7X64 Brenneke

[Datz]

I ended up with a Smith & Wesson 1500 in 7X64 with 80 pieces of new Norma brass but no real load data for it. I have the #10 Speer Reload manual and it has a note under the .280 Rem page "The following loading data are suitable for use in loading 7mm/06 and 7X64 cartridges."
And from Chuck Hawks "Data from Hornady suggests that 49.3 grains of IMR 4350 powder will drive a 139 grain bullet to a MV of 2600 fps, and 54.7 grains of IMR 4350 will give a MV of 3000 fps."

I've not been able to find much info online for the cartridge as I know its a more popular in Europe and pretty rare in North America.
Just wondering if anyone else has any experience with loading the 7X64 with .280 data. Thanks in advance for any help

 

[Longwalker]

I have a Brno 21H in 7x64, one of my favourites. 23" barrel with a long throat. I have had good success loading 160 gr. bullets in two loads. Both loads of mine use considerably more powder than most 280 rem loads, due to the longer throat of the 7x64. I tried to work up to match factory 7x64 velocity, ( Norma & RWS) The VV load does match velocity with tested components.
My IMR4831 load was an extrapolation. I worked up for velocity match watching for pressure signs, then shot and reloaded the same 3 cases 10x to check for the development of loose primer pockets. No problem with my rifle. Suggest that you carefully work up loads the same way.

160 NP, Rem 9-1/2, Norma brass, VV n-160 57.0 gr. @ 2800 fps ( from the VV website)

160 NP, 160 Speer GS or mag tip, or Hornady 154 interlock or 162 SST, Rem 9-1/2 Remington brass, IMR 4831 57.0 gr. @ 2800-2850 fps

I also used RL 22 with 160's, pressure in my gun was OK right up to 60 gr. but accuracy was only so-so.

 

[MetricMan]

If you have RWS brass, reduce any 280 loads you plan to use, as this brass is a fair bit thicker than most.

 

[Longwalker]

I recorded weights of my 7x64 brass, fired with spent primer still in. Norma has the most volume,( lightest weight) RWS and some Remington the least volume (heavier).
Norma 183 gr.
Federal 190 gr.
Remington bulk brass 191gr.
RWS 196 gr.
Remington factory load brass 198 gr.

Since there is a direct correlation between brass weight and capacity, like Metric man said, loads you develop in your Norma brass might be too much pressure if in the future you switch to the same load in Remington or RWS.

Not sure why Remington brass varies so much, I'll have to keep an eye on that.

Norma has good load data on their website using Hornady and some other common bullets and norma powders, some of which have equivalents if you can't find the Norma stuff. For instance, MRP = RL22 from what I understand.