This load sound ok? Safe? 7mag/162 amax and 7828

[joshua99ta]

Guys Ive been playing with this 7mag a little. I started using the hornady book on the recommended loads. I'm loading 162 amaxes .005" off the lands. I started as per hornady @ like 57gr of 7828. I found a pretty decent accuracy load. BUT by my old el cheapo chrono(SC alpha) I was only seeing 2530ishfps. I finally got aggrevated and Tuesday I loaded up some rounds starting @ 63.5gr(where I left off originally) all the way up to 71.6. I'd only load 5 rounds at a time in .2-.3gr increments. I finally found the bolt to get a little sticky @ 71.4 and 71.6 so I stopped there. Since the last time I used my chrono it has went down hill and gives more errors that readings and some crazy numbers, I've seen everything from 3391fps and 2400fps in as little as a .4gr change. Before the chrono really started giving me wild numbers I was seeing ES 60-100fps at times on the loads below 63.5.

My biggest question is SHOULD I be safe with starting with a load of 69.6 and work up to around 71.2 to find accuracy?

 

[MudRunner2005]

I wouldn't run the AMaxs, but that's my preference. The Amax bullets are very fragile at high velocities, and will explode when they hit the game. I had this happen with Hornady SST's years and years ago out of one of my 7mmRM's. They were traveling so fast it hit the deer and exploded. Luckily it did enough damage we still were able to find the deer. But after that, I switched bullets to something else.

I would start around 63-65gr honestly.

I use 168 Berger VLD's and 7828 SSC. I was at 65.5gr last year and it dropped 2 deer for me, but I didn't have much time to do serious load development before going to the woods. I have ran up a ladder test up to around 70gr in .5gr incriments to find out my true max load. Once I find the best accuracy, is when I load up more, then chrono 10 shots for the best average and ES.

 

[joshua99ta]

I do have some 168 bergers to load up. I was just trying to get these darn amaxs shooting. I know I'm wasting barrel life but I bought it so cheap who cares.

63.5gr produced around 2630fps. I don't know it was just a random number but 69.6 showed 2925 Tuesday when I was messing with it.

I didn't do a ladder b/c right here @ home I can't shoot far enough to do a legit ladder test. I'm limited to about 200 yards here at home and I've got a 25 minute drive to shoot 300-600 but I do own it so its not a problem to be able to shoot there whenever I want.

 

[MudRunner2005]

I'd buy a new chrono... I use a MagnetoSpeed V2 (before the V3 came out). And I highly recommend the MS chronos.

It can shift POI and affect grouping, so I don't leave it on to shoot groups. I find the node (load) my barrel likes best, then I load up 10 of them, and get a 10-shot average MV and ES. And that's the data I go by.

 

[FearNoWind]

So that we're not confusing apples with oranges in this discussion, what does "7mag" mean?
Are we starting with basic load data for Winchester Short Magnum, Remington Magnum, Weatherby Magnum,
RUM, or do we have some other published formula to work with?
338EDDYBO Magnum isn't really enough basic information to work with.

 

[MudRunner2005]

So that we're not confusing apples with oranges in this discussion, what does "7mag" mean?
Are we starting with basic load data for Winchester Short Magnum, Remington Magnum, Weatherby Magnum,
RUM, or do we have some other published formula to work with?
338EDDYBO Magnum isn't really enough basic information to work with.

Judging by case capacity, his top load, and the powder and bullets he is talking...I would venture to say he's referring to the 7mm Remington Magnum.

 

[KYpatriot]

7 rm load data is ridiculous. In other chamberings you usually get pressure signs near the book maximum load, as you would expect. In the 7 rm, at least with my chamber, the book maxes are not even close to real max, based on all the usual pressure signs a reloder looks for.
As always do your own due diligence but it seems to me something is wrong with the 7 rm data compared to other common chamberings.

 

[joshua99ta]

yeah it is the 7mm Remington magnum. Sorry for that. Its just a factory rem 700 24" barrel. I picked it up for a donor action and decided to play with it first. 338EddyBo Magnum is a 338/408 improved.

Kypatriot. This is kind of what I'm seeing. I went to 71.4grs before the bolt started getting sticky, primers look fine. I saw pressure signs on my 25-06 just under max load.

 

[MudRunner2005]

7 rm load data is ridiculous. In other chamberings you usually get pressure signs near the book maximum load, as you would expect. In the 7 rm, at least with my chamber, the book maxes are not even close to real max, based on all the usual pressure signs a reloder looks for.
As always do your own due diligence but it seems to me something is wrong with the 7 rm data compared to other common chamberings.

Same with 7mm STW data. It's really low, as well. With both calibers, especially with 7828 powder, for some reason?

 

[MudRunner2005]

yeah it is the 7mm Remington magnum. Sorry for that. Its just a factory rem 700 24" barrel. I picked it up for a donor action and decided to play with it first. 338EddyBo Magnum is a 338/408 improved.

Kypatriot. This is kind of what I'm seeing. I went to 71.4grs before the bolt started getting sticky, primers look fine. I saw pressure signs on my 25-06 just under max load.

My .25-06 AI holds a retarded amount of 7828 SSC (60.0 gr) pushing 115 Bergers, and that's where I saw pressure signs at last ladder test. I was shocked at how much powder it could hold before showing pressure signs. I haven't chrono'd it yet, but I bet it's ridiculous. And probably as fast, or faster than my .257 Wby was...

My .30-06 AI likes 62.0gr of 7828 SSC, and it's a very compressed load, Berger 185 VLD's around 2,900 fps out of a 26" barrel.

 

[joshua99ta]

I'm definitely going to buy a new chrono. It'll probably be an oehlner(sp?) but im gunna look around a little first. I'll have one waiting on me before I get back in from work next time(work 2 weeks on/2weeks off offshore)

I don't remember where it was that I found max load with my 25-06 w/ IMR 4350 but the accuracy load was 59.5 pushing 115 bergers.

I've seen some 162 amaxs work pretty good on deer. I ended up listening to my buddy on buying em. I love bergers but I've got started with these amaxs so I'm gunna get em dialed in, I've got about 350 left.

 

[KYpatriot]

Keep them in the crease on closer shots and I think you will be all good. Those amaxes will fly! Let us know how it turns out!

 

[joshua99ta]

I loaded some up last in .4 increments from 69.2 to 71.2 to check some groups today. Hopefully the weather will hold out long enough for me to get to shoot em.

Yanno I haven't aimed for a shoulder/heart shot in years. I normally go for a higher double lung shot. Which has worked well for me. Bang flop

 

[joshua99ta]

At 27 yards on a 108lb white tail I didn't get an exit. I don't have a velocity yet tho.