Start low and work up, these big cases are more forgiving. I track speed, speed equals pressure. I can make an educated argument for where I think the speed should be for the given cartridge.
7-300 Norma Mag Improved. IT’S ALIVE!!
- Thread starter Huntnful
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Huntnful
Well-Known Member
My baseline case was a 180 ELDM at 3.590 COAL to the lands. After the first 50 rounds, it had not changed at all actually. I expected it to, so I checked it again haha.
I'm personally looking at primers, ejector marks, bolt lift and velocity. With more time behind it, and more firings on the brass, i'll get a better and better idea of it I think. As well as maybe more people shooting the cartridge.
I think getting unreal velocities, normally correlates to getting unreal pressure hahaha. But there isn't much info on this one out there to compare velocities to. So I will try to be realistic when I share them. And not just share a max load velocities with little bolt click for bragging purposes. I want realistic velocities, well under pressure with whatever powder.
Huntnful
Well-Known Member
63 rounds in. A little bit of cracking in front of the case neck. Nothing substantial past that. I'm sure it doesn't help that I'm fire forming with a hot burning powder, but I didn't want to use up my H1000 haha.
Huntnful
Well-Known Member
Did some more fire forming this evening. 12 rounds into a .6 MOA group at 108 yards.
Got a new triggercam to mess with also. Here's 3 of those 12 shots. Pretty stable before each shot breaks.
Then tested 180 ELDM's with 84gr. H1000. Shot a 5 shot group at 300 yards. ES of 6 over those 5 shots.
85gr. H1000 yielded 3225fps and didn't notice any pressure signs there either.
Got a new triggercam to mess with also. Here's 3 of those 12 shots. Pretty stable before each shot breaks.
Then tested 180 ELDM's with 84gr. H1000. Shot a 5 shot group at 300 yards. ES of 6 over those 5 shots.
85gr. H1000 yielded 3225fps and didn't notice any pressure signs there either.
Great results, a 180 gr bullet at 3190 will take care of business near and far.
Quicksilver338
Well-Known Member
Is the scope cam something you'd take hunting? I've always wondered about getting one for that. I usually spot all my impacts so getting that on video would be cool.
Huntnful
Well-Known Member
Absolutely agreed
. I think it's definitely doable, depending on the hunt. That little sucker feels like it's 2lbs lol. And I wouldn't want it on my scope all the time. You'd have to keep it in your pack, and then put it on when you pursue an animal I'd think
Quicksilver338
Well-Known Member
Welllll….maybe not then haha. I bear hunt locally and the hikes usually aren't terrible. Probably the only time I'd take it along. At that point I've set up a spotter and phone skope before so choose your extra weight.
Huntnful
Well-Known Member
Oh I would much prefer a spotter/phone scope video quality over this. This would only be a "cool" factor of seeing through the actual scope.
Or like in my cases last year, I was too close to the animals to do any type of videoing. So it would have been cool to just have it on and running while stalking in for sure.
Huntnful
Well-Known Member
Barrel has 85 rounds on it now. Lands have not moved. Still 3.590" COAL with a 180 ELDM. Just checked them.
What bushing are you using to neck down your brass for the 180s?
Quicksilver338
Well-Known Member
H1000 is the ticket! I thinks it will be smart to just stick with that.
Phil Rizzo
Well-Known Member
Huntnful
Well-Known Member
I'm using a .314 bushing, that takes my ID to about .282 and then I expand with a .2835 mandrel.
Testing ES and speeds on some once fired with retumbo and N570 soon. But I really like H1000. Just gathering lots of data on this barrel, since I'll have another one chambered up for hunting season here shortly!
Hahahaha!! So true! It is some dirty stuff!
