Reduced loads in 7 Rem Mag?

histed · December 6, 2014, 01:16 PM

Here's my concern. Four weeks ago I had a triple bypass. No hunting this year of course, but I hunt with a 7mm Rem Mag. I was considering buying a 7mm 08, since I have no idea if I'll be able to handle the recoil from the mag now. Then I started wondering why I couldn't load 7-08 type loads in the 7 mag.
Here's my problem and my question - Where can I locate reliable information/data for reduced 7 mag loads? None of my four manuals list reduced loads, so I'd appreciate a push in the right direction. Also, if any of you know of a reason why I shouldn't do this, please let me know.
Thanks in advance for the help.

jwrowland77 · December 6, 2014, 01:18 PM

What was your load beforehand?

When I first stared loading I started with my 7 RM and found a very mild shooting load using a 139gr Hornady BTSP of 57gr of IMR 4350. It's a very easy shooting load. One day at the range I went through 100 rounds of it just practicing.

I know you can google Hodgdon reduced loads and they have some loads using H4895 and I think a 140gr bullet.

reynolds357 · December 6, 2014, 03:12 PM

Remington "Managed Recoil" factory loads might be your best bet. You can reduce the loads some, but if you create too much empty space in the case, it can create some pressure problems and accuracy problems. I would not go much under published starting loads. Your other option would be to get someone with Quickload to run you some numbers using very slow powders under lighter bullets. I am guessing that 50 BMG at about 85% case capacity under a 140 grain bullet would be a good reduced load that would have mild recoil. Without Quickload, I do not know that for sure.
Muzzle brake would be my recommendation.

histed · December 6, 2014, 04:59 PM

Too much air space was my biggest concern also. My current load is near max charge of RL-22 with a 140 gr. Sierra Gameking lit by CCI magnum primers, all in Remington cases. Anyone have Quickload and could run the numbers for me?

jwrowland77 · December 6, 2014, 05:02 PM

Might try the IMR 4350.

You're using a light bullet. Maybe try and find a lower node that's still accurate. Other than that, the only way to go would be the Hodgdon reduced loads using H4895. I mean, it is a mag caliber. Maybe get a 7mm-08. That say you can still use your .284 bullets. Or maybe a .284 Win?

Clark · December 6, 2014, 06:54 PM

The best reduced loads I have used are Blue Dot at ~35,000 psi.

It burns so cool and clean I can shoot 1000 shots at nearly 100 shots per hour, and stay accurate.

That is not for beginning reloaders. Blue Dot can hang in and RCBS uniflow powder measure making a couple charges erratic.... and a 35kpsi is only ~~ a half case full of powder.

The next best reduced loads I have done are with 4895.

condor bravo · December 6, 2014, 07:21 PM

If you can find some Trail Boss powder, that would be the best bet. There is a current thread going on that powder; check that one out on how to use it. That will turn your 7mm into a wimp caliber. It's hard to believe how this powder works.

math teacher · December 6, 2014, 07:53 PM

60 grains of 4350 behind a 140 grain bullet will reduce it to 7mm-08 level. That is a starting load.

243winxb · December 6, 2014, 08:24 PM

http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/H4895%20R...le%20Loads.pdf Hodgdon REDUCED RIFLE LOADS for
Youth Hunting, Informal Target and Plinking using H4895

histed · December 6, 2014, 08:24 PM

Math teacher - which on? AA, IMR or H?
I've used Blue Dot in my 223 to bring it down to .22 mag levels. Do you have a starting load for that? Have you tried a dacron filler over the powder?
Trail Boss MIGHT be an answer, but I'm not looking for a wimp load. Just something to cut recoil so I don't feel like my chest is taking a pounding every shot.
Thanks for help, folks

sawdustdad · December 6, 2014, 08:43 PM

Hodgdon has a reduced load of 41.2g of H4895 behind a 120g Hornady SSP for 2609fps. Another load is 17.2g of TrailBoss for 1405fps with a 140g nosler partition. Hodgdon has two pdfs on their site with lots of reduced loads--for H4895 and Trail Boss. Opps, someone already provided the link to the pdf.

GeauxTide · December 6, 2014, 10:05 PM

Most manuals have loads for faster burning powders like 4895 or 4064. I would not recommend using pistol powders in a case with this capacity. Examples from Nosler 4 are 50gr of IMR4895 or 52gr of IMR4064 are starting level loads that give 2850-2900fps with a 140. One other plus with these loads - standard bullets will hold together.

FiveInADime · December 7, 2014, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwrowland77

What was your load beforehand?

When I first stared loading I started with my 7 RM and found a very mild shooting load using a 139gr Hornady BTSP of 57gr of IMR 4350. It's a very easy shooting load. One day at the range I went through 100 rounds of it just practicing.

I know you can google Hodgdon reduced loads and they have some loads using H4895 and I think a 140gr bullet.

Not quite as tame but I just found a very accurate load yesterday in a so-so gun with a 150gr SMK and 57gr of IMR-4350. It kicked about like most .270W hunting rifles I've fired.

jwrowland77 · December 7, 2014, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FiveInADime

Not quite as tame but I just found a very accurate load yesterday in a so-so gun with a 150gr SMK and 57gr of IMR-4350. It kicked about like most .270W hunting rifles I've fired.

Yeah, my 57gr load kicks about like a .243. Maybe a tad more but not by much.

std7mag · December 7, 2014, 10:31 AM

Alliant usually lists their min loads almost 15% under max loads.

I think they start at like 62gr of Reloader 25 and go up to 71.5gr. (don't quote me, I don't have the manual in front of me!!) This low loading usually puts recoil towards 7mm-08 levels. Actually pleasant to shoot my Savage 111, syn stock, with the low loads.

What you should do is send the 140gr. GameKings to me..

Those things are made of un-obtanium!!! Have been trying for over a year to find some!!

histed · December 7, 2014, 11:22 AM

std7mag - where is you in Pennsyltucky? Any wheres close to Lewistown? Lewistown WalMart had 5 boxes yesterday - under the counter. Leftovers from the "good ole days" when WalMart had reloading stuff. I think the price was about $25/box.

std7mag · December 10, 2014, 06:08 PM

Altoona... And some 140gr. Sierra SPBT GameKings at Wally World????

histed · December 11, 2014, 08:19 PM

Yup - at least as of last week. They USED to stock powder, brass and primers until NObama screwed everything up. Allegheny Trade still in business?

Geezerbiker · December 12, 2014, 09:34 PM

A friend had a quad bypass a few years back and just before that had bought a new '06. His doc told him not to shoot anything with more recoil than a .223 but the only rifle he wanted to shoot was his new '06... So I loaded him some reduced loads with the Ed Harris Red Dot loading data. He shot 2 boxes of those and had a blast.

Do a search for Ed Harris Red Dot load data. It's easy to find and makes some light and fun loads for plinking with hunting rifles.

Tony

histed · December 12, 2014, 11:13 PM

Thanks, Geezer. New site, more data to explore. Keeps the boredom monkey at bay

std7mag · December 13, 2014, 01:03 PM

Histed,
Since you already have RL22, my Lee manual is showing start load of 58.1gr of RL22 at min OAL of 3.280 for 2,741 FPS.

Nosler is showing 63.5 gr. RL22

Alliant only lists max loads.

My Load Data book for the Rem Mag in the Sierra section shows 63.0 gr for a min load.

Hope this helps!!

TimSr · December 15, 2014, 09:56 PM

Speer #9 and #10 always listed seriously reduced rifle loads.

For 7mm Rem Mag they use IMR SR4759:

145gr 24-28gr at 1811-2112fps

160gr 26-30gr at 1770-2067fps

175gr 28-32gr at 1831-2085fps

December 6, 2014, 04:59 PM	#4
histed Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2013 Location: Central PA Posts: 254	Too much air space was my biggest concern also. My current load is near max charge of RL-22 with a 140 gr. Sierra Gameking lit by CCI magnum primers, all in Remington cases. Anyone have Quickload and could run the numbers for me? __________________ You Have enemies? Good. That means that you've stood up for something in your life. --Winston Churchill The right to buy weapons is the right to be free. -- A.E. Van Vogt

December 6, 2014, 06:54 PM	#6
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	The best reduced loads I have used are Blue Dot at ~35,000 psi. It burns so cool and clean I can shoot 1000 shots at nearly 100 shots per hour, and stay accurate. That is not for beginning reloaders. Blue Dot can hang in and RCBS uniflow powder measure making a couple charges erratic.... and a 35kpsi is only ~~ a half case full of powder. The next best reduced loads I have done are with 4895. __________________ 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?

December 6, 2014, 07:21 PM	#7
condor bravo Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2014 Location: Nevada/Ariz/CA Posts: 1,753	If you can find some Trail Boss powder, that would be the best bet. There is a current thread going on that powder; check that one out on how to use it. That will turn your 7mm into a wimp caliber. It's hard to believe how this powder works. Last edited by condor bravo; December 6, 2014 at 07:27 PM.

December 7, 2014, 11:22 AM	#16
histed Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2013 Location: Central PA Posts: 254	std7mag - where is you in Pennsyltucky? Any wheres close to Lewistown? Lewistown WalMart had 5 boxes yesterday - under the counter. Leftovers from the "good ole days" when WalMart had reloading stuff. I think the price was about $25/box. __________________ You Have enemies? Good. That means that you've stood up for something in your life. --Winston Churchill The right to buy weapons is the right to be free. -- A.E. Van Vogt

December 11, 2014, 08:19 PM	#18
histed Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2013 Location: Central PA Posts: 254	Yup - at least as of last week. They USED to stock powder, brass and primers until NObama screwed everything up. Allegheny Trade still in business? __________________ You Have enemies? Good. That means that you've stood up for something in your life. --Winston Churchill The right to buy weapons is the right to be free. -- A.E. Van Vogt

December 6, 2014, 01:16 PM	#1
histed Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2013 Location: Central PA Posts: 254	Reduced loads in 7 Rem Mag? Here's my concern. Four weeks ago I had a triple bypass. No hunting this year of course, but I hunt with a 7mm Rem Mag. I was considering buying a 7mm 08, since I have no idea if I'll be able to handle the recoil from the mag now. Then I started wondering why I couldn't load 7-08 type loads in the 7 mag. Here's my problem and my question - Where can I locate reliable information/data for reduced 7 mag loads? None of my four manuals list reduced loads, so I'd appreciate a push in the right direction. Also, if any of you know of a reason why I shouldn't do this, please let me know. Thanks in advance for the help. __________________ You Have enemies? Good. That means that you've stood up for something in your life. --Winston Churchill The right to buy weapons is the right to be free. -- A.E. Van Vogt

December 6, 2014, 01:18 PM	#2
jwrowland77 Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2012 Location: Conway, Arkansas Posts: 1,398	What was your load beforehand? When I first stared loading I started with my 7 RM and found a very mild shooting load using a 139gr Hornady BTSP of 57gr of IMR 4350. It's a very easy shooting load. One day at the range I went through 100 rounds of it just practicing. I know you can google Hodgdon reduced loads and they have some loads using H4895 and I think a 140gr bullet.

December 6, 2014, 03:12 PM	#3
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	Remington "Managed Recoil" factory loads might be your best bet. You can reduce the loads some, but if you create too much empty space in the case, it can create some pressure problems and accuracy problems. I would not go much under published starting loads. Your other option would be to get someone with Quickload to run you some numbers using very slow powders under lighter bullets. I am guessing that 50 BMG at about 85% case capacity under a 140 grain bullet would be a good reduced load that would have mild recoil. Without Quickload, I do not know that for sure. Muzzle brake would be my recommendation.

December 6, 2014, 05:02 PM	#5
jwrowland77 Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2012 Location: Conway, Arkansas Posts: 1,398	Might try the IMR 4350. You're using a light bullet. Maybe try and find a lower node that's still accurate. Other than that, the only way to go would be the Hodgdon reduced loads using H4895. I mean, it is a mag caliber. Maybe get a 7mm-08. That say you can still use your .284 bullets. Or maybe a .284 Win?

December 6, 2014, 07:53 PM	#8
math teacher Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2012 Location: Southwest WA Coast Posts: 559	60 grains of 4350 behind a 140 grain bullet will reduce it to 7mm-08 level. That is a starting load.

December 6, 2014, 08:24 PM	#9
243winxb Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 1,730	Hodgdon REDUCED RIFLE LOADS Using H4895 http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/H4895%20R...le%20Loads.pdf Hodgdon REDUCED RIFLE LOADS for Youth Hunting, Informal Target and Plinking using H4895

December 6, 2014, 08:43 PM	#11
sawdustdad Senior Member Join Date: August 2, 2014 Location: Virginia Posts: 484	Hodgdon has a reduced load of 41.2g of H4895 behind a 120g Hornady SSP for 2609fps. Another load is 17.2g of TrailBoss for 1405fps with a 140g nosler partition. Hodgdon has two pdfs on their site with lots of reduced loads--for H4895 and Trail Boss. Opps, someone already provided the link to the pdf.

December 6, 2014, 10:05 PM	#12
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,424	Most manuals have loads for faster burning powders like 4895 or 4064. I would not recommend using pistol powders in a case with this capacity. Examples from Nosler 4 are 50gr of IMR4895 or 52gr of IMR4064 are starting level loads that give 2850-2900fps with a 140. One other plus with these loads - standard bullets will hold together.

December 7, 2014, 10:31 AM	#15
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	Alliant usually lists their min loads almost 15% under max loads. I think they start at like 62gr of Reloader 25 and go up to 71.5gr. (don't quote me, I don't have the manual in front of me!!) This low loading usually puts recoil towards 7mm-08 levels. Actually pleasant to shoot my Savage 111, syn stock, with the low loads. What you should do is send the 140gr. GameKings to me.. Those things are made of un-obtanium!!! Have been trying for over a year to find some!!

December 10, 2014, 06:08 PM	#17
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	Altoona... And some 140gr. Sierra SPBT GameKings at Wally World????

December 12, 2014, 09:34 PM	#19
Geezerbiker Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: Willamina, OR Posts: 1,908	A friend had a quad bypass a few years back and just before that had bought a new '06. His doc told him not to shoot anything with more recoil than a .223 but the only rifle he wanted to shoot was his new '06... So I loaded him some reduced loads with the Ed Harris Red Dot loading data. He shot 2 boxes of those and had a blast. Do a search for Ed Harris Red Dot load data. It's easy to find and makes some light and fun loads for plinking with hunting rifles. Tony

December 12, 2014, 11:13 PM	#20
histed Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2013 Location: Central PA Posts: 254	Thanks, Geezer. New site, more data to explore. Keeps the boredom monkey at bay __________________ You Have enemies? Good. That means that you've stood up for something in your life. --Winston Churchill The right to buy weapons is the right to be free. -- A.E. Van Vogt

December 13, 2014, 01:03 PM	#21
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	Histed, Since you already have RL22, my Lee manual is showing start load of 58.1gr of RL22 at min OAL of 3.280 for 2,741 FPS. Nosler is showing 63.5 gr. RL22 Alliant only lists max loads. My Load Data book for the Rem Mag in the Sierra section shows 63.0 gr for a min load. Hope this helps!!

December 15, 2014, 09:56 PM	#22
TimSr Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2013 Location: Rittman, Ohio Posts: 2,074	Speer #9 and #10 always listed seriously reduced rifle loads. For 7mm Rem Mag they use IMR SR4759: 145gr 24-28gr at 1811-2112fps 160gr 26-30gr at 1770-2067fps 175gr 28-32gr at 1831-2085fps