7mm Rem Mag, New Powder / Load Advice

[levers4life]

So, there's no Retumbo, H1000, RL26, etc. As everyone knows.
I am working a load for 7mm Remington Mag using 162gr Hornady SST's. I have been able to scrape up 2lbs of IMR7977 and a couple pounds of Western Magnum. I have zero experience with these two powders. Any advice, tricks or load suggestions would be appreciated.
I'm running a Ruger M77 with 26" tube. Neck sized Remington brass, Lee factory crimp, Federal primers.
Thanks in advance

 

[mitebeck]

Hogdon has loads for it on their site!

 

[levers4life]

yeah, been there. and the manuals. was hoping for a little more knowledge from actual experience. temp sensitivity, etc. but thanks for the reply

 

[brian b]

Only advice I can give with your set-up, lose the Lee factory crimp die or trade it for a Lee collet neck die

 

[LVJ76]

Mine likes the 162gr SST at 3.290" COAL as recommended on the Hornady manual, it likes a big jump. I use RL23 though.

The IMR-7977 I found will go to the 168gr Berger VLDH.

With 7977 you'll provably start hitting max at about 70gr; me I would start at 68 and work my way up

The 162gr SST is an awesome hunting bullet on the 7mm Rem Mag. Hope you find a good load for it.

Stay safe

 

[levers4life]

Mine likes the 162gr SST at 3.290" COAL as recommended on the Hornady manual, it likes a big jump. I use RL23 though.

The IMR-7977 I found will go to the 168gr Berger VLDH.

With 7977 you'll provably start hitting max at about 70gr; me I would start at 68 and work my way up

The 162gr SST is an awesome hunting bullet on the 7mm Rem Mag. Hope you find a good load for it.

Stay safe

Thanks for the intelligent reply! I have had great success with the SST's as well. I usually run H1000 but there's none to be had of course.
I'm only hoping someone has some sage advice on either of these powders before I start burning components, I'm hoping for right at 3000fps. Which is my better choice?

 

[LVJ76]

Thanks for the intelligent reply! I have had great success with the SST's as well. I usually run H1000 but there's none to be had of course.
I'm only hoping someone has some sage advice on either of these powders before I start burning components, I'm hoping for right at 3000fps. Which is my better choice?

H1000, RL26 and Retumbo will give you more velocity then 7977 or RL23, but good luck finding all five of them.

7977 and RL23 should get us to 3,000 fps with a 26" barrel, and above 2,900 with a 24".

I don't know the muzzle velocity of my SST and RL23 load yet, but with 7828 I was at 2,950. 50 fps ain't much especially when components aren't readily available.