New to reloading

[ACook]

Like the title says, I just bought my first set of dies and brass tonight for my 7mm Rem Mag and was hoping for some input on load selections. With all the experience on here I thought some of you might have a good load you have worked up. Primary use will be hunting everything from mule deer to elk.

[sir shovelhands]

Before you start, determine your distance from the bolt face to your lands so that you can get a good idea of what you want your seating depth to be.

I don't load 7mm rem mag, so other may chime in with the best powders and bullets to use, but I should mention that it is unlikely someone else's load data will be the most accurate for your rifle.

Start with the minimum powder charge and work your way up in increments towards the max load. And shoot your groups at several hundred yards (>200) so you get a legitimate idea of how your groups are stringing. It's much harder to tell at 100 yards.

P.S.: 5-10 shot groups will give you more info than 3 shot...

[texas bound]

Read, read and read some more. Don't buy cheap crap. If you can't afford something decent at the time save the money and wait. Get a decent set of calipers, a hornady oal gauge and comparator tool. Those will help you get your lands measurement and measure ogive on your loads.

As far as powders and bullets go I prefer hodgdon powders and barnes ttsx bullets for hunting. Everyone has their own choices though. Find what is available in your area and go from there.

[TacticalCowboy]

Buy a Lee kit and book. Read the book. Figure out what weight bullet you want to shoot and buy powder to match. Load ammo. Kill stuff.

[ACook]

Thanks for the inputs so far guys! I have a really nice Foster micro adjust seater and competition full length sizer and also a rcbs set of dies and about 150 pieces of norma and nosler brass. Going to be using a buddies press and other goodies. I didn't go cheap on the stuff. I borrowed my buddies Nosler book on loads last night and started reading. I was just kinda curious as to what you guys have tried in this caliber that may have worked for you. Trying to get a general idea. I'll start with the weight and light load and go from there. Thanks again as always!

[HTDUCK]

I've had good results in 7RM with RL22 and 160 Nosler Accubonds and Partitions.
Light them w a Fed 215 primer ( if you can find any )
Go kill stuff.

[ACook]

Thanks man! Just need to get the powder and bullets. My buddy told me he liked the Fed 215's but had a hard time finding them.

[60 Deluxe]

Are you wanting to build better ammo than you can buy or just shoot more for less money?

I just wanted to save some money on ammo for hunting. I use IMR 4831 powder, Speer PBT 160 gr. bullets, and cci primers. Can't remember how much powder because I loaded several hundred rounds twenty five years ago and I am only using five or six rounds a year. It shoots where I aim. I haven't had to sight in my scope in years and I credit that to having a composite stock instead of wood. Looks like somebody will inherit some 7mm ammo someday.

[texas shag]

my go-to load is as follows:

150 gr. nosler partition
65.0 gr IMR4350
Winchester Brass
Federal 215 Primer

Chronographs at 3200 FPS and shoots 1" groups at 200 out of my rifle if I do my job.

This is a fairly hot load, so it would be best to start at a lower powder charge and work your way up testing for accuracy and pressure signs. Additionally, I have shot nosler accubonds and barnes TTSX's accurately out of this load, but I just prefer the partition the majority of the time.

[ACook]

Are you wanting to build better ammo than you can buy or just shoot more for less money?

I just wanted to save some money on ammo for hunting. I use IMR 4831 powder, Speer PBT 160 gr. bullets, and cci primers. Can't remember how much powder because I loaded several hundred rounds twenty five years ago and I am only using five or six rounds a year. It shoots where I aim. I haven't had to sight in my scope in years and I credit that to having a composite stock instead of wood. Looks like somebody will inherit some 7mm ammo someday.

I guess some of each but definitely match a higher end ammo for a fraction of the cost.

[ACook]

my go-to load is as follows:

150 gr. nosler partition
65.0 gr IMR4350
Winchester Brass
Federal 215 Primer

Chronographs at 3200 FPS and shoots 1" groups at 200 out of my rifle if I do my job.

This is a fairly hot load, so it would be best to start at a lower powder charge and work your way up testing for accuracy and pressure signs. Additionally, I have shot nosler accubonds and barnes TTSX's accurately out of this load, but I just prefer the partition the majority of the time.

Good info. Yeah, you aren't the first person to day go with lower powder charge and work up.

[bboswell]

I have loaded 7 RM for years my favorite whitetail load is 140 g Nosler Partion over H4831.

Lately I have come to like the Nosler Accubond a lot. If I were starting from scratch on a new rifle that would be my pick unless really long range was the goal.