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Old January 16, 2013, 06:51 PM   #1
hbhobby
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Finding the perfect load

I was told and have read that to find the best load for your weapon you take your preferred powder and preferred bullet and then load several rounds starting at the low end working up in a certain increment. Then go to the range and shoot and you will get a cluster of shots and the closest cluster take the middle combo and that is best for your rifle I chose IMR 4895 powder and a 145 grain boat tail soft point bullet. Loaded from 45 grains to 55 grains in .5 grain increments. I went to the range with my 7 mm Rem Mag and shot at 300 yards. Well with my bench rest i found no cluster of groups. My total group was sub 5 inches for all 21 shots. I did have two consecutive shots go in the same hole(#4&5). Then two other times in same hole (#11&13) and (#8&12). Shots are numbered #1 = 45 grains of powder #2 = 45.5 grains each shot going up .5 grains. So I need help finding the right load. I am actually fairly pleased with a sub 5 inch group but dont undrestand why 10 grains of powder didnt make a huge difference in the shot. I dont have a chrono so I dont know any velocities and really dont care as long as i can kill a deer or elk at 500 yards. So what do i need to do? Use the #4&5 load? or try another powder? I really want to stay with the 145 grain bullet. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I am going to try the same thing with some IMR 4350 powder because I have heard that is A good powder for the 7 mm Rem Mag. Should i do the same thing? Or try another method of finding the right load? Again any suggestions are appreciated.
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Old January 16, 2013, 07:44 PM   #2
hooligan1
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Well hbobby your choice of powder is somewhat fast and what you need is a slower powder for the big seven.
Have you read up on the 7mm rem magnum? There's a bunch of stuff written up on loading for it.
I use the 140 grain Accubond, and my powder of choice for that bullet is IMR 4831, 3/4 inches at 100 yds 5 shot group.
Also you might work up your loads by testing at 100 yds (if your zeroed), because it's simple to gather data, and then test out to further ranges.
Good luck with the big seven dude!
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Old January 16, 2013, 07:46 PM   #3
jwrowland77
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I have a 7mm Rem Mag that I use IMR4350 in and love it. I did the same thing, started on low and worked up to max. My load gets me between .500"-.600" every time out. Which is fine with me for my hunting purposes. You won't regret using IMR4350 or IMR7828
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Old January 17, 2013, 06:37 AM   #4
Bart B.
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IMR4895's not normally used for 7 Rem Mag's with bullets heavier than 110 grains. IMR4350 or IMR4831 is much better for 150's. In any case, you need to record the accuracy of each load separatly so each load can be compared realistically to the others. But if all 21 went into 5 inches at 500 yards, that's pretty good. Shoot 5-shot groups with each load then compare them.

Others posting their group sizes without mention of the range they were shot at probably did so at 100 yards. Their load's accuracy at 300 will typically be 4 or maybe 5 times as large at 300 yards.
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Old January 17, 2013, 07:25 AM   #5
William T. Watts
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I'm with Bart B, 4895 normally is not used in a 7mm Rem mag, I was surprised to see the powder listed in the Nosler Handbook. Loading density for this powder is only 67% with a full charge under 150gr Nosler, again usually you should try to achive at least an 80% loading density for this round which would indicate nothing faster than IMR4350. My go to powder was IMR7828 and even slower powder with a loading density 82% with 63grs min charge, 87% with 67.5grs which is max. I have found the powder which most nearly fills the case (80% or higher) with the highest velocity listed usually produces the best accuracy. For my 7mm mag experience this powder was IMR7828, further this is the powder that Remington used in their 7mm Rem mag ammunition when Remington introduce this caliber. William

Last edited by William T. Watts; January 17, 2013 at 08:31 AM.
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Old January 17, 2013, 09:32 AM   #6
TXJohn
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I agree slow your powder down. I have had good luck with H4831, IMR4831, and R-22
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Old January 17, 2013, 10:14 AM   #7
bull bob
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I agree with the others, a slower powder, such as 4350, 4831, etc.
Shoot at 100 yards. Get lots of targets. Shoot each different load at a clean fresh target for groups. I use targets printed off the computer, cheap paper and lots of them. I also keep all of these targets in a binder to compare later. Do your shooting at the range. Do your homework, research, loading, and measuring at home. That way you don't get stressed out about group size while you ar still shooting, just concentrate on shooting.
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Old January 17, 2013, 05:49 PM   #8
hbhobby
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The reason I picked the 4895 was i had loaded some 4831 63 grains and 4895 48 grain loads just for practice loading and just to go out to the range and make some noise. Shot the 4831 and got a group of about 2-3" at 100 yards (ok but not what I want) then i put in the 4895 ang got a sub 1" group (4 holes that all touched more what I'm looking for). So I figured that would be a good powder to start with. I have read that it was a little fast but i couldnt argue with 4 touching holes. I am going to give the 4350 and 4831 a try with ladder loads as well. I just had he 4895 laying around from about 15 yers ago and figuerd what the heck I will make my thunderstick go boom.
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Old January 17, 2013, 08:12 PM   #9
GeauxTide
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Stick with powders equal or slower than IMR4350. My best loads have been with IMR4831. As far as 145 grain Speer, if you push them to 3000fps, they will make a real mess. Speer recommends Grand Slams for the 7mmRM. I can verify the mess with 3 deer that each lost a shoulder or ham blown to the ground from 60-165 yards with that bullet at 3130. I went to 154-160 and got normal results.
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Old January 18, 2013, 10:25 AM   #10
Bart B.
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Regarding testing loads, if you shoot several few-shot groups with the same load and they're not all the same size, which one are you going to use as the accuracy that load produces? Remember, each group represents what that load will do for a few shots.

It's my opinion that if each group with the same load doesen't have the same size (or no more than a 10% spread in size center to center), you didn't shoot enough rounds to best judge the load's performance.
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Old January 18, 2013, 11:11 AM   #11
david_r
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OCW sounds very interesting http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/#
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Old January 18, 2013, 01:13 PM   #12
L_Killkenny
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Let me get this right... you fired all shots at the same target? Ummm no.

You need to shoot 3 or 4 groups (3, 4 or 5 shots each) of each load at different targets. That means 10-20 rounds for each load. If you work up 10 loads at home you're gonna need 30-40 different targets.

BTW, for initial testin loading at 1gr increments is more than good enough. Most testing is done a 100 yards.
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Old January 18, 2013, 05:10 PM   #13
Bart B.
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L_Killkenny says:
Quote:
You need to shoot 3 or 4 groups (3, 4 or 5 shots each) of each load at different targets. That means 10-20 rounds for each load.
Why not shoot all 20 or more shots of the same load on one target?

If you shoot 3 or 4 few-shot groups on their own target, a composite of all those groups will be bigger than the largest few-shot one.
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