Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Pick one only powder for the 7 mag

I will be teaching a buddy to reload his seven mag. He will be loading 120 grain bullets primarily, along with some 140’s. What powder would you pick if you only bought one pound of powder?

IMR7828 SSC

And you're done

Yep, my choice as well.

Yup

R26 has done about as well for me, but no better.

RL 26 has been working well in mine with 150 and 160gr bullets.

H1000 is the easy choice and I've used both 7828 and RL26.

RL-19 first, or RL-22.
Both produce good fill capacity and velocity for the lighter bullets.

I grab RL22 first every time.

Good old IMR 4831 has always worked well for me with 145 and 160 grainers.

7828 here.

7828, re22 are my choices for the light bullets.

RL22.

RL25

For 120's I would go with I 4350 or Re19... With the 140's I use Re22..

I've been playing with Reloader-26,I'd be happy if it was the only powder I had.I was able to easily get around 1\2" groups with it.69.0grs was 3187fps with 150gr Nosler Ballistic Tips.70.0grs gave me 3220fps with that same bullet.

Reloader 26 was my best best of getting 3k out of 160s with solid accuracy. The 7mm RM is a great round and the best of the mags imho.

My 7 mag done really well with RL-22 and the 140's and 7828 was my heavier bullet powder. However, the times I did try 7828 with the 140's it shot well. I suspect either powder will 'get 'er done"

Re 22 with 140's and 160's works very well and very accurate.

H1000

With that light of bullet, H4831sc.

Another vote for Reloader 22 & 140's

Reloader22 or IMR 4350. I have four 7 mags, I load 140 gr. Ballistic tips with 65 grains of IMR 4350. That load shoots great in all four, all seated the same, full length sized.

Use this in your Kleinguenther?

^^^

I'm in the 7828SSC camp under a 160 Partition or Accubond, whichever your rifle prefers.

RL25 a close second.

RL22 works best in my two 7 Rem Mags. I really like IMR7828 as well, but it only works well with my heaviest bullets while the RL22 gives me the best "groups" with all the weights I shoot (140 to 175).

7828 with 160 AB out of model 70 is the tits! So put me down for 7828 as well.

Let’s narrow it down to lighter (120 grain) bullets. What say you?!

I would think something in the 4350/RE-19/4831 range. But those are guesses because I have never wanted to use a 7 mag and a bullet that light.

That is my load, too. 4350 also works good for 160s. Never run any 120s...

RL22 sends off a 110gr Speer HP at “red mist” velocity and shoots well.

Yep.... I’ve seen 3600+ with RE22 and a 120.... they’re not fur friendly.

H1000 gives awesome results in 7 mag

How many of you who responded have experience with more than one powder?




P

This guy.

Looking at loading 120 BARNES ttsx. Looking to minimize recoil, insure complete pass throughs and minimal ballistic bullet drop to 350 yards. I know the BC is lousy, but given the maximum range I plan on for this rifle, I am just looking to maximize point blank range.

Been loading for my 7mags since 1985. What do you think?

Off the top of my head..... I’ve only shot the following powders, with bullet weights ranging from 110 grains to 180 grains, out of about a dozen different 7 Rem Mags:

IMR4350
H4350
RE17
RE19
RE22
RE23
RE25
RE26
IMR4831
IMR7828
H1000
Retumbo
Ramshot Magnum

I’m sure there’s a few others.... they’re just not coming to mind.

Pretty good variety there Dogshooter. I first used one of those Lee hand loaders back in college, and loaded up 160 partitions over 4064 of all things. I guess it was either all I could find or all I could afford. What I do know is that that old Ruger topped with a Vari X 3-9x duplex reticle, would wallop the livin' schittttt outa aoudad and mule deer. I'd sight that thing in 3" high aat 100 and when I guesstimated something about 300 yds, holding that duplex on the top of the target's back, it was history. When I guessed 400 yds, where the bold duplex met the thin duplex wire I could hold spot on and could still wallop the schitttt outa game. I missed alot of longer shots though 'cause I evidently wasn't the best judge of distance.

My numbers and even the powders on my list are about the same...

Okay, well that answers that.



P

Ditto as dog and Mr J said. I have also used h4831 and tried rl 33 with heavys as well. All around I still vote H1000.

RL-22

If I were going to start new load development today, RL-26 would get a trial.

MM

I know this thread is about the lighter bullets, but Re 25 and Re 33 will both go over 3000 fps with 160 Partitions in my 26-inch sps and are very accurate. Elk hate them.

I use IMR 4350 with bullets lighter than 145 in my 7 mags. I like 7828 or RL 22 with heavier bullets. If using lighter than 145 I personally would use only premium bullets as lead core want preform as well. Hasbeen

Reloaded 23 is a pretty good one to try for some of the lighter to mid-weight bullets. I use it with 140gr Barnes T-TSX and get itty bitty groups and velocities in the 3,150 - 3,200 fps range with no excessive pressure signs.
Have a nice mature 25” wide mulie buck on the wall from this past October that didn’t like that combo to well. Shot was 300 yds. Zeroed 2” high at 100 yds, I held high on the shoulder and squeezed the trigger.....buck dropped at the shot.

Works for me,

Leftybolt

Yes, 3/4 groups with my old eyes

I experimented with Re 23, when it was tough to find Re 22 for a bit during the Oblowme years. To me, it is a great replacement for Re 22.

Headed to the range today with my Kleinguenther loaded with 160 gr. Sierras over RL 22. If no luck, I'll give the IMR 4350 a try since I have plenty on hand.

I'm another fan of H -1000 in my 7 Rem Mags. I admit I don't shoot many 120 or 140 grain bullets out of them though those weights get primarily shot out of my 7-08's. H-1000 has always been very consistent and gives excellent ES and SD numbers.

RL26

'22...............

Well, opinions are like a------s, everybody has one ! I don't think the critter will know the difference what powder number propels the bullet that just killed them !

I've used both RL-22 and H1000 in my 7mm mags for years. I've found that over time that RL-22 is considerably more temp sensitive than H1000. But either will work with bullet 160 grains or above.

I've used Rl 22 and RL 26 with 150 and 160 grain bullets and both work well. RL 26 is less temperature sensitive.

I used the old Barnes X 120 grain with R22 as it developed the highest velocity with accuracy in my rifle. But if starting over I would try R16 & R23 for their stability and clean burning advantages. If I wanted to get exotic I would also try the VV powders: 165, 170 and N565 & N570.

I had good loads with the 120s and H4831 and H4350 but went with the slightly higher velocity of R22. But I would not do this now. I would pick any of the extreme or newer powders and go with that.

I’ve used both RL22 and 7828 in both my 7Mags, and had better results with 22. My load development focused on the 160 NAB and 175 Partition. Your rifle may be different, but those two powders seem to get an awful lot of attention from 7Mag shooters, and for good reason.

Accurate MAGPRO.