7mm Rem Mag... Powder choice...

[gohring3006]

Well, I searched the archives and as usual none of my questions seem to get answered... So..... I have a Savage 110 7mm Rem Mag 24" barrel and ordered some 162gr. ELD-M bullets. I was wondering what powder would be best with a 24" barrel?
Powders one hand....
IMR 7828
RL 25
IMR 4350..
RL 17.
Thanks

 

[Firecat]

The 7mm Rem Mag is without question my favorite caliber. There are a handful of powders that work well. That being said i have had my best results with Retumbo. Not only did it offer some of the fastest velocities for me but also the least Velocity variations. My specs are similar to yours. I am shooting a Ruger 77 with a 24 inch barrel. I am shooting a 160gr Nosler Accubond and am reaching roughly 3026fps. I couldn't ask for more than that given the circumstances. The Retumbo has also been accurate with this load. If I were to do it again this is where I would start.

 

[gohring3006]

The 7mm Rem Mag is without question my favorite caliber. There are a handful of powders that work well. That being said i have had my best results with Retumbo. Not only did it offer some of the fastest velocities for me but also the least Velocity variations. My specs are similar to yours. I am shooting a Ruger 77 with a 24 inch barrel. I am shooting a 160gr Nosler Accubond and am reaching roughly 3026fps. I couldn't ask for more than that given the circumstances. The Retumbo has also been accurate with this load. If I were to do it again this is where I would start.

Thanks....no will definitely give it a try, if none of the listed powders work...

 

[Edd]

Of the on hand powders, the RL25 or the 7828 is your best choice. I've never used RL25 but I have used 7828. Either one should work well. If I could choose anything I wanted, I would choose H1000.

 

[g0rd0]

I have that rifle also, same cal and barrel length.
The best powders that I have used are IMR7828 (145, 150 & 175sp's)
RL22 (150 and 175sp's)
Also have had good success with IMR 3031 (139 and 150sp's) BUT, the 3031 burns hot, it is not really suited for a large case cap.

In my savage I have had no accuracy at all with 162grn pills. Using IMR7828 & 4064, RL22 & 25.

My rifles goto loads are 145grn sp, mag primer, 67.0grns IMR7828* (3175 t0 3205fps)
150grn sp mag primer 67.0grns IMR7828* (3090 to 3140fps)
I hope this helps
* these are hot loads and should be started around 63.5grn then worked up

 

[Dosh]

Of the on hand powders, the RL25 or the 7828 is your best choice. I've never used RL25 but I have used 7828. Either one should work well. If I could choose anything I wanted, I would choose H1000.

06, +1 the H1000 has performed very well for 7mm RM in several friend's rifles with your specs. 7828SSC would be your on hand powder nearest. H1000 has been hard to find here, but when we find it we stock up. I use it in .257 Wby, .270 Wby and 300 RUM also. They all use 168 Bergers which is close to your bullet's weight. Good luck

 

[Frank in the Laurels]

Ditto here also my favorite long ranger...lot easier on my old football shoulders !! I know I can make lots more velocity with super slow powders like 4831-H1000-retumbo etc BUT I never get them to shoot my best groups, I own or load for about a dozen 7mm mags and they for the most part use medium weight bullets 140-160 range and their either TSX's or Partitions and my powder is always H-4350, always super accurate and very consistent in temperatures from -20 to 60 during big game seasons here in the east. I always use Remington 9 1/2 mag primers also in all rifles. H-4350 is my choice !

 

[MudRunner2005]

7828 SSC is closer to RL25, than it is to RL22, so you should gain more velocity at equal pressure than you will with RL22.

I use 7828 SSC in my 7mmRM's with Berger 168's, and get great results.

 

[gohring3006]

7828 SSC is closer to RL25, than it is to RL22, so you should gain more velocity at equal pressure than you will with RL22.

I use 7828 SSC in my 7mmRM's with Berger 168's, and get great results.

Thanks Mud!!

 

[RT2506]

It was back quite a number of years ago when I was giving the 7 Rem Mag a try which was long before the newfangled powders we have today. Accurate 3100 was the most accurate and had the best velocity than any of the others for me back then.

 

[vegas steve]

ive tried them all,and retumbo is by far the best in my 7 mag

 

[gohring3006]

I went to the range with IMR 7828 work up, then again with reloader 25 and IMR 4350 work ups. I didn't bring the Chrony because I was looking for tight groups with no vertical. I shot the best group of my life with 3 shots at 100 yards using the mild charge of 58 grains of IMR 4350. All three shots went into one whole. I thought I missed the other two shots completely, until I shot 58.5 grains and it was almost the same size. I don't know what kind of velocity I'll get with 4350 but it's definitely the accuracy powder tha Sierra claims it is... Some guys are claiming very good velocity with 24" barrels. I'll know when I get back out to the range, I'll break the Chrony out. I doubt it will matter much, I'll take accuracy over velocity, even if I'm just shooting 280 AI velocities...

 

[LRShooter7mm]

I have a 7mm not a savage but i have found H1000, retumbo and IMR 7828 gave me great results. I am shooting 168 berger with H1000 at 2935 fps. Shooting speer 160 grand slam with 7828 at 2900 fps and shooting 180 gr berger with retumbo. All under an inch at 100 yards. I also shoot hornady 162 amax with a charge or retumbo not sure on velocity never tested them. All shoot under an inch. Just some of the powders ive played with. I could not get 4350 to work for me in any of my guns. Its good you got it to shoot good for you though. Hope some of this helps.

 

[Clark]

After lots of bullets and lots of powders...

I thought I found my load and when through 8 pounds of H4350 70 gr with 140 gr Nos Bal Tip 3.34" in several of my 7mmRM rifles, I built and factory rifles.

But in 2015 I got a jug of IMR-4451.

It seems to be temp stable like H4350, but anti Copper fouling as well.