Bludog,
The before loads with that longer OAL 284:
I have to agree with SU35, that load data for 4350 is a good starting point. 58 gr of H4350 with moly used to be THE load with a 140 in this rifle. (57 gr without moly)
3000-3075 with a 140 (sierra gameking, nos bt, nos pt, TSX)
2900-2950 with a 150 nos pt
2800-2850 with 160 nos pt never tried any VLD type bullets back then.
All loads above were with moly coated bullets
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Tried some 140 nos bt yesterday. Not anywhere near as accurate with the testing. 59 gr was pretty much max. I seated the bullets without changing the depth from the 150 nos bt (lazy) and they were contacting the rifling which did not occur with the 150s.
58 gr of RL-17 yielded 3240 fps
58.5 3265 fps
59 3285 fps
59.5 was right at 3300 fps with signs of pressure (extractor marks)
I am going back to shoot the 150 nos bt load again to verify the accuracy. I would love to shoot the A-max and maybe even the 168 Berger VLD but this particular chamber has shown that it doesn't like those style bullets. Rem barrel's twist is 1 in 9.5 so it should stabilize the 162/168. I feel it is the throat dimensions that cause this issue. Standard hunting bullets generally shoot well in the rifle.
I would be interested in future tests anyone does with the 7 rem mag or 7 WSM.
