7mm Rem Mag - AB vs Part, RL22 vs RL25

[LifeAndLiberty]

I happened to come across a new 7mm Rem mag rifle at a very good price, and am looking into my options for reloading for it. Based off the information I've read online, I'm thinking my best options as far as velocity with still good accuracy are with Reloder 22 or Reloder 25. The rifle is a Savage 111, 1:9.5" twist, 24" barrel, and it will be used as a big game hunting rifle. I'm debating between using the 160 grain AccuBond or the 175 or 160 grain Partition. According to Nosler's load data, with RL22 I can still get that 175 Partition moving just shy of 3000fps. Wondering if anyone has any experience choosing between these two bullets and these two powders, to give me a baseline to start experimenting from?

 

[jimbires]

I'm using a 160 AccuBond , with 66.0 gr of RL22 , win brass , fed 215 primer . this load will usually give right at 3000 FPS . I bought new powder last fall . the new powder lot gave me 3100FPS so work up to this load , it could be to hot in other rifles .

 

[DrMike]

I've had good success with 160 grain bullets in my 7RM. However, I have almost always run 175 grain bullets for the past 25 years. With 160 grain AccuBonds, 68 grains of RL25 yield sub-MOA accuracy and good velocity. Using 59.5 grains of H100V, I achieved 0.5 MOA with 160 grain Partitions.

For many years, my "go to" load was built around 175 grain TBBC charged with 60.2 grains of WXR (or 79 grains of H870). With the 175 grain Partition, I have several sub-MOA loads built with Magnum and with RL22. I've also had fine success with 175 grain Speer MagTips and RL22.

Either the AB or the PT will serve you well in the field with any game you should hunt. My rifle does very well with Partitions. The accuracy exceeds that obtained with AccuBonds. Nothing ever got away when I was using Partitions.

 

[SJB358]

I used a lot of RL22 early on with my old 7mm Rem with both 160's and 175's. Was able to get 3000 pretty easily with 22. 2900 was also fairly easy with the 175's. Then on a whim I decided to try 25, worked even better for me with a little extra speed and about the same accuracy.

If you have the chance to get it, I'd encourage you to try 26. So far in a handful of cartridges it has been very good and seems to be very clean burning, accurate and doesn't feel as "peaky" as some other slow burning powders I've used.

If you already have 22/25 give them a whirl. They are traditional favorites and work fine as well.

As for the bullets you mentioned, all 3 of them are EXCELLENT hunting bullets and it's unlikely you'd ever notice too much difference on elk sized animals. I've been running the 160 AB from my MSM and terminally it's been wicked. The PT doesn't need anything said for it, they always seem to work really well, everytime.

 

[LifeAndLiberty]

Thanks for the replies. I managed to find RL22 nearby, so I will start with that. I will look into 26. With how fast the 175 gr Partition says RL22 will send it, it looks to be ballistically equal to the 160 grain Partition. If I can get it up to 2970 as the Nosler loading data claims, I'm only .09" lower than the 160gr Partition at 300 yards. I like heavy for caliber bullets (as my experiments with 200 grain partitions in the 308 show) so if I can have my cake and eat it too with the 175's, that sounds like a win win to me. This will be used for Elk, Moose, Caribou, etc. Any game bigger than deer or if I am somewhere I expect to get a long shot on a deer. Otherwise I'll stick with my 308.

 

[6mm Remington]

I think your bullet choices are all very good. I've never loaded for the 7mm Remington, but all my father ever used was H4831 and 160 gr. Partitions. With the three you have decided on the one that your rifle likes the best would get my nod. All very good choices. Best of luck on the load work.

Curious as to what scope you plan on putting on it? Curious minds want to know.
David

 

[SJB358]

Thanks for the replies. I managed to find RL22 nearby, so I will start with that. I will look into 26. With how fast the 175 gr Partition says RL22 will send it, it looks to be ballistically equal to the 160 grain Partition. If I can get it up to 2970 as the Nosler loading data claims, I'm only .09" lower than the 160gr Partition at 300 yards. I like heavy for caliber bullets (as my experiments with 200 grain partitions in the 308 show) so if I can have my cake and eat it too with the 175's, that sounds like a win win to me. This will be used for Elk, Moose, Caribou, etc. Any game bigger than deer or if I am somewhere I expect to get a long shot on a deer. Otherwise I'll stick with my 308.

You cannot go wrong with that 175 at over 2900. It's a sleek bullet with a great BC and it expands and penetrates like nobodies business.. Really is a great Bullet for heavier than deer game. My buddies uses the 175 PTs out of the Mashburn Super Magnum at just a little faster than your targeted speed and he said it simply knocks animals down the same way a 200 out of his Weatherby does.

 

[LifeAndLiberty]

Thanks for the replies. If its not too much trouble, would someone mind doing a QL for the 175 Grain Partition with RL 22 and RL 26? Nosler case, Fed 215 primer, going with the by-the-book OAL? Savage barrel, 1:9.5 twist, 24" length.

6mm Rem, I will probably take the Leupold VX6 2-12x42 off my Savage 308 and put my cheaper Redfield 3-9x40 back on that .308. Or, if my work picks up over the summer, maybe I can sneak another VX6, just have it shipped to the office instead of home! That VX6 is a very good scope. With the 7mm I'm wondering if it makes sense to go up to the 3-18, but I really like the 2 power on the low end.

My biggest fear in life is I have an untimely death and my wife sells my stuff for what I told her I paid for it.

 

[SJB358]

Cartridge : 7 mm Rem. Mag.(CIP)
Bullet : .284, 175, Nosler PART SP 35645
Useable Case Capaci: 72.867 grain H2O = 4.731 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.290 inch = 83.57 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-22

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 0.758% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-07.6 90 61.00 2720 2874 49217 12660 99.1 1.372
-06.8 91 61.50 2741 2920 50425 12741 99.3 1.357
-06.1 91 62.00 2763 2966 51663 12818 99.4 1.341
-05.3 92 62.50 2784 3013 52930 12893 99.6 1.326
-04.5 93 63.00 2806 3059 54228 12964 99.7 1.311
-03.8 94 63.50 2827 3106 55556 13031 99.8 1.296 ! Near Maximum !
-03.0 94 64.00 2849 3153 56916 13095 99.8 1.282 ! Near Maximum !
-02.3 95 64.50 2870 3200 58308 13156 99.9 1.268 ! Near Maximum !
-01.5 96 65.00 2891 3248 59735 13213 100.0 1.253 ! Near Maximum !
-00.8 96 65.50 2912 3296 61196 13267 100.0 1.239 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 97 66.00 2933 3344 62692 13317 100.0 1.226 ! Near Maximum !
+00.8 98 66.50 2954 3392 64225 13364 100.0 1.212 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+01.5 99 67.00 2975 3440 65795 13410 100.0 1.199 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.3 99 67.50 2996 3488 67404 13455 100.0 1.186 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.0 100 68.00 3017 3537 69052 13500 100.0 1.173 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.8 101 68.50 3038 3585 70742 13544 100.0 1.160 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 97 66.00 3046 3606 75030 12835 100.0 1.136 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 97 66.00 2766 2972 50520 13436 97.1 1.346



Cartridge : 7 mm Rem. Mag.(CIP)
Bullet : .284, 175, Nosler PART SP 35645
Useable Case Capaci: 72.867 grain H2O = 4.731 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.290 inch = 83.57 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-25

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 0.73% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-07.3 95 63.50 2745 2927 48656 12440 100.0 1.367
-06.6 96 64.00 2765 2971 49873 12489 100.0 1.352
-05.8 97 64.50 2786 3016 51122 12537 100.0 1.336
-05.1 97 65.00 2806 3060 52404 12584 100.0 1.321
-04.4 98 65.50 2826 3104 53719 12631 100.0 1.306
-03.7 99 66.00 2847 3149 55071 12677 100.0 1.292 ! Near Maximum !
-02.9 100 66.50 2867 3194 56459 12723 100.0 1.277 ! Near Maximum !
-02.2 100 67.00 2887 3239 57885 12768 100.0 1.263 ! Near Maximum !
-01.5 101 67.50 2907 3284 59349 12813 100.0 1.249 ! Near Maximum !
-00.7 102 68.00 2927 3329 60853 12858 100.0 1.235 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 103 68.50 2947 3375 62399 12901 100.0 1.222 ! Near Maximum !
+00.7 103 69.00 2967 3421 63985 12945 100.0 1.208 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+01.5 104 69.50 2987 3467 65608 12987 100.0 1.195 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.2 105 70.00 3007 3513 67270 13030 100.0 1.181 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.9 106 70.50 3026 3559 68972 13071 100.0 1.169 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.7 106 71.00 3046 3605 70719 13112 100.0 1.156 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 103 68.50 3051 3617 76469 12458 100.0 1.129 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 103 68.50 2787 3018 49484 13475 99.6 1.346


I don't have RL26 in my version, but this should give you a decent idea.

 

[SJB358]

I've got a 2-12 VX6 as well. Very nice scope. It'll be right at home on your new 7.

 

[LifeAndLiberty]

I've got a 2-12 VX6 as well. Very nice scope. It'll be right at home on your new 7.

I didn't bother with any of those fancy BDC reticles or the turret system. When adrenaline kicks in and I need to focus on controlling my breathing, the last thing I want to be doing is counting hash marks or twisting a turrent and attempting to count clicks. Just went with the regular firedot duplex.

 

[LifeAndLiberty]

Wow, quick load is very different from the data Nosler is using on their website for the 175grain and RL22.

http://www.nosler.com/nosler-load-data/ ... on-magnum/

 

[SJB358]

Wow, quick load is very different from the data Nosler is using on their website for the 175grain and RL22.

http://www.nosler.com/nosler-load-data/ ... on-magnum/

Well, you are right, their speeds are pretty danged close, but with a wide variance of throating, chambering, and barrels it's hard to nail everything. I'd feel just fine working up to their book speeds as long as you've got a chrono and go slow.

Oh, and different lots of powders, primers and brass will change the equation as well.

 

[SJB358]

I've got a 2-12 VX6 as well. Very nice scope. It'll be right at home on your new 7.

I didn't bother with any of those fancy BDC reticles or the turret system. When adrenaline kicks in and I need to focus on controlling my breathing, the last thing I want to be doing is counting hash marks or twisting a turrent and attempting to count clicks. Just went with the regular firedot duplex.

Mines the Firedot 4 and CDS dial. Not a bad set up at all.

 

[wildgene]

I've got a 2-12 VX6 as well. Very nice scope. It'll be right at home on your new 7.

I didn't bother with any of those fancy BDC reticles or the turret system. When adrenaline kicks in and I need to focus on controlling my breathing, the last thing I want to be doing is counting hash marks or twisting a turrent and attempting to count clicks. Just went with the regular firedot duplex.

...not really a problem, but if you're considering doing a lot of shooting out past 400yds. you might want to consider ordering a CDS dial after you get your load confirmed. There probably should have been a couple manuals in your box w/ the scope, the BAS Inst. Manual should give you all the info on how much each part of the reticle subtends @ high/ low power, for instance your Firedot should subtend 1 MOA @ 12X/ 6 MOA @ 2X, & using it as a range finder...

...elk are easy, w/ a 200yd. zero, just aim a little below centerline, @300yds. aim a little above centerline, @ 400yds. put the crosshairs right along their back, deer are a little more complicated, 300yds. is top of the back, 400yds. is one deer (back to sternum) over. You can set up something like this w/ duct tape on 2" centers to check your aim points...



...past 400yds. you're aiming @ a point in space & should probably be dialing...

 

[Guy Miner]

Never got the Nosler advertised velocity with RL-22 and the 175 gr Partition, but it was a good load anyway. Anything over 2800 fps is "flat enough" to cope with for most hunting situations. The 175 Partition is one heck of a bullet, and the AccuBond is designed to deliver "Partition style" performance on game while having a better BC and potentially better accuracy.

Load the 160 and 175's as you see fit, and fill those tags!

Guy

 

[LifeAndLiberty]

Since the Mashburn was brought up.... is it worth it to look into doing this modification for my 7mm Rem mag? From what I'm reading online you can still use factory 7mm Rem mag in it in a pinch when your ammo gets lost in shipping. Opinions? If I could get that 175 Partition up over 3000fps I'd be one happy happy man.

 

[BF375]

You could certainly rechamber your Savage to Mashburn if you don't mind being wrapped into the wildcat dies and brass forming. It's extra cost and expense but you will see the 175 started close to 3100 fps with todays powders and a 24" barrel.

Mine does 3075 with 73-74 gr of H1000 depending on the lot of powder.

I would not do it with the expectation of shooting 7mm Rem Mag ammo in the Mashburn chamber. A friend got away with it by accident but not something I'd make a steady habit of doing.

What you get with the Mashburn is a bit more powder capacity,a longer neck,and more versatile bullet seating in a 3.6 inch box. This all adds up to 100-150 fps advantage over the 7 Rem Mag,which is not a lot but it is what it is. I have both and the 7mm Mashburn is my favorite......the fact that it came before the 7 Rem Mag and 300 Win Mag gives it a little historic cool factor, too.. :wink:


For comparison, the 7 Rem Mag, 7mm Mashburn Super, and 300 Win Mag.

 

[LifeAndLiberty]

Is there any published load data so I would know I am not over doing it? Once my Savage comes in I can measure the magazine box to see if it could handle the longer Mashburn rounds. If not, then the costs for the conversion would probably start to add up.

 

[BF375]

Is there any published load data so I would know I am not over doing it? Once my Savage comes in I can measure the magazine box to see if it could handle the longer Mashburn rounds. If not, then the costs for the conversion would probably start to add up.

First, the Mashburn (like the 300 Win Mag) will work in a 30/06 length mag box. You will be simply seating bullets deeper of course. I have never done it that way so can't say what you gain or lose but feel pretty certain you will still get more velocity that a SAAMI spec 7 Rem Mag. even if not by a lot.

Second, there is data from Hagel, what others have worked up to on line. It's a wildcat so you have to be careful and expect to be pretty much on your own. Your rifle, the chronograph, and your experience are what will tell you when you have gone far enough. If you want the cold comfort of published data, stick with standard cases.