Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Good 7mm Mag loads...

Pharm-thank you sir.

Wonder how the terminal performance of the 162 ELD-X compares with the 160 NAB at 7RM speeds.

DF

I have no experience with the AB but I hear it has been the standard by which all others are measured.

I sure can’t complain with how dead the ELDX made my bull last year. He was fully dead, and I mean right now.






P

About to take deliver on my newest rifle, I was shopping pretty wood and found a beautiful Model 70 Super Grade . it is a 7mm Magnum. I will shoot and hunt with it so, I'm going through this thread looking for proven load data, Thread is kinda old but I have some good starting points.

any new data out there?

Old thread.

I love to read BobinNH posts.

My latest 7RM load is 67.5 gr. RL-26 with a 160 NAB at around 3K fps. My good bud took that load and his 26" Sendero to Africa for a PG hunt. Lots of one shot kills. PH and fellow hunters were impressed with that combo.

I was able to shoot a 3" group at 400 as I worked up the load.

I am an RL-26 fan these days. I had used RL-25 as this vintage thread indicates..

Both work, just using '26 currently.

DF

Does the Accubond slip easier down a tube than the Partitions? I tried my 160PT loads with the ABs and was nowhere close, on velocity and POI. It may seem I need to step up the charges, but it left me puzzled.

My 160NPT charge is 65gr RL22 and Rem 9 1/2 Mag primers, same charge with CCI250s gave me a sticky bolt.

what twist yall running the 160's "9"?

would the NAB be overkill on Texas deer? i was thinking Ballistic Tips

9.25 and 10

Use the NBT, especially if you can get them a bit cheaper at SPS. http://www.shootersproshop.com/loading-reloading-bullets.html

Theoretically, the NAB may be a tad tougher than the NBT (not always). It may open a bit more in WT's. But, you'll never tell enough difference to write about, IMO.

DF

thanks DF

I think the Accubond build a bit less pressure than the Partition.I know I've had better luck getting Partitions to shoot better if I reduce my load a bit.Both bullets are designed to shed about the same amount of weight,that's why I prefer the Accubond.I can push them harder if I want and they seem to be a little easier to load for.

Thanks for the info

I have seen a 30 cal ballistic tip, ether 150 or 165 factory load, I can't recall which, fail to completely penetrate a small whitetail buck from a 30-03. The deer was maybe 170lb live. I shot a big Saskatchewan buck, 275lb , on the same hunt with my 7mm Rem Mag 160gr Accubond through both shoulders, did a 3ft run, straight down. Personaly, I prefer my bullets to pass through, giving maximun tissue damage the entire length of travel, as well as giving an exit hole to bleed from. I muvh prefer the Accubond or Partition to a ballistic tip for anything larger than antelope. Just my opinion.

I forgot to mention, that 30-06 ballistic Tip also came apart, separating the core form the jacket. This at modest velocity, and on a small animal. They are indeed very accurate, but to me, are to soft. I understand each bullet is purpose designed, and the 30 cal 180 is a much tougher bullet, but the a smallish whiteail buck at modest velocity from a 30-06 just didn't impress me any.

Odd I have had so many exits and perfect performances from 30 caliber Ballistic Tips weighing 150 and 165 grains from both a 308 and a 30-06 pushed to factory velocities I consider them both top notch deer bullets. I have found them very occasionally with their core and jacket separated but lying right next to each other under the hide on the far side. I have had them separate when I handled them. How long ago did this "failure" happen? Obviously the deer died or you wouldn't have been able to recover the bullet. As for good 7MM Remington magnum loads I like R22 and run either the 150 gr. Ballistic Tips or the 160 gr. Partition, the former for Mule deer and the latter for elk. If all I had loaded were the Ballistic Tips I would happily use them for elk.

That particular hunt was 2019 in Saskatchewan. Yes, the bullet did kill the deer, so that can't be argued. It's just not the kind of performance I want, particularly when I have $5,000 riding on a hunt. I much prefer the complete penetration scenario, along with good expansion and trauma while doing so. I feel much more confident if presented with an angling shot and the need to penetrate deeply. I think bullets like the Accubond and Partition do this quite well, and that's why I prefer them. I have killed quite a few deer with ballistic tips, mostly from a 270 Win, and a few from a 7mm-08. I can't say I ever lost a deer because of one. I have had several fail to completely penetrate, but did kill quickly. Some people prefer massive expansion, to the degree the bullet remains in the animal to "expend all the bullets energy" in the animal. The only problem with that philosophy is, it's not expended energy that kills game, it is destruction of vital tissue. However we accomplish that, doesn't much matter. To me, the extra vent hole of an exit is always a welcome asset too.

Correction, that was a 2018 Saskatchewan hunt. Got my years confused. I do that with a lot of things lately lol

“ I can’t say I‘ve ever lost a deer to one” I think that sums it up pretty well. The old ballistic tips were more fragile. Nosler thickened the jackets. I’ve had more bang flops with 150 ballistic tips in 06 and 7 mag than just about any other bullet. Don't sleep on IMR 4350 either.

168 vld
68 grain retumbo
.020 off of lands

Just picked up a box of Hornady 150 eldx bullets. Thinking of starting with R26. Anyone have any experience with this bullet in the 7 RM?