Here we go with another of my "on the quest to not suck" load development threads to give more anecdotes/data points/mental fodder for people to see and either absorb or discard. This will be a running update thread as I continue my shenaniganry.
I've been holding on to 10 pounds of Reloder 26 for several months because I was burning through 8 pounds of surplus WC857 powder for my 7mm RemMag. With 857, I was able to reliably push 168 Matchkings at 2800 and 168 Berger VLD Target at 2850 with my 72 grain load. Well, 857 is done and now with Reloder 26 I wanted to see if I could get the 168's up to a 2950mv out of my Tikka, which are notoriously accurate, but slower factory barrels.
Loaded up a few rounds the other day just to see what was gonna happen. I used R-P brass and also have 100 ADG brass witch will make their sexy appearance in this thread at some point.
I loaded other ammo to just shoot and get back into my 7mm Mag because she's been in my safe for about 3 months. This go around I used the below components to actually test for velocity.
Brass: R-P, neck sized, .003" neck tension. Necks annealed via salt bath 985*f for 12 seconds.
Primer: Federal 215M (Magnum Match)
Powder: Alliant Reloder 26
Projectile: Nosler Custom Competition 168 grain, .020" off lands (seconds from Shooters Pro Shop)
Rifle: Tikka T3x Lite 24", 4 groove, 1:9.5" twist (factory stock barrel). Rifle is pillar bedded into a Manners MCS T4 with CDI bottom metal.
Since this is a new powder to me, and I had 9 pounds from one lot, and 1 from another lot, I mixed them so that way I'd have one jug/lot to pull from. Agree or disagree, I'm me, you're you. So, yeah, there it is.
I used the latest and greatest Sierra Manual because it actually has reasonably comprehensive Reloder 26 data for 7mm RemMag. I loaded 1 cartridge with 67, 68, 68.5, and 69 grains just to see who was who in the zoo. Per the manual, 67 was supposed to get about 2880 and 69.1 (book max) was to get about 2960. We shall see... TO THE RANGE!
Date: 4 Dec 19
Location: Lytle Creek Firing Line, San Bernadino county, CA
Temp: 49*f
Density Altitude: 4700ft
Distance: 100y
Position: sitting at bench, bipod, rear bag. Coffee and food in my tummy, warm socks on (cold toes suck).
Chronograph is a Magnetospeed Sporter which has served me well for about 8 months, and is a great conversation starter with Fudds. They always ask "Hey, what is that?" Weather and DA measured with my Kestrel 4500NV with AB... again... Fudds be Fudd'n.
I had the ammo sitting out in the open for about 20-25 minutes so it would cool down to about the ambient air temp versus the temp in my vehicle as I was driving to the range (a comfy 72*)
Shot 1, 67gr: 2909
Shot 2, 68gr: 2960
Shot 3, 68.5gr: 2968
Shot 4, 69gr: 2964
All casings extracted easily, primers looked good (maybe a little bit of flattening, but nothing out of the norm for everything fired from this rifle, factory or reload), no ejector marks on the case head. I am really happy to see that flat velocity between 68 and 69 grains. It was very close to what the manual said it would be, and what I set out to do with this powder. So, I'm happy and excited to see how this powder will serve my needs.
To be continued....
I have the following bullets on the tasting menu:
Nosler Custom Comp 168
Sierra Matchking 168
Berger VLD Target 168
Berger VLD Hunter 168
Hornady GMX 139
Hornady ELD-X 175
Alco ULD 168
I've been holding on to 10 pounds of Reloder 26 for several months because I was burning through 8 pounds of surplus WC857 powder for my 7mm RemMag. With 857, I was able to reliably push 168 Matchkings at 2800 and 168 Berger VLD Target at 2850 with my 72 grain load. Well, 857 is done and now with Reloder 26 I wanted to see if I could get the 168's up to a 2950mv out of my Tikka, which are notoriously accurate, but slower factory barrels.
Loaded up a few rounds the other day just to see what was gonna happen. I used R-P brass and also have 100 ADG brass witch will make their sexy appearance in this thread at some point.
I loaded other ammo to just shoot and get back into my 7mm Mag because she's been in my safe for about 3 months. This go around I used the below components to actually test for velocity.
Brass: R-P, neck sized, .003" neck tension. Necks annealed via salt bath 985*f for 12 seconds.
Primer: Federal 215M (Magnum Match)
Powder: Alliant Reloder 26
Projectile: Nosler Custom Competition 168 grain, .020" off lands (seconds from Shooters Pro Shop)
Rifle: Tikka T3x Lite 24", 4 groove, 1:9.5" twist (factory stock barrel). Rifle is pillar bedded into a Manners MCS T4 with CDI bottom metal.
Since this is a new powder to me, and I had 9 pounds from one lot, and 1 from another lot, I mixed them so that way I'd have one jug/lot to pull from. Agree or disagree, I'm me, you're you. So, yeah, there it is.
I used the latest and greatest Sierra Manual because it actually has reasonably comprehensive Reloder 26 data for 7mm RemMag. I loaded 1 cartridge with 67, 68, 68.5, and 69 grains just to see who was who in the zoo. Per the manual, 67 was supposed to get about 2880 and 69.1 (book max) was to get about 2960. We shall see... TO THE RANGE!
Date: 4 Dec 19
Location: Lytle Creek Firing Line, San Bernadino county, CA
Temp: 49*f
Density Altitude: 4700ft
Distance: 100y
Position: sitting at bench, bipod, rear bag. Coffee and food in my tummy, warm socks on (cold toes suck).
Chronograph is a Magnetospeed Sporter which has served me well for about 8 months, and is a great conversation starter with Fudds. They always ask "Hey, what is that?" Weather and DA measured with my Kestrel 4500NV with AB... again... Fudds be Fudd'n.
I had the ammo sitting out in the open for about 20-25 minutes so it would cool down to about the ambient air temp versus the temp in my vehicle as I was driving to the range (a comfy 72*)
Shot 1, 67gr: 2909
Shot 2, 68gr: 2960
Shot 3, 68.5gr: 2968
Shot 4, 69gr: 2964
All casings extracted easily, primers looked good (maybe a little bit of flattening, but nothing out of the norm for everything fired from this rifle, factory or reload), no ejector marks on the case head. I am really happy to see that flat velocity between 68 and 69 grains. It was very close to what the manual said it would be, and what I set out to do with this powder. So, I'm happy and excited to see how this powder will serve my needs.
To be continued....
I have the following bullets on the tasting menu:
Nosler Custom Comp 168
Sierra Matchking 168
Berger VLD Target 168
Berger VLD Hunter 168
Hornady GMX 139
Hornady ELD-X 175
Alco ULD 168
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