Author Topic: Tikka 7mm mag load help  (Read 797 times)

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Offline Deer&Duck

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Tikka 7mm mag load help
« on: September 01, 2005, 04:39:13 AM »
I've been working with a Tikka WH 7mmmag for quite awhile now and can not seem to get the desired results with reloads.  I want to use 160 gr bullets (currently have Sierra BTSP).  I've tried IMR 4350, RL22, H1000 powders and just haven't gotten anything consistantly less than 2.0+ groups.  I know this is OK, but my other  Tikkas shoot so much better.

I do not believe that its the gun nor mounts.  It shoots 175grn  partitions (seconds) at slightly more than an inch.  And it shoots Rem factory 150 grn into less than 1.5 inches.  This gun seems to shoot better "dirty" but it really does show a bunch of copper when I do clean it.

Just curious what other 7 mag Tikka shooters were doing?  What load? Distance from lands, ETc.

Any help is greatly appreciated.
Deer&Duck

Offline Coyote Hunter

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Tikka 7mm mag load help
« Reply #1 on: September 13, 2005, 03:27:37 AM »
Deer&Duck –

The 160g weight is a great choice in the 7mm Mag – it has been my choice for over 20 years and with the right bullet construction will cleanly take anything up to and including big bull elk.  

In my own experience I found the Speer Grand Slam works wonderfully but gave up on Hornady 162BTSP’s after taking my first elk.  A few years back I experimented on an antelope with Barnes XLCs but was very disappointed and went back to the Grand Slams.  My current load is a North Fork bonded bullet and I don’t see that changing.  My buddy shoots Speer Trophy Bonded which are very similar in design but don’t have the circumferential grooves.  I guess what I’m suggesting is that, while the Sierra BTSP’s may provide excellent accuracy IF you find the right load, their construction is less than optimum for larger game.  If bonded bullets like the A-Frame, Trophy Bonded or North Fork are too pricey for your budget, I would strongly recommend using 160g Partitions or a relatively inexpensive bonded bullet like the Scirocco, Accubond or Interbond.

As to powders, the two 7mm Mags I have worked with  (mine and my hunting buddy’s) both like IMR4831.  This powder has consistently provided us with groups 1” or less with a variety of 160g bullets.  (We both use CCI 250 primers; he uses Remington brass, I use Federal brass.)  My North Fork loads use H4831SC which proved to be a happy combination – with a 3-shot group of 0.266” center-to-center, or slightly less than one caliber.

YMMV
Coyote Hunter
NRA, GOA, DAD - and I VOTE!

Offline Deer&Duck

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Tikka 7mm mag load help
« Reply #2 on: September 14, 2005, 08:54:30 AM »
Coyote hunter,

Thanks for the reply.  I've gotten some Nosler Accubond 160s in, just haven't tried them yet.  I will probably try Re22, around 63 grns, with a Fed 215 GM primer.  Probably start 0.010" off lands and go from there.  On the 4831 powder, probably the only powder I don't have.  May have to get some.

Deer&duck

Offline Deer&Duck

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Tikka 7mm mag load help
« Reply #3 on: October 19, 2005, 02:44:00 AM »
Here's an update....
Tried the Nosler Accubond 160 gr  over 63.0 grns of Re 22 with Fed 215 GM primers, with length set to 2.700 to ogive (using stoney point gauges).
This load has lots of potential.  Initial 5 shots went slight over an inch.
The next five shots went exactly 1.0 inch, however if you exclude the first shot, the next four were touching at 0.45 inches.
I think I'll keep working with this load.....
Deer&Duck

Offline jro45

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Tikka 7mm mag load help
« Reply #4 on: October 26, 2005, 09:21:19 AM »
I shot my boar while it was running with my 7mm shooting 160gr bullets Partitions. I used H1000 for powder. :D