Temperature stable powder for 7x57 and 154gr Interlocks?

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RichardSlinger

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Hi All
Given that this is Alberta and we hunt from September to November, I'm looking for a temperature stable powder to use with 154gr interlocks.

It's a Small ring Mauser 98 type rifle so it should be able to handle 7mm-08 load data I'd imagine?
The 7x57 loads in the Hornady manual is ridiculously anaemic.
 
Have a look at the Nosler load data online. They are more realistic for modern pressure/velocities.
For 154 grain bullets you can split the difference between 150 and 160 grain bullets.
 
Based on temperature stability, H4350 or H4831 SC seem to be the best choices. IMR 4350, which I use, is also good. I think the 4831 might be a bit slow for that bullet weight; I've had good results with that powder and 175 grs.
 
H4831 works for me with both 154 and 175 they shoot the same so I can’t decide what to use this fall.
 
The number to the right of the powder type is the feet per second change for each degree of temp change. The single base powders are less sensitive than double base ball powders.

Example the US military switched from RL15 in there long range 7.62 sniper ammunition to IMR-4064. This was due to the temp extremes in Afghanistan and Iraq.

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RichardSlinger said:
Hi All
Given that this is Alberta and we hunt from September to November, I'm looking for a temperature stable powder to use with 154gr interlocks.

It's a Small ring Mauser 98 type rifle so it should be able to handle 7mm-08 load data I'd imagine?
The 7x57 loads in the Hornady manual is ridiculously anaemic.
Click to expand...

Varget or IMR4064 would be fine. Varget is more temperature stable but varies a lot more lot-to-lot. Both are good enough for me, so I use whatever is cheapest (usually 4064 in bulk). Check hodgdon's website (http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle) for 150 and 160grns, they're practically the same data.
 
Eagleye said:
Pretty compressed load of RL 26 to get anything close to decent speeds in that size case.
I love RL26 in my 8mm Rem Mag. Fast and accurate with 200s and 220s.
Click to expand...

I would endorse trying Re26.

I mostly shoot 175 gr bullets in the 7X57, and use H4831, but Re26 will be tried next.

I've become a fan of Re26 in the 6.5X55 and found it to be between H4831 and Re25 in Burn Rate. A powder of that Burn Rate would be considered "a bit slow" for 154 gr bullets in the 7X57 in a "Modern Action", but it's dense enough that enough powder can be loaded to bring the pressure up near Max.

You'd likely get max MV's with this powder, but accuracy is paramount and will depend on your rifle and other factors.
 
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