grand slams

gregrn43 · 01-10-2009, 07:16 AM

This is a strange one here. I loaded up some 160grs grand slams for my 7mm rem mag. Powder was RL 22 and H870, primer was cci mangums primers. I cant remember the grs. of pwd off hand but its the same that I use for my other loads with 160gr bullets and I have no problem with them. These bullets are very accurate at 100 yards. Heres what happened a buck walked out at 300 yards. Broadside I took a shot, he stood there. I emptied my gun on him 4 shots, he stood there the entire time that I shot and then he walked off. I dont claim to be the best shot in the world, but I shoot enough at 300 and 400 yards that I am confident in shooting that far. Told myself I know I could miss once, but no way could I miss 4 times in a row. Went to the range and shot at 100 yards and it was 2.5 inches high just where its supposed to be. When I backed off to 300, it didnt even hit the target. The bullets were hitting 25 yards in front of the target in the sand. This happend a few years ago so the other day I loaded up some more grand slams and the same thing happend. I have loaded for more than 20 years and nothing like this has ever happend before. I asked this question back in the summer, but no one really had answer. I was wondering if someone who didnt see the question then might know something about this. Really I am at a loss, I know there has to be an answer, but honestly I dont have a clue.

eldeguello · 01-10-2009, 09:30 AM

This is a tough one, but it sounds like the velocity of that H870 load is a lot lower than you should be getting, so the drop is a lot more than it should be at that range.

I think you need to chronograph the ammo to see how fast it is going, and work from there. H870 is a pretty slow powder, so I would think it would be easy to get a load that is moving too slow for long-range work.

gregrn43 · 01-10-2009, 11:15 AM

Yea but what about the RL 22? I know this doesnt sound reasonable,if i read this that someone wrote I would be thinking they were doing something wrong. Honestly I have triple checked everthing and have loaded these twice with the same results. My 7mag is one of the first calibers that I started loading for over 20 years ago, so I have the experience with this caliber and have never run into anything like this before. I normally hunt with 150gr nosler bt or 140gr accubonds. I dont have to have the grand slams, its just this really bugs me and I cant explain it. I have been wanting a chronograph this might just give me the reason to buy one.

Alaska Bush Man · 01-17-2009, 08:28 AM

How do you have your gun sighted in? What is your zero range?

gregrn43 · 01-17-2009, 07:00 PM

2.5 inches high at 100 yards.

Alaska Bush Man · 01-17-2009, 07:10 PM

Really like the RL 22 in the 270 win and 300 Win.

Butmy 7mm Mag seems to like IMR 4350 with 160gr pills.

2.5" is not bad....I zero mine 3" high for long distance shooting this usually gives a traj dead on out too 300 yards or so!

160gr is the optium bulletfor the 7mm Mag. I used alot of Sierra BT over the years. The new Accubond 160gr suppose to bevery good today.