reloading data for 7x61 S&H
- Thread starter Beater
- Start date
Hornady, Lee, Sierra and Hodgdon still publish loads for it.
For Hodgdon"s datas, go to the relaoding center and click on the Hodgdon logo icon besides the IMR logo. Then, when you're on the dedicated Hodgdon site, click on data and in the menu "European Cartridges Load Data" .... or simply click on the link below;
http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Common European Cartridges.pdf
For Hodgdon"s datas, go to the relaoding center and click on the Hodgdon logo icon besides the IMR logo. Then, when you're on the dedicated Hodgdon site, click on data and in the menu "European Cartridges Load Data" .... or simply click on the link below;
http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Common European Cartridges.pdf
I load for this cartridge, but I am away from my data. I prefer 150-160 gr bullets in my smaller 7 mags. 4831 or RL 19 and 22 are good powders for the round. - dan
What twist in your barrel? S & L's came with 1/12 and 1/10. The 1/12's are fussy about bullet weight and don't usually shoot well with anything heavier than a 150 flat base. What are the head stamp markings ? Just 7 x 61 or 7 X 61 Super or formed from another case entirely???? This is probably a cartridge that you should refer to published loading data rather than get snippets of info off the web.
An interesting thing about the 7x61 S&H is the depth of the extractor groove on the cases. I have some original Norma Re. cases, some older Norma 7x61 Super cases and some brand spanking new Norma 7 x 61 Super cases.
The older cases - both the Re. brass and 7 x 61 Super - have narrow-shallow groves that won't fit into a standard RCBS #4 shell-holder meant for the belted magnums and I have to use a #43 meant for the Winchester Short Magnum rounds. The new production 7 x 61 Super cases have a deeper and wider extractor groove that does fit easily into the #4 holder.
As mentioned elsewhere on the forum the Original 7 x 61 Re. brass is thicker and a lot heavier than most belted magnum cases. The old Re brass I have on hand weighs in at ~260 grains which is about 30 grains heavier than some cases re-formed from Winchester 7mm Remington cases. The 7x61 Super brass is even lighter with all the old stuff I have weighing in within half a grain of 212 grains. The current production Super brass also weighs in at 212 grains which shows Norma has maintained some pretty good consistency with production runs over 20 years apart.
My 7 x 61 has a 1 in 12 twist and does best with a 139 grain Hornady SP and Nosler 140 grain Partition bullets. The rifle also shoots the 160 grain Speer Deep Curl flat-base bullet very well but any bullet longer than that does not stabilize properly. The 160 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw - another flat-base bullet - has a different ogive shape making it slightly longer than the Deep Curl and it does not shoot well at all in my rifle. The best results I have had are using IMR 4350 and IMR 4831 powders.
The older cases - both the Re. brass and 7 x 61 Super - have narrow-shallow groves that won't fit into a standard RCBS #4 shell-holder meant for the belted magnums and I have to use a #43 meant for the Winchester Short Magnum rounds. The new production 7 x 61 Super cases have a deeper and wider extractor groove that does fit easily into the #4 holder.
As mentioned elsewhere on the forum the Original 7 x 61 Re. brass is thicker and a lot heavier than most belted magnum cases. The old Re brass I have on hand weighs in at ~260 grains which is about 30 grains heavier than some cases re-formed from Winchester 7mm Remington cases. The 7x61 Super brass is even lighter with all the old stuff I have weighing in within half a grain of 212 grains. The current production Super brass also weighs in at 212 grains which shows Norma has maintained some pretty good consistency with production runs over 20 years apart.
My 7 x 61 has a 1 in 12 twist and does best with a 139 grain Hornady SP and Nosler 140 grain Partition bullets. The rifle also shoots the 160 grain Speer Deep Curl flat-base bullet very well but any bullet longer than that does not stabilize properly. The 160 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw - another flat-base bullet - has a different ogive shape making it slightly longer than the Deep Curl and it does not shoot well at all in my rifle. The best results I have had are using IMR 4350 and IMR 4831 powders.
its an old shultz and larsonrifle i got given got a handfull of original norma brass with it. have found dies just thought somebody may havd some pet loads gona play around with it. new brass out there or do we need to form some?
What model is your S&L?
New brass is available but expect to special-order it and pay about 2 bucks a pop.
The case can be reformed from other belted magnum rounds but without a set of true reforming dies you will loose a fair number due to rather sharp shoulder on the 7x61. Also the new neck will be formed on what was the shoulder of the parent case where the brass is thicker. My rifle has a very tight neck and cases reformed from another cartridge need to be neck-turned.
My rifle has a short throat and over-all length has to be closely watched as it is very easy to assemble a cartridge where the bullet is jammed into the leade.
New brass is available but expect to special-order it and pay about 2 bucks a pop.
The case can be reformed from other belted magnum rounds but without a set of true reforming dies you will loose a fair number due to rather sharp shoulder on the 7x61. Also the new neck will be formed on what was the shoulder of the parent case where the brass is thicker. My rifle has a very tight neck and cases reformed from another cartridge need to be neck-turned.
My rifle has a short throat and over-all length has to be closely watched as it is very easy to assemble a cartridge where the bullet is jammed into the leade.
