7 PRC help. Loads

[shooters]

New 7 PRC.
1:8
22"
Has 108 rounds down the tube. Broke in properly (which I don't believe in anyhow)

Hornady Brass
Tried Fed 215M, Fed 210M and REM 9 1/2 out of each load.
I've only shot Barnes 145 LRX out of it.
I've tried all three primers above.
Seated bullets into the lands and all the way in having a huge jump.
Tried Norma 217 from min to max
Tried H1000 min to max
Tried N560 min to max.
No matter the configuration of primers, powder charge, powder type, or seating depth, the thing does not change. It holds about 1.25 -1.50" group at 100 yards.

I have not tried any other bullets. I was kind of dead set on the 145 LRX.
I've never had luck with Barnes bullets out of any rifle I've ever built or factory. I do have 160 LRX to try as well. So now I'm not sure if I just need to give up on the Barnes and stick with the ELDX or ELDM's. I could always try Hammers, Maguire, Cutting Edge, other coppers, etc. But I really wanted to try and stick with the Barnes for price and easy to find.

Is there anything else I should try here or just give up on the Barnes for good?

 

[WeiserBucks]

I have not tried any other bullets. I was kind of dead set on the 145 LRX.
I've never had luck with Barnes bullets out of any rifle I've ever built or factory

You've answered your own question.

 

[338edge]

Try Hammers or 180 Bergers

 

[shooters]

Try Hammers or 180 Bergers

I'm sure the Bergers will fly. They always do in just about everything I have. I just wanted to stick with a copper just once with all the guns I have. Just wanted one to shoot them.

 

[NW NM hunter]

Did you clean it to bare metal before you started with the copper?

 

[K.E.C. Darkside]

You have never had luck with Barnes bullets???
What has been your oal, how far off the lands.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

"I've never had luck with Barnes bullets out of any rifle I've ever built or factory"
" I was kind of dead set on the 145 LRX"

Somehow, those two comments seem a bit contradictory.

However, there is nothing inherently inaccurate with Barnes bullets. Maybe your rifle just doesn't shoot well with that particular bullet. I'd be more interested to know if your new build will shoot accurately with any bullet. Maybe it's something in the build. Try some factory ammo or just load a c&c bullet of match quality. That should narrow down the problem.

As you suggested, there are many good mono-metal bullets available today, if the Barnes just don't work out.

Good luck

 

[Phil Rizzo]

If all the various combinations yield the same undesirable result with one constant involved…change the constant.
Never tried the LRX but McGuire, Apex and TTSX have been easy, some I've run in a 7PRC, some 7max, and 25 Mega. About to have a 6.5 Mega for mono's also.
I start at 3-5 thou off lands and work back, if needed. Some like it just like that. TTSX has been better at .050 off the little bit I've used them.
You can get small quantity samples from some manufacturers, to test with.

 

[shooters]

Did you clean it to bare metal before you started with the copper?

Yes. Bore scoped as well.

 

[shooters]

"I've never had luck with Barnes bullets out of any rifle I've ever built or factory"
" I was kind of dead set on the 145 LRX"

Somehow, those two comments seem a bit contradictory.

However, there is nothing inherently inaccurate with Barnes bullets. Maybe your rifle just doesn't shoot well with that particular bullet. I'd be more interested to know if your new build will shoot accurately with any bullet. Maybe it's something in the build. Try some factory ammo or just load a c&c bullet of match quality. That should narrow down the problem.

As you suggested, there are many good mono-metal bullets available today, if the Barnes just don't work out.

Good luck

Ha ha. I see your point about my two comments being contradictory. Yes that makes sense.

It shoots ELDM's and ELDX factory and loaded very well. Between .3 - .4 group.
Haven't tried Bergers. Really wanted to hunt with a Barnes this year is all.

 

[turbobrick]

Sometimes wanting one component to work leads you to banging your head on the wall. IMO that projectile isn't good enough to make it work at all costs. I had to load a friend's rifle with a brand of projectile due to him working with them. I've had no problem with that brand ever, but with the available choices and the rifle in question it was a struggle to get where we needed to be. Normally, I'd have just went to a different projectile, but that wasn't really an option this time. Got there in the end, but it was way more work than it needed to be.

I'd probably go with the 145 HHT in your case.

 

[Kimber7man]

It's probably a given, you've been around for a while - I'd also check:
Stock bedding, free floated barrel, magazine not binding, scope, scope base, rings, screws....

 

[Kmccord]

Ha ha. I see your point about my two comments being contradictory. Yes that makes sense.

It shoots ELDM's and ELDX factory and loaded very well. Between .3 - .4 group.
Haven't tried Bergers. Really wanted to hunt with a Barnes this year is all.

If you are shooting other bullets at .5 or better, then I think you have your answer, it doesn't like that bullet. Try a different mono or jump up to a heavier grain.

 

[shooters]

Sometimes wanting one component to work leads you to banging your head on the wall. IMO that projectile isn't good enough to make it work at all costs. I had to load a friend's rifle with a brand of projectile due to him working with them. I've had no problem with that brand ever, but with the available choices and the rifle in question it was a struggle to get where we needed to be. Normally, I'd have just went to a different projectile, but that wasn't really an option this time. Got there in the end, but it was way more work than it needed to be.

I'd probably go with the 145 HHT in your case.

Thanks

I'm going to send off an email in the morning to Steve Davis to see which he thinks would be best of the 145, 153, or 162 HHT. If they won't shoot then I'm out. I'll stick with the 175 ELDX's or M's.