This is pretty basic.

How much H-4831 are you guys using behind a 160 grain bullet these days? Hodgdon lowered their recommended load weight a few years ago. Is the powder burning a touch faster these days?

Thanks,

lawndart

I don't have any H4831 loads for the 7mag. What I have seen is a reduction in the max load between the older loading books and new. Lawyers??

In my own loading I found that the new manufacture H-4831 was just a touch faster than the old surplus. I know when I used the last of my surplus and switched I had to reduced loads by 2-3 grains indicating it was a faster powder.

I'm not using H4831 in my 7mm but in a couple others. I worked up loads the way I always do and wound up several grains over max in one, and just about max book in the other. I don't always go as far as pressure will allow if I find a sweet spot.

I think lawsuits have caused the recommendations to be lowered. Nate

I do believe "new" made H4831 is a bit faster than the old, salvage military version. Not that it's made that way on purpose, but being a lot newer than left-over WWII stuff, it has not yet lost some of its zip.

I have never used H4831 with 160's in my 7 Mag., but once used 71.5 grains of the original lot of it with Nosler Partition 140 grainers, and the MV was right at 3400 FPS from a 26" Ruger No. 1B. I also used 67 grains of the same powder with the 175-grain Sierra or Nosler for 3070 FPS from the same rifle.

H4831 is a little fast for the 160 gr.I do like it for the 140gr. I like RL 22 or IMR7828 for 160 gr.. I have also had good luck lately with Retumbo and 175 gr so it may work.

Thanks guys,
I may try something a bit slower. I used to use 66 grains of the older H-4831, but that was too much with the newer stuff.

I'll try some Retumbo and 175's; that sounds interesting.

LD

Ditto Rob1s' post. I like H4831sc for 140-150gr bullets but get better vel. w/ sim. accuracy using RL22 & IMR7828. You're right, 66gr of the new stuf would probably lock up my 7rm.
I understand that RL22 is close to the original H4831.

I never could make the velocity claimed with any of the slow-burners. I have had the best luck with VV-N160 and Nosler's 160 grain partition. At 66.0 grains both the partition, and Sierra's 160 grain BTSP, fly to the same point of impact at the same velocity -3060 FPS. I can, and did get more speed, but accuracy suffered and MOA was out the window.

Hmmmmm,
There's a thought. I have some VV N-160 around the house. Thanks Buckshot.

Fred,
I loaded up some 7mm Rem Mags for hunting a few years ago with 66 grains of the new H 4831 (I had just read my label on the inside of the MTM box). It didn't quite lock the rifle up, but it was certainly loud and not accurate. I had on plugs plus muffs, but my buddy only had on muffs. The brass looked ok, but brass lies a lot. After that first group I disassembled the rest.

Nothing good lasts it seems.

LD

Mine will do OK with the 66 grain load, but it's obvious most do not. 69 grains with a 150 only goes about 3050 fps in my 7 Mag, but it's old and undoubtedly has some throat wear by now. I load 66 grains of RL22 behind a 175 NP for 2950 fps in mine as well. With the heavier bullets RL22 or 7828 usually works better than anyones 4831.

I once tried two powders for my 7mmremmag,reloader 22 and vit560 with 140 or 150 grain ballistic tips.I could not get a good group with the vit.I got 1 inch groups with the reloader 22 .Rifle was a sako with a 26 inch douglas barrel.In order for the groups to remain small I had to really go at it with the cleaning-every three shots.

I shoot 64 gr of RL-22 and get pretty solid groups. It managed to kill all my game this year with 160 gr AB's, so I'm not complaining.

Edited to add that's through a Remmy CDL: with 26" barrel.