180 VLDs 7mm rem mag

[sgtfoster]

Guys I am new to Benchrest Central and fairly new to reloading. I have a Remington Sendero 7mm Remington Mag that I have started reloading for better groups. I talked to Mr. Walt Berger who sent me some load info for the 180 VLDs that used the OAL at 3.290. Well I was told you could seat a bullet long and place it in the gun to get the correct throat depth of your rifle. Well mine came out to be 3.470 OAL. I loaded some rounds at different depths and found that an OAL of 3.450 and 59.0 gr of reloder 22 was clover leafs at 100 yrds it was outstanding well out to 300 and 500 ( which is far as I shot her so far) was not good opened groups up more than a MOA closer to 2 MOA. I got a chornograph and the 59.0 was only around 2580 fps I read somewhere on the net that the 180 bergers need to be around 2900 fps was wonder if this is true? I have also been working my loads up and today shot some up to 63.0 gr at an average of 2800 +or- 20 fps but this is well above the max load that Mr. Berger had of 60.3 gr. I also read that the VDLs don't group good at 100 yrds because the bullet has not went to sleep don't understand what going to sleep means. Sorry for all the questions but I am lost!!

 

[Bnhpr]

Guys I am new to Benchrest Central and fairly new to reloading. I have a Remington Sendero 7mm Remington Mag that I have started reloading for better groups. I talked to Mr. Walt Berger who sent me some load info for the 180 VLDs that used the OAL at 3.290. Well I was told you could seat a bullet long and place it in the gun to get the correct throat depth of your rifle. Well mine came out to be 3.470 OAL. I loaded some rounds at different depths and found that an OAL of 3.450 and 59.0 gr of reloder 22 was clover leafs at 100 yrds it was outstanding well out to 300 and 500 ( which is far as I shot her so far) was not good opened groups up more than a MOA closer to 2 MOA. I got a chornograph and the 59.0 was only around 2580 fps I read somewhere on the net that the 180 bergers need to be around 2900 fps was wonder if this is true? I have also been working my loads up and today shot some up to 63.0 gr at an average of 2800 +or- 20 fps but this is well above the max load that Mr. Berger had of 60.3 gr. I also read that the VDLs don't group good at 100 yrds because the bullet has not went to sleep don't understand what going to sleep means. Sorry for all the questions but I am lost!!

Sorry, but groups only degrade as a function of distance. It's complex physics, but to get the basics. Start by researching velocity spread (ES) what causes it, and how to manage it... and wind drift.

 

[Greg Culpepper]

sgtfoster,

My Sendero shoots very well at max plus (book not case head expansion) loads with both H 4831 and IMR 7828 and the 180 Berger or Sierra 175. Your impression that 2900 is a good speed range is correct. I haven't tried RL 22 in mine but it should be fine also at higher velocities you're looking for.

Greg

 

[Danny Brooks]

SgtFoster,

Your Remington should have a 9.25 twist rate in it if I am not mistaken. In 7mm Rem Mag bench guns that I have, I have 9.0 twists. I shoot the 180 VLDs at 2900 + fps. I get the desired results that I am looking for. I use H4831 and N165 powders in these rifles.
Start at about 61 grains of powder with one of these two powders and work up. I also use 210 primers, with the bullet just kissing the lands, as Ms. Eunice Berger told me a long time ago, before her passing.
The H4831 will be a better powder choice for various tempature ranges as it will work no matter how cold or hot the day is.
I have a Remington 7mm PSS that I am getting ready to play with. Maybe we can compare some notes.

Danny