7mm STW Brotherhood - For those who shoot the 7mm Shooting Times Westerner

I shoot the 177 gr Hunter and I also shoot the 175 gr Hornady ELDX.
Do you send the 175g eld-x much faster than 3-3100pfs? At 72 grains of imr7828 i saw 3010fps at sea level, 3.66 coal and saw a slight ejector mark at 72.5 grains with no added velocity.
 
Do you send the 175g eld-x much faster than 3-3100pfs? At 72 grains of imr7828 i saw 3010fps at sea level, 3.66 coal and saw a slight ejector mark at 72.5 grains with no added velocity.
I use Retumbo with the 175 ELDX. Only 2974 fps but it's sooooo accurate and doesn't hit the 1800 fps threshold until 1000 yards at that velocity. I actually validated this bullet out to 1070 yards in a long range class I had last year. It's a freight train that didn't get bucked much by the wind.
The 177 Hammer Hunter is stupid accurate. I'm getting 3040 fps with RL26. Going to play with the 172 Absolute Hammer when I get a chance. Got to figure out what powder to use. Should be able to get over 3200 fps
Attached is my 177 Hammer target at 100 yards 3F9040D3-0714-453E-8A04-CFB128516C24.jpeg
 
I don't recall exactly, but it's usually 10-15 rounds to find your load and validate it with Hammers.
Just one thing to note. You really have to pay attention to the recommended twist rate with Hammer bullets. You need an 8 twist for the 177 and 172's.
I'm in the process of load development for my 280 AI with the new 140 gr Absolute Hammer. Looks like the final load is going to be around 3410 fps. That's STW velocities in a non-Magnum cartridge.
 
what is your method?
I follow what the owner (Steve Davis) recommends. I use Nosler load data. Start with the starting charge weight and go up in 1 gr increments. Once I hit Nosler max load data, I increase in 0.5 gr increments going 2-3 gr above that published max load. I stop when I find pressure signs. I use a chrono the whole time. Usually a velocity node shows up somewhere within about 1.5 gr of where I hit pressure. Nodes tend to be 0.4-0.8 gr in size. So, I'll work up in 0.2 gr increments from 1.5 gr of where I hit max to find the best load. Then validate.
Usually during load work up, you'll tend to have a pretty good grouping even though each shot is increasing in charge. If you don't, change powders.
 
I just picked up 8lb of reloader 26. what kind of data are you guys using for 175 grain pills?
somewhere between rl25 and h1000 data?
 
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If your using a 175 Nosler , call them for advice. There is very little load data for RL26 right now. Not every company has tested all their bullets yet.

That being said, I did start low for a 168 Classic Hunter and work up in 1 gr increments to get an accurate load at 77gr.
It showed little signs of pressure.
 
From what I've seen charge weights compare very closely to H1000. If you start 1.0-2.0gr below the book min for H1000 you'll be safe. Work up to find safe max in your rifle. In this case I think you should start around 72-72.5gr with the partition.

R26 is much more temp stable than the old school reloader powders but it still can spike fast once ambient gets to 80-85F. Just keep that in mind if you develop a load now and then shoot in the summer months. It should provide pretty stable velocity in temps from 25-65\70F though. You'll see very good velocity and it is very clean burning as well.

Good luck
 
My necked down 8mm RM brass, produced by remington, shows a 10 grain spread (approx 255 to 265 grains) with a gm215m primer.
Are you guys seeing the same and is this considerable?
 
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