7mm Rem Mag Berger VLD 168 velocity problems

[gilk1]

I'm loading the berger vld 168 gr in my 7mm rem mag 700 and I haven't seen the velocities that I've seen others report. I'm using 65.0 gr H4831SC (max load) jumping 0.010" with an avg velocity of 2830 fps.

I couldn't find any specific load data for the vld so I used the sierra book for a 168 BTHP matchking which reports a max charge of 64.7 gr 4831SC @ 3000 fps. My velocity isn't far off but I regularly see others posting velocities well over 3000 for the same setup and would like to get the most out of my rifle. That being said, my rifle has a 22" barrel and isn't very new.

I previously loaded nosler 140 gr BST's @ the same velocity with the same powder and charge weight just into the lands. I worked up a load over 3000 for it but it was all over the paper so I stuck with 65.0 gr.

My question is: since I'm at the max load already, how much farther can I go before it's unsafe and is that velocity obtainable from a 22" barrel? Also, if my barrel is worn out would it be safe to increase the max load more than 5% to get the velocity I want?

 

[CRNA]

My 28" match barrel gets me about 2975fps with 70gr H1000. I don't think you could get over 3000fps out of a 22" barrel, but maybe someone else can chime in to confirm or bust this myth.

Edit. Sorry, I meant to say I have a 26" barrel. But still holds true with the barrel length issue.

 

[Loner]

I confer with you, barrel length is paramount in magnums for velocity. The bigger the
overbore the more important it becomes.

 

[retiredcpo]

Well i dont know much about barrel lenght affecting velocity im sure it does I just dont know as much as alot of these guys.
I do know what others get from their guns probably wont be the same in yours
I am very carefull to falloew load charts and not go over the manufactures max
and alot of guys do go over.
According to berger the max load for 4831 sc is64.5 grains with a 2889 fps
Email them and they will send you a load sheet
retiredcpo

 

[brentc]

The 22" barrel is hindering your ability to maximize velocity, H4831 may be your best bet with the short barrel. Although, a slower like H1000 may help squeeze a few more fps.

 

[trebark]

Just because the 'book' says you're at max load, doesn't necessarily mean that you are. Let your rifle tell you when it is at max. From the maximum load you have now, go up in .5grain increments (that's less than 1% increase). Watch for pressure signs...ejector mark on the case head, heavy bolt lift etc.

Ammo and bullet manufacturers have lawyers on retainer. As a result, their load data is generally rather conservative. I'm not advocating that you ignore their data, just proceed cautiously if you're going to go over their 'max'

 

[powerman32]

Try Imr 7828ssc im loading 70gr and pushing between 3040@3088 on the chronograph and hole for hole I couldnt be happier..

 

[Jumpalot]

I'm running a 26" barrel and I carefully worked up to 67 grains of H4831 and get 3080 fps. I got all the way up to 69 grains before seeing pressure (light ejector mark). I also fired over a chronograph to watch velocities as I worked up. I saw a consistent increase of 40-50 fps for every 1 grain increase in powder charge. But there was only a 10 fps increase from 67 to 68 grains. Also, 67 grains showed my best ES. Long story short, carefully work up a load. I don't think you'll get to 3000 fps with a 22" barrel though.

 

[MudRunner2005]

7mm RemMag Load Data..... Hope this helps.

Berger 168 VLD (from the Berger manual)

IMR 4350: Min - 52.5 (2596) Max - 58.3 (2920)
Hybrid 100V: Min - 52.5 (2614) Max - 58.5 (2846)
IMR 4831: Min - 53.5 (2648) Max - 59.4 (2887)
Alliant Reloder 19: Min - 56.0 (2673) Max - 62.4 (2944)
H4831 SC: Min - 57.0 (2618) Max - 63.4 (2904)
AA 3100: Min - 58.0 (2619) Max - 64.5 (2888)
Alliant Reloder 22: Min - 58.5 (2701) Max - 65.0 (2984) *** I run 67.0 for my 168's in my 7Mag
IMR 7828 SSC: Min - 59.0 (2721) Max - 65.3 (3002)
Viht N165: Min - 58.5 (2617) Max - 65.3 (2892)
Viht N560: Min - 59.0 (2718) Max - 65.6 (3014)
Norma MRP: Min - 59.0 (2716) Max - 65.7 (3007)
Alliant Reloder 25: Min - 61.0 (2731) Max - 67.8 (3012)
AA Magpro: Min - 61.0 (2669) Max - 68.0 (2984)
Norma MRP 2: Min - 63.0 (2726) Max - 68.5 (2970)
H1000: Min - 62.5 (2669) Max - 69.5 (2987)
Ramshot Magnum: MIn - 63.5 (2685) Max - 70.7 (3019)
Retumbo: Min - 65.5 (2721) Max - 71.2 (2975)

Berger 180 VLD

IMR 4350: Min - 51.0 (2512) Max - 55.7 (2705)
Hybrid 100V: Min - 53.0 (2606) Max - 56.0 (2720)
IMR 4831: Min - 53.5 (2594) Max - 56.6 (2719)
H4350: Min - 52.5 (2570) Max - 57.2 (2743)
Alliant Reloder 22: Min - 57.0 (2628) Max - 60.3 (2771)
H4831 SC: Min - 56.5 (2587) Max - 61.2 (2792)
IMR 7828 SSC: Min - 58.0 (2627) Max - 61.3 (2821)
Viht N165: Min - 58.0 (2585) Max - 61.3 (2720)
Viht N560: Min - 58.5 (2692) Max - 61.5 (2826)
Alliant Reloder 25: Min - 60.5 (2700) Max - 63.7 (2831)
AA Magpro: Min - 61.0 (2671) Max - 64.4 (2824)
Norma MRP 2: Min - 62.0 (2683) Max - 65.5 (2838)
H1000: Min - 62.5 (2672) Max - 66.0 (2830)
Ramshot Magnum: MIn - 63.5 (2692) Max - 66.8 (2844)
Retumbo: Min - 63.5 (2635) Max - 69.2 (2881)

 

[gilk1]

I've rebarreled to a 26" this post and switched to reloader 22. My chrono still reads in the 2800's with a max load of 65.0 gr but I've drop tested at 400 yds and calculated 2960 so I think my chrono is a little off. best accuracy with 168's is 0.080" off the lands under 1/2 moa.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Have you tried any with H1000? All my magnums love H1000 with the Bergers for some reason.

It likes the RL-22 enough to hunt with, but I wouldn't shoot over 300 yards with that load, just b/c it's not a very consistant grouping @ 100...

The H1000 loads seem to be more consistant.

 

[gilk1]

No I haven't even seen any in a long time, powder is hard to come by. I've had excellent success at 1000 yds with RL-22 but hear Alliant isn't very constant at different temps. I'll find out this summer.

What is your load and rifle setup?

 

[MudRunner2005]

No I haven't even seen any in a long time, powder is hard to come by. I've had excellent success at 1000 yds with RL-22 but hear Alliant isn't very constant at different temps. I'll find out this summer.

What is your load and rifle setup?

See, I heard different about 22.....However, that would explain why my groupings were great one day at the range (slightly cool outside), and then slightly erradic the next time I went. Also, my BOSS system had come loose and was causing it to be slightly erradic...But I know that it shouldn't have cuased it to shoot anywhere near as funky as it did.

 

[gilk1]

well I've read that a lot ppl are having high velocity swings due to temp with RL-17 in 260 rem, I would imagine RL-22 has the the same problem since probably the only difference is size and burn rate but I haven't been able to test that yet.