7PRC accuracy loads. SAAMI only.

[Restoule]

See post #61.

Ah I see. It's odd that yours and furman's are so different. Is that normal between rifles? I think no matter what it's going to work out of my rifle. I'm going to order a jgs aw2 reamer. I think that's a must.

 

[Ladd]

Ah I see. It's odd that yours and furman's are so different. Is that normal between rifles? I think no matter what it's going to work out of my rifle. I'm going to order a jgs aw2 reamer. I think that's a must.

The measurements are relative. This gives you intel and you should always measure yourself which I'm sure you know and will. I saw no issues with fired brass so the JGS AW2 reamer delivered.

 

[MECA]

I know the cartridge has not been officially announced but a few forum members are playing with the cartridge using RCC brass. I would prefer you guys keeping your testing in your personal threads but you can post proven loads here. Please include all the data you can and group pics if you have them. Thanks!


I need your favorite accuracy loads. Please provide:

Bullet weight and Mfg.
Powder and charge in grains
Cartridge OAL, yes OAL (not to the ogive)
Primer
Brass Mfg.
Velocity
Barrel length
Freebore of your chamber
Comments on function, brass life, accuracy, temp stability, and bullet performance on game if you have it(please keep this data driven not emotional).

Please only provide well vetted data. No I heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend...

UPDATE. IT HAS OFFICIALLY BEEN ANNOUNCED.


Check out the written guide!

7MM PRC Cartridge Guide - Long Range Only

DISCLAIMER: This is a guide. Everything listed within is for information purposes only. All loads should be worked up carefully. We have seen loads that require as much as two grains of charge weight adjustment from one powder lot to another. We have seen as much as five grains of powder...

www.longrangeonly.com

Check out the video guide!

#7prc #7precisionriflecartridge #7mmprc #hornady #7 prc

NEW TO THE FORUM.
I'M A LONG TIME 280 ACKLEY GUY, BUT I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS CARTRIDGE. I WORK IN A SMALL CUSTOM SHOP IN EAST TEXAS AND THIS WILL BE OUR NEXT BUILD.
I SEE YOU ARE IN TOWNSEND, MT. I WAS BACKPACKED INTO THE ELKHORNS WHEN THIS CARTRIDGE WAS ANNOUNCED.
I WAS CARRYING MY 300 WIN MAG. JUST CAN'T GET MYSELF TO DO THE SWITCH OVER TO THE 300 PRC. THE WAY MY RIFLE SHOOTS, THERE ISN'T ENOUGH OF AN ADVANTAGE FOR ME.
THANKS FOR THE GREAT VIDEOS AND ATRICLES.
KEEP 'EM COMING!

 

[Willys]

Welcome Meca! I wish everyone typed in all caps its easier to read on my phone! But most people think it means you are SHOUTING. The 300wm is hard to replace!

 

[Spreedizzle]

NEW TO THE FORUM.
I'M A LONG TIME 280 ACKLEY GUY, BUT I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS CARTRIDGE. I WORK IN A SMALL CUSTOM SHOP IN EAST TEXAS AND THIS WILL BE OUR NEXT BUILD.
I SEE YOU ARE IN TOWNSEND, MT. I WAS BACKPACKED INTO THE ELKHORNS WHEN THIS CARTRIDGE WAS ANNOUNCED.
I WAS CARRYING MY 300 WIN MAG. JUST CAN'T GET MYSELF TO DO THE SWITCH OVER TO THE 300 PRC. THE WAY MY RIFLE SHOOTS, THERE ISN'T ENOUGH OF AN ADVANTAGE FOR ME.
THANKS FOR THE GREAT VIDEOS AND ATRICLES.
KEEP 'EM COMING!

Ain’t nothing wrong with a 280AI. Certainly love mine.
Howdy and welcome aboard.

 

[Thepizzaguy]

Good read! Thanks

 

[MECA]

I'VE NOTICED SOME HORNADY 175 ELD-X BULLETS AVAIABLE FROM DIFFERENT DISTRIBUTORS SO THEY ARE GETTING SOME OUT FOR US RELOADERS.
ALSO SAW THAT BARNES HAS BEGUN PRODUCTION ON A 168 LRX FOR THIS CALIBER. I'M SURE I'LL BE TRYING IT AS WELL!

 

[Sykes]

Hey fellas I'll add the little I have to this thread
24" Proof carbon fiber sendero 8 twist pre fit suppressed
Origin LA
Mcmillian game warden
Hawkins BDL
NX8 4-32X50

I'll start by saying I shot factory ammo to get brass. Factory stuff wasn't that great in my rifle, under an inch but barley, it did favor the 175s over the 180s. Now I have brass and 20 rounds on the barrel. Cleaned as proof suggests.

Started with RL26 and a 180 Berger VLD .015 off the lands. Found decent accuracy at 66.5 grs for 2956 fps. Did some seating depth testing at that charge weight and found .005 off the lands was prefered. Im now 70 rounds on the barrel, shot more factory in the mean time. Loaded 30 rounds at my 66.5grs RL26 .005 jump and set up the Labradar (first time since intinal power charge testing) shot 3 rounds and the barrel sped up to 3024fps, accuracy suffered. So I pulled the rest, dropped down a grain to 65.5 which still gave me 2990 fps but accuracy was good.

Final load (for now)
65.5 RL26
180 Berger VLD
2990 fps
3.356 COAL .005 jump
215M primers
3 shot group .4"@ 100 yards

I loaded the remaing 27 up at the final load to shoot at longer range but it's still snowing here all week in Northern Colorado. I did get to shoot some factory 175s at 500 yards and they really impressed me (after the mediocre 100 yard reults) Accuracy was sub moa on steel with a little 10 mph breeze coming from 5 o'clock. Went 8 for 10 on the plate with almost no wind hold. 2.2 mils of elevation from a 100 yard zero.

This is my first brand new barrel, I think in the future I won't mess with much load development until I get 50+ rounds on the barrel, this one sure sped up.

Hopefully I added useful info and didn't ramble too much.

 

[Cactus]

Any updates on loads ?

 

[FURMAN]

Any updates on loads ?

What are you looking for? The guide covers most combos that will work in the size case with out going into obscurity or powders not fit for changing conditions.

7MM PRC Cartridge Guide - Long Range Only

DISCLAIMER: This is a guide. Everything listed within is for information purposes only. All loads should be worked up carefully. We have seen loads that require as much as two grains of charge weight adjustment from one powder lot to another. We have seen as much as five grains of powder...

www.longrangeonly.com

 

[Cactus]

What are you looking for? The guide covers most combos that will work in the size case with out going into obscurity or powders not fit for changing conditions.

7MM PRC Cartridge Guide - Long Range Only

DISCLAIMER: This is a guide. Everything listed within is for information purposes only. All loads should be worked up carefully. We have seen loads that require as much as two grains of charge weight adjustment from one powder lot to another. We have seen as much as five grains of powder...

www.longrangeonly.com

I’m using H1000 with hybrid 180 currently and not seeing what I would like, curious about N560

 

[FURMAN]

What does "not seeking what I would like" mean? N560 is not a powder generally used in this case capacity in hunting applications. If you want to try it the burn rate will be similar to H4831sc. You will just need to do a pressure test to find max and do some load development starting a few grains lower. As with any loads you can not simply use what others are.

 

[Cactus]

What does "not seeking what I would like" mean? N560 is not a powder generally used in this case capacity in hunting applications. If you want to try it the burn rate will be similar to H4831sc. You will just need to do a pressure test to find max and do some load development starting a few grains lower. As with any loads you can not simply use what others are.

Just not seeing the consistency I would like, it may just be the Hornady brass, I’m a hunter so I’m not overly concerned with speed, just like consistency

 

[FURMAN]

Still not descriptive at all. Even with the most consistent loads in any specific cartridge, there will be barrels that don’t like it. Having said that it’s gonna be pretty tough to beat H 1000 and Berger 180‘s in this case capacity. I have had good luck with H 4831 shortcut in the Wsm so n560 or 160 might be good places to look I would just start low work up look for pressure and then do load development like I suggested above. Without knowing what your expectations were, it would be near impossible for us to add any valuable information as to where you need to go from where you are now. I can pretty much assure you unless you’re expecting your rifle to shoot the ones that Hornady brass is not the problem.

 

[FURMAN]

I will also add that we don’t know what your load development method is. I see a lot of guys go shoot groups, see some wallet group and then think they’re done doing low development only to find out that its not stable when it won’t repeat.

 

[Buxndiverdux]

Ryan,
Looking at your pictures. A lot of those bullets are barely in the case neck when touching the lands. How much bullet to case neck depth are you comfortable with for a hunting rifle? I typically carry a few extra rounds in my pocket throughout the season and if I don't have at least 3/4 of the neck full with the bearing surface, I worry about run out issues being in my pocket.

Doing some math and rounding... It appears that the Berger 180 Hybrid Target would be around a .100 jump if the bullet boat tail/bearing surface junction is seated to the neck shoulder junction. That's where I'd like to have it for a full coverage neck tension.

Your thoughts?

 

[FURMAN]

Ryan,
Looking at your pictures. A lot of those bullets are barely in the case neck when touching the lands. How much bullet to case neck depth are you comfortable with for a hunting rifle? I typically carry a few extra rounds in my pocket throughout the season and if I don't have at least 3/4 of the neck full with the bearing surface, I worry about run out issues being in my pocket.

Doing some math and rounding... It appears that the Berger 180 Hybrid Target would be around a .100 jump if the bullet boat tail/bearing surface junction is seated to the neck shoulder junction. That's where I'd like to have it for a full coverage neck tension.

Your thoughts?

The 7 prc has .233 freebore. I prefer to have around .200-.220 freebore for the 180 Hybrid so its not far from where I would chose. It is a little long for smaller bullets starting with the 175 Elite Hunter. I don't have a number for neck to case overlap. If the freebore is chosen correctly for the bullet it won't matter. With modern chambers runout's importance is over exaggerated in hunting rifles. I hope this helps.

 

[MisterOrange]

I'll chime in for those interested in shorter barrels, as I haven't seen much data on speeds for anything shorter than 24". I only have about 125rds on this barrel at this point, but I'll post what I've found thus far.

My setup is a 20" Krieger 8.5 twist w/ a Diligent Defense Enticer L-Ti on an Anti-X action in a XLR Element 4.0. I chambered the barrel myself, with a SAAMI reamer I borrowed (.233" FB i believe).

For the TLDR, I've found one pretty solid load with 168 VLDH and H1000, the data is listed toward the bottom.

I've shot about 40 rounds of Hornady's factory 180 ELD load. If I shoot more than a few shots in a row, I get heavy bolt lift and ejector marks on the brass. It's achieving 2790fps with this ammo on a new barrel, and I've shot 4 different 3 shot groups at 100 yds, all of which measured in the .4" to .6" range. Speeds with this ammo had ES's of less than 30fps for everything I chronoed (maybe 12rds or so).

I acquired some ADG brass and started out with the Berger 168 VLD-Hunting and H1000. All the following info for handloads are with this ADG brass and a CCI 250. I started low at 64gr (2600fps), and have tried as high as 70gr of H1000, which yielded speeds in the low 2900fps range, on virgin brass. Speeds with the virgin ADG brass were wildly inconsistent, having ES's up to 80fps in just two or three shot groups. This is likely due to me not touching the cases with a die or mandrel of any kind, simply pulling them out of the box and loading them. It seems after the first firing, sizing, and annealing them that the speeds have leveled out considerably, and I'm now seeing no more than 30 or 40fps ES's on the second and third firing of the brass.

I did try N560 with the 168 VLD as well, but I didn't shoot it enough to give an educated opinion on it's viability. I started at 63gr (approx. 2760fps) and went as high as 65.5gr (approx 2880 fps), but as I didn't see the group sizes or ES's get noticeably better than H1000, I haven't tried anymore N560. It did shoot under 3/4moa, just nothing much smaller than 1/2.

After a little tuning, I've found a load I'd be comfortable hunting with at the moment. I don't have the COAL handy, but I'll try and update this post later to add that in addition to the CBTO. Below is the specs for that particular load.

168 Berger VLD Hunting
68gr H1000
CBTO of 2.625" (approximately .005" jump) will add COAL later on when I get home to measure.
CCI 250
ADG brass
2840 fps
20" barrel, SAAMI freebore .233"


I've shot several three shot groups with this load and plus or minus half a grain and a few thou seating depth in either direction, all of which shot around 1/2moa or slightly better and no more than 30 ES for any specific charge weight w/ once and twice fired brass. I shot one group at 565yds on steel in a 6-9mph crosswind that was around 3" with very little vertical. The last two cold bore groups (also the best two groups) I shot at 100 yds with this load measured .409" and .310" and the speeds in those two groups were 2830, 2828, 2831 in one group, and 2838, 2857, 2833 for the other.

My thoughts so far is that the 168 is a little short for the SAAMI freebore, there's very little (I haven't measured) bearing surface left in the neck with the bullets close to the rifling. My standards for accuracy are strict, and I'm not tickled enough with their performance to settle down with this load without trying some other bullets first, though I'm confident it would be acceptable for most hunters' standards. I plan to try both the 180 VLD Hunting and the 175 ELD-X in the very near future, and I'll try and chime in again with results.

Photos are the last two groups I shot with the 168 load I listed, and the only decent photo I have of the rifle (it's the one on the left).

Sorry for the massive post, it's just a lot of info to try and convey, and it's hard to be concise. Hope you can take some helpful info out of it.

-Scott.

 

[MECA]

Still waiting on the AG Composites stock to set the 22" Proof Carbon barrel w/ Harrells Radial brake screwed on the Mack Bros EVOII action with a Bix N Andy Pro Tac trigger in.
This is great info for a short barrel and will be helpful for my start-up.
Thanks!!

 

[North dakota Patriot]

I'll chime in for those interested in shorter barrels, as I haven't seen much data on speeds for anything shorter than 24". I only have about 125rds on this barrel at this point, but I'll post what I've found thus far.

My setup is a 20" Krieger 8.5 twist w/ a Diligent Defense Enticer L-Ti on an Anti-X action in a XLR Element 4.0. I chambered the barrel myself, with a SAAMI reamer I borrowed (.233" FB i believe).

For the TLDR, I've found one pretty solid load with 168 VLDH and H1000, the data is listed toward the bottom.

I've shot about 40 rounds of Hornady's factory 180 ELD load. If I shoot more than a few shots in a row, I get heavy bolt lift and ejector marks on the brass. It's achieving 2790fps with this ammo on a new barrel, and I've shot 4 different 3 shot groups at 100 yds, all of which measured in the .4" to .6" range. Speeds with this ammo had ES's of less than 30fps for everything I chronoed (maybe 12rds or so).

I acquired some ADG brass and started out with the Berger 168 VLD-Hunting and H1000. All the following info for handloads are with this ADG brass and a CCI 250. I started low at 64gr (2600fps), and have tried as high as 70gr of H1000, which yielded speeds in the low 2900fps range, on virgin brass. Speeds with the virgin ADG brass were wildly inconsistent, having ES's up to 80fps in just two or three shot groups. This is likely due to me not touching the cases with a die or mandrel of any kind, simply pulling them out of the box and loading them. It seems after the first firing, sizing, and annealing them that the speeds have leveled out considerably, and I'm now seeing no more than 30 or 40fps ES's on the second and third firing of the brass.

I did try N560 with the 168 VLD as well, but I didn't shoot it enough to give an educated opinion on it's viability. I started at 63gr (approx. 2760fps) and went as high as 65.5gr (approx 2880 fps), but as I didn't see the group sizes or ES's get noticeably better than H1000, I haven't tried anymore N560. It did shoot under 3/4moa, just nothing much smaller than 1/2.

After a little tuning, I've found a load I'd be comfortable hunting with at the moment. I don't have the COAL handy, but I'll try and update this post later to add that in addition to the CBTO. Below is the specs for that particular load.

168 Berger VLD Hunting
68gr H1000
CBTO of 2.625" (approximately .005" jump) will add COAL later on when I get home to measure.
CCI 250
ADG brass
2840 fps
20" barrel, SAAMI freebore .233"


I've shot several three shot groups with this load and plus or minus half a grain and a few thou seating depth in either direction, all of which shot around 1/2moa or slightly better and no more than 30 ES for any specific charge weight w/ once and twice fired brass. I shot one group at 565yds on steel in a 6-9mph crosswind that was around 3" with very little vertical. The last two cold bore groups (also the best two groups) I shot at 100 yds with this load measured .409" and .310" and the speeds in those two groups were 2830, 2828, 2831 in one group, and 2838, 2857, 2833 for the other.

My thoughts so far is that the 168 is a little short for the SAAMI freebore, there's very little (I haven't measured) bearing surface left in the neck with the bullets close to the rifling. My standards for accuracy are strict, and I'm not tickled enough with their performance to settle down with this load without trying some other bullets first, though I'm confident it would be acceptable for most hunters' standards. I plan to try both the 180 VLD Hunting and the 175 ELD-X in the very near future, and I'll try and chime in again with results.

Photos are the last two groups I shot with the 168 load I listed, and the only decent photo I have of the rifle (it's the one on the left).

Sorry for the massive post, it's just a lot of info to try and convey, and it's hard to be concise. Hope you can take some helpful info out of it.

-Scott.

I was told 2 weeks ago by Berger that the 180gr VLD Hunting bullets were in production. They should be available in the near future. These bullets have produced great accuracy with my Proof Rifle. Good Luck.

 

[MisterOrange]

I was told 2 weeks ago by Berger that the 180gr VLD Hunting bullets were in production. They should be available in the near future. These bullets have produced great accuracy with my Proof Rifle. Good Luck.

Good to hear, I actually do have quite a few of those bullets, I'll give them a whirl. Mind sharing your load data with that bullet?

 

[North dakota Patriot]

Good to hear, I actually do have quite a few of those bullets, I'll give them a whirl. Mind sharing your load data with that bullet?

From the LRO 7mm PRC cartridge guide—“ 66 grains of H4831SC with the Federal 210GM primer” Good Luck! The target below is 5 shots at 100 meters.

 

[MisterOrange]

From the LRO 7mm PRC cartridge guide—“ 66 grains of H4831SC with the Federal 210GM primer” Good Luck! The target below is 5 shots at 100 meters.

The only charge I see listed on the cartridge guide with H4831SC is 63 grains under the 180 Hybrid. Are you running 66 grains with ADG or Hornady brass? What kind of speeds are you seeing at that?

 

[North dakota Patriot]

The only charge I see listed on the cartridge guide with H4831SC is 63 grains under the 180 Hybrid. Are you running 66 grains with ADG or Hornady brass? What kind of speeds are you seeing at that?

63 grains is correct. I mis typed. Hornady Brass 3.3 oal The speed is 2770 from my 24 in barrel.

 

[NoMrcyNodak]

I am going to call this one done for now:

Proof Elevation MTR 24" BBL
Dead Air Nomad 30 Suppressor
180 Gr. Berger VLD (28502)
Redding Full Length Bushing Die
SAC .310 Bushing
CCI 250 Primer
63 Gr. H4831SC
ADG Brass-once fired
2874 FPS
3.350 OAL

100 yard group

 

[NorCalHntr]

I'd love some input on mono's (168 LRX and/or 160 CX). I have a 20" barrel. Would like to see what other combos others are using with the mono's in those weight bullets. I have only tried 68.0g H1000, CCI250, ADG, and the 168 LRX was about 2860. I will be grouping next week to see how that load shoots

 

[Phlea]

I'd love some input on mono's (168 LRX and/or 160 CX). I have a 20" barrel. Would like to see what other combos others are using with the mono's in those weight bullets. I have only tried 68.0g H1000, CCI250, ADG, and the 168 LRX was about 2860. I will be grouping next week to see how that load shoots

I'm also curious if anyone has any input on monos, specifically the 160 grain CX. So far i've just loaded to check pressure. Starting at 62 grains for H1000 and up to 71 grains. Hornady book max is 69.5 grains at 3100 FPS out of a 24 inch barrel.

Hornady 160 gr CX
Federal 215Ms
Hornady once fired brass
20 inch Bartlein Barrel
BAT Vampire Action
20 thousandths off the lands

I reached 3030 FPS at 71 grains of powdered, definitely over pressure. Started seeing signs of pressure at around max load but they weren't real pronounced on the brass.

Going to back down to around 68ish. That should put me around 2900 to 2950 fps.

The one thing that is nagging me is the distance to the lands. I know Barnes says 50 thousandths off but I called Hornady and the rep mentioned that they were tolerant and recommend 20 to 50 thousandths off so I started at 20.

 

[tdogg]

I've switched to the Cutting Edge Bullets 160gr Lazer. I'm seating them as long as possible without the sealing band hitting the throat (2.630 CBtoO off the top of my head). 67.6gr of H1000 gives me about 2930 fps out of my 22inch Christensen Arms barrel. In my rifle that is within the stable portion of the node. I was only able to tune the load with seating depth to about 0.75 MOA, I then put a tuner on it and got that down below 0.5 MOA.

I dropped a Cow Elk at 350yds last week with this load. She did a 180 and fell back dead.

I'm a fan of deep penetrating bullets and have used Nosler Accubonds and Barnes LRX's for the last decade plus. I purchased the 7 PRC to be able to run long monolithic bullets with the faster twist rate barrel. The CEB Lazer is a good balance of expansion and penetration.

I did work up a H1000 Barnes 168gr LRX load but I had signs of pressure at 68.5gr due to a hard carbon ring formed at the end of the chamber. I don't know if I will get around to finishing that load development now that I'm shooting the CEB?

Cheers,
Toby

 

[Phlea]

I've switched to the Cutting Edge Bullets 160gr Lazer. I'm seating them as long as possible without the sealing band hitting the throat (2.630 CBtoO off the top of my head). 67.6gr of H1000 gives me about 2930 fps out of my 22inch Christensen Arms barrel. In my rifle that is within the stable portion of the node. I was only able to tune the load with seating depth to about 0.75 MOA, I then put a tuner on it and got that down below 0.5 MOA.

I dropped a Cow Elk at 350yds last week with this load. She did a 180 and fell back dead.

I'm a fan of deep penetrating bullets and have used Nosler Accubonds and Barnes LRX's for the last decade plus. I purchased the 7 PRC to be able to run long monolithic bullets with the faster twist rate barrel. The CEB Lazer is a good balance of expansion and penetration.

I did work up a H1000 Barnes 168gr LRX load but I had signs of pressure at 68.5gr due to a hard carbon ring formed at the end of the chamber. I don't know if I will get around to finishing that load development now that I'm shooting the CEB?

Cheers,
Toby

I haven't had a chance to play with any of the Cutting Edge monos but they look really nice, they're on my list. I believe my CBtoO is also right at 3.630 for the 160 CXs. The BC is right inline with the 160 CXs too.

 

[Bfish22]

Was able to get a velocity reading on my 7 prc today. About 70 rounds down the barrel. Just did a rough load work up for this hunting season. Will fine tune powder volume, neck tension and seating depth with once fired brass post deer season. Loaded up to 70 gr h1000 and never saw any pressure signs. Am liking the accuracy potential that it shows so far along with the velocity for a 22” barrel.

Tikka action
22” bartlein #3 barrel
Saami freebore
Berger 175 elite hunter
Petersen virgin brass
Federal 215 primer
Coal 3.34” - jumped .050
H1000 69.5 gr
2950 fps

 

[Kimber7man]

Was able to get a velocity reading on my 7 prc today. About 70 rounds down the barrel. Just did a rough load work up for this hunting season. Will fine tune powder volume, neck tension and seating depth with once fired brass post deer season. Loaded up to 70 gr h1000 and never saw any pressure signs. Am liking the accuracy potential that it shows so far along with the velocity for a 22” barrel.

Tikka action
22” bartlein #3 barrel
Saami freebore
Berger 175 elite hunter
Petersen virgin brass
Federal 215 primer
Coal 3.34” - jumped .050
H1000 69.5 gr
2950 fps

I'm going to have to try some H1000 after I've got some rounds down my barrel too

 

[hidalgo]

Hornady 160gr CX
68.5 grains H1000
COAL 3.350” ( .050” jump)
Fed 210M
Peterson Case
3050 FPS out of 26” Proof Sendero 1-8”

Accurate out to 800 yards, consistent velocity. Heavier powder charge ran into pressure, might try RL26 but H1000 is a powder I use a lot so it’s always on hand.

I’ve owned and loaded for several .280 AIs and I believe for my use the 7 PRC is better. I also have a 7mm REM Mag same 26“ 1-8” Proof barrel that gets 30-50fps more velocity but the 7 PRC seems be easier to work up a load for and more consistent.