7mm WSM with Berger 195gr Elite Hunter Bullets

[Wyoredman]

Has anyone experimented with the Berger 195gr Elite Hunter bullets in the 7mm WSM?

I am curious because I came across a box of the Berger 195's at an auction and was wondering if they would work in the WSM (short action).

At first glance, it appears they would be too long and would need seated too far into the case. I also do not find any data for them in the WSM from Berger.

If anyone has tried them in the 7mmWSM, please let me know what you tried? COAL is important. Powders are as well.

Thanks.

[stagpanther]

That must be a pretty new bullet--it doesn't even appear on their own twist stability calculator though the bullet description says 9 twist is fine. I do have their 190 hybrid targets which I use for my 7mm STW--which interestingly have a lower BC/SD value than these 195's....glad I read your post.

I'm guessing these are intended for very large capacity magnum class 7mm--like the STW, RUM and 28 nosler--doesn't seem much point to me in driving a heavy bullet for intermediate distance when a lighter one would likely do just as well or better; but that's just speculation on my part.

[Wyoredman]

https://bergerbullets.com/product/7-...-elite-hunter/

This is the bullet.

It is 1.648" long. Pretty extreme.

My rifle has a 1:8 twist barrel. I have shot the Berger 175gr pretty successfully. But I loaded the 175 gr bullets to COAL of 2.865". Looks like I may need to stretch the COAL out to 2.999"? Not sure if my chamber will handle that length.

[georgehwbush]

that link says they are exactly like the "Berger Hybrid Target series" except the jacket is thiner. for more expansion at lower velocity basicly. so i would compare to a hybrid target bullet of as near as possible weight. and go from there. but no. i have never tried them.

[stagpanther]

I have a 270 WSM, one of the drawbacks to the WSM in general is that long high SD bullets eat up internal capacity real estate if the freebore isn't long enough to seat long, and the WSM was after all marketed at short actions. Should be pretty easy to simply use a modified case to see how long you can seat the bullet--might not be enough even for the base of ogive to clear the neck mouth--I don't know. 195 gr is a considerable way off from the 175 gr commonly seen as the max weight bullet--I would suggest trying the 180, 183 and 185 as intermediates first. The 183 gr matchkings, BTW, I have found to be excellent performing "big 7's."

[Wyoredman]

Update:

I loaded 5 rounds of 7mm WSM with the 195gr Berger Bullets. I used 60.0 gr of Hodgdon Retumbo and Federal 210 primers in Winchester cases. I seated the bullets for a COAL of 2.980". They needed to be fed into the chamber individually because they were too long for the magazine. They were not sticking in the lands. The rifle is built on a Model 700 short action with a 22" barrel.

I shot the 5 rounds over my Competition Electronics chrony. They averaged 2569 fps with an SD of 14 and an extreme spread of 25fps! Recoil was mild, there was zero bolt stick and no signs of high pressure on the primer or case head.

If I am correct, by looking at the velocity and by examining the fired cases, 60.0 gr of Retumbo is probably on the very low end of the pressure curve? Am I correct? I would like to see 2700 fps with the 195 gr Bergers.

I have loaded 5 each at 62.0, 63.0, 64.0 and 65.0 gr. of Retumbo to test next. I stopped at 65.0 gr because that is the starting load Berger gives for their 180 gr VLD hunting bullet in their manual. I also shortened up the COAL from 2.980 to 2.970".

If I start seeing pressure indications prior to reaching 65.0 gr, I will stop the testing.

I have not shot these test loads yet, but I will report back.

If anyone has any input, please let me know. I am very open to suggestions because this is my first foray into loading a bullet that does not have any published data.

Thanks.

[stagpanther]

I think I see what you're doing--you're seating the bullet as far out as you can in the hopes of jamming as much powder in the case as possible to chase the highest velocity possible? I know retumbo is pretty tolerant of some compression--but I personally wouldn't wander into double digit over 100% myself.