Reloader 7

[8ptbuk]

I read in another post that Reloader 7 worked good in our savage 50's. And also that it was a double base powder, does that help ignition Is this a better choice than N120 powder ?? How do they compare velocity-recoil-ignition-fouling-accuracy Maybe somebody has shot some 250 and 300 gr. loads and would'nt mind sharing them. Thanks 8ptbuk

[DW]

65gr of Rel 7 timed approx. 2225fps with a .458 300gr Rem with a Har. BCR sabot. Several 3 shot 200yd groups under 4", best approx. 2.75" maybe a little less.

The double based should be better for ignition but with a tight fitting compressed load there should not be a problem with either powder, at least in most cases.

I have never shot N120, so I can't make a comparison between the two.

[hillbill]

N120 was slow in my gun, I dont remember the #s but over 58 gr accuracy went south.
It was however the cleanest powder I have shot.
load was Barnes original 300 w/ orange mmp win primers 57-60 gr powder
some have good results with this powder


RL 7 300bo w/ orange mmp 69 gr about 2350 with good accuracy
my gun has a very tight bore, so i must use mmps
the black crush ribs seem to be faster

120 is hard to get but if you can its worth a try
RL7 is a good choice imo but so is H 4198

my speeds are always slow from my gun according to others here(tight barrel/ orange mmps)I think......Bill

[nitro101047]

reloader 7 in my 45 shoots very well ..ive gone as hi as 60 grains ..but ive seen on here that equivalent to 4198 in speed and measure

[rlp10ml]

If N120 is anything like N110 then it is a very clean burning powder.I used N110 from the get-go with my MLII (250 grain bullets).This year I switched to the 300 BO because of its popularity here.I could not get N120 so I tried the RL7.I started @ 67 grains with the 300 BO/Black Crush Rib and Fed 209A.I do not think that the recoil is bad at all.I also did not find it to be a very dirty powder.Again,I only have tried RL7 @ 67 grains,but here is my first 4 shots. ------------- Rich

[Flatland Hunter]

70gns of R7, 300gn BO, Black Crush Rib Sabot... 2310 fps.

[savedbyjc7]

using rl7 i got 2384 with 65 grs, 285 gr spitfire and supplied yellow sabot. 1.5 inch groups. recoil is up there but manageable.

[8ptbuk]

It seems so far everybody's shooting between 65 and 70 grains of the Reloader 7. Ive shot N120 and liked it. It shot 2290 fps. with 60 gr. and had great accuracy, but is hard to find. Reloader 7 is a lot easier to find and according to what I read should be a little more easy to ignite. RW really liked 5744 because it was double based powder also. Im thinking of a great hunting load that has a high velocity and reliability.

[RBinAR]

8-)I've shot them both and I think it's a simple matter of what works best in your rifle.

They both have pluses and minuses. N120 does not take as much powder to reach common speed (2250+fps) and burns clean. In the minus side I'd be careful if I were to hunt in very warm weather I've seen sabot disruption with as little as 60 grain loads.

RL #7 is best if you like speed but requires more powder and recoils more if you go fast. I would also suggest no less than 65 grains with a 300 grain bullet to prevent any temperature sensitivity.

In any case both of these powders can do what no book load (is N120 a book load yet?) can and that's reach 2300+fps with a 300 grain bullet and not blow sabots.

[bigmoose]

Excellent group. you are a marksman, first class

[DBinNY]

No experience with N120 but hunted the last 3 years with R7. I've been using 63 gr. with 300 XTPs, Rem 300 gr JHPs and 300 gr Barnes Originals. This produces MVs in the low to mid 2200s for me. I have experimented (not enough) with higher charges up to 65gr but didn't get the same degree of accuracy.

Not that I've done a lot of bench work but the 63 gr has produced some one holers for me. I have done extensive testing on woodchucks and have found that the XTPs and Rems were up to the task. BOs are too expensive to use on woodchucks . During deer season I have (sort of intentionally) abused the load by leaving it in the gun, taking it in and out of the house in some pretty cold weather (teens F?) and have yet to have it misfire. I'm thinking the coldest it has been when I've shot deer was in the 20s (I know there has been snow on the ground for some of them). All were within 100 yards but I've hit them all right where I expected to.

I think I need to shoot this load over the chrony in cold weather conditions to find out just how temp sensitive it is and try some >65 gr charges and see if I can find accuracy with them in the colder weather. As for recoil, you really don't have to wonder whether the gun went off or not even at 63 gr. but I would call it very manageable.