I don't reload 7mm but if brass is the same quality across calibres, Federal blows. Primer pocket is loose after initial firing, I wouldn't reload twice. If you buy them on the EE, make sure you don't overpay, as once fired is sometimes twice fired and for federal that's pretty much good for the scrapyard.
Tikka T3x 7mm Rem Mag
- Thread starter GrimmZor
- Start date
I don't reload 7mm but if brass is the same quality across calibres, Federal blows. Primer pocket is loose after initial firing, I wouldn't reload twice. If you buy them on the EE, make sure you don't overpay, as once fired is sometimes twice fired and for federal that's pretty much good for the scrapyard.
I prefer the 160/162 grain persuasion in the 7mm Rem Mag.
My early production 700 drives the 160 Partition or Accubond to 3060 [+-10]
using Norma MRP. RL22 and IMR 7828 deliver similar velocities, but MRP
delivers the best groups in my particular rifle. I am going to experiment with RL 23
this spring to see how it turns out. BTW, Federal cases are too soft. Dave.
My early production 700 drives the 160 Partition or Accubond to 3060 [+-10]
using Norma MRP. RL22 and IMR 7828 deliver similar velocities, but MRP
delivers the best groups in my particular rifle. I am going to experiment with RL 23
this spring to see how it turns out. BTW, Federal cases are too soft. Dave.
RL 22 and IMR4831 have been good powders for me. I loaded beyond stated max loads with 150/160 gr bullets and, if you are interested, I can send them to you if you PM me. FWIW, I find a lot of current 7RM data current to be a bit anemic compared to data from manuals that honestly are not that old. Watch for pressure signs, know the risks!
Many reloaders have problems with belted cases and case life is governed by several things.
Chambers have plus and minus tolerances and the same applies to the cartridge case and your dies.
Looking at the SAAMI cartridge and chamber drawing you can have .007 head clearance on new cases. And this can be more than .007 if the cases are made undersized.
Another problem is chamber diameter forward of the belt and case diameter ahead of the belt. Meaning a fat chamber and a skinny case will expand more when fired.
If you are familiar with reloading the .303 British many of the same reloading tricks apply to belted cases to extend case life.
1. Fire form your cases by jamming the bullet into the rifling, this will hold the case against the bolt face and help prevent case stretching.
2. Measure new cases above the belt then measure again after firing to see how much the case expanded above the belt.
3. American made cases tend to be closer to minimum dimensions and have to expand more to contact the chamber walls.
4. And you also have plus and minus tolerances in die manufacture and a fat chamber and skinny die will over work the brass.
5. And the amount of shoulder bump will govern your head clearance and how far the case must stretch to meet the bolt face.
Example below, both cases were fired in the same .303 British Enfield chamber. The Prvi Partizan case is larger in base diameter and .010 thicker and has a thicker rim. And as you can see the HXP case was smaller in diameter and had further to expand to touch the chamber walls. And this will add stress to the case at this point and add to case stretching.
Chambers have plus and minus tolerances and the same applies to the cartridge case and your dies.
Looking at the SAAMI cartridge and chamber drawing you can have .007 head clearance on new cases. And this can be more than .007 if the cases are made undersized.
Another problem is chamber diameter forward of the belt and case diameter ahead of the belt. Meaning a fat chamber and a skinny case will expand more when fired.
If you are familiar with reloading the .303 British many of the same reloading tricks apply to belted cases to extend case life.
1. Fire form your cases by jamming the bullet into the rifling, this will hold the case against the bolt face and help prevent case stretching.
2. Measure new cases above the belt then measure again after firing to see how much the case expanded above the belt.
3. American made cases tend to be closer to minimum dimensions and have to expand more to contact the chamber walls.
4. And you also have plus and minus tolerances in die manufacture and a fat chamber and skinny die will over work the brass.
5. And the amount of shoulder bump will govern your head clearance and how far the case must stretch to meet the bolt face.
Example below, both cases were fired in the same .303 British Enfield chamber. The Prvi Partizan case is larger in base diameter and .010 thicker and has a thicker rim. And as you can see the HXP case was smaller in diameter and had further to expand to touch the chamber walls. And this will add stress to the case at this point and add to case stretching.
DiabeticKripple
CGN Regular
- Location
- Red Deer, Alberta
im using 150gr TTSX over H1000 and IMR4831. Got good results from both, still doing load development to see which one i will go with.
im using federal cases since i have a bunch of 1x fired, and winchester LRM primers. Neck sizing only.
im using federal cases since i have a bunch of 1x fired, and winchester LRM primers. Neck sizing only.
