7stw and RL22-disappointing velocities

[ElkHunter]

I posted this on another forum, but I'm curious if others have had issues with RL22.

I just received my new Ruger No. 1 7stw this weekend. I am shooting 139gr Interbonds, Rem Brass, Fed215M nad the rifle wears a 27" Shilen. Anyways, I took it out to the range today for a test drive.
I shot 3, 3 shot groups with each powder. I used imr7828sc, RL22 and imr4831. I had marginal success with 4831. Velocity was what I would expect, avg-3505, and I think I can probably bring these groups together a little more by adjusting the seating depth.

One thing I found interesting was the results with RL22. I shot 3 groups, 3 shots in each group. The velocities barely changed as I increased the powder charge.
73gr-avg vel 3125fps, 75gr-avg vel 3131fps, 77gr-avg vel 3188.
Not very impressive at all, actually disappointing. Has anyone else had an experience like this with RL22. Why would this happen?

I have the above mentioned powders and imr4350 on hand. I would like to find some Retumbo to try. I've never used this powder, but know it does well in magnums. Has anyone used Retumbo in a 7stw with 139IB's or 140gr bullets? Did you have any success and if so, what was your recipe?

Any help answering the above questions is appreciated. I'm curious to hear if others have had similar results with RL22. Thanks

 

[Guy Miner]

I can understand why you're disappointed. I've seen factory 140 grain 7mm Rem mag ammo clocked faster, at 3225 fps, from a 24" factory barreled gun.

In my experience, Reloader 22 shines with heavy-for-caliber bullets. For example, using it with 160 - 175 grain bullets from a 7mm Rem mag produced excellent velocity. I saw 3100 fps with 160's and just over 2900 fps with 175 Nosler Partitions.

BTW - What were the temps while you were shooting? RL-22 has been a bit temperature sensitive for me, but I still like it for some applications, like the 7mm Rem mag and the little 6mm Remington.

 

[bullet]

In my 7mmSTW I found IMR7828 the most accurate with 3500fps plus velcities, H1000 will serve you well and Retumbo might, but when you reach the max load with retumbo it will spike in pressures real quick with any charge above max.

 

[ElkHunter]

temps were around 33. I would think with that much of a change in powder you would see velocity move somewhat. I have tried RL22 in my 6mm Rem, I get good velocity, pretty good groups and a really hot barrel. I really have to wait between shots, so I really don't use it that much in the 6mm.

My avg velocity with 7828 was 75.5gr-3167fps, 77.5gr-3266fps, 79.5gr-3384fps. Not that impressive. With imr4831 I got 71gr-3312fps, 73gr-3414fps, 75gr-3505fps.

I picked up some H1000 and will give that a try.

 

[DrMike]

ElkHunter,

I've done a little work with the 7 STW. A customer requested a load using 139/140 grain bullets. A charge of 84.5 grains of Retumbo gave me excellent ballistics and a fine group.

I also worked up some loads for 154 grain InterBond bullets in a rifle, using 78.5 grains of 7828 SSC and 79.9 grains of H1000 which gave me excellent ballistics and fine groups. Each of these loads yielded excellent SD on chronographed velocities. 79.0 grains of H4831SC and Nosler 140 grain BT bullets gave me an excellent group, and the ballistic data was good.

My view of the 7STW is that is not a particularly difficult cartridge to load for. My hunting partner uses a 7STW, but he has done very little reloading for it as he found that the Federal load with 160 AB shoots so very well in his rifle that he feels no need to work up his own handload. I would encourage you to experiment with other powders.

I am puzzled by your experience. I have used ReLoder powders in some very cold weather, and in some reasonably warm weather and didn't find it to yield the type of results you describe.

 

[old #7]

I haven't worked with a 7STW. I have used rl-22 in alot of rifles and I found that it performed better with the heavy bullets and close to max loads.
Were you observing any pressure signs with the rl-22 loads?
You may also want to try a slight crimp to get the boiler started in the bigger cases.

 

[FOTIS]

I had a sendero 7 stw a while back. 80 gr of 7828 pushed the 140 BT at 3498 fps. This load shot under 1.5" at 300 yards. Took my best antelope with this load. What a killer!

 

[Ridge_Runner]

I also got dismal results with re-22 in my STW, the best powders in mine are H-1000, retumbo, and WC872 with the 160's
with the results I have saw in the STW with re-22 vs. the results I get with it in the 7 RM case and the 270 based cases I load for, I've just about convinced myself the re-22 is too fast for the STW.
my STW runs a 140 downrange at 3550 fps with 86 gr of H-1000
it'll do 3340 with the nosler 160 and 94 gr of WC872.
RR

 

[tjRoberts]

I shoot an STW with a 26 inch tube.
I have not done much work with 140 grain bullets , but a frend has had good luck with retumbo in his.
I shoot 160 grain accubonds at 3200 Pluss and sensational groups using H-1000.
Not knocking the lighter bullets, But if you check the trajectory of those 160 grain acubonds at 3200, you will see a prety flat shooting round.
...tj3006

 

[JD338]

Take a look at Retumbo.

JD338

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

ElkHunter, in general, when compared to a temperature of 70 degrees, you normally loose 100 fps at 30 degrees, and gain 100 fps at 100 degrees. Between freezing and 100 degrees, you can expect 200 to 250 fps difference.

In addition, the STW is a BIG case, so small changes in powder charge may have minimal results. Ocassionally with the STW and RUMs you will "stall out". For a couple of increases in powder charge, you may see no increase in average velocity (depending on your sample size), but then, after the 3rd or 4th increase it will jump up again.

I've had good luck with the slower powders, such as wc860, and wc872, and a new one, wc868. H5010 also shoot really nice groups, I could just never get enough of it in the case for the velocities I wanted.