Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Model 7, 7mm-08, 162 AMAX, Varget, Magazine Length loads.

So I have recently been able to stock up on some 162 AMAX's (amongst others), but didn't have a 1st choice powder to play with. I've got some H4350 on back order and some Ramshot Hunter is theoretically gonna be shipped soon, but what I have on hand in ample quantities is Varget and I wanted to try the AMAX's.......

I worked up to 40.0 grains of Varget at 2.825" COAL with new Remington brass and Winchester large rifle primers. According to Quick Load this should be producing ~60,000 psi and 2550 fps. Brass was full length sized using Forster full length sizer die, trimmed w/ Lee case trimmer, chamfered and deburred. Brass measured ~2.027" after sizing and prepping. Bullets were seated with Forster Bench Rest seating die, ogive was NOT below the case neck. Run out was measured as less than 0.003" for all loads, none had to be straightened.

Loaded to 2.825" these rounds function flawlessly in both of my two model sevens, but are miles away from the rifling. My rifle is a SS model 7 with a 20" factory barrel. My son's model 7 is the XCR model with the heavier magnum contour fluted 20" barrel. Both rifles chronied at ~2540fps.

The XCR shot these rounds really well, able to keep 5 shots inside of an inch at 100yards. My SS Model 7 didn't seem to like them, shooting 3-4" 5 shot patterns with them. I suspect that part of the problem with my model 7 is a dirty bore - it hasn't been cleaned in about 200 rounds. It normally shoots 120NBT's into tight groups at 100 and I was having difficulty keeping them inside of 1.75" today.

After chronying and shooting for groups at 100yds I picked up and moved to the 500yd line to shoot the gong. There was only a light 5-7mph wind today and hitting the steel with either rifle (120NBT's in the SS, 162 AMAX's in the XCR) was not particularly difficult. The precision was notably better w/ the XCR and the AMAX's, but as already noted, the SS was kind of scattering it's bullets today.

What was VERY apparent was the difference in impact with the AMAX's. The heavier bullet knocked the snot out of the gong compared to the 120NBT's. It was easy to both see and hear the difference in impact!

I'm going to clean the barrel on my rifle later this evening and possibly load some more - maybe make another trip to the range tomorrow. I will post on accuracy of the SS Model 7 with this load after the barrel is cleaned. May not be just a dirty barrel - the XCR has a significantly tighter chamber than the SS and it may just be too far a jump to the rifling with these bullets loaded to magazine length for the SS.

David

It will be interesting to see your results with the light barrel.

How big was the gong?

Follow-up:

Went back to the range today with 20 more 162 AMAX rounds loaded to magazine length with 40grns of Varget and a clean barrel. Accuracy was excellent! Lots of wind today, but I was still able to get two 2 5-shot groups that went about an inch at 100yds. Dirty barrel seems to have been the problem.




Gong is a steel plate. I haven't measured it, but it looks to be roughly 11" wide x 18" long.

David

Here's a few pictures to show seating depth on some rounds I loaded tonight. Measured COAL was actually about 2.826" for this particular round, but by the time I got a picture in focus the caliper had opened up 1/1000" and I decided to just let it go....






I will try Ramshot Hunter when it finally comes in and post the results - according to Quick Load I should be able to get about 2650 fps w/ the 20" barrels on my model 7's. With a little luck the accuracy w/ the Ramshot Hunter will be as good or better than the Varget loads.

David

I'd be interestd in knowing how the Hunter powder worked. Please keep us posted.

9 twist or 10 ?

What other bullets, besides 120 NBT, have you had success with?

Very interesting information. Thanks.