7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

[Playerz1337]

Just seeing if anybody out there has had good success with Hodgdon Extreme type powders in 7mm Rem. Mag. I've heard Varget burns too fast and doesn't give enough velocity. I've also heard that Retumbo fills the cartridge nicely, but I dunno if I can get 3,000 fps from it with a 162 gr Amax.

Thanks,
Wesley

 

[bohem]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

Retumbo is the ticket for 168-190's; H1000 slightly edges it at the 150-162's but for 162's it's a toss up. Retumbo is a good "heavy bullet" powder there.

From a 7 RM you should get closer to 3150fps with the 162 Amax using either of those powders.

 

[RobG]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

67 grains of R22 with the Amax got me 3170 fps from a 26" Krieger.

 

[bohem]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

Beware of the temp sensitivity on RL22. That's why I dropped it from my stable.

 

[Playerz1337]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bohem</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Beware of the temp sensitivity on RL22. That's why I dropped it from my stable.</div></div>

Yeah, I definitely want temp. stable powder. I'll be target shooting in the spring/fall and hunting with it in the winter.

 

[RobG]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bohem</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Beware of the temp sensitivity on RL22. That's why I dropped it from my stable. </div></div>

My shooting is generally from only 50's to about 100 so I didn't notice any issues.

 

[bohem]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

A 50* temp swing was good for 70fps in my 30-06, just FYI

 

[B Man]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

H1000 has treated me nicley with 168 bergers. Mild load gets me 2950 fps top end load got me 3050 fps.

 

[glock24]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

Retumbo and the 162g A-Max here

 

[Helidonna]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

Using 66.5 gr. H-1000 with 162 gr. SST out of a ruger w/ a 24" pipe and only getting 2800 fps???

 

[flashhole]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

Another vote for Retumbo. I used it with 200 grain bullets when I had my 300. Now I have a 7mm RM and use Retumbo with 175 grain bullets. An excellent powder for magnum size cartridges.

 

[Playerz1337]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

I'm waiting on the 162 gr Amax bullets to come in the mail. I bought some Retumbo powder over the weekend. Hodgdon data says from 69 gr - 73 gr with that weight bullet.

Should I start around 70 gr even? Maybe get 3,050 right?

 

[7mmRM]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

71.5 of Retumbo and 168 VLDs nets me 3100FPS

 

[Playerz1337]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

Loaded up some today:

162 Amax, 70.0 gr Retumbo, COAL of 3.400".

Will try out Friday out of my 24" barrel Rem. 700.

I also got a 15 MOA rail for it, should be enough...for now.

 

[Raider Power]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

Mine likes both h1000 and retumbo. I primarily shoot my 7 mag for hunting so it's seen a lot of 160 grain partitions and accubonds.

 

[Limbic]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

Retumbo of vv560. I'd try the 168vld or the 180's. you should be able to get around 2950 with you 180's. My 7mg shot best at 3000-3050fps. Regardless of bullets type. Most of my guns shine between 2950-3050

 

[Gray]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

7mm RM is right, 168 Berger VLD's and Retumbo were made for each other.

 

[bohem]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

7/300 WSM in Win Brass
27" 9tw Shilen
73.5gr Retumbo
180 Berger Hybrid @ 3085fps avg.

 

[Playerz1337]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

I also tried free floating the flimsy Rem 700 synthetic stock. The accuracy results are so strange, at 100 yards its all over the place, at 400 yards its 3.5" group, and at 900 yards I get around 8" group.

Is the bullet not stabilizing until after 200-300 yards? Maybe it's the thin sporter barrel heating up trying to get groups with a rifle made for 1 shot hunting?

 

[RBros]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

Retumbo and 180 Bergers gets me to 3050 in a 26" barrel. Haven't run any of the 162's in them yet.

 

[JGorski]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Playerz1337</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm waiting on the 162 gr Amax bullets to come in the mail. I bought some Retumbo powder over the weekend. Hodgdon data says from 69 gr - 73 gr with that weight bullet.

Should I start around 70 gr even? Maybe get 3,050 right? </div></div>
Thats what id use, Retumbo is a great powder for the 7 Mag.

 

[Playerz1337]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

*Update*

I just shot it out to 1,200 yards yesterday and was about 2' low. So my actual velocity is at 2,840 fps instead of 3,000 that I was using with Shooter for Android app.

Primers look almost flat, so I don't think I'll push it much further but it should be a nice shooter out to the 1,400-1,500 mark; 1,300 yards is the extent of my farm range anyway.

 

[bb24fu]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 7mmAM</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Retumbo and 180 Bergers gets me to 3050 in a 26" barrel. Haven't run any of the 162's in them yet. </div></div>

How much Retumbo are you using and do you get any pressure signs?

 

[RBros]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

No pressure at all. I ran it up close to 3100, but backed down a little as it shot better at 3050. My reamer has a little different throat geometery and puts the bullet our where it should be. Helps out with velocity and accuracy ALOT!

 

[bb24fu]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 7mmAM</div><div class="ubbcode-body">No pressure at all. I ran it up close to 3100, but backed down a little as it shot better at 3050. My reamer has a little different throat geometery and puts the bullet our where it should be. Helps out with velocity and accuracy ALOT! </div></div>

How many grains? Berger sent me a max of 66.4 gr, but that sounds really low.

 

[Malium]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

Winchester 70 Classic (CRF) 26" barrel
7mm Remington Magnum
180 Berger Hybrids loaded at lands, 3.505" COAL
Using Federal 210M primers (Large Rifle, NOT the 215M LR Magnum)
"RP" Remington-Peters cases
<span style="font-weight: bold">Note: overall length of 3.505, compared to standard overall length of 3.29", and non-magnum primers. Do NOT try these loads in spec-length cartridges, or with magnum primers.</span>

<span style="text-decoration: underline">H4350:</span>
Start 59.0gr, ...
Max 62.0gr, 3003 fps

Light extractor mark at 73gr, No web expansion, No sticky bolt

<span style="text-decoration: underline">H4831:</span>
Start 60.0gr, 2743 fps
Max 66.0gr, 2989 fps

No overpressure signs, ran out of loaded rounds in series

<span style="text-decoration: underline">H1000:</span>
Start 65.0gr, 2861 fps
Max 70.0gr, 3044 fps

Light extractor mark at 70gr, No web expansion, No sticky bolt

<span style="text-decoration: underline">Retumbo:</span>
Start 68.0gr, 2904 fps
Max 72.0gr, 3051 fps
Compressed load at 73gr

Light extractor mark at 73gr, No web expansion, No sticky bolt
Velocity at 73gr was 3058, only 7fps over the 72gr load

<span style="text-decoration: underline">Atmospheric:</span>
Altitude: 3698 ft
Barometric: 29.79 "Hg(Abs)
Temperature: 82°F
Humidity: 40%

<span style="text-decoration: underline">Notes:</span>
72.0gr of Retumbo seems promising.
Very consistent velocities, with limited additional testing.
(String of 3051,3057,3051,3053)
All 4 rounds inside ½ MOA group at 100yd

Have NOT done ladder accuracy testing yet.

Above testing was to find pressure limits and velocities in my particular rifle, using Federal 210 Large Rifle primers (rather than usual 215 LR Magnum), and loading to touching rifling at 3.50".

 

[Malium]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

7mmRM, 180 Berger Hybrids, 70.0gr Retumbo, 3.500" OAL (0.005" off lands), Fed210M primers, Norma brass, at 2925fps.
(This is very much outside published book specs, in a few ways)

Good groups, low ES/SD on velocity.

160-162gr bullets seem to like 215M primers, H1000, and loading to more conventional overall length.

 

[0481]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

What are you guys using for the 175smk and retumbo? Can I just substitute it for the 175 partitions.

 

[Clark]

Re: 7mm Rem. Mag load with Hodgdon extreme powder?

I measure 3000 fps with 162 gr SST 68 gr H4831sc, 3.34"
Quickload predicts 3001 fps.

I also do 63.8 gr H4350 162 gr SST and get about the same.

My jug of H4350 is slower than the Quickload library H4350, so I have to adjust ~2%.