I've shot factory 160 grain Swift A-Frames for years with very good success. I'm now looking to start reloading and want to shoot the same bullet.
Looking for hunting loads to use in my Sako 7mm Rem Mag with 24" barrel and 1-9.5" twist.

Have you ever verified the factory velocity on a chronograph so you have a target velocity you are looking for? I have piles of data on the 7RM I would be happy to share to get you started in the right direction.

Last week I tried to chrono my factory rounds. See below from earlier post. I obviously did not get the factory velocity that I was looking for. Any help that you can provide will be appreciated.

I was at the range yesterday shooting factory Remington Safari Grade 160 gr A-Frame rounds out of my Sako AV rifle. I've shot these rounds out of this rifle for a dozen years with very god results. I had decided that I wanted to try to duplicate the round in reloads so I set up the chronograph to determine the speed. This is the first time that I've checked the velocity of these rounds in my rifle. The muzzle velocity on the box states 2,900 fps.

I fired five rounds with very inconsistent speeds of 2868, 2994, 2953, 2976 and 2922. The grouping was not as good as normal. I let the barrel cool down before shooting the next round.

When I fired the sixth round I felt blow back on my face and wondered what the hell happened. The chrono logged the shot at 3,190 fps (290 fps over listed) and the bolt was locked up. With the help of a mallet and rod I was able to free the bolt and found the extractor was broken. Now I'm scared to shoot any more of these rounds.

Wow, Remington should be contacted ASAP. And you are right to be scared to shoot any more ammo from that box. While I have never loaded the 160 grain A-Frame, I have always gotten good velocity and accuracy with IMR 7828 and other 160 grain bullets.

I did contact Remington and sent back all remaining live ammo and the spent cases from that box.

Like SuperT I have always gotten great results with 7828 for 7 Mag.
In fact it is the first powder I try.
GreggH

Swift has their own load manual. If you could read a copy you would see the max powder charge is less and the max velocity is lower than other bullets of the same weight from other manufacturers. Probably due to the soft pure copper jackets swift uses.

I discovered that Lyman has loads specific to the 160gr A-Frames. I start working on them.

I know they aren't the fastest or most accurate bullet but they have been a great hunting bullet.

For powders, try H-1000, Retumbo, IMr 7977, 8133, The also mentioned IMR 7828, RL 22, 23, 25, 26.

Swift lists IMR 1350, 4831 and 78298 all getting real close or just 2900

RL19, 23, 25 get 2900-almost 3000

H1000, 4350, 4831 run 2885, 2814, 2892

All are max loads.

My own loads I did well with h1000 and retumbo with the 150. Trying 8133 tomorrow as my retumbo is gone and h1000 is low.

I have print outs of lots of other older load data for the 7RM too if you dont get somewhere you like.

I can also say, certain guns are faster. My win70 is slower than both a browning and remington I have shot with the same loads fwiw