7mm WSM powders

[Wizzum7]

Hello, new to the forum here.
I am shooting a stock Winchester model 70, 7mm WSM. I'm loading new Hornady brass, Hornady #28452 SST 162 grain bullets, using CCi 250 primers.
I'm usually hunting in or near the Bighorn mountains of Wyoming for mule deer, elk, and antelope. Just wondering if anyone has an opinion on the best powder and amount to use.
Most of my hunting targets are 300-500 yards out, but I'm looking to extend that for elk, as crawling gets old quick. LOL
If anyone thinks I should change up the lead or primers I'm using also, please speak up. I'm new to reloading, but working with a friend who has a lot of experience reloading, just not with the 7mm wsm.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Rotten]

I haven't loaded for the 7 wsm but have a 1:8 twist barrel on my 270wsm with 165 gr accubonds I'm getting great accuracy with 65 or 68 gr (can't remember) of retumbo with either a mag or standard primer. For hunting in the cold I would go cci magnum. With the original barrel my favorite load was 140 gr interlock pushed by 72 gr of magpro.
So I would try retumbo if you can find any. magpro was the fastest and most accurate with the 140 gr bullets but again this was a 270 wsm not the 7wsm. Great picture of the elk.

 

[Wizzum7]

I snapped that photo immediately after I dropped my cow this season. Great hunt!

 

[MagnumManiac]

Welcome to the forum.
I was running H1000, RE25, Retumbo and Win Supreme 780 in my 7WSM. 780 was the best performer in all 300WSM wildcats I had and the 7WSM. I also had a 270WSM, but my 270 Weatherby was far superior.
I was rather disappointed with the COL when using VLD bullets and how much they protruded into the powder space.
Velocities never matched book either, always slow.
It was accurate, just not my cup of tea performance wise.

Cheers.

 

[Laguna Freak]

Hello, new to the forum here.
I am shooting a stock Winchester model 70, 7mm WSM. I'm loading new Hornady brass, Hornady #28452 SST 162 grain bullets, using CCi 250 primers.
I'm usually hunting in or near the Bighorn mountains of Wyoming for mule deer, elk, and antelope. Just wondering if anyone has an opinion on the best powder and amount to use.
Most of my hunting targets are 300-500 yards out, but I'm looking to extend that for elk, as crawling gets old quick. LOL
If anyone thinks I should change up the lead or primers I'm using also, please speak up. I'm new to reloading, but working with a friend who has a lot of experience reloading, just not with the 7mm wsm.
Thanks in advance!

I would think there are several powders that will perform well for you. You may get responses promoting the 4350's. I bet they would be a great powder, right in your cartridge's wheel house. I get great results with RL16 in 300 WSM x 180 Scirocco II and 30-06 x 150 Accubond. I'm probably going to load some 200 Accubond with it for my LA 300 WSM because the 200's don't seem to like RL23 as much as the 210 Accubond LR.
I wouldn't change primers without load work up first if I was you. Fwiw; I load WLRM primers in 30-06 and two 300 WSM's.

 

[TRG65]

I use the same powders for my 7 RM that I used for my 7WSM, vv560 and retumbo. I ran 180 Berger for matches and 160 accubond for hunting. I ran my 7wsm in a long action. That long action is what I turned into the 7RM. I wanted a hunting rifle that was easier to get ammo if something happened on a hunt.

 

[Wizzum7]

Welcome to the forum.
I was running H1000, RE25, Retumbo and Win Supreme 780 in my 7WSM. 780 was the best performer in all 300WSM wildcats I had and the 7WSM. I also had a 270WSM, but my 270 Weatherby was far superior.
I was rather disappointed with the COL when using VLD bullets and how much they protruded into the powder space.
Velocities never matched book either, always slow.
It was accurate, just not my cup of tea performance wise.

Cheers.

When you were using the Winchester 780 powder, what was your favorite load amount, and what size bullet?