Sierra 1940, Speer 145 grain Sbt. 7mm Remington Magnum

hooligan1 · January 31, 2016, 10:30 AM

I'm testing 175 grn SBT, Sierra (1940) bullets today in my 7mm rem mag.
The powder I chose is RL22 for this test, a mid weight load.
Also I'm starting this test at .010 off lands.
Does anybody use this bullet? And what powders do you fellas like with these heavy bullets.
My rifle is that mod 70 push feed that I accurized 3 years ago, and it's a standard 1:9" twisted barrel.
Another test will be the Speer 145 spitzer boat tail with Viht N160...

Wendyj · January 31, 2016, 12:28 PM

I have used the 160 Speer and 175 Sierra in a Rem 9 1/4 twist. My best loads are imr 4831 for lighter bullets from 140 to 150 grain. I've found in my rifle that all my bullets like a jump so I seat factory specs so they will fit in by blind box magazine. The heavier Speers and Sierras do better for me with R-22. The 140 and 150 Noslers do great and the 160 Speer are my best bullets for accuracy. The 175 not so much. I bought the 145s for my 7-08 but they don't do good in it but do great with the imr 4831 in my 7 mag.

Clark · January 31, 2016, 01:08 PM

In 2010 with Re22 180 gr VLD 3.48" I got 3025 fps with a 26" stock 7mmRM Ruger #1 as i sighted in out to 500 yards. I killed 3 mule deer with it that year.
In 2011 with 150 gr Nos Bal tip & H4350 at 3300 fps in 7mmRM VZ24 I built I killed a deer and an antelope.
In 2013 with 140 gr nos bal time H4350 at 3400 fps in a 7mmRM Rem700 I built I killed on mule deer.
In 2014 with 140 gr Nos bal tips & H4350 at 3400 fps in a 26" stock Browning 1885 7mmRM I killed one mule deer and an antelope.
In 2015 I shot animals with a 120 and 125 gr nos bal tips with IMR 4166 [4895 speed] or IMR 4451 [4350 speed].

What I see from above :
1) The 7mm is a great hunting round, optimum making the most power and long range accuracy in a 10 pound package.
2) I am 18% over max powder charge and 6% over max overall length
3) I settled on a 140 gr boattail fast expanding bullet for the 7mmRM
4) I changed from Re22 to H4350 to get temperature stabilizing coating.
5) I changed from H4350 to 4166 or 4451 to get temperature stabilizing AND Copper fouling preventing coating.

hooligan1 · January 31, 2016, 04:14 PM

Well the 61.1 grains of re22 didn't get me where I want to go, but that's about what Sierra called their accuracy load.
Nosler says 62.5 grains so since I had Zero pressure signs at 61.1, I'm going to give it one more try.
The 145 grain Speer, and the N160 proved uneventful also, so a dose of 4451.
The 140 grn Btip load with N160, is nicely consistant for me.

Wendyj · January 31, 2016, 06:14 PM

Can't remember my 175 load but I'm using 63 grains of RL-22 under a 160 flat base Speer spitzer. Cloverleafs at a 100. The Nosler 150 ballistic tips do better with 62 grains of Imr 4831. I also use nothing but Remington 9.5 magnum primers. The Cci primers I wouldn't have thought would have made a difference but did. I do use 4451 but just in 300 wsm. Haven't tried it in my 7 mag but I'm not changing what works so far.

hooligan1 · February 1, 2016, 06:24 AM

My next test will be 62.5 grains RL22, and maybe then a CBTO test if that gets me close...

USMC 77-81 · February 1, 2016, 09:16 AM

I'm currently in load development for my model 700 7 Mag so I'll be watching this discussion closely, I just don't have anything of substance to add at this time.

1st Marine division, 3rd Marines

William T. Watts · February 1, 2016, 10:05 AM

IMR7828 (bulk lot) is the powder Remington used to initially load their factory ammunition when the 7mm mag round was introduced. I have used IMR7828 & H4831 powder and finally settled on IMR7828 as my powder of choice for this round years ago and have been well pleased with both velocity and accuracy. Often times my rifle would group all rounds touching on the target, It doesn't get any better than this. My load of 67.5grs of IMR7828, New W-W cases, W-W mag primer with 150gr Nosler Solid base or Partition is at or near a max load. Always start at minimum and work up until you find what produces best grouping for your rifle. William

January 31, 2016, 12:28 PM	#2
Wendyj Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2015 Location: North Georgia Posts: 1,372	I have used the 160 Speer and 175 Sierra in a Rem 9 1/4 twist. My best loads are imr 4831 for lighter bullets from 140 to 150 grain. I've found in my rifle that all my bullets like a jump so I seat factory specs so they will fit in by blind box magazine. The heavier Speers and Sierras do better for me with R-22. The 140 and 150 Noslers do great and the 160 Speer are my best bullets for accuracy. The 175 not so much. I bought the 145s for my 7-08 but they don't do good in it but do great with the imr 4831 in my 7 mag. __________________ God is NOT dead!!!!

January 31, 2016, 01:08 PM	#3
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	In 2010 with Re22 180 gr VLD 3.48" I got 3025 fps with a 26" stock 7mmRM Ruger #1 as i sighted in out to 500 yards. I killed 3 mule deer with it that year. In 2011 with 150 gr Nos Bal tip & H4350 at 3300 fps in 7mmRM VZ24 I built I killed a deer and an antelope. In 2013 with 140 gr nos bal time H4350 at 3400 fps in a 7mmRM Rem700 I built I killed on mule deer. In 2014 with 140 gr Nos bal tips & H4350 at 3400 fps in a 26" stock Browning 1885 7mmRM I killed one mule deer and an antelope. In 2015 I shot animals with a 120 and 125 gr nos bal tips with IMR 4166 [4895 speed] or IMR 4451 [4350 speed]. What I see from above : 1) The 7mm is a great hunting round, optimum making the most power and long range accuracy in a 10 pound package. 2) I am 18% over max powder charge and 6% over max overall length 3) I settled on a 140 gr boattail fast expanding bullet for the 7mmRM 4) I changed from Re22 to H4350 to get temperature stabilizing coating. 5) I changed from H4350 to 4166 or 4451 to get temperature stabilizing AND Copper fouling preventing coating. __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?

January 31, 2016, 04:14 PM	#4
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,585	Well the 61.1 grains of re22 didn't get me where I want to go, but that's about what Sierra called their accuracy load. Nosler says 62.5 grains so since I had Zero pressure signs at 61.1, I'm going to give it one more try. The 145 grain Speer, and the N160 proved uneventful also, so a dose of 4451. The 140 grn Btip load with N160, is nicely consistant for me. __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.

January 31, 2016, 06:14 PM	#5
Wendyj Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2015 Location: North Georgia Posts: 1,372	Can't remember my 175 load but I'm using 63 grains of RL-22 under a 160 flat base Speer spitzer. Cloverleafs at a 100. The Nosler 150 ballistic tips do better with 62 grains of Imr 4831. I also use nothing but Remington 9.5 magnum primers. The Cci primers I wouldn't have thought would have made a difference but did. I do use 4451 but just in 300 wsm. Haven't tried it in my 7 mag but I'm not changing what works so far. __________________ God is NOT dead!!!!

February 1, 2016, 06:24 AM	#6
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,585	My next test will be 62.5 grains RL22, and maybe then a CBTO test if that gets me close... __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.

January 31, 2016, 10:30 AM	#1
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,585	Sierra 1940, Speer 145 grain Sbt. 7mm Remington Magnum I'm testing 175 grn SBT, Sierra (1940) bullets today in my 7mm rem mag. The powder I chose is RL22 for this test, a mid weight load. Also I'm starting this test at .010 off lands. Does anybody use this bullet? And what powders do you fellas like with these heavy bullets. My rifle is that mod 70 push feed that I accurized 3 years ago, and it's a standard 1:9" twisted barrel. Another test will be the Speer 145 spitzer boat tail with Viht N160... __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.

February 1, 2016, 09:16 AM	#7
USMC 77-81 Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2012 Location: Northern Idaho Posts: 254	I'm currently in load development for my model 700 7 Mag so I'll be watching this discussion closely, I just don't have anything of substance to add at this time. 1st Marine division, 3rd Marines

February 1, 2016, 10:05 AM	#8
William T. Watts Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2010 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 1,074	IMR7828 (bulk lot) is the powder Remington used to initially load their factory ammunition when the 7mm mag round was introduced. I have used IMR7828 & H4831 powder and finally settled on IMR7828 as my powder of choice for this round years ago and have been well pleased with both velocity and accuracy. Often times my rifle would group all rounds touching on the target, It doesn't get any better than this. My load of 67.5grs of IMR7828, New W-W cases, W-W mag primer with 150gr Nosler Solid base or Partition is at or near a max load. Always start at minimum and work up until you find what produces best grouping for your rifle. William Last edited by William T. Watts; February 3, 2016 at 05:11 PM.

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