|
|
|
Discussion Forums
Forum Index
> Rifles general discussion
> 7mm-300 win mag reloading
7mm-300 win mag reloading
@ 07:38 pm (GMT) |
Jacob SHi, first post on this forum and i have some newbie questions about reloading for this wildcat. First, my shooting history - I'm 24 and have been consistently shooting rifles for about 10 years, mainly 22lr and .308. I have done a lot of research and I am interested in building a 7mm-300 win mag or 7mm practical; however, I have zero history with reloading. I have never attempted to do it nor have I ever helped anyone. While researching the 7mm-300 I certainly have learned a lot about reloading (specifically through reading this websites articles) but since I have never reloaded I do not understand a lot and am still intimidated by the process. Can anyone direct me to a link or video that has a step by step process detailing how to reload this particular cartridge and tell me what equipment i will need? I would prefer not to have to fireform my brass (I think this is only necessary to get the 30 degree shoulder in the Practical, but I'm a total noob i could be way off). I'm not even sure why one needs to fireform. Any info you have will be greatly appreciated. Just a little scared because I have never reloaded a standard cartridge and do not want to mess the wildcat up and have the gun blow up in my face.Thanks, Jacob |
Replies
@ 09:08 pm (GMT) |
Jim MoseleyRe: 7mm-300 win mag reloadingYou should be able to find numerous reloading videos on YouTube. The reloading books have a step by step reloading process too. Just curious as to why you jumping from a 308 to a 7/300. Pretty good step up. Have you shot long range before? What kind of game are you hunting? You'll find reloading to be fun and easy once you get the hang of things. Just go slow and steady and write detail notes of your load. My notebook dates back to 1996. |
@ 09:52 pm (GMT) |
faulknerRe: 7mm-300 win mag reloadingJacob,O.K, firstly I really like that you are being honest with not being a hand loader so the first step is to become a hand loader!! Buy basic package and a trimmer and a manual,,,, preferably the manufacture of the bullets you like to shoot. Once the bug bites you'll be picking up many other tools! Once you get some re-loading successes and experience then start looking at the hot rods and wild cats. A 7mm Rem is no slouch and theres ammo on the shelf! Venturing into a 7mm-300 / Practical or any other improved/wild cat with no experience and/or equipment isn't going to be fun or productive! Hope this helps,,, I like the Redding and RCBS dies and presses ;) |
|
@ 10:56 pm (GMT) |
Jacob SRe: 7mm-300 win mag reloadingJim - thanks for the reply. I'm looking on amazon for a good reloading book now. The farthest I've shot is 800 yards with my 308. I mainly hunt deer and occasionally elk. I enjoy shooting the 308 but usually use a 270 win when hunting deer. I like to target shoot and i was interested in the wildcat for long range target shooting. Honestly, if i build the rifle it will be a bit heavier than the 308 or 270 so i probably won't use it as much for hunting.Faulkner - I think i will follow your advice and start reloading for my 308. Thanks for the tip on the dies and presses! Baby steps. Thanks again guys. |
@ 11:49 pm (GMT) |
jason brownRe: 7mm-300 win mag reloadingit wasn't long ago I first started re-loading.I agree with what the others have said. start loading for your 308. its really not hard to make a round that fires safely. you need a reloading manual, that will tell you a safe amount of powder to use, (starting at the minimum) and how long the case has to be trimmed to, and how far into the case to seat the bullet. (you must get these things right) and that is all you need for your basic loaded round. the rest is knowing how to use the tools, which come with instructions. and other than that, the other bits of hype are to make better more consistant loads, and a lot of the added steps are just peoples opinion on weather or not the added steps are worth it. if you can find someone in your area to guide you, or give you the run down that would be good. iv been using hornady dies and the lee classic cast press. just learn to make that basic safe round, then look into the hype and make your own choices in what you think will help in making your rounds more consistant or accurate. maybe nathans next book will be re-loading, (hint, hint) haha. |
@ 02:27 am (GMT) |
Rob KennedyRe: 7mm-300 win mag reloading"Modern Reloading" by Richard Lee, 600 pages and not expensive (compared to other books) Also as others on other forums have said, start with a basic Lee Loader at under $50 investment just to learn the basics and see if the reloading hobby (obsession?) is for you. Look up "Lee Precision" on the internet as well as some of the You Tube videos. |
@ 05:40 pm (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: 7mm-300 win mag reloadingHi Jacob, sorry for the late reply.Once you get into reloading, you will have to fireform your cases regardless of whether you shoot a 7mm Practical or 7mm Rem Mag. The fact is, if you are neck sizing, there is often quite a difference in group size, velocity or point of impact between new brass and once fired neck sized brass. To this end, should angle is of little consequence. As to whether to start off handloading with a wildcat- of that I cannot answer. Most folk start with a standard cartridge to keep things simple and enjoyable. Occasionally, a wildcat will present challenges that require great attention to detail to such an extent that the overall process is less enjoyable than expected. That said, the Practical was designed for ease of reloading. The Practical is a big cartridge to get into as a first magnum when the 7mm RM will cover most of your needs. I have built calculators into the second book to help with such decision making. Jason- I will attempt to write a book on reloading soon. I constantly receive emails and calls from folk who have read the reloading manuals but are still confused about certain issues and need help. There seems to be a level of ambiguity to many of the books. The books tend to describe how to assemble a cartridge, but do not buddy the reader right through the process of working up accurate loads. Of course this is a gross generalization- I have not seen every reloading book or youtube vid. But I have decided that I don't want to look any further, will concentrate on publishing something of my own and hopefully ebb the tide of phone calls and emails (although that in itself is naive thinking on my part) and provide useful, meaningful info. As you say, folk need a book that sorts wheat from chaff. Fosters bullshit detector services to the rescue. |
|
@ 11:09 pm (GMT) |
Jacob StephanzRe: 7mm-300 win mag reloadingJason - thank you for the info and tips. A Foster reloading manual would be great. I know I would buy one.Rob - thanks for the book suggestion. I will definitely look into it. Nathan - First and foremost, thank you for all the great information on this website! This is valuable info and I think you've helped a lot of people. Regarding my post - thank you for concisely explaining fireforming. I have been confused about the process since I read about it and I didn't even understand why one would do it. Your response makes a lot of sense. I watched a video on youtube called the "cream of wheat method" and this seems even more confusing. What is the advantage to firing an inert substance instead of the 7mm bullet? Barrel life? Also, if you were to use the cream of wheat method would you use a full powder charge in order to get the cartridge growth needed? Finally, if you're looking for the neck to grow when fireforming wouldn't this change the COAL? How would you determine freebore if the COAL keeps changing after every firing? Sorry for the long list of ignorant questions and thanks for your patience. |
|
@ 11:58 pm (GMT) |
jason brownRe: 7mm-300 win mag reloadingyes, Nathan I look forward to the book. I think we both know the best of what I know, came from you! especially load development. and im very thank full, I often meet others on the range or read stories on the internet and I think, im glad Nathan pointed me in the right direction, and this guy doesn't quiet get it.Jacob, if your in new Zealand or Australia it will make more sence, but theres a free manual online at the adi powders website, take a look. but I don't think it explains the likes of headspace. but at least you will see what one looks like. your question about fireforming to grow the neck.... it wont change COAL beacause you still seat the bullet to the length you want. it would just mean if the neck is longer, you have more neck holding the projectile. but don't fret, everything will fall into place. |
@ 04:10 am (GMT) |
trevor savageRe: 7mm-300 win mag reloadingwhat part of the country are you in. and buy a reloading book first |
|
@ 12:23 pm (GMT) |
Jacob StephanzRe: 7mm-300 win mag reloadingUnfortunately I doubt I live anywhere near any of you; I live in the States. |
|
@ 03:10 pm (GMT) |
Jim MoseleyRe: 7mm-300 win mag reloadingI live in North Carolina. The world is smaller than it use to be :-) |
|
@ 03:44 pm (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: 7mm-300 win mag reloadingHi Jacob, the cream of wheat is a bit beyond me too because I prefer to have some pressure to positively form the case as you suggested.Generally speaking, if you purchase a new rifle and a batch of brass, the new brass can be used to break in the barrel and work up preliminary loads. Consecutive sessions at the range with fireformed brass will finalize loads. Later, the handloader may want to add brass to the mix. There are a couple of options here. In my own practical rifle, I have in the past simply loaded the new brass and used this for hunting out to moderate ranges. That said, this particular rifle has proven accurate with Fireforming loads out to to 1100 yards. In another Practical we put together, the FF load was accurate but the POI was different and without resetting the scope, was better suited to hunting out to around 300 yards. I have also utilized Trail Boss charged loads to save throat wear. A full charge of trail boss gives around 25,000psi and velocities of between 1800 and 2000fps. This keeps the throat cool- the area of most concern regarding barrel wear. These loads can be used to practice standing shots out to ranges of 25-100 yards once the POI is established. Generally speaking, head space will have an effect on whether unformed loads shoot the the same POI, velocity and accuracy as FF neck sized loads. The tighter the headspace, the smaller the differences. In a rifle with very loose head space where the cartridge shoulder needs to expand a long way forwards. Jason gave good advice regarding the COAL. This does not change regardless of how the case length changes as COAL is measured from the base of the case to the bullet tip. There is a COAL article in the knowledge base which you may find useful after you get started. |
|
@ 08:17 pm (GMT) |
Jacob StephanzRe: 7mm-300 win mag reloadingHaving enough pressure to make sure the brass forms correctly makes sense. So basically with any cartridge wildcat or not, the POI will change when using reloaded brass? And this is because of the slightly different angle fireformed brass will hold the bullet as opposed to unfired brass? And this effect is only seen when trying to obtain extreme sub MOA accuracy or shooting very long ranges? |
|
@ 09:14 pm (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: 7mm-300 win mag reloadingThat is correct.Differences are however dependent on how loose the chamber is. There are other aspects to consider but these may confuse you so I would rather you formed some basic assertions as you have done by repeating back to me the info I gave you. An example of a secondary factor, is that if the new brass is very soft, it may be completely compliant with the chamber regardless of head space. In this instance, the difference in accuracy, ES and POI between new and once fired brass is often non existent or negligible. But again, such factors may serve only to confuse you. The safe approach is to consider new brass as being different to fired brass and that all brass needs fireforming if we are working towards accurate long range loads, standard or wildcat. If you later find that your fired brass did indeed shoot the same as new brass- so be it. |
|
@ 09:26 pm (GMT) |
Jacob StephanzRe: 7mm-300 win mag reloadingThanks this has been extremely helpful! And thank you to everyone who has contributed to this post. I will try and keep you updated. |
@ 03:05 am (GMT) |
John MillingtonRe: 7mm-300 win mag reloadingHey Jacob,I'm in IL. I have helped more than a few at your present level, just as I was helped many years ago. Nathan, I really appreciate your work. I have both of your books and look forward to an in-depth loading manual from you. Your bedding series here is very helpful Thanks John |
Please wait
ABOUT USWe are a small, family run business, based out of Taranaki, New Zealand, who specialize in cartridge research and testing, and rifle accurizing.
|
KNOWLEDGEBASE |
KNOWLEDGEBASE |