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? I'm trying to get speeds between 2900 and 3000.

 

[MagnumManiac]

When you were using the Winchester 780 powder, what was your favorite load amount, and what size bullet? I'm trying to get speeds between 2900 and 3000.

Sorry, can't help there, no longer have that info, but it was faster than most in velocity and cool burning, which is why I like it.
I know I was using 175's back then with some 168's thrown in.

Cheers.

 

[Wizzum7]

Have any of you used the Power Pro 4000 Mr?

 

[Justice1327]

RL26/Vih: 555/560/565

 

[Bill Nieters]

I'm using magpro in my 7wsm. 71 grains 175 grain eldx 3040 fps and 1/2" groups

 

[BassNBrass]

Currently using H1000 in mine but have tried StaballHD and RL26 with decent results as well, shooting 180eldm's with a long throated 7wsm out to 3.16 coal. With a standard 7wsm you wont be able to run as long of bullets well with how much case protrusion is would have inward. but something in the 160 range should work with the same powders.

 

[Shankedit]

I shot the 150gr Barnes TTSX in a 7WSM when I hunted with it. I had the best results with 62.4gr of RL19 pushing them at 3230fps. RL19 is probably pretty hard to find right now but I also had good results with 62.0gr of IMR4831 with the same 150 TTSX. Those 150gr TTSX will probably serve you well if you don't mind shooting solid copper. The sweet spot for me was 0.050" off the lands. I don't remember what my OAL was but I still used them in a short action magazine (Savage).
I also had a decent load with the 162gr ELD-M with 64.0gr of IMR 4831 at around 3100fps. I also had good results with MagPro with the 168 and 175gr MatchKings. I've read that MagPro can be temperature sensitive. But, I never used it for hunting, just for match shooting in fairly consistent temperatures.
I have quite a few pieces of 7WSM brass (Hornady and Federal) that I won't be using anymore if you want them. Just cover shipping. I did a pretty good spot check on the primer pockets and they're still good to go. The Hornady has three firings on them and the Federal has two firings on them.

 

[Wizzum7]

I shot the 150gr Barnes TTSX in a 7WSM when I hunted with it. I had the best results with 62.4gr of RL19 pushing them at 3230fps. RL19 is probably pretty hard to find right now but I also had good results with 62.0gr of IMR4831 with the same 150 TTSX. Those 150gr TTSX will probably serve you well if you don't mind shooting solid copper. The sweet spot for me was 0.050" off the lands. I don't remember what my OAL was but I still used them in a short action magazine (Savage).
I also had a decent load with the 162gr ELD-M with 64.0gr of IMR 4831 at around 3100fps. I also had good results with MagPro with the 168 and 175gr MatchKings. I've read that MagPro can be temperature sensitive. But, I never used it for hunting, just for match shooting in fairly consistent temperatures.
I have quite a few pieces of 7WSM brass (Hornady and Federal) that I won't be using anymore if you want them. Just cover shipping. I did a pretty good spot check on the primer pockets and they're still good to go. The Hornady has three firings on them and the Federal has two firings on them.

@Shankedit I'll gladly cover the shipping. Do you have Venmo?