R-19 powder or H 4350

[Pheroze]

I am going to reload for a Browning BAR 7mm RM (first foray into loading for a semi-auto). It would seem that R-19 would be good for a number of my clalibers including the RM, so I was thinking of using it and clean up the powder shelf. I currently use H4350 for 6.5x55, '06, and 375 and quite like it. I did find a recipe for the 7mm RM using H4350 but it seems to be a bit weak.

The concern with R19 is that I have read it is temperature sensitive which may not be a good thing when moose hunting.

The question is: should I clean up the powder shelf by just using H4350 or does R-19 provide a better alternative? I did notice that they sit very close on the powder burn rate chart.

Thanks for the input.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Unless your taking a shot from VERY long range I don't think the Alliant's temp sensitivity will be much of an issue with the size of a moose's target zone. If you go the RL19 route just make sure you check the zero just prior to the start of your hunt.

 

[Pheroze]

Thanks, I got looking at R19 because the woodleigh manual does not list H4350 for their 175gr. Hodgdon does for the 175 gr partition so I may just use that as a guide for the woodleigh and try to stick with H4350. We are most likely talking shots under 200 yards.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Unless your taking a shot from VERY long range I don't think the Alliant's temp sensitivity will be much of an issue with the size of a moose's target zone. If you go the RL19 route just make sure you check the zero just prior to the start of your hunt.

It's the sight in at +20C and then hunting at -25C to -40C that I wonder about. We get those swings up here. Phil has to worry about his powder going off on a preignition sequence when he reloads in the summer in AC and then takes the reloads to the truck +100F.

To be totally paranoid I make sure I shoot my reloads at the same temperature and elevation they are being hunted at.
Just paranoid.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

It's the sight in at +20C and then hunting at -25C to -40C that I wonder about. We get those swings up here. Phil has to worry about his powder going off on a preignition sequence when he reloads in the summer in AC and then takes the reloads to the truck +100F.

To be totally paranoid I make sure I shoot my reloads at the same temperature and elevation they are being hunted at.
Just paranoid.

Don't care what you've heard, I've never had a problem with premature ignition!

But seriously when going colder, pressure will drop, so the safety of the load is not an issue. I have one load that I won't shoot in the heat of summer, get sticky bolts when I do. Accuracy may suffer a bit, but what can yo do? Agree though sight in the load close to start of hunt or as Brickburn says in as close a condition as you'll hunt.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Don't care what you've heard, I've never had a problem with premature ignition!
............

Oh, forgot. Vegas rules.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Oh, forgot. Vegas rules.

Durn showgirls

 

[fsrmg1]

I would think that Rx22 might be a better option for the 7 Mag, unless you want powders that work in all. Then Rx19 would probably work well.

 

[Grumulkin]

It's the sight in at +20C and then hunting at -25C to -40C that I wonder about. We get those swings up here. Phil has to worry about his powder going off on a preignition sequence when he reloads in the summer in AC and then takes the reloads to the truck +100F.

To be totally paranoid I make sure I shoot my reloads at the same temperature and elevation they are being hunted at.
Just paranoid.

Preignition would mean the powder charge ignites before the primer does. That's not going to happen.

Also, when you shoot factory ammunition, do you think the manfacturer makes them at the same temperature they're to be hunted at? Are you under the impression that factory ammunition is always loaded with temperature insensitive powder?

 

[Pheroze]

...when you shoot factory ammunition, do you think the manfacturer makes them at the same temperature they're to be hunted at? Are you under the impression that factory ammunition is always loaded with temperature insensitive powder?

That's a good point. I guess I had assumed they did. I often wondered what the manufacturers use, and whether they had their own special blends.

 

[lcq]

That's a good point. I guess I had assumed they did. I often wondered what the manufacturers use, and whether they had their own special blends.

Factories blend powders for consistency. That said H4350 seems a little fast for a heavy for cal bullet. I'd go with slower http://load-data.nosler.com/load-data/7mm-remington-magnum/ Nosler is a very good resource

 

[Grumulkin]

Sometimes factories blend powders. More often, they make up a batch of powder trying to match something they've used in the past. Then they test it and find it's a little different and adjust the load as needed.

Many times the powders factories use aren't available to reloaders but sometimes they are. Hardly ever will you know exactly what powder a particular manufacturer puts in a cartridge.

Factories have ballistics labs where they test their ammunition. They're not going to have their technicians test a load at a bunch of different temperatures. All powders, even the temperature insensitive ones so called, are at least a little temperature sensitive but just not as much as some others. Some factory ammunition will be loaded with a powder some would call temperature sensitive.

 

[Pheroze]

Nosler uses IMR 4350. However, RL22 certainly seems to be a better bet.

 

[Grumulkin]

RL-22 is what I use in my 7mm Remington Magnum with 162 grain bullets.

 

[Ray B]

I forget how cold -25C is, but I've shot a 338 Win Mag 210 gr Nosler 70 gr Rl19 when it was -10F, which is on they way to being cold, and there was no discernible difference in the performance of it from the times when it was +50F.

 

[Pheroze]

Thanks, but as it turns out I could only get my hands on Retumbo. My initial impression is that it is a messy powder. Still more work to do on the loads.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Don't care what you've heard, I've never had a problem with premature ignition!

But seriously when going colder, pressure will drop, so the safety of the load is not an issue. I have one load that I won't shoot in the heat of summer, get sticky bolts when I do. Accuracy may suffer a bit, but what can yo do? Agree though sight in the load close to start of hunt or as Brickburn says in as close a condition as you'll hunt.

@PHEONIX PHIL
I personally use loads that I can use all year round. If'n they are fine in winter but to high a pressure in summer t hhen ain't no use to me. I like to hunt any time of the year and don't want to be stuck in the bush with a rifle that I have to hammer the bolt open and ammo that's to hot.
I load for all year and know what it does. We don't have the temperature extreme you do so it makes life easier. The closest I have hunted in is minus 16 celcieus.
Bob

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

@Pheroze I realize your comments about reloading for your Browning BAR in 7mm are about 5 years old, but was wondering what you came up with. Now that I am retired, I am slowly getting more and more into reloading. I have a BAR in 338 WM and it shot just about anything I fed it equally well. Remington Core-Lokt in 225 gr shot really well.

@Shootist43 got me going with recommendations on H-4350 and I've slowly added a few other powders (Accurate MagPro, IMR4831, Superformance, Alliant PowerPro 4000 MR and Ramshot Big Game).

I have a Ruger M77 in 7mm mag that I want to work up a good load for, using either Swift A-Frames, Nosler Partitions, Hornady SST or ELD-X bullets.

FWIW, my Montana elk guide shoots 7mm mag and reloads with 160 gr Nosler Accubond and 62.5 gr IMR 4831. He routinely takes out wolves and coyotes at 500 yards. This is from a Tikka bolt action.

 

[bruce moulds]

4350 and re 19 are too fast burning for all but 100 gn bullets in the 7 mag if you want to achieve full capability of the case.
the 4831s are good for 120 gns.
imr 7828 was designed for 7 mag facory ammo, so that gives a bit of a guide for most used bullets in 7 mag.
re22 is a little faster than that.
h1000 might be a little slower?
the last 3 would be your friends.
bruce.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

4350 and re 19 are too fast burning for all but 100 gn bullets in the 7 mag if you want to achieve full capability of the case.
the 4831s are good for 120 gns.
imr 7828 was designed for 7 mag facory ammo, so that gives a bit of a guide for most used bullets in 7 mag.
re22 is a little faster than that.
h1000 might be a little slower?
the last 3 would be your friends.
bruce.

@ Bruce moulds
4350/2209 can be used with 150 grainers and above but fails to deliver good results.
With the 150grain Barnes it gives the following
Bob