Weatherby Vanguard - 7mm Rem Mag loads

jh6717 · May 9, 2009, 03:22 AM

Just trying to see who else has one of these, and what factory loads or handloads they're getting getting good groups from.

The factory target that came with the rifle had a 3-shot group that was a little over 1 inch. It was test fired with 150 gr. bullets, not sure what brand of ammunition.

I've tried 160 Sierra BT's, 162 Hornady Interlock BT's, and 175 gr. Sierra BT's with no luck so far. The powders I've tried are H4831 and RL-22.

Any advice on working up a good 7mm RM load would be appreciated.

Hello123 · May 12, 2009, 03:37 PM

Are you seating the bullets long? Weatherby chambers are long. You might want to try seating them closer to the lands. Also, the powders you have chosen should be good ones.

Markard · May 12, 2009, 09:56 PM

I am moving so data is packed but from memory I do remember I only used AA2700 or AA3400 with 168gr Matchking HP and 165 Bal Tip to get under 1moa. I did not experiment further as thats best I could shoot anyway. Hope this helps.

ojibweindian · May 14, 2009, 09:21 AM

I average 0.65" using 60.7 grains of Reloader 19, a WLR primer, and 150 grain flat base spire point bullets out of my Weatherby 7mm Rem. Mag. With a 150 grain Sierra Game King, my best so far is 1.53" using 60.2 grains of Reloader 19 and a WLR primer. I'm not yet finished with the Sierra's and Reloader 19; the rifle might do a bit better with a bit more powder. Loads starting at 58.5 grains, finishing at 60.2 grains, of RL-19 and working up in 0.4 grain increments have yielded progressively smaller 3-shot groups.

Anyways, I'm now experimenting with 162 grain Hornady SST's, H1000, and Winchester Supreme 780.

a7mmnut · May 14, 2009, 10:12 AM

Try another load with the Hornady 139's if you can. IMO, these guns are finicky sometimes. A case in point was a few years ago while working up loads with a new 7mm friend I was hunting with. He bought a factory M70 with a 22" stainless bbl.--the only one I've ever seen.

I had two 7 mags: a 24" Ruger and a 26" stainless M70 Classic. All three rifles had the same twist rate, but each one would definitely shoot its own bullet weight well.

My range results through a chrony definitely proved that barrel length has a lot to do with stabilization and harmonics. The 22" rifle would shoot the Hornady 139's into one hole at 100, but blow out the 150's and up to nearly 2" groups. My 24" Ruger almost always loved the 150 and 154's, putting three into a 5/8" cloverleaf. It would never shoot 140, 160, or 175's into a cup at that range.:barf: My big 26" Winchester never shot as close as the other two with anything under 160 Noslers, putting the 162's and 165's into about 3/4". The 175's went about 1 1/2", as well as the lighter rounds. The funniest thing was that the velocities on all three rifles-configured completely different, was still around 2900 fps with each of the favorite loads respectively. I'd never complain, but my buddy was in wonderment at this feat, and blamed my "faulty chronograph"---until we fired his .270 through it.

Evidently, yours just will not like the heavier bullets. I have loaded a truckload of 7 mags over the years-mostly 150's, 162's, and 168 Matchkings. Most were with IMR 4350, but your powders are great choices. I also got good results with 7828, H4831, H1000, and RL 19 & 22. I always dry lube and light them off with Fed. 215's. Godd luck with that great gun!

-7-

preventec47 · May 14, 2009, 05:12 PM

I am having a lot of fun with 120 gr bullets this year and I dont
ever think I will shoot the heavies again unless I am thinking
about bear or moose etc. Pro Hunters were shooting into
an inch and so were the other red tipped boat tailed ones.
Dang, cant remember the name.
My chrony was showing between 3388 and 4011 fps for
about five shots using Reloader 22. the top load.

Jimro · May 14, 2009, 11:51 PM

My 7mm Rem Mag load is

63.5 grains of IMR 7828 under a 175 gr Sierra Gameking, Winchester brass, CCI LR Magnum primer.

It isn't a super hot load, but it shoots tight. Remember that speed is fine, but accuracy is final. Let the high BC of the bullet provide the long range performance you want.

Jimro

jh6717 · May 18, 2009, 03:39 AM

Hello123..... I didn't even consider that the Weatherby throats could be longer than usual. That could be a huge part of the problem. I've been using the Speer manual and realized most of the 7mm RM loads list a 3.25" OAL, while the Lyman manual lists an OAL of 3.29" for most of the loads. So I've probably been seating them too deep from the get-go.

It sounds like I'm just way too far off the lands for good accuracy, especially if the Weatherby's have a longer throat than normal.

It also looks like that a lot of people are having better luck with 139-150 gr. bullets. I'm going to try the 139 gr Interlocks and some 154 gr. Interlocks, and seat them a bit longer. I'll try marking the bullet tip of a "dummy" cartridge with a sharpie pen to figure out where the OAL starts to barely touch the lands, and then back it off just a hair more.

Thanks for all of the help and comments!

May 9, 2009, 03:22 AM	#1
jh6717 Junior Member Join Date: May 8, 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 8	Weatherby Vanguard - 7mm Rem Mag loads Just trying to see who else has one of these, and what factory loads or handloads they're getting getting good groups from. The factory target that came with the rifle had a 3-shot group that was a little over 1 inch. It was test fired with 150 gr. bullets, not sure what brand of ammunition. I've tried 160 Sierra BT's, 162 Hornady Interlock BT's, and 175 gr. Sierra BT's with no luck so far. The powders I've tried are H4831 and RL-22. Any advice on working up a good 7mm RM load would be appreciated. Last edited by jh6717; May 9, 2009 at 05:02 PM.

May 14, 2009, 11:51 PM	#7
Jimro Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2006 Posts: 7,097	My 7mm Rem Mag load is 63.5 grains of IMR 7828 under a 175 gr Sierra Gameking, Winchester brass, CCI LR Magnum primer. It isn't a super hot load, but it shoots tight. Remember that speed is fine, but accuracy is final. Let the high BC of the bullet provide the long range performance you want. Jimro __________________ Machine guns are awesome until you have to carry one.

May 18, 2009, 03:39 AM	#8
jh6717 Junior Member Join Date: May 8, 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 8	You guys are awesome! Thanks for the help! Hello123..... I didn't even consider that the Weatherby throats could be longer than usual. That could be a huge part of the problem. I've been using the Speer manual and realized most of the 7mm RM loads list a 3.25" OAL, while the Lyman manual lists an OAL of 3.29" for most of the loads. So I've probably been seating them too deep from the get-go. It sounds like I'm just way too far off the lands for good accuracy, especially if the Weatherby's have a longer throat than normal. It also looks like that a lot of people are having better luck with 139-150 gr. bullets. I'm going to try the 139 gr Interlocks and some 154 gr. Interlocks, and seat them a bit longer. I'll try marking the bullet tip of a "dummy" cartridge with a sharpie pen to figure out where the OAL starts to barely touch the lands, and then back it off just a hair more. Thanks for all of the help and comments! Last edited by jh6717; May 18, 2009 at 01:42 PM.

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May 12, 2009, 03:37 PM	#2
Hello123 Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2005 Posts: 571	Are you seating the bullets long? Weatherby chambers are long. You might want to try seating them closer to the lands. Also, the powders you have chosen should be good ones.

May 12, 2009, 09:56 PM	#3
Markard Junior Member Join Date: May 7, 2009 Posts: 8	I am moving so data is packed but from memory I do remember I only used AA2700 or AA3400 with 168gr Matchking HP and 165 Bal Tip to get under 1moa. I did not experiment further as thats best I could shoot anyway. Hope this helps.

May 14, 2009, 09:21 AM	#4
ojibweindian Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2000 Location: Huntsville, Alabama Posts: 1,198	I average 0.65" using 60.7 grains of Reloader 19, a WLR primer, and 150 grain flat base spire point bullets out of my Weatherby 7mm Rem. Mag. With a 150 grain Sierra Game King, my best so far is 1.53" using 60.2 grains of Reloader 19 and a WLR primer. I'm not yet finished with the Sierra's and Reloader 19; the rifle might do a bit better with a bit more powder. Loads starting at 58.5 grains, finishing at 60.2 grains, of RL-19 and working up in 0.4 grain increments have yielded progressively smaller 3-shot groups. Anyways, I'm now experimenting with 162 grain Hornady SST's, H1000, and Winchester Supreme 780.

May 14, 2009, 10:12 AM	#5
a7mmnut Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2009 Location: NC Foothills Posts: 1,150	Try another load with the Hornady 139's if you can. IMO, these guns are finicky sometimes. A case in point was a few years ago while working up loads with a new 7mm friend I was hunting with. He bought a factory M70 with a 22" stainless bbl.--the only one I've ever seen. I had two 7 mags: a 24" Ruger and a 26" stainless M70 Classic. All three rifles had the same twist rate, but each one would definitely shoot its own bullet weight well. My range results through a chrony definitely proved that barrel length has a lot to do with stabilization and harmonics. The 22" rifle would shoot the Hornady 139's into one hole at 100, but blow out the 150's and up to nearly 2" groups. My 24" Ruger almost always loved the 150 and 154's, putting three into a 5/8" cloverleaf. It would never shoot 140, 160, or 175's into a cup at that range.:barf: My big 26" Winchester never shot as close as the other two with anything under 160 Noslers, putting the 162's and 165's into about 3/4". The 175's went about 1 1/2", as well as the lighter rounds. The funniest thing was that the velocities on all three rifles-configured completely different, was still around 2900 fps with each of the favorite loads respectively. I'd never complain, but my buddy was in wonderment at this feat, and blamed my "faulty chronograph"---until we fired his .270 through it. Evidently, yours just will not like the heavier bullets. I have loaded a truckload of 7 mags over the years-mostly 150's, 162's, and 168 Matchkings. Most were with IMR 4350, but your powders are great choices. I also got good results with 7828, H4831, H1000, and RL 19 & 22. I always dry lube and light them off with Fed. 215's. Godd luck with that great gun! -7-

May 14, 2009, 05:12 PM	#6
preventec47 Junior member Join Date: October 13, 2008 Posts: 104	I am having a lot of fun with 120 gr bullets this year and I dont ever think I will shoot the heavies again unless I am thinking about bear or moose etc. Pro Hunters were shooting into an inch and so were the other red tipped boat tailed ones. Dang, cant remember the name. My chrony was showing between 3388 and 4011 fps for about five shots using Reloader 22. the top load.