Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 7mm Weatherby 160 TBBC load data

Does anyone have any load data for 7mm Weatherby using Reloder 26 or similar for the old style 160 gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw bullet? I got 3,040 with 70.0 gr RL26 and no classic pressure signs. Some load data lists slightly higher velocity for 160 gr slugs, but I wanted to take it slow for the long copper bearing surface bullets. The old Federal Premium factory load lists 3,050 fps. Thanks in advance.

I have load data for 160 A Frames & North Forks. I reckon the AFrames are about the same bearing surface as the TBBC’s.

Speer is showing 69.4 grains for the other Speer bullets and 3095 fps.https://www.speer-ammo.com/reloading/rifle
In my almost free bored 7RM I am getting 3150fps with R26 and Accubonds which are somewhere in the mid range for friction and bearing surface. I believe I am at 69.5 but don't have my notes handy so don't try that one at home boys and girls. R25 and R33 beat 26 slightly on velocity but not sure how consistent and temperature tolerant they are.

I would load till I hit 3100 fps and stop there. But I would also go up one more grain just to see if you have a margin for safety then drop back down.

I am going to try some other powders as I hunt in hot weather and R26 doesn't like high heat. But neither did H870 which I used before and I had no issues I could tell with it.

I may have been making a mistake, but I used Nosler load data for the old Jack Carter Bear Claws. I loaded .30, 7mm, 270, and .22’s. I never saw any signs of pressure.

Thanks, Tejano. I did load some 70.5 and 71.0 gr charges and the 71.0 got 3,093 fps MV but had a 56 fps spread.

I bet yours is similar to mine and 69.5-70 gr. is maximum, or perhaps even less.

I would be satisfied with 3,040 fps if it shoots well. Performance on game and accuracy with Fed factory TBBC has been great for my son’s 7 RM at about 2,900 fps MV. Not a speed demon load, but sure has gotten the job done. Too bad Federal discontinued that offering.

For years my pet load only did 2.970 fps with the 160's. It worked just fine with Noslers and Barnes X's.

I would drop back down and work up with a magnum primer too. Even in mid sized cases the magnum primers have reduced ES & SD and improved accuracy which is more meaningful than the numbers to me.

I think the Nitro Chemie progressive powders have ignition similarities to ball powders even though the flame retardant is not on the exterior of the powder. But possibly the less easily ignited portion is on the exterior of the kernels. Look at one under magnification and it looks like an extruded pastry.

Thanks, I never use anything other than magnum primers with powder charges greater than 60 gr or any ball powder. Mostly GM215M.