168 or 180 VLD in sendero 7RM

[Dano1]

I'm looking at this thread with much interest as I have an older Sendero in a 7mm Rem mag.

I've never tried the Berger VLDs in it yet. I have noticed that my rifle likes 150g bullets the most and the best groups that I've gotten out of it were with Nosler Bal Tips and Sierra Gamekings. Group consistancy was best using H4831SC. I also tried IMR7828, Not so good. I haven't shot them over the Chrony yet, but plan to this summer.

I've tried 162g A-max and 160g Sierras but I couldn't get it to group very well. I've tried IMR 7828 and H4831 and neither would group with multiple diffrent carge weights. I haven't tried H1000 yet, but after reading this I may give it a shot as I still have 1/2 a box of the A-Maxs and the Sierras left. I would love to get them to shoot.

then I'll try the Bergers.

Dan

 

[Derek M.]

Those are great recipies IF you can 215M primers. They are as rare as hen's teeth.

I now have about 35,000 215Ms and 10,000 215s. I'm good on primers.

 

[Old Coach]

I found the 215Ms today but no Berger 168s.
I have the A-Max so I will try that with H4831sc.
I also need a good set of dies with a neck sizer if anyone has some for sale.
I am using a borrowed set for now.

Coach

 

[Dano1]

Coach,

You don't really need to buy a neck sizing die to neck size, a FL die will work if you adjust to just bump the shoulder then back off 1/4 of a turn and set your lock ring on your die. It's always good to have that FL die, you'll have to use it after 4-5 loads to Bump the shoulder back anyway.

It looks like Midway is out of 7mm Bergers, seems they are getting harder to find....

Dan

 

[BryanLitz]

For those interested in these two bullets, there is a detailed write up on their ballistic performance on my website:

Homepage of Bryan Litz - A Bravenet.com Hosted Site

On the left, under "7mm VLD analysis".

The articles talk about the relative performance of the two bullets in general terms, and from a long range target shooting perspective. It's not the exact application you're all interested in here, but some of the material is still relevant.

Also, there is no load data included. It's just a performance analysis for the two bullets.

-Bryan

 

[moombaskier]

71.5 grs. Retumbo, 215m, Win. brass.at .010" off the lands which is 2.723 on my Stoney Point comparater gives me 3048 ave. fps for 20 shots/ 25ES and 7.7SD. All were in a hole about the size of a quarter at 100yds. Rem. 700, 7mm mag. 72.5grs. gave me 3114,3114,3123fps in a bugged hole , but there was an extracter mark showing on them so I backed off. I tried seating depths from .020" off the lands to .005 into the lands in .005" increments and the .010" off was clearly the best in all loads. The same place it likes the accubonds. Strangely the accubonds didn't care for the Retumbo. They liked 7828 best, 3100fps and vey accurate as well. I'm going to stick with that load for now and put the 180's on the back burner. I didn't see much advantage using the 180's, guessing at 2950fps. And the fit in the magazine easily, if that counts as a plus.

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

168g VLD, 63g RL-22, Win case, Fed 215, bullet seated to touch lands. 2950fps, and 1/2 MOA out to 700 yards from my rem 700 bdl in 7 Rem Mag w/24" bbl.

180g VLD, 61g RL-22, Win case, Fed 215, bullet seated to touch lands. 2825fps, and 1/2 MOA

I like the 168g better then the 180g from the 7 mag case. Hits every bit as hard out to 1K, but shoots flatter and drifts about the same as the 180g.

 

[Magnumpeanut]

This thread is relevant to my interests.


I'm not shooting a sendaro, but I want load data for a 24" bbl with 1:9.5 twist. I'm looking at the preformance with 168g bergers. I'm jsut not sure what powder to use. I'm going to try 4831sc as I have a bit left, enough for 20 shots maybe. Then I thought I'd try H4350. I've never used H1000 or R22, R25 But I want to try them out too.

 

[Derek M.]

H1000 and Re22 are better choices than 4831, IMO. IMR4350 could likely produce the very best accuracy but you will sacrifice velocity.

 

[260shooter]

Derek

Any more testing with the 168 and Retumbo or H-1000?

Shot 71.5 Retumbo, 168 Berger, 215M, in WW cases with a large ES from 3001 to 3091 (sticky bolt lift). Of 10 shots most were 3030 to 3064. When the velocities are close the shots are close. At this point I'm thinking of trying H-1000 as I have had low ES in other 7 Mags. Also thinking of trying 210M's (said to give lower ES).

260

 

[Derek M.]

Derek

Any more testing with the 168 and Retumbo or H-1000?

Shot 71.5 Retumbo, 168 Berger, 215M, in WW cases with a large ES from 3001 to 3091 (sticky bolt lift). Of 10 shots most were 3030 to 3064. When the velocities are close the shots are close. At this point I'm thinking of trying H-1000 as I have had low ES in other 7 Mags. Also thinking of trying 210M's (said to give lower ES).

260

I'm done now. I settled on 71.0 gr H1000. My final test was to try this load when the brass was sized with and w/o the expander for a bit of neck tension difference.

I settled on .010 off lands, 215 match primer, Nosler brass. Biggest group my last trip to the range was .444 at 100 yards and .780 at 200. I'm annealing case necks after each firing. Best groups were with once and twice fired brass. Worst groups were with virgin brass.

 

[260shooter]

What is the extreme spread on your brass. I just weighed my WW brass and found a 3.5 gr difference. I sorted out 10 that were within 1.5 gr and will use those for my next range trip. I figure I can get 2 batches that way.

What was your extreme spread over the chrono and avg velocity?

260

 

[Derek M.]

Have not checked velocity. Nosler brass was "2nds" and their only problem I found was they were not wt sorted but I did that myself with the 300 pieces I bought. $18/50, I couldn't pass up. The whole batch was about a 3.5 grain spread also. I sorted them to half grain lots. Most weighed 235.0 to 235.9 grains so I got a bunch in each lot.

I can't remember all the values but I think brass is 9 times heavier than water, by the time you figure how many grains of water can fit into a 7 rem mag case, even 4 grains difference in brass wt won't amount to much when powder is added. Regardless, I wt sort to the half grain. It will take you about 500 pieces of Win brass to get 50-75 for one lot. Be sure to wt sort AFTER you size them in your die and trim them all to the same length. I don't think it will affect much inside of 700-800 yards but beyond that, wt sorting brass is prudent as far as I'm concerned.

 

[FRANK21]

Berger 168 VLD .010 into the lands
Win Brass
Fed215M
71.5 grns of Retumbo
3100FPS via 28" tube


Berger 168 VLD .010 into the lands
Win Brass
Fed215M
64.5 grns of RL19
3050FPS via 28" tube