Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles H1000 and 160 Accubond in 7 mag

That's a freaking beast right there, the load and shooter both!

Pretty good little banger JG, if it runs into any trouble it has a cell mate that boots the 300gr .338 cal Accubonds out at 3000 fps, now that's a HAMMER!

I think you got that right, x2...

DF

[/quote]

Not in 7mm Mag, but 7 Mashburn, 76 grs H-1000 boots the 160 AB's out at 3220 fps from my 25" barrel, bughole accuracy with no wind, i'll test the load, rifle, bullet and scope tracking on the next wild pig that steps out, I've shot three in the last month, so another is hopefully to be along soon, I also want to see how the 160 AB's act on game at 5 to 6 hundred yards.[/quote]

I bet it will work just fine but if not the 168 ABLR probably would. I have only used them for shorter ranges but they are perfoming well in each caliber I have tried them in so far.

RE H1000:

I used the first loads Hodgdon published for H1000 and was pleased with accuracy and velocity. Then the next annual load data they put out dropped back 2-3 grains from their previous load. I called the technician at Hodgdon about this and all he could offer was "different guns". When I dropped down to the new data I was disappointed. It seems like I lost the accuracy node or sweet spot I had found before. I went back to H870 but am probably going to switch to R26 for the next rounds with the 168ABLR.

I,m using 71gr of H1000 160gr Accubond Hornady case CCI 250 primer 3.315 OAL 3057 FPS in my Vanguard S2. Start lower.

3000 fps shoots good with 160 partitions also

What was your best RL-26 load at 3K fps?

DF

Ok here is the rest of my 7mm Mag loads for 160gr Accubond or Trophy Bonded Tipped. All used Hornady cases and Federal 215M primer OAL was 3.300
Norma MRP 67.0 gr at 3080 FPS. Retumbo 73gr at 3067 FPS. RL23 66gr at 3067 FPS Very accurate. May change to this load in the future. Mag Pro 70.5gr at 3004 FPS
RL26 first 5 shot was 3128 FPS second 5 shots an hour later was 3107 FPS. You have to work up your own loads. All were safe in my Weatherby Vanguard S2 with 24" barrel.
I have used the 73gr Retumbo load the longest and the MRP second longest. Reduce these loads and give them a try, they might be to hot for some rifles. I have a new Tikka
7mm-08 and I have to stay a full grain below max on most published loads with it. So start low.

How much RL26 were you running? Didn’t see it listed.

Thanks,

Just researching on line and looking at QL, it seems that 67 gr, 67.5 gr, 68 gr. of RL-26 will all reach or beat 3K fps with 160 NAB's in the 7RM, pressures in the 52K to 58K psi range.

I'm wanting to reach a solid 3K with the 160 NAB without pushing the pressure envelope. There are other powders that will reach or beat 3K psi, but most do so at higher pressures.

And, from what I've read, these mentioned loads are generally pretty accurate. From a performance/pressure standpoint, RL-26 is pretty good.

Gonna check'em out when the rain quits and will report. If RL-26 isn't the most temp stable powder, operating below max pressure should compensate for any fluctuations in weather, heat, etc. I think RL-26 is fairly temp stable, good enough for what we're wanting to do, especially with a pressure margin.

DF

It was a little warmer than I would like to put on the internet. I,d start at 67gr of RL26 and go up. All of those loads were accurate in my rifle.
It only has about 300 rounds thru it. I thought that RL26 was the least accurate. But may just be me. It works better than anything in my 30/06 with 165gr bullets.
Also shows promise in my 7mm-08 with heavy bullets. Loads a very compressed in the 7mm-08. I liked RL23 in my 270 with 140gr bullets and MRP with 150gr Nosler
Partitions.

A 160 accubond will kill a lot further than I can hit em.

I can offer 160 partition results; should be similar to 160 AB.

rem 700, 26" factory tube, McMillian stock, glass bedded. Not the most accurate rifle; shoots 1/2" with the right load, and 1-3/4 to 2" when not the right load.

Poor uniformity Win brass and Fed215, 20 tou off lands.

While not a speed demon, H4831 is the most accurate powder.
I shot from 63.1 to 68.0. All the groups averaged together 1-1/3", best 1/2 and worst 1-1/2.
64.5 to 65.2 is my call on max, and where you need to be, 2,930fps.
A good fall back option for checking rifle problems or back up ammo.

RL22 was the 2nd most accurate powder
I shot from 61.1 to 66.0, and consider 66.0 max based on case head expansion, 3,050fps.

I had scope mount issues with H1000, so my group info is highly questionable.
Case head expansion told me 71 grains was max @ 3,080fps.
69.3 did print a 7/8" group @ 3,000fps.
Retest is needed: front scope ring was completely loose.

RL26 testing was tense.
I started at 66.8 grains, and the case head expansion was between 5/10 and 6/10 of thou, which is my consideration of max.
I continued to work up (curios like a cat), and case head expansion remained constant until 69.6, when it spike to 9/10th for all 3 rounds!
Stepping back in charge weight to 68.9 got me 3,090fps and a 1-1/4" group.
Similar to RL17 in other cartridges, RL26 is "peaky".
I read about people shooting 70+ grains of RL26 behind a 160, which would be well over max pressure in my rifle.
Bullets and barrels make a difference; just be warned that pressures spike quickly with this powder.

IMR7828 delivered 1/2" groups at the starting charge of 62.1 grains, 2822fps.
Remaining groups were 2". I considered max 66.3 grains @ 3,015fps.

The barrel on this rifle is rough as a cob, so it may build pressure quicker than others.

68.0g of RL26. OAL was a little over SAAMI max. 26" tube. 3,000-3,050 FPS. Went up to 69.5g, but it liked 68.0g best.