Of the three powder choices withch one is inherently more accurate with 160g bullets. I have tried i4831 but I have found it inconsistent. One day it groups well (sub moa) the next its 1.5". I was hoping to fill the case a bit more and get consistent ignition. I have looked at h1000 and 870 but i have liitle to no experience with this powders and I have the thrre on mentioned above on hand. What powder typical works well in the 7mm Mag, given that ever rifle is an individual. Thanks.

The one powder I wouldn't waste a dime on is H1000, and besides being a dirty powder, H870 is long gone.
Experience has taught me that powders ranging from IMR 4350 to H4831 in burning rate have generally given the best results with bullets weighing 140 to 160 grains. IMR 7828 was great, but slow in my 7 mag as it is a bulky powder filling the case and then some. However, now that 7828SSC is available, I should run those trials again. Of those you mentioned, IMR 7828 would be my choice in 7 Rem mag when using heavy bullets.

I like RL 22 with the 140 gr bullets and it should be good with the 160's also.I jump to 175 from 140 and pass up on the 160 gr bullets in most cases. RL 25 and Retumbo are what I use with the 175.

It's just not that easy. There is no "inherent" accuracy between powders. Some may be more uniform but there are so many variables to a load, bullet, primer. case prep., barrel, bedding. etc. You can't just say this or that powder is more accurate. The only way to know is shoot it in your rifle.
Having said that, H4831sc & IMR7828 have been more uniform in my 7remmag.

Fred it correct, each rifle is an individual, each must be shot to know what it likes. That having been said, I have had 3 rifles in 7 Rem mag over the years. Until I started loading 7828 I was very disappointed velocity wise. My current (and best) 7 mag likes 68.0 Gr 7828 over either a 160 TSX or 160 Accubond. Both average around 1/2 inch at 100 yards, at about 3050 fps.

well in my weathby vanGard iam not shooting a 160 bullet. Ive load up Sierra 140 & 120 grainers. for the 140's 63.9 Grs IMR 4831,CCI LRMP Remington brass OAL 3.250,2992 Fps & @783 FPE Hornady Manual. For the 120 62.8 Grs IMR-4831,CCI LRMP remington brass OAL 3.250, 3197 FPS,2724 FPE IMR Manual. If you want more consistent, i would start to see if your cases need to be trimmed, are they from the same maker? Then Check your crimp. Also i have found bullet in the same box has different lenght,check for that. I have found that full lenght resizeing of the cases works better. But i must say IMR 4831 has given me real tight gruops

I agree with Fred in that it isn't always a simple matter to make a recommendation thats going to work in every rifle.

I used RL19 when loading the 140gr Sierra GK and got good groups with it. When I shifter to heavier bullets ( Hornady 162gr & Barnes 160gr XLC's) I tried Retumbo, H1000, IMR 7828, H4831sc, and RL22. I found loads for the Hornady 162gr with H4831, and RL22 for the Barnes XLC's. The 7828 showed promise but I ran out and have not pursued it since.

I've also heard great things about VV N560 but have not tried it.

My next powder purchase will be surplus. Nate

quote:

besides being a dirty powder, H870 is long gone.

??? Accurate Powder still sells AA8700 dirt cheap, and Jeff Bartlett at www.gibrass.com sells a WC860 that is identical to AA8700, also very inexpensive. And I have read on line that H870 was the same powder as well...
FWIW, my present load for my 7MMRM is a 162-grain Nosler Solid Base in front of 79 grains of WC860, lit with a Federal 215. It is a five shot, one hole load at 100 yards. Probably only about 2900 fps, but I don't care about velocity so much, and Ed's Red will take out the powder fouling...

I have tried several powders in my 7mm's. My Encore 24" barrel is fond of IMR4350 and 154gr SPs (can't remember load on hand) and my Savage, prior to barrel replacement (don't ask) was fond of MagPro and 139gr SST's

As soon as I get my new barrel next Monday I am going to try IMR4350 and Ramshot Hunter

quote:

Originally posted by Doubless:

quote:

besides being a dirty powder, H870 is long gone.

??? Accurate Powder still sells AA8700 dirt cheap, and Jeff Bartlett at www.gibrass.com sells a WC860 that is identical to AA8700, also very inexpensive. And I have read on line that H870 was the same powder as well...

Doubless, My coments about H870 weren't intended to inflame, rather, they were borrowed from experience.
H870 can and will make a mess, especially when burned at lower pressures, so too will IMR 4227, but that doesn't mean I don't like and use them. A powder that was spectacular in the 264 Win mag, H870 was a ho-hum performer in the 7 mag. The case capacity was such that almost enough powder would work when using 160 grain bullets, but not so when using the longer 175s which stold precious powder space. That was, afterall, exactly what H870 was for -driving heavy for calibre bullets in magnum cases.
In any event, it is a moot point as H870 is gone.

I shoot the Sierra 168 grain HPBT in my 7MM, and RL-22 is the powder of choice.

SonnyC, IMR4831 is vrey accurate in my 7mag but vel. is about 150fps slower w/ 160r bullets. It's a good powder for the 140gr but H4831sc gives a bit more vel. & about the same accuracy.

For years hand loaders had problems getting to factory loaded velocity in 7MM Remington Magnum. As it turns out IMR 7828 was the canister powder the factory loads were using. So 7828 is a very good powder in the 7. I not sure of the date that it was placed on the market for reloaders but in was exclusively used for years.

Nosler number 3 lists a 175 gr. bullet with that powder 61.0 is minimum and 65.0 is MAX and is listed at a MV of 2950.

R22 and 7828 give me the best speed w/ 160s. R22 has been the most accurate between those two.

Some say it's too temp. sensitive but, I haven't experienced those problems w/ it.

Good Luck

Reloader

I have only used RL-22 in my 7mm Rem. Mag. with 140 (Nosler, Remington and Barnes XLC BT) and 160 gr. (Hornady A-Max) bullets because it does so well with it. I also don't use magnum primers (I use CCI 200 or BR-2 primers).

For whatever reason, I believe certain powder/primer combinations work best for certain cartridges. I don't know why but I see the results.

I load for several 7mm mags, between several friends my sons and a couple of my own.all of the slower powders IMR 4831,H 4831,RL 22,7828, RL 25 work well but I have found 7828 to be the best powder for consistent groups and top velocities with the 160 bullets. RL 25 is also very good .

For the 140's I've had great success with RL-22 and IMR4350. For the 160/162's I've had great success with H-1000. It is a bit messy, like Buckshot says, but it has always been accurate in my 7MAG.

quote:

Originally posted by love22hunt:
Of the three powder choices withch one is inherently more accurate with 160g bullets.

I used a lot of H4831, but have gotten fond of IMR 7828, both with 140-grain Noslers. Accuracy is pretty good, for the first three shots ( which are usually two more than what's needed ). I was less fond of RL-22, just didn't like the feel of it.

quote:

Originally posted by love22hunt:
I have tried i4831 but I have found it inconsistent. One day it groups well (sub moa) the next its 1.5".

Try a different primer.

I've owned a loaded for a 7mag for about 10 years. I've loaded for a couple of other guys as well. I was told years ago when I started loading that there are 2 "go-to" powders for the 7mag: H1000, and IMR7828.

I don't have a lot of experience with the 7828 because the H1000 worked so well. After learning more about fine tuning loads over the years, my custom 7 likes a variety of powders but it really depended on the bullet:

BEST LOADS with current rifle:

150 Scirocco/IMR4350
150 Btip/IMR4831
160/175 Partition H1000

I've never had a problem with H1000 in the 7mag or a 270. In fact I always keep some on hand as it is a very good powder in this caliber.

I'm currently working on some new stuff and Re22 and Re25 are about to knock all of the other powders off my shelf.