7mmRemMag accuracy troubles

[jsimonh]

I have a Savage 112 BVSS in 7 mag. I did a break-in on the gun, not sure if I needed to but I did it anyways. Today I took the gun out for the second time to try and find a good load for some long range shooting. I loaded 4 groups of 5 shells according to Bergers seating instructions. I also loaded 4 groups of Amax's to the same seating depths.

All groups were shot off a bench at 100 yards.

168gr Bergers
71gr Retumbo
215 Federal Primers
Norma Brass (Fire formed)
Avg 3090fps

The best Berger group was acheived at .040 off the lands and measured a whopping 1.5 inches for 5 shots. The other groups looked like the target had been shot with a shotgun.

162 Amax's
71.5gr Retumbo
215 Federal Primers
Norma Brass (Fire formed)
Avg 3085

Best Amax group was at .080 off the lands and measured .729 for 5 shots.

I was okay with the Amax group, but was really hoping for under a 1\2 moa group.

I've only shot Bergers since I started reloading and have had great luck with them, but I couldn't shoot worth a crap today with them.

I have a little RL22 and H4831sc I could try, but was really hoping Retumbo would work for me.

I guess I'm just looking for some direction on where to go from here.

Sorry for the long post, just really frustrated with something that usually brings me so much joy.

 

[Grumulkin]

It would appear to me that your load work-up emphasizes different bullets and distance off the lands. What you really should do is stick with one bullet and seat said bullet as close to the lands as possible while still getting good feeding through the magazine. Load a series of cartridges with incrementally increasing powder charges. I usually load 3 cartridges with each load but if you want to do 5, then more power to you.

Once you've found a powder charge that seems to give the best group, you can play around with distance off the lands or bullet type. If accuracy isn't satisfactory, then do a similar workup with a different powder.

The 162 gr. A-Max with its BC of 0.625 is an excellent long range bullet choice. My 7mm Rem. Mag. load with that bullet and with Barnes 140 gr. XLC bullets utilizes RL-22 over Federal 210M primers (not magnum primers). I get very good accuracy with that combination.

 

[retiredcpo]

I tried several powders and lenghts what i finally ended up with was1 64.5 gr of 4831sc .020 off the lands this load shoot sub moa out to 1000 yards but i stopped using the bergers since they where so hard to find I went back to the Accubond
but Im also trying some 120 gr bullets this week
retiredcpo

​

 

[backwoods83]

As was mentioned, for the most possible accuracy use 210m's or cci br-2's, not mag primers, and go with imr 4831 or re22. jumping bergers with mag primers and retumbo= why it looked like a shotgun! There isn't any reason that rifle should shoot that bad, unless you got one that someone atempted to wrap around a tree!

 

[merll284]

I agree with Grumulkin. However I like to work up loads with VLD bullets @ 300 yds +. I have been in the same boat as you. I spent the better part of a summer and alot of money trying to get Bergers to group well at 100 yds. I then started shooting at 300 - 500yds....Wow! it makes a diference. I have a 7mm Rem Mag, Lilja #5, Trued Rem action, and it shoots 0.8" @ 100yds but can consistently shoot 2 - 2.5" @ 500yds!
My go to load:
69.1 gr H1000
Win Brass (neck turn 0.011")
Fed 215M
168 gr BergerVLD
0.035" off lands

 

[WV Sendero]

I have a Savage 112 BVSS in 7 mag. I did a break-in on the gun, not sure if I needed to but I did it anyways. Today I took the gun out for the second time to try and find a good load for some long range shooting. I loaded 4 groups of 5 shells according to Bergers seating instructions. I also loaded 4 groups of Amax's to the same seating depths.

All groups were shot off a bench at 100 yards.

168gr Bergers
71gr Retumbo
215 Federal Primers
Norma Brass (Fire formed)
Avg 3090fps

The best Berger group was acheived at .040 off the lands and measured a whopping 1.5 inches for 5 shots. The other groups looked like the target had been shot with a shotgun.

162 Amax's
71.5gr Retumbo
215 Federal Primers
Norma Brass (Fire formed)
Avg 3085

Best Amax group was at .080 off the lands and measured .729 for 5 shots.

I was okay with the Amax group, but was really hoping for under a 1\2 moa group.

I've only shot Bergers since I started reloading and have had great luck with them, but I couldn't shoot worth a crap today with them.

I have a little RL22 and H4831sc I could try, but was really hoping Retumbo would work for me.

I guess I'm just looking for some direction on where to go from here.

Sorry for the long post, just really frustrated with something that usually brings me so much joy.

I actually did almost the very same thing today. Tried seating depths as Berger recommends and none shot very well either. This was also a new (50 break-in shots) Sendero. My best load was seated into the lands but still only shot about 1.5" like you said. I was highly disappointed. All loads were 64gr RL22 and winchester mag primers. I think I am going to try an Amax with H1000 or Retumbo. I have tried Bergers in two guns and neither liked them. I'm not knocking Bergers because people who are much better than I am shoot them but I'm leaning toward the Amax now. Good luck with your loads, and don't get too disgusted because you aren't alone.

 

[jsimonh]

Thanks for the input guys.

I worked up the 71gr load during break in. All bullets were seated to .010 off the lands and several powder charges were used. None really shot well, so I settled on 71 for no real reason. I didn't dip into the lower powder charges to far, maybe I'll re work the Bergers with a greater range of powder charges.

Is the .729 Amax group decent for a 5 shot group? I'm not really sure what my "goal" should realisticly be for a 5 shot group.

I think I'll leave the Amax load at .080 off the lands and experiment more with powder charges.

I thought about trying some SMK's, but I'm not sure my 1:9.5 barrel will stabilize them.

 

[backwoods83]

Put the 168 bergers 3-5 thos in the lands then try 61-63 grns imr 4350 or 62.5-64.5 grns imr 4831 I bet your groups tighten up.

 

[bigngreen]

I have had good luck breaking it down to finer increments than what Berger suggests. I use .010 increments out to .040 and I haven't had to go shorter except when restricted by a mag length. I have a couple of rifles that like the .015 range. Bergers can be finicky, no doubt but worth it IMO.

 

[shootinfool]

I have had good luck breaking it down to finer increments than what Berger suggests. I use .010 increments out to .040 and I haven't had to go shorter except when restricted by a mag length. I have a couple of rifles that like the .015 range. Bergers can be finicky, no doubt but worth it IMO.

+1

Also, I have two rifles that are my personal rifles that like the bullet jammed .005. They both shoot around the .7 range @100 and some days a little tighter but they both hold about 1/2 moa out past 1000.

 

[roninflag]

i got higher velocity, sd and es with the 215s. i would not shoot the std rifle primers and i nwould not shoot the 215s. . i would shoot 9.5m , 250s or wlrm. are you shooting targets or hunting?? with those high bc bullets you may want to try around 2850 to 2950 fps

 

[jsimonh]

It looks like I got alot more testing to do.

i got higher velocity, sd and es with the 215s. i would not shoot the std rifle primers and i nwould not shoot the 215s. . i would shoot 9.5m , 250s or wlrm. are you shooting targets or hunting?? with those high bc bullets you may want to try around 2850 to 2950 fps

It's mostly LR target shooting, but I also will be hunting from 600 yards and in with it.

 

[TRB&B]

In my 7MM Mag with 168gr Berger's it liked RL-22 & also H-4831 work well too.

 

[backwoods83]

Federal owns CCI by the way and if you call and ask them they will tell you if you can not find 210M's to use CCI 250's so I guess that makes them about the same. Now if your hunting at 35* and colder a 215 gives better ignition when its cold. Finally someone agrees with RE22 and 4831!