I am looking for load data for the 7x64 Brenneke. I recently bought a Sako M85 Arctos in 7x64, and now have brass, dies, and bullets. I would appreciate hearing about loads any of you may have tried in this caliber. Thanks.

You can use .280 Remington data. The two cartridges are very close to identical, but just enough different to not be interchangeable (a .280 rifle will not quite chamber a 7x64 case, and a 7x64 rifle will not quite chamber a .280 Remington case). One of my old reloading manuals actually said that the .280 Remington data could be used for the 7x64.

Agreed that starting charges for 280 Rem. will be a good beginning. The 7x64 has a tad less case capacity if my memory is working properly. I think Ken Waters did a Pet Loads treatment of the cartridge in Handloader magazine sometime back in the mid 80s that might be helpful if you can find it.

Many years ago I had a BSA CF-2 full length stocked carbine in 7x64 with a 20" barrel. Wishing I had gotten the standard rifle with the 24" barrel, but it was gone on the next trip to the dealer. The barrel length made it redundant to a 22" 7x57 so it got traded away rather quickly. IMR4064 & 140 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips got along well with RP 9 1/2 in Norma brass at a rather pokey 2400 fps. For some reason 4350 didn't work very well but could be a winner in another rifle. Norma 150 factory loads clocked 2721fps in my rifle & shot fairly well, while their data called for 2888 with unspecified barrel length. The best hunting load I found was with 54 gr. IMR4831, WLR, & a 150 Nosler Ball.Tip in Norma brass at between 2600 & 2700 fps depending on temperature or maybe the phase of the moon. As always... your powder lot & rifle may behave differently so reduce that load to start.

One of the 4350s, RL19, or maybe RL16 with 140/150gr along with IMR4831 or RL22 for 150/160s is what I would try first today.

I would try H4831Sc and 160 grainers of your choice. Use starting load 280 data and work up. I use the 160 grain grand slam in the 280. It’s a great load. I go a little higher than book with the 4831, but 280 SAAMI pressure is mild.

I have several 7x64 rifles and several 280's. I have founs that the 280 with Rem or Win brass will take about 2 grs more powder than the 7x64 will. Up to 150 grs bullets IMR 4350 is hard to beat. From 150 gr and up IMR 4831 is the powder. Some European made 7x64 brass is quite heavy compared to other brass so capacity is reduced

7x64 shines with heavier bullets at moderate vels .. and since your's is a classic, it likely has a faster twist than a 280 ...

I appreciate all the information everyone provided. This morning I found the Ken Waters "Pet Loads" article (Handloader #112, Nov.-Dec. 1984). There is also quite a bit of data in the latest Hornady loading guide and "African Medium Game Cartridges" by Pierre van der Walt. All this gives me plenty of information to get started. I think this will be a good shooting rifle. I zeroed it and fired a few groups with Norma 150 gr. factory ammunition. It was shooting about .75" 3-shot groups at 100 yards.

Hi Dale,

I had a beautiful Mannlicher-Schoenauer GK with 60 cm barrel length.
I used only 160 and 175 grs bullets. The best powders were both IMR 7828 and/or R22. By far! Perhaps, today, R23 and/or R26 should be included.
I aimed to, and got, good working loads 2850 to 2900 f/s with 160 grs and 2750 f/s with 175 grs bullets. Easy to do with either of these powders.
The 7x64 chamber and rifling C.I.P. standards, perhaps your SAKO adhere with that standards, have a VERY long bullet free travel. One of the longest of all European cartridges, as in the 8 mm family (8x57, 8x60, 8x64 and 8x68):
https://bobp.cip-bobp.org/uplo...abical-en-page34.pdf
And the .280 Rem, has one of the shortest free travel:
https://bobp.cip-bobp.org/uplo...bical-en-page103.pdf

As you can see, the free travel or Commencement of Rifling are:
34 mm (Aprox 1,34") for the 7x64 and
4,75 mm (Aprox 0,19") for the .280 Rem!!!!

This difference has a big influence about the load in both cartridges.

Good luck!

PH

Dale, one thing you will have to be rather careful is case capacity changes. I've use Norma brass for this round over some 10 years or so & there was a big variation between lots - NOT variation within the lots; Norma brass is extremely precise!
The 2 loads as this example being 140gn Noslers a starting load of 51gn of AR2209 or H4350 will get around 2600fps for a 24" barrel or 2800fps in a 26" barrel; but the case capacity in the later was 8% less - so start low & work up!
I got to 3090fps average with 56.5gn AR2209 in the lower capacity cases, not at Max pressure, bolt lift still not stiff at all but I found 56gn more consistent in velocity average - these are still scooting along!
As for the 160gn Woodleighs I haven't repeated these tests yet with the heavier cases; but I used AR2213SC or H4381. I got up to just under 2800fps with 58gn - so you'd have to dial this back somewhat to start.
Both rifles were BRNO ZKK 600's, (with peeps) the first I sold to a mate & have sadly regretted it ever since as it was so slick tilting the rifle back it would eject a round!
Its a great old round matey, you certainly have picked a winner!
Cheers
93x64mm
I haven't loaded this cartridge with 175gn pills

I have 3 kinds of 7x64, brass, Norma, Hornady, and Privi-Partizan. The average weight of sized, empty brass is:

Norma 184.1 grains
Hornady 180.4 grains
Privi-Partizan 205.6 grains

As you can see, the Norma and Hornady are close in weight, but the Privi-Partizan is over 20 grains heavier, indicating less case capacity.

I had one on a FN action and it loved H4350 and 150 gr Corelokt. 5 shots in 1 inch at 100 meters - 2800 fps.

Lovely chambering sir, I'm on my second.

Vihtavouri has lots of reloading data for 7x64 which I have found pretty reliable.

You can also use .280Rem load data. I would say that with 280 Rem data, some is loaded to quite low pressure - Back in time Remington developed the 280 Rem to go in it's pumps and semi-autos which didn't I understand didn't have the strongest lock up. Worth checking.

Most seem happiest with 150-160 gr bullets but as a European rifle, probably have a twist of 1:8.7 so should handle the 170-180gr bullets well if you want a round nose "Brush Buster"

Scrummy

I used H414 in my 7x64 to get the best velocity and accuracy as well..It was a brno mod 21..Sold it some years ago...The Brno had a long throat and long magazine, that gave me some great ballistics bording the 7 mag and in some cases beat the 7 mag factory rounds, but that's not unusual, a good reason not to judge and caliber by its factory counterpart.