely love the cartridge. The 7MM will give me a bit flatter trajectory than the .375, and wears a better scope for longer shots.

 

[Gary O'Neal]

Trade it for a 270 or 30-06. Just an opinion from an non-expert and lifetime hunter.

And this contributes what to the discussion?

 

[K22]

And this contributes what to the discussion?

Nothing

 

[farmerjohn]

Old school, H4350 or 4831, it's worked for years...

 

[L.Sherm]

I had good luck with H1000 and 180 bergers

 

[manitou210]

I killed two big bulls with 140g Nosler ballistic tips out of a 7 mag, so don't think that they are armor plated.

140g Barnes tipped tripple shocks will not stop in an elk, seat the bullet .050 off the lands
65-66g of IMR 4350
Rem case
Rem 9 1/2
Expect 3/8" groups
3200 fps

150g Nosler partition
72-73g of R#25-start off at 69g and work up
Win Mag primer*****
Rem case
3200 fps

160g partition
61g of IMR 4350-max load in several rifles, 3/4" load
Rem case
Rem 9 1/2
3000 fps

Place your shot, know your range you are capable of making reliable hits or do not pull the trigger.

It does not get any better than your load with IMR 4350 its a lazer load
140g Barnes tipped tripple shocks will not stop in an elk, seat the bullet .050 off the lands
65-66g of IMR 4350
Rem case
Rem 9 1/2
Expect 3/8" groups
3200 fps

 

[Dusty Stevens]

7828ssc for me.

 

[STOMP442]

70-71gr of Retumbo and a 180 Berger at 2950ish does wonders.

 

[Clark]

For a number of years with a number rifles and shooting a number deer, I was doing 70 gr H4350 140 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip, moly coated 3.34".. does about 3300 fps.

Last year, still building more 7mmRemMag rifles, I have switched to bore coat treatment in barrel, 140 gr Accubond 3.34" 65.1 gr IMR-4451.. does about 3265 fps.

The H4350 is temp stable, but the IMR-4451 is temp stable, AND anti Copper fouling.

 

[Ares]

65-70 Grains of N170 is my go to for heavier bullets.
The new 565 looks interesting in its own regard.


As for a powder to be Anti copper fouling????
For even stating such there better be some proof of it.
And not because the bottle says so.
According to the mfgs just about every powder created is also temperature stable so....