7MM Rem Mag/Barnes TShock/ What powder?
11-12-2010, 05:58 PM
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: North Florida
Posts: 56
7MM Rem Mag/Barnes TShock/ What powder?
My son and I just got into reloading a few months ago. It started because we got interested in IDPA. Now I am reloading our rifle ammo... and having a ball! I bought the dies for .243, .30-.30, 7mm Rem Mag, and .30-06. I am particularly interested in my Weatherby Vanguard 7mm Rem Mag.
I finally shot up the remainder of some old, but very good, Winchester SilverTips in 125 Grain. These bullets gave me amazing performance on our 'lil 'ol deer down here in Florida! Since I can't find that same bullet, I chose Barnes Triple Shock in 120 grain. It was my thinking that I could get one powder to load all these rounds, and I bought Varget. The Barnes rep told me later that Varget was not a good powder to use for 7 mag... he told me to use an IMR spec that I can't remember, nor can I find the note! I would appreciate your recommendations and advice as to what will give me the best velocity and accuracy. The Varget, per Barnes at their recommendations, gives me about 2700fps... which kind of defeats the prupose of shooting a 7 mag... IMO!
Thanks for your help...
Kerrdog
I finally shot up the remainder of some old, but very good, Winchester SilverTips in 125 Grain. These bullets gave me amazing performance on our 'lil 'ol deer down here in Florida! Since I can't find that same bullet, I chose Barnes Triple Shock in 120 grain. It was my thinking that I could get one powder to load all these rounds, and I bought Varget. The Barnes rep told me later that Varget was not a good powder to use for 7 mag... he told me to use an IMR spec that I can't remember, nor can I find the note! I would appreciate your recommendations and advice as to what will give me the best velocity and accuracy. The Varget, per Barnes at their recommendations, gives me about 2700fps... which kind of defeats the prupose of shooting a 7 mag... IMO!
Thanks for your help...
Kerrdog
11-13-2010, 03:23 PM
#3
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: North Florida
Posts: 56
You're right. Thought I remembered Silver-Tip on the box... had to go look!
11-13-2010, 03:50 PM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: West NE
Posts: 1,455
The TSX is a good bullet, but like RR said it doesn't take much for deer hunting. I've used cheap/light bullets with great success. I save the TSXs in my 7 for elk, and use cheaper 'standard' bullets of one flavor or another that I like, for deer. Or mebbe you can just bum some of RRs 200 grainers 
11-13-2010, 07:46 PM
#5
Typical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 588
You may want to invest in a Barnes reloading manual. I have a friends here (Number 3). If you want, PM me your email address and I can email you some info. The number 3 manual is old and doesn't have the BTS but it has a different 120 gr. bullet.
11-27-2010, 03:53 AM
#8
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: North Florida
Posts: 56
Thanks ALL for your ideas and input. I am eagerly anticipating shooting my own loads. Since all my brass was fired originally through my rifle, I expected all the brass to chamber upon reloading... as in EVERYthing says it will, as a result of fire-forming! But it don't! What a bunch of Hooey!! So far... of the 40 casings... I have reloaded 8 rounds, and three of them have chambered correctly. So I ordered a set of RGB full length sizing dies.
Here is what I consider an oddity??
I test-fired one round with the Varget powder. I loaded a medium level load. I was, and am, VERY certain I did not screw it up! With the 120 TX at 100 yards, the round kicked harder, and was louder, than the factory Winchesters. Is this because of different powders? I understand the Varget burns too fast... although I don't fully understand what that means!
Hope everybody had a blessed Thanksgiving. It has hit a whopping 33* this morning. No wonder I'm sick!
Here is what I consider an oddity??
I test-fired one round with the Varget powder. I loaded a medium level load. I was, and am, VERY certain I did not screw it up! With the 120 TX at 100 yards, the round kicked harder, and was louder, than the factory Winchesters. Is this because of different powders? I understand the Varget burns too fast... although I don't fully understand what that means!
Hope everybody had a blessed Thanksgiving. It has hit a whopping 33* this morning. No wonder I'm sick!
11-28-2010, 05:34 PM
#9
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: North Florida
Posts: 56
ok, hard to diagnose your problem but here are some things to try.screw your FLS die down 1/16th to 1/8th turn and resize again, see if they chamber without a bullet. Ya got your press set to cam over? if your having problems getting them to chamber with a bullet loaded is your seater die set properly? could be crimping as the bullet seats bulging the case slightly.RR
Sorry RR... I wasn't very clear. I ordered the FLS die set... have not got it yet. I have been using a neck sizing die up to this point. I kept my OA finished cartridge length in line with the factory loads. I do not use a crimping die... as recommended by Barnes. They said it would cause too much pressure.
Thanks for your time...
11-29-2010, 02:01 PM
#10
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: North Florida
Posts: 56
ok, then you need to use a fls die and bump the shoulders about .002".easiest best way to set the die and make the cases fit your chamber ishave someone punch a 7mm RM case out to 30 cal, just find someone with a 300 win mag and ask them to punch the expander down the neck. then start with your FLS up a bit lube the case and start resizing it, try to chamber it, and screw the die in a bit each pass. when the bolt will go down with just a bit of resistance, screw the die down 1/16-1/8 turn and lock it down.as time goes on and the brass work hardens it tends to spring back so ya may have to change the setting a bit to get the shoulders back once again.RR