Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Anyone know if Bob Hagel got 3300?

Way back in the early 80's, Bob Hagels book really influenced me. I was able to shoot his recipe for the 7mm Rem Mag that listed 3100fps for the 160 NP. It shot very well. One day, I talked a nervous guy into shooting one of my rounds across his chronograph. ( I was way too poor to own one!) it went "exactly" 2950! A very good speed for a 24" barrel and IMR 4350! However, it "ruined me"! I was so disappointed! I really wanted a Mashburn SuperMag so I could get "Bob's" 3300 fps! years later, I tried bigger 7mms, close as I got was about 3150/160! Anyone ever get this speed at sane pressure?

Correction: Bob's book spoke of using the Mashburn 160 for 3300fps, but listed some loads for powders I did not have in 1980 for the 7mm Rem Mag going 3100 or so. I had IMR 4350 and in the Nosler Load Data showed 60 some-odd grains for 3100, "that" was the load I had checked at 2950.

Nope, my Rem 7 mag runs 3100 with a 160 ab and h1000. 26" barrel.

Regards,
Manny

I get 3200-3250 from my 24" 7 Mashburn Super with 160's. Mostly using 175/180's these days at 3050-3100. H1000 with 160 Noslers was Bob's favorite load and I believe that chrono'ed around 3200 from his old Simillion 7 Mashburn Super.

I read where there was two Mashburns, one like the 7 RM and one like the 7 STW? Which one is the Super and to what do you compare it too? Just curious is all, both make up into heavier rifles than I want to pack around anymore! Plus, I didn't think H1000 was around in the early 80's?

I thought Mr. Hagel was known for higher than “standard” pressure loads. I read his articles though.

There were three Jim. One was basically like a 7 Rem Mag, the other was based off the full length 300 H&H blown out which was basically a 7 STW and then there was the Super which was actually in between. The Super was formed from 300 H&H brass and shortened to 2.6" and fireformed. Today I use 300 Win Mag and fireform. It was said it was called the Super cause back when they were created there wasn't enough speed advantage to the bigger case to show much advantage unless you used a longer barrel and then only with heavier bullets.

So the Super was a solid mix between the smaller Rem Mag and larger Wby sized case. I have had a couple Super's and like what it does. Today, with longer actions available and slower powders you can make stuff like the STW really scream if you wanted though.

I don;t think I ever read of him getting 3300 with a 160, but he did get that with 140s.

I had written a letter to Mr Hagel, back then, asking him if he felt I would benefit by reaming my 7mm RM out to the 7mm/300 Wby and he said no, too Overbore then. 20yrs later I'm going through the bigger cased 7mms. I only hunted one time with that 7mm RUM. The elk were lying down right on the property line at 600! Had to pass, and I was glad, too far for my part. But I shot a wad out in the desert and Lord, what a money Pit! Between being fickle and trying different loads, I went through some components. I sold it and never looked back.

I tried some of Hagel’s loads and never was able to get anywhere near his top loads in my rifles.
My current 7mm Mashburn Super weighs 7 pounds ready to hunt. It does have a muzzle brake and that makes it feel like shooting a mild 270. Love the rig immensely.

I sent you an email Jim. Let me know if it came through. Hagel's 3300 came from a 28" Single Shot which seems entirely possible.

Yes sir, I got it! "I was there" *back in '86", ha. At that time, I was super busy getting my affairs in order to go to Bible college, up in Tulsa (Broken Arrow). I somehow missed this publication as I would always check out the magazine racks of convenient stores, I was still driving a truck then. It was tough to get information back then, ha. I believe Bob substituted his 3300 fps/160 in his book for his 3300/140, or the Editor did. Anyhow, I sure enjoyed the article and learned many things! Super, dooper, hot dog, exciting to me and cleared up so much! Thank you Marine! This "almost" makes me want to have my new Shilen 7x57 reamed out to the 280 Ackley or 7x57 Ackley, lol. Just kidding, it looks like I will be able to get that 3300 with the Barnes 120 TTSX (or Hammer) from its 25" barrel with R17. That's plenty flat for what I want this rifle to do. But that 28 Nosler?????......:)

That 28 Nosler is a horse for sure. A fast one..

I have 2 Mashburns with 24" barrels. I have loaded 1 with 162 gr Hornady Interlocks, 26 gr RL-25 and it chronod at 3275. Accuracy is about .6". That load was a little hot so I backed down to 24 gr and 3200+/-.
The other is a dedicated 175 gr shooter with 72 gr H1000 at 3060.
I like them both a lot.

I briefly had a 26" barreled 7mm RM (before Obammacare raped me and I had a huge Premium right before Medicare age!) I worked up loads ( and chronographed) with the 160/R26 for 3100 and change and used R33/175 for a smooth 3000fps. Both with terrific accuracy. Then "boom", had to sell. But it served to prove ro me that a 26" barrel 7 RM was far more capable than someone of my skill set could take advantage of. If I didn't already have comparable rounds (the 338/06 AI/175 Hammer and 300WSM/153 HHT) for my 400yd self imposed Limit, I would get another 7 RM. I say that because I had a 22" .280 Mountain Rifle reamed to the Ackley and I only gained 50fps from it using the 150 NBT. (final 2950) That rifle was a killer, but fickle, only it and the Speer 160HC/2800 would shoot well. And, more importantly, "I wanted more", lol.

I loved that rifle for hunting around here and down in Texas. However, in '94 I got to hunt antelope for first time near Laramie. That wonderful light rifle and me got blown around by the prairie wind something awful! I missed 5 bucks (out around 300+) that morning! That wind was blowing me, and when it wasn't, it was blowing out where the bucks were! I realized that heavier rifle would be the best option. For me, I seem to much better with a heavy-Sporter. I used big varmint rigs (6mm Remington) on prairie dogs, but overall, I like a Sporter weight better. Now, at 71, shucks, I love my Lightweights (but not too light). I just hunt different now, and still have a ball!

You are right Mr WCH! I still had a ton of fun "trying" to get that 3300/160, ha. Right before I left Texas for Tulsa, I had access to a farm and straight road for rifle range. I measured it out to 600yds, I shot my 7mm Rem Mag and the 160/2950 loa and the 150/almost 3200 load there, and my 1917 Enfield sporter 30-06 with both the 150 and 200 Sierras. I'm not a "dialer" but I had them both set at +3" @ 100. I even had a thick steel pendulum (8" square) hanging on chains painted white. Boy, did I enjoy myself. The way I worked, I couldn't get out there very much.

I could easily subtend my scope reticles out to 500. I shot from the sit mostly. I sure enjoyed that time and place! Oh yeah, I was over 3ft low at 600 with my 7 Mag set that way. "Occasionally" I hit the gong. Too far, too rich, too much sugar for a dime for me:, ha So out to 500 I can do it, but its like doing mechanic work and Math to me though, "yes i can do it" but I don't enjoy it! I feel "cheated" somehow with running shots too. You work you plan, agonize over tiny groups then they take off and its 'do or go home for Tag Soup", may as well have a shotgun/buckshot. No, I enjoy the surgical approach, then I want to dig around in the wound cavity, ha.

Well, I have another [b]Retraction and Apology[/b] for everyone. Tonight I dug out my old beat up book of Bob Hagel's " Game Loads and Practical Ballistics" and got a surprise. I was wrong! On page 140 is a picture of his Record Book Caribou, his Mashburn Super mag and the load he used, a Nosler 160 PT going 3240fps! I could have sworn it was 3300. I guess I must have read it somewhere when playing with either the 7mm STW or that 7mm RUM. Who knows? Either way, whether 3300 or 3240, that's flat shooting! For a "point and shoot/hold on hair" kind of hunter like me, using a 300yd zero and I used the slicker 160 NAB, I would be good to 500yds! And, as long as I'm dreaming, there is "no wind"! ha That would be on a broadside elk. Now, I would use the Partition or the 160 TTSX for elk where I hunt and how I hunt. I would probably drop my zero down to +2 @ 100 also.

I just wanted to get that straight. I have enjoyed everyone's input on their Big 7's, very informative. And no, until I get that cow elk hunt booked for next year, I am not buying a 28 Nosler! lol

One thing I remember about memory is I don't remember if my memory is as good as memory serves...

You know Jim, I think I have that book somewhere, now I have to go dig it up.

Anytime folks talk about the 7 Mashburn, I think of Bob in NH (I think that was his handle). Wonderful guy for sure!

Same here AK, probably part of the reason I’ve stuck with the Mashburn over a 7 Rem or 28 Nosler. I know the cartridge well enough now and it’s easy to me.

I still remember calling Bob after my first 7 Mashburn kill and remember jaw jacking a bit. Always a great guy to BS with.

I remember Brother Bob too...seemed like a great guy.