New Reloader Looking for Help on Fire Forming New Brass for 7mm-08

[Kimber7man]

Or you could just buy some Ramshot Big Game, load 47 grains under a 139 or 140, large magnum rifle primer, and commence to killing stuff.

 

[Notorious BEN]

Or you could just buy some Ramshot Big Game, load 47 grains under a 139 or 140, large magnum rifle primer, and commence to killing stuff.

I plan on buying some of that and Ramshot Hunter to try out, but want to focus on other powders first.

 

[HandgunHTR]

I plan on buying some of that and Ramshot Hunter to try out, but want to focus on other powders first.

Hunter is too slow. You can skip that one.

For the 7-08, stay between Varget and 4350 on the burn rate chart.

 

[WhoGarrDen]

Hunter is too slow. You can skip that one.

For the 7-08, stay between Varget and 4350 on the burn rate chart.

When looking at Nosler's reloading data, Hunter is showing up as having some of the higher MV's in 150- and 160-grain range. It's pretty neck and neck with RL19, which holds its own against Big Game in other comparisons. Am I missing something? NOTE: Hunter is constantly showing load volume of >100% in most loads...could be a down side?

 

[Harvey_NW]

NOTE: Hunter is constantly showing load volume of >100% in most loads...could be a down side?

That's at SAAMI length, scooted out closer to the lands it might actually be optimal for case fill and ignition.

 

[Notorious BEN]

Hunter is too slow. You can skip that one.

For the 7-08, stay between Varget and 4350 on the burn rate chart.

The Hunter was more for my 243 where I would be loading a heavy for caliber bullet.

 

[HandgunHTR]

When looking at Nosler's reloading data, Hunter is showing up as having some of the higher MV's in 150- and 160-grain range. It's pretty neck and neck with RL19, which holds its own against Big Game in other comparisons. Am I missing something? NOTE: Hunter is constantly showing load volume of >100% in most loads...could be a down side?

That's at SAAMI length, scooted out closer to the lands it might actually be optimal for case fill and ignition.

I have been loading the 7-08 for a long while now and trust me when I say, if you have a SAAMI chamber you will run out of case volume long before you get to the top end velocities with just about any powder slower than 4350/Staball. Especially with the heavier bullets.

 

[casey36]

Check out Hornaday 's online data also. I dont fireform new headstamped brass. In my opinion, thats just a waste of money. I've been reloading almost 50 years.
The only time ive fire formed was for Ackley cartridges or for a wildcat I couldn't buy brass for.

 

[Notorious BEN]

Check out Hornaday 's online data also. I dont fireform new headstamped brass. In my opinion, thats just a waste of money. I've been reloading almost 50 years.
The only time ive fire formed was for Ackley cartridges or for a wildcat I couldn't buy brass for

I'm only fire forming to get the water capacity for GRT to more accurately predict pressures.

I have 100 Nosler 140gr BT's to use for shooting paper and to test a couple different powder's before I switch over to the Barnes LRX and Hammer HHT's to develop my load with.

Also I realize that changing bullets will mean I need to start over with developing a load, but I want to have something to test with before committing to the Barnes or Hammer's that's half the price of those bullets.

 

[casey36]

Check out Hornaday 's online data also. I dont fireform new headstamped brass. In my opinion, thats just a waste of money. I've been reloading almost 50 years.
The only time ive fire formed was for Ackley cartridges or for a wildcat I couldn't buy brass for.

Actually meant to write Hodgdons online data, not Hornaday.

 

[Notorious BEN]

I got my 5 round ladder loaded up a few weeks ago and I was able to shoot them at the range today. All went well and I got decent velocities for being on the lower side of the fill range to start.

I made 2 dummy rounds when setting things up. The really long cartridge was set at 0.020" off of the lands and then I made one with a COAL of 2.800", which is what Nosler also lists on their load data. That was also done so the rounds would fit in my magazine.

The 5 loads all grouped really good with only one "outlier."

I also shot some of my .243 reloads today, but stopped on the lower end of the ladder because I was getting some resistance lifting the bolt after firing and ejector marks where on the head of the brass.

I ordered the Hornady anvil along with some Ramshot Hunter and Big Game from Midway so I can start putting specs for some of the Barnes LRX bullets into GRT and see if I can't figure out starting points to safely develop a load.