Hello,

I have a Savage 7 Mag that I am needing help finding that sub MOA load. I have just completed barrel breakin and so far have tried 140 Grain Nos. BT's with 61-63 grains H4831sc, Win cases, CCI 200 primers. Average so far about 1.25 inch. Anybody have a recipe to get a little better? Looking for .75 inch or so.

Thanks

Try Reloader 22. My recipe is 69 gr. behind moly coated 140's and is very accurate in my rifle.

(use at your own discretion)

Select a powder that will produce the highest velocities in your manuals. Those are IMR 7828 and RL 22.

Start with the minimum load and make one round each by increasing the load by one grain. Mark each round on the side of the case with a marking pen.

When you get to one grain under the average max load make up three shots.

If that load does not group with Sierra bullets then it's the rifle.

I tried the 140gr BT in my 7 mag. It was best behaved when the velocities were around 3000 fps. Performace on mule deer convinced me to look at another bullet. Also the accuracy wasn't what I wanted (around 1" at 100m), so I tried a few 160gr loads. Fabulous results with both the partition and X bullet in this weight. The X worked best with 69 gr of H1000 lit off with a Rem mag primer and the Partition was best with 71 gr H1000 lit off with a Fed 215 primer. Both loads were well under 0.75" for 5 shots from my Ruger #1. Brass was Hornady for the X bullet and Federal for the Partition.

Von, I am the last person to recommend that one should use maximim loads, but I have found some rifles that shoot maximim, or close to maximum, loads with the best accuracy. With H4831, your 61 to 63 grain loads are VERY LIGHT in a 7mm Rem. Mag. Since RE 22 is pretty close to H4831, I would try Westman's and Yapdog's recommendations.

[ 03-11-2003, 21:05: Message edited by: eldeguello ]

I shoot the 162 Hornady's using 66.5 grains of H4831 and Fed215M primers. Shoots the group you're looking for out of my Browning A bolt.

Bob257

Von -
Welcome to the forum.

I'm guessing you're referring to a 7RMag? If it is, I've had best luck with bullets under 150 grains using 64 - 66 I or H4350, and/or 65 - 67 I4831.

You might play around a little with seating depth on 0.015" increments, and maybe some different primers (mine have always preferred R9-1/2M's).

A 1.25" sporter-weight rifle is actually not that bad. To get under 1" CONSISTENTLY, you need to be sure your loading and benchrest techniques are consistent; make sure the bedding is perfect; muzzle is crowned properly; trigger is clean/crisp, etc.. A lot of sub-1" rifles we hear about have only done it one time, and, as far as the owner is concerned, it's a sub-1 incher, and that's all there is to it.

R-WEST

I have two 7MM Remington Magnums I have always found my best accuracy with IMR 4350.

Von, I have had great results with the 139 grain Hornady SP and 63.5 gr. IMR 4831 and CCI 250 primers. That said, I have never tried the 140 BT in my 7mag. I left those to my 7mm08.

I have had terrific results with the 160 Nosler Partition and the 154 grain Hornady SP in my 7mm Mag and velocities have been very good.

Basically, I have had excellent results with every bullet I have tried as long as I was loading IMR 4831.

I get good accuracy with 175 Partitions and 160 gr Partitions with H4831, but not as good as the IMR 4831.

FWIW, this is what has happened with my rifle.

FH

Thanks for the replies.

eldeguello,

According to the latest Hodgon manual it shows starting load of 61 grain of 4831 to a max charge of 64 grains with 140 grain slug.

R-West,

As we speak my rifle is getting the muzzle re-crowned. It appeared to not be finished very nicely. Also, looked like maybe one small ding on one rifling. I thought I might as well have it bedded at the same time. I worked the trigger and for the stock trigger it is nice. I try to be as picky with my loading techniques as possible. Weigh cases, uniform flash holes, etc. Just trying to eliminate as many controllabe variables as possible. Which leaves only two, gun and ME!! My father in law and I have a feud between Remmy's and Savages. He despises Sav, so therefore I have to get this one to shoot with his Remmy!!

One fellow advised me to step up to at least 160 grain slugs. He stated that in his experience he didnt get as good of accuracy with lighter bullets in the 7 Mag.

Thanks for the help!!

First of all, I don't think you are gonna ge sub-MOA loads with the Nosler 140 grain bullet. BUT, if you want to continue trying with the 140's, I suggest:
RL-25 From 66.5 grains to 71.5 grains
CCI-200 Primer

Personally I like:
Bullet: Sierra 168 Grain Hollow Point Boat Tail
Powder: 64.6 grains of RL-22
Primer: CCI Large Rifle
Case: Remington
Firearm:Ruger 77R
Velocity: 2943 FPS @ 15' from muzzle
Group Size: 0.303-inches for 5-shots at 200-yards

My second choice is:
Bullet: Nosler 175 Grain Partition
Powder: 63.2 grains of RL-22
Primer: Remington 9-1/2M
Case: Remington
Firearm:Ruger 77R
Velocity: 2903 FPS @ 15' from muzzle
Group Size: 0.513-inches for 5-shots at 200-yards

For me, the reason to go to a mag over a "std." caliber is to shoot a heavier bullet faster. I really like the 154-162gr bullets in the various 7mags. I have had good luck w/ RL22 & IMR7828 in mine under the 160gr NP @ just under 3100fps from a 26"bbl. Ruger #1.

Gentlemen,

I think I must have a lucky gun, because my Ruger M77 MkII 7 Mag shoots about 10 different loads sub-MOA, consistently. My favorite loads are as follows:

175 gr. Nosler Partition
66.0 gr. IMR 7828
CCI-250 Primer
R-P Brass
Velocity = 2958 fps

175 gr. Hornady Interlock
63.0 gr. Reloader 22
CCI-250 Primer
R-P Brass
Velocity = 2910 fps

139 gr. Hornady SST
70.0 gr. Reloader 22
CCI-250 Primer
R-P Brass
Velocity = 3220 fps

These loads are all consistenly sub-MOA, and are safe in MY rifle. If you want to try them, please work up safely.

Joel Slate
Slate & Associates, LLC
www.slatesafaris.com

7mm Rem Mag Page www.slatesafaris.com/7mm.htm

Von
I use H-4831 71gr of powder this is a very HOT,HOT load,but works great in my gun.PLEASE REDUCE THIS LOAD BY 10% AND WORK UP.Another accurate load in my rifle is IMR 7828-67gr.Both these loads are used with Nosler Bal-Tip bullets and are very accurate in my rifle.
Straight Shooting
Budweiser

ricciardelli - just for my own curiousity, why do you think the Nosler 140's won't shoot "sub-MOA loads ". I'm not a Nosler fan, but that's a pretty steep statement.

von,

My best load, so far, for a 7mm mag is:

Rem 700, 24" barrel
127gr EXP Groove Bullet
73gr of Rel 22
CCI-BR2 Primer
Win Case, 3.360 OAL, .015" off the lands
Average velocity - 3410 FPS

This load consistently shoots 3/4" or smaller groups for me at 100 yards.

I would recommend you start with a lighter load and work up - as we all know.

Don

Try 150gr Nosler BT's with 54gr of IMR 4064. This load has proved to be accurate in many guns and has low recoil. This is what I load for my daughter, and she's been shooting the 7 Rem Mag for 10 years(she's 22 now).

Von
I also have a load for the 150gr Nosler Bal-Tip.
Took a Grizzly in Oct. with it. Very accurate.
Reloader 22 - 67gr powder
Rem Brass cci mag primers
Reduce loads as usual and work up.

Straight Shooting
Budweiser

140 gr Nosler Partition
64.7 gr RL-19
CCI 250 mag primer
Winchester brass
0.015" off lands shoots sub MOA at 100yds out of
Browning A-bolt 26" barrel. This is reproducible
day in and day out 5 shot groups for me. My barrel
twist is 1 in 9.5" free floated. Trigger adjusted
to just under 3.0 pounds!
Good shooting!BLR7