168 Berger VLD 7 STW

[Blacktail]

I have used the 160 accubonds and the 140 tsx's but thinking bout giving these a try. any suggestions? I have a bunch of H1000 and H4831. My STW is a Remington with 26" Shilen. I hear they can be finicky on the seating depth. I have a box mag so could be hindered a bit.

 

[AZShooter]

I have a model 700 with an unaltered box magazine formerly 7 Rem Mag now, 7 STW. Gave the 168 VLDs a try. If they shot well I was going to get a Wyatt's extended box mag. I got so so results single loading with bullets close to the rifling. Just for the heck of it I seated them to fit and feed from the existing magazine as a last ditch effort. Much to my surprise with an approx. .170" jump they shot bugholes! Load: Moly coated 168 Berger VLD, Fed 215 match, Rem brass, 82.5 gr of RL-25 for vel of 3200 when temps are lower than 65 degrees.

You don't know what a rifle likes till you try them.

 

[Blacktail]

I was actually thinking bout just seating them to where they just fit in the mag box like I did my 160 accubonds. I am just a bit nervous for close shots inside of 100yards but they say they are holding up.

 

[royinidaho]

I have a model 700 with an unaltered box magazine formerly 7 Rem Mag now, 7 STW. Gave the 168 VLDs a try. If they shot well I was going to get a Wyatt's extended box mag. I got so so results single loading with bullets close to the rifling. Just for the heck of it I seated them to fit and feed from the existing magazine as a last ditch effort. Much to my surprise with an approx. .170" jump they shot bugholes! Load: Moly coated 168 Berger VLD, Fed 215 match, Rem brass, 82.5 gr of RL-25 for vel of 3200 when temps are lower than 65 degrees.

You don't know what a rifle likes till you try them.

How fast can you get that VLD going in your rifle?

It sounds like your load is a near max at hunting temperatures?

I'm attempting to gather info on VLD performance above 3200.........

 

[AZShooter]

I didn't push past the powder charge I used. I did get closer to 3250 when developing the load but it was over 80 degrees, so I quit, happy with the accuracy. Remember this is with a moly coated bullet. I seem to remember the early videos made by Best of the West had their 7 STW going around 3200, I do not know if they used moly. My best recollection was that their barrel was 26" as is mine.

I would have used the 180 VLD but the twist on the factory Rem barrel is too slow.

 

[royinidaho]

AZshooter,

Thanks......