Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles RL33 and 7mm RM

Have any of you tried this combo? What were the results? Alliant has a load posted but they don't mention % of case fill. I can load to about 3.4" with 175 GK and 175gr Partitions, so I have a bit more case capacity than at SAAMI specs.


Thanks.

I tried RL-33 in a 7 rem mag:

24" Rem barrel, moly coated 162 A-max seated .010" into rifling.

Original load: 72 gr of Retumbo 2975 fps

RL-33:
starting load 76 gr vel 2837
79 gr vel 3000
80 grs showed a hint of bolt lift resistance and a small shiny spot on case head.

I used a bullet seating comparator and noticed that even with the use of a drop tube the powder was filling the case. 79 gr and up caused the OAL to lengthen over .010", enough so the bullet wouldn't fit into magazine.

I can see why Alliant only mentioned a load for the 175 gr bullet. It would appear a 160 gr bullet is too light for this slow powder.

Thanks Azshooter. I am only interested in 175gr + RL33 combos. I used to use 175gr Partitions and H870 with good results, and it looks like RL33 might be similar burn rate. I could stuff 79.0gr of H870 under the 175gr bullet, but as you know H870 was a spherical powder so it compacted quite well.

Alliant's site shows 75.2gr with the 175gr SP for 2909fps, which isn't too shabby.

What was your OAL?

Sorry don't know the OAL, I pulled all loaded ammo. Rechambered that rifle barrel to 7mm/375 Ruger.

Arac, not to change the subject...but have you tried RL25 behind the 175 NPT.....might be a better fit for a case like the 7 Rem Mag.Just a thought.


I bet RL25 will get you over 2900 with the 175 gr pretty easily.

BobinNH - no I haven't tried RL25, but I might have to as it is pretty much the only powder available around here right now.

Arac I think you'll find that it will work well.

I grabbed 2 of the last 3 pounds of RL25 and the last 2 pounds of 7828. That should keep the 7mm fed for a while. One of the problems I have is with "experimentation". I've got partial canisters of Ramshot Magnum, H1000 and RL22. None of those are available right now. I really should start buying 8lb jugs after working up a load.

Bob,

I wonder if RL-33 would work in the 7 STW and similar. I see no data on it.

DF

I had excellent results with the 7mm/375 and 180 gr berger target hybrids. Seeing the 7 STW is very similar in case capacity it should respond similarly.

Alliant does have data but it is limited to two loads:

7mm stw 175 gr speer deep curl, 84.5 gr RL 33 @ 2946 fps
7mm stw 175 speer hpbt, 85.7 gr RL 33 @ 3033 fps