Targets from first 7mm Weatherby reloads

[Dr. Vette]

This past Wednesday I went out and shot my first reloads in the 7mm Weatherby. For reference, here is my first thread from before I loaded these:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=19886

All brass from the same lot, previously 1x shot from this same rifle, neck sized with a Redding Type S bushing die after all trimmed to the same length. Primer pocket also squared and uniformed, Primer is the Federal 215M. OAL is 3.289 to 3.294.

Temp about 61 to 70 degrees over the course of the session, 30.11 in HG, 662.73 ft elevation. Wind was from behind at 6 mph
160 grain Accubonds
Powder is H-1000
Loads were 73.5/74.0/74.5/75.0/75.5
As per OCW protocol (which is what I was trying) I shot them each in this order, 3 min between each shot and 5 min between each 5 shot string. Not shown is my 3 shot sight-in group using 70.5. 71.5 and 72.5 grains each. No signs of over pressure with any loads, and the brass from a 73.5 load looks just like the brass from a 75.5 load.
Unfortunately work and home life have been very busy and I did not have time to learn and set up my new chronograph and use it for these loads.

Note that the loads seem to appear below from the largest to the smallest.

I have some thoughts but would first welcome your comments.

Patrick

 

[JD338]

The 73.5 gr load looks pretty good. Are you using a chronograph?

JD338

 

[338winmag]

Wow.. What a difference a powder load makes. Perfect group at the end. It takes a shooter to get those kind of groups as well. :grin:

I am very ineterested to see what your velocity is running with the H1000. Set your Chrony up when you go out. It is worth the time to setup each time till you get to know your velocities. :wink: ..plus we like to hear that little stat as well with your groups.

Scotty has me convinced, (and I have myself convinced after Scotty), that the RL22 is the choice powder. I hit 3069 just to easily last week. I am prepping for next week and will let you know what my 7mm Rem Mag is shooting with the RL22.

Again nice work Patrick!

338winmag

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

Stick powders don't always like the Fed215's.

 

[Dr. Vette]

Unfortunately 1) the best group is the lowest powder charge, and 2) per OCW protocol the group size doesn't matter but the overall location of the group does.

http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/

So, if anyone is familiar with that method of loading as well I'd love to hear from you.
However, all comments are most definitely welcome. :grin:

My shooting partner said the same thing, FYI. Go with the 73.5 and fine tune that one so that it's done and Dad can shoot his elk. I'm a bit disappointed it was the lowest charge even though I don't have chrono data available.

I do have a couple of other primer types available if later needed. I started with the 215M's as that is allegedly what Weatherby uses in the factory loads.

 

[Dr. Vette]

The 73.5 gr load looks pretty good. Are you using a chronograph?

JD338

See last line, 3rd paragraph. :wink:

"Unfortunately work and home life have been very busy and I did not have time to learn and set up my new chronograph and use it for these loads."

 

[jmad_81]

Looms like that last load is doing really well. My chrony has cost me a lot of good rifles that weren't going fast enough. Maybe play with some rl-22. You might get a better combo of speed and accuracy. You can always go back to that last load if all else fails.

Good start for sure.

 

[JD338]

The 73.5 gr load looks pretty good. Are you using a chronograph?

JD338

See last line, 3rd paragraph. :wink:

"Unfortunately work and home life have been very busy and I did not have time to learn and set up my new chronograph and use it for these loads."

Until you clock your loads, you won't know where you are at.

It might be worth trying RL 22, RL 25 and Retumbo.

JD338

 

[Horsethief]

The different barrel harmonics from the loads and the differences in recoil make all the difference. I always find it interesting how a small change in powder makes such a large change in groupings. Even though it is really hard for me to tell the difference from one load to another, the recoil is a factor in accuracy. Getting the velocity you want won't matter if your groups are all over the place. Looks like your 73.5 load is the sweet one.

 

[SJB358]

That looks like H1000 works. I will say RL22 pr RL25 would work just as well. The Weatherby is a little faster but I think your looking really good. I doubt you would let anything escape with your 73.5 load, but like Jim says, it would be nice to know where your at.

 

[Dr. Vette]

I have some ideas for experimenting as well as seeing if it's exactly 73.5 or if there are any other sweet spots.

Picked up 2 other powders yesterday plus 2 more boxes of 160 AB's so I'm ready to do some more testing.

 

[SJB358]

I think you will find something. What powders did you pick up? Here is an idea of some loads for your 7mm WBY.

Cartridge : 7 mm Weath. Mag.
Bullet : .284, 160, Nosler AccuBond 54932
Useable Case Capaci: 77.632 grain H2O = 5.041 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.360 inch = 85.34 mm
Barrel Length : 26.0 inch = 660.4 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 63000 psi, or 434 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 110 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

176 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 90%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
ADI AR 2218 109.7 83.6 5.42 3268 98.4 63000 15132 1.204 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N570 105.9 79.9 5.18 3250 98.1 63000 14818 1.228 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder 33 105.5 83.0 5.38 3233 98.6 63000 14558 1.231 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Retumbo 109.7 78.9 5.11 3211 100.0 63000 12937 1.221 ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP 2 105.0 75.1 4.87 3179 100.0 63000 13234 1.242 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Magnum 99.5 76.2 4.94 3178 100.0 63000 13014 1.227 ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 517 99.9 76.3 4.94 3177 100.0 63000 13003 1.227 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N560 97.1 71.0 4.60 3177 99.7 63000 13302 1.231 ! Near Maximum !
SNPE Vectan SP 12 99.7 76.2 4.94 3176 100.0 63000 12972 1.228 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate MAGPRO 97.3 74.1 4.80 3171 99.1 63000 13470 1.239 ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP 95.2 71.1 4.61 3167 100.0 63000 12741 1.239 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 SSC 96.0 70.6 4.57 3167 99.9 63000 12860 1.221 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 101.5 70.6 4.57 3167 99.9 63000 12860 1.221 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-25 102.8 73.2 4.74 3163 100.0 63000 12258 1.231 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AP 2214 101.0 75.1 4.86 3156 100.0 63000 12586 1.215 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2213 97.1 70.3 4.55 3156 99.8 63000 12780 1.217 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H1000 106.2 75.2 4.87 3154 100.0 63000 12550 1.215 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H870 110.0 81.3 5.27 3147 98.6 57878 14085 1.279 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP5/NP ~approximation 97.4 70.4 4.56 3146 100.0 63000 12661 1.237 ! Near Maximum !
Raufoss RA15 97.4 70.4 4.56 3146 100.0 63000 12661 1.237 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-22 97.4 70.4 4.56 3146 100.0 63000 12661 1.237 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester WXR 100.0 70.8 4.59 3146 100.0 63000 12688 1.237 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-50 110.0 85.1 5.52 3139 96.9 57191 14663 1.309 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori 24N41 108.4 82.6 5.36 3135 93.1 63000 13505 1.220 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP5 NT ~approximation 100.8 73.6 4.77 3129 99.0 63000 12765 1.219 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R905 98.7 70.1 4.54 3122 99.7 63000 12515 1.235 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2209 94.2 67.0 4.34 3110 100.0 63000 12065 1.223 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-19 94.6 67.7 4.39 3107 100.0 63000 12119 1.231 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP14 ~approximation 95.4 68.2 4.42 3100 100.0 63000 12037 1.231 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 SC 96.0 69.4 4.50 3091 99.5 63000 12124 1.228 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 99.9 69.4 4.50 3091 99.5 63000 12124 1.228 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Hunter 90.3 66.7 4.32 3088 100.0 63000 11600 1.239 ! Near Maximum !
Raufoss RA4 92.9 66.5 4.31 3086 100.0 63000 11850 1.230 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP4 ~approximation 92.9 66.5 4.31 3086 100.0 63000 11850 1.230 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N170 109.1 77.2 5.00 3083 96.7 63000 12682 1.249 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S385 94.8 68.6 4.44 3064 100.0 63000 11507 1.251 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R904 93.9 66.2 4.29 3063 99.8 63000 11656 1.230 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester Supreme 780 93.5 70.6 4.57 3060 100.0 63000 11547 1.238 ! Near Maximum !
Lovex D100 105.9 81.6 5.29 3058 93.6 63000 12471 1.239 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors 12,7mmRA NC1214 Lot20115087 110.0 83.3 5.39 3057 89.5 57741 13916 1.321 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP4 NT ~approximation 90.6 65.8 4.27 3055 100.0 63000 11311 1.243 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4350 93.0 63.6 4.12 3053 100.0 63000 11063 1.264 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N165 99.9 70.7 4.58 3051 100.0 63000 11274 1.243 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S365 91.3 65.0 4.21 3050 100.0 63000 10771 1.256 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N160 100.2 68.7 4.45 3045 99.8 63000 11447 1.234 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4350 92.6 64.8 4.20 3044 100.0 63000 11143 1.233 ! Near Maximum !

 

[Dr. Vette]

I picked up RL-22 and IMR-7828SSC. Already have H-4831SC and Retumbo in addition to the H-1000 I used in this test. I have other rifles too, so if one of them doesn't pan out for this rifle it may for a different one.

I'm thinking of trying the RL-22 next, though I'm not done with the H-1000.

Patrick

 

[1Shot]

160 AB doing 2900 fps or so placed where it is supposed to go will be dead anything. 100 fps more will not make any difference to what it hit with it. Go for accuracy. Looks like you have found the accuracy with the 73.5 load.

 

[FOTIS]

That is a good load for all big game right there!