Hi everyone:

After searching for quite some time, I am the very happy owner of a SAKO 7x64. As a metric round, I am having more difficulty than I thought locating reliable data in the US, for the bullet I will be using, the 156gr Oryx. Norma provides data, but only for Norma powders, which are no longer exported to the US. My questions are:

1) I have heard Norma and Reloader powders are both manufactured by Bofors, and are identical (I have also heard Reloader powders are powders that don't meet Norma's quality control). For example, Re 19 = Norma 204 and Re 22 = Norma MRP. Does anyone have any input on this?

2) The case is very similar to the .280 Rem, and .280 Rem data can be used as a starting point for 7x64 development. However, from the Norma website, the STARTING load for the .280 Rem is 55gr of MRP, two grains HIGHER than the starting load for the 7x64. The max load listed for the 7x64 is 56 grains!?! There isn't going to be a whole lot of load development if I only have one grain to work with.

If you could pass along any comments, I would appreciate it!

Thanks for your help.
John

John8061

Ã…ke Nilsson at Norma's technical support should be able to help you.
Tel: +46(0)571-315 16
Fax: +46(0)571-315 40
E-mail: ake.nilsson@norma.cc

Some Norma powders are quite similar to Reloader. According to Norma their powders has tighter specification than reloader, as you already pointed out both are manufactured by Bofors.

I talked to Norma’s support earlier about 7X64 & 280 rem. 7X64 has slightly more capacity than the 280 rem and is standardised to higher pressure. I don’t think there should be any problem to use 280 rem data to work up loads in 7X64. As always, be careful and watch for any signs of pressure.

Cheers
/JOHAN

A friend of mine gave me 7mm-06 to wring out this fall. I used 280 remington starting loads with H-4831 short cut and worked up. I don't see why you can't do that with the 7X64. Just watch your pressure signs.

Loadtech show the capacity between the 280 and 7X64 to be as close as the difference between Rem and Win brass in the 280. The 7X64 pressure standard is only about 135psi higher the 280 is 60000. The 270 (same case) is 65,000.

I switched from Norma powder to Reloader powder. It is close but not exact.

If you refer to the Speer and Nosler manuals, they say to use .280 data for the 7x64. That is what I do in mine, and have not had any problems.

Dave

Using .280 data is fine, as others have said, start below & work up. I have found H4831sc, RL22 & IMR7828 to be great in my .280 w/ 150-160gr bullets. IMR7828 really makes it run, easily pushing 160grNP @ 2850fps from my 23" bbl.

http://stevespages.com/284_31.html

Faster
182 N-204
183 Brigadier 4351
184 RL-19
Slower

Faster
195 MRP
196 N-560
197 RL-22
Slower