7mm rem mag

Not all rifles shoot the same with every bullet. I had, as my first magnum rifle a MDl 700 ADL, circa 1976. It would shoot 175gr, factory or my reloads better than anything else. The 150's were acceptable, but did extensive meat damage at close range. I was using Speer Magtips in the 175gr loads, I don't remember what brand the factory 175's were, but I think they were Federal.
 
Well, I have shot everything from 120gr. Hornady HPs to Sierra 160gr HPBT Gamekings.

I usually stick with RL25, unless going to the lighter weight bullets. Then it's RL19, or RL22.

Just got some Hornady 154gr. SST's. BC of .525. Gonna try to do some longer range stuff with them.

Shooting Savage 111, with Picitanny base, Leupold rings, and a Redfield Revenge varmint scope.
 
Most of the choices of bullet weights above reflect the game they will be used on or the distance they will be shot. In theory it seems like using different weight bullets for different size game would make sense, but different weights usually shoot to different places. I prefer to to choose one bullet that works well for all the game I hunt so that I am not resighting all the time. It may not be the perfect bullet for every game, but I know its ballistics and it shoots well. There is not one perfect bullet for everyone.
 
140 gr Nosler Ballistic tip at 3400 fps.
Got a 3x4 mule buck at 477 yards, bang flip, in 2013
Got a 3x5 mule buck and an antelope buck at close range in 2014, both bang flop.
 
140 grn Ballistic Tip

Clark I got a box of those dudes for Christmas and haven't got a real decent idea where to start. Im looking for precision, and velocity near what you found, powder isn't an issue as I have most for the 7mm rem mag.
Can you point me in a starting direction?
 
Clark I got a box of those dudes for Christmas and haven't got a real decent idea where to start. Im looking for precision, and velocity near what you found, powder isn't an issue as I have most for the 7mm rem mag.
Can you point me in a starting direction?
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Hodgdon publishes 59 gr H4350 140 gr 2,927 fps 50 k c.u.p. 24" barrel 3.25" OAL
Quickload thinks that is 2,987 fps 48,306 psi

If I work up to 72 gr H4350 140 gr Nos BT moly, 26" barrel 3.4" OAL, I find the threshold of extractor groove growth
Quickload thinks that is 3,469 fps 82,077 psi

I can back off from that threshold a 3% safety margin for a useful load, knowing that H4350 is a temperature stabilized. BUT if the powder were Re17, I would have to reduce by a larger margin.

I have been hunting in 2013 a Rem700 I rebarrelled and in 2014 a stock Browning 1885 with:
70 gr H4350 140 gr Nos BT moly, 26" barrel and measuring 3400 fps
Quickload thinks that is 3,386 fps 74,884 psi

I only recorded 3 groups in 2014:
1) 1.0" 3 shot group at 100 yards = 1.0 moa
2) 3.6" 3 shot group at 450 yards = 0.8 moa
3) 7.2" 3 shot group at 550 yards = 1.3 moa

In prior years with other 7mmRemMag rifles I have built and other factory rifles, I have hunted with
120 gr Nos Bal Tip moly 3.34" 72 gr H4350 measure 3633 - 3652 fps
150 gr Nos Bal Tip moly 3.34" 66 gr H4350 measure 3333 - 3375 fps
162 gr HNDY SST moly 3.34" 62.8 gr H4350 measure 2904-2969 fps

Those other bullets work well, I just think the 140 gr Nos Bal tip is best.
Then there are the bullets that DO NOT work well:
I have been getting good accuracy with 180 gr VLD, but poor stopping power.
I have been getting good stopping power with 160 gr triple shock [tsx], but poor accuracy.
 
Remington used IMR7828 in factory ammunition for the 7mm mag, I have found nothing that equaled the velocity or accuracy of this powder. I have used other slow powders only H4831 came close to duplicating what the IMR powder will do.. William
 
My model 70 likes 160 Accubonds,168 Berger VLD hunting bullets with IMR7828, but I haven't loaded anything less than 150 Partitions for this 7mm rem mag.
I looked at the Nosler book and it like N165 for the 140's, I have a pound of N160, so I loaded a test for BTO, with 63.5 grains, to see if I can hit something close to what the heavier bullets can do precision wise.
Also I have a couple pounds of H4350, and will test that too, but don't have a goal to reach those pressure levels Clark found in his testing, just want to get these to get accurate and fast.
I also have a few pounds of RL22, RL19, and one pound of RL17, and I've read that RL22 may cause quicker throut erosion, and after smokin the throat out of my .270, I'm a bit gunshy.
 
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