7 PRC and Magnum Powder

[jbseamus83]

I built a 7 PRC off of the Howa 1500 barreled action last year. I didn't get around to developing handloads for it and just used Hornady's Outfitter with the 160 gr cx this last hunting season. It shot well enough (around 1 moa).

I've now started developing some handloads. I started with H1000. I have a load that looks promising, but I'm testing a couple of powders with the 162 gr ELD-X. I loaded some loads with Magnum powder and shot a few of them. None of them are inside of 3 inch groups. Now, to be fair, I shot them after shooting about 25 rounds out of my rifle with the H1000.

I took 5-10 minute breaks between each 4 round group the whole day. But the Magnum did not want to group. I'm going to reload the same groups and go shoot them with a cool barrel, but I'm wondering if anyone has found a load they liked with Magnum powder. I also have 168 grams of ABLR bullets and 175 grams of gameking bullets to try at some point.

 

[Alpine01]

I built a 7 PRC off of the Howa 1500 barreled action last year. I didn't get around to developing handloads for it and just used Hornady's Outfitter with the 160 gr cx this last hunting season. It shot well enough (around 1 moa).

I've now started developing some handloads. I started with H1000. I have a load that looks promising, but I'm testing a couple of powders with the 162 gr ELD-X. I loaded some loads with Magnum powder and shot a few of them. None of them are inside of 3 inch groups. Now, to be fair, I shot them after shooting about 25 rounds out of my rifle with the H1000.

I took 5-10 minute breaks between each 4 round group the whole day. But the Magnum did not want to group. I'm going to reload the same groups and go shoot them with a cool barrel, but I'm wondering if anyone has found a load they liked with Magnum powder. I also have 168 grams of ABLR bullets and 175 grams of gameking bullets to try at some point.

I've been using H4831SC in my 7mm RM with a 150-gr CX. 0.54 MOA (max) after load development based on a total of 95 shots to date. I also tried H1000 when I was starting my load development but didn't get as good performance or group size. Shooting the factory Hornady CX loads initially yielded very poor grouping but I liked the bullet so I stayed with it. If you go from all-copper to bonded, then you shouldn't have accuracy issues. But going from bonded to all-copper requires a thorough cleaning otherwise you are likely to get poor accuracy results. How the barrel is fouled seems to make a difference.

 

[Darkside]

Clean your barrel real good.
And I’m guessing you are using 1st fired Horny brass?
Load 3 to 5 rounds each with the bullets you have an see if any have potential. If not change powder, I recommend
N- 560/565. For 7 prc.
Hope this helps.

 

[D4570]

Reloader 26

 

[jbseamus83]

I've been using H4831SC in my 7mm RM with a 150-gr CX. 0.54 MOA (max) after load development based on a total of 95 shots to date. I also tried H1000 when I was starting my load development but didn't get as good performance or group size. Shooting the factory Hornady CX loads initially yielded very poor grouping but I liked the bullet so I stayed with it. If you go from all-copper to bonded, then you shouldn't have accuracy issues. But going from bonded to all-copper requires a thorough cleaning otherwise you are likely to get poor accuracy results. How the barrel is fouled seems to make a difference.

I've been keeping an eye out for H4831sc for a little while. It's a bit hard to come by right now. The H1000 groups fantastic with 140 gr game kings in my 7mag. I have a load that is .5 inch all day and will give me even smaller groups if I do my job.

 

[jbseamus83]

Clean your barrel real good.
And I’m guessing you are using 1st fired Horny brass?
Load 3 to 5 rounds each with the bullets you have an see if any have potential. If not change powder, I recommend
N- 560/565. For 7 prc.
Hope this helps.

This is a great suggestion. I should have stopped and done that before starting with a whole new powder and testing. I cleaned it real good today. I don't have any of the N560 or 565 right now, but can get some. What grain bullets are you shooting with that? what kind of velocity?

 

[jbseamus83]

Reloader 26

If I could find some, I would be all over it. Everywhere is sold out and it's next to impossible to get hold of. This is the top powder I would like to shoot. H4831sc is right behind that. What I have currently is the H1000, Ramshot Magnum, N165, and just got some Accurate Magpro.