7 SAUM Velocity Check

[Hawk in WY]

My go to powder for 7 SAUM has been Reloder 26. Time to find an alternative.

MagPro looked to be a good, available option for the Barnes 168 LRX.

Barnes does not provide load data for the 168 but published 63 to 68 grains for the 175 LRX.

QuickLoad has the 168 gr bullet and shows maximum, safe pressure at 61.7 gr for 2,926 fps which also happens to be an OBT node.

The big surprise was actual velocity of 2,660, COAL 2.78, 22 inch barrel. This is close to Barnes' data.

I have been using QuickLoad for a long time and often see differences in predicted versus actual velocities, but never anything this big.

Has anyone seen this big a difference or have experience with this combination?

I plan to switch to Ramshot Hunter and to work up to the Barnes recommended loads slowly.

Thank you for sharing your experience.

 

[Kickin45]

No experience with your particular cartridge, but for my 300 & 7 PRC’s, I was using R26 as well

I found H1000 and N565 to be the closest in regards to velocity and still multiple nodes.

Im shooting heavies in the 7PRC, so there will be some variables, but if chasing velocity and have been using R26, prepare for a bit of letdown, especially with your short barrel.
Nothing I have found comes within 125-150fps of R26

 

[Hawk in WY]

My experience as well.

I will try N565 after Hunter.

 

[Sniperwannabee]

anyone have any idea what the deal is with r26? Are they going to keep making it or?…

 

[lash]

anyone have any idea what the deal is with r26? Are they going to keep making it or?…

Alliant Powders either did or did not tell dealers that they were canceling all retail orders due to a nitrocellulose shortage.

In other words, a likely made up or misunderstood notice has created a consumer induced shortage.

 

[XTREM HTR16]

RL23 works great with a 175 EH in my 7SAUM.
Gonna try N560 and N565 just for S&G

 

[delfuego]

You might try 4831SC or H1000. I was running 180's at 2950 or more out of a 28" barrel with short-cut.

Which brass are you running?

 

[Hawk in WY]

You might try 4831SC or H1000. I was running 180's at 2950 or more out of a 28" barrel with short-cut.

Which brass are you running?

ADG

Ramshot Hunter solved my problem. It worked well in a 300 WSM. I thought it might work in the 7 SAUM. It did.

Something was seriously off with Magpro in QuickLOAD.

 

[Top O' Texas]

ADG

Ramshot Hunter solved my problem. It worked well in a 300 WSM. I thought it might work in the 7 SAUM. It did.

Something was seriously off with Magpro in QuickLOAD.

what was off about it that made you question it compared to other powders?

 

[Hawk in WY]

QuickLOAD was indicating maximum pressure and 2926 fps at 61.7 grains of Magpro. Actual velocity of that load was 250 fps slower. I have tested up to 66 grains without pressure signs and velocity within Barnes data with a 175 grain bullet.

This tells me something may be seriously wrong with the burn rate for the latest lots of Magpro powders assumed by QuickLOAD.

I believe the OP may have been seen the opposite, far more dangerous, QuickLOAD assumption with the powder he was using.

I always cross checked QuickLOAD data against other published data. This experience tells me that is more important than ever now that QuickLOAD may not be keeping up with powder burn rate changes over time.