Model 70 WSM + 162 Amax

[HeathSexton]

I threw together a few rounds with the 162 Amax in WW brass last weekend to try through my Model 70 7wsm in a B&C Medalist. 64grs H4831 @ .005" off the lands threw a 2" group at 100yds. Two touching and 1 way out. I looked at Hornady's reccomended length and seated 3 down to 2.855" which is .145" off the lands. So far all 3 shot groups have been .5" - .7" at 100yds. I loaded up 25 rounds and went out to 405yds to test the LR duplex in my 3-9 VXII. The steel is 12" x 16" so it's good sized. I fired 16 rounds and hit 16 times at 405 prone off a bipod and all the shots were inside an 8" cluster on the steel. I fired 4 rounds and hit a 5" x 8" 4 times at 300.


I also had a big muskrat swim head on right into one of the big Amax. Winner = Amax.

 

[SJB358]

Heath, thank you very much for that data buddy. I am working up another load with the 160's and I think I am going to run them in deep and see what they do. I did the same with the 150's in the 270WSM and they shoot excellent.

Had to do the same for the 300.

Great shooting with the 7. Any idea on the speed of the A-Maxs?

 

[DrMike]

Some rifles just like a good jump. It happens, and looks as if it works for you, Heath. Good job.

 

[HeathSexton]

Thanks guys.


No idea on the speed as I have not ran them across the screens yet. Other guys are 2900-2950fps with this load though.

 

[Guest]

So your original COL was 2.995" for this one? And you shortened it up to the book length and got real good, real quick? Nice. Sounds like you've got this one dialed in. No flies on that load, for sure. One of these days I've got to build the 7mmWSM that's been floating around in my head for a decade or so...

 

[SJB358]

I threw together a few rounds with the 162 Amax in WW brass last weekend to try through my Model 70 7wsm in a B&C Medalist. 64grs H4831 @ .005" off the lands threw a 2" group at 100yds. Two touching and 1 way out. I looked at Hornady's reccomended length and seated 3 down to 2.855" which is .145" off the lands. So far all 3 shot groups have been .5" - .7" at 100yds. I loaded up 25 rounds and went out to 405yds to test the LR duplex in my 3-9 VXII. The steel is 12" x 16" so it's good sized. I fired 16 rounds and hit 16 times at 405 prone off a bipod and all the shots were inside an 8" cluster on the steel. I fired 4 rounds and hit a 5" x 8" 4 times at 300.


I also had a big muskrat swim head on right into one of the big Amax. Winner = Amax.

I loaded up some of them today Heath using RL22.

I loaded some of them .010 off the lands and remembering this, I might go back down and push 4 of them down to 2.860". Not sure if I will get to shoot them, but I would like to. Used my go to powder of RL22 for them.. Thanks for posting this, should prove useful..

 

[DrMike]

So, this was a bumbling muskrat? Maybe it was a good thing to get him out of the gene pool.

 

[FOTIS]

I would like to see your results Scott.

 

[SJB358]

Here are my results from the 162 Amax's with RL22. I seated these .010" off the lands (2.990").. I pulled one, but I think I found my load with them.

I could probably mess with the seating a little, but for a target load to shoot steel, I am not going to mess with it.

I did try 4 of them seated back to 2.860" and they shot around 1.5 and not really consistent.. The longer ones ran 3075 over my chrono.. Pretty speedy as well.

 

[DrMike]

That is great velocity, Scotty. And the accuracy seems to be there as well. I had excellent success with that bullet in a Browning Eurobolt chambered in 7mm RM. Ten rounds would go into about 0.9 inches. Believe it or not, I traded off that rifle to buy--what else--a Featherweight. However, I still mourn letting that rifle go. Your 7WSM is a gem. It's a shame about the situation with the ABs.

 

[SJB358]

That is great velocity, Scotty. And the accuracy seems to be there as well. I had excellent success with that bullet in a Browning Eurobolt chambered in 7mm RM. Ten rounds would go into about 0.9 inches. Believe it or not, I traded off that rifle to buy--what else--a Featherweight. However, I still mourn letting that rifle go. Your 7WSM is a gem. It's a shame about the situation with the ABs.

Yeah, I am not sweating it too much Mike. I will try another box of the 160 AB's. If they shoot well, I will keep them as the game bullet. If they don't, well, maybe it is time to give Swift's a try. They have their 150 Scirocco and I think the little 7 could make that bullet sing!

The 162 AMax makes an awesome practice bullet, high BC .625 and cheap.. Whats not to like?

 

[CatskillCrawler]

Looks like a great load/bullet to stretch out that 7mmWSM. I've found Hornady to produce very consistent bullets in their VMax and AMax lines. These were with .224 and .243 bullets. Always loved their pricing scheme too.

 

[DrMike]

The Scirocco has served me well over the years, and the Scirocco II has been a life saver in more than one instance. I enjoy having choices. I have had reasonable success with with Hornady InterBond as well.

 

[SJB358]

The Scirocco has served me well over the years, and the Scirocco II has been a life saver in more than one instance. I enjoy having choices. I have had reasonable success with with Hornady InterBond as well.

Yeah, the Scirrocos certainly look nasty when they are recovered Mike. I would imagine an easy 3100 should be possible as well. Might have to make some switches to black tips!

 

[DrMike]

The slightly longer bearing surface of the Scirocco has salvaged several rifles that simply would not shoot other bullets. Moreover, they have performed well when I have used them in the field.

 

[HeathSexton]

Looking good Scotty. Nice velocity too.



Dr.Mike, bumbling muskrat I rekon. It was dumb enough to be swimming in the open after a couple of rounds.

 

[SJB358]

The slightly longer bearing surface of the Scirocco has salvaged several rifles that simply would not shoot other bullets. Moreover, they have performed well when I have used them in the field.

Yeah, I would like to try them. Joel swears by them.

Thanks Heath.. You gave me the idea... It works!

 

[Reconnoiter]

I typically hate Winchesters,but my Coyote 7WSM would make an easy 3150fps with Re-22 and the 162 kissing lands,magfed.

It'd stay well under .5MOA at the 500yd line.