Thread: Sako 7mm rem mag and 168vlds

hi can anyone share a good combo for the 168 vld and 2225 in a sako 7mmrm ie best seating depth etc. Was thinking around the 72grns powder mark.
We have norma brass and 210 primers.
Cheers

I tried them 15thou off the lands in my sako 85 action and couldn't get them much better than moa at all the charge weights I tried from 68gn to 74gn from memory, not much help but that was my finding I went back to ELDM's which with the same powder produce well under 1/2 moa groups without much mucking around, I was too lazy to muck about with seating depths to get the VLD's to shoot in my rifle when I already had a good known load

Ok sweet, most mates run the hornadys also in same setup but this chap was hoping to get the berger to shoot so yea hopefully someone can chime in.
Only tried a quick load this arvo to get on paper was about an inch maybe smaller but they were the first few shots through it as its new setup so will keep trying

I will be watching, be interested in seeing if you can get them to shoot, that said all the deer I've shot with the ELDM's have died on the spot bang flop so don't know if what I was trying to achieve other than just satisfying my curiosity

Fingers crossed as they are a great killer. Failing that he may go the eld way

I’ve not managed to get a full load of 2225 into a case with out a lot of fiddling. For max power with 162 or 168s its +100% case fill. It can be done but it’s a faff. Brand of brass plays a part as does searing depth of course.

I use 2217 for that reason. And Save 2225 for the big 300s.

I found VLDs and ELDX shot to same POA. VLDs I found are fussy on seating depth ie like to pretty close the the lands but can be insanely accurate. Excluding my cold bore fouling shot, this is what I get every time.

Originally Posted by Jit

I found VLDs and ELDX shot to same POA. VLDs I found are fussy on seating depth ie like to pretty close the the lands but can be insanely accurate. Excluding my cold bore fouling shot, this is what I get every time.

How close to the lands did you seat them. ...may have to re visit this with 2217 when it's back in stock

This load is .15thou off the lands. I was chasing RL26 as my current tub is getting low, but it's like unicorn shit. So back to 2217 which is consistently available in matching batch numbers.

Originally Posted by Jit

I found VLDs and ELDX shot to same POA. VLDs I found are fussy on seating depth ie like to pretty close the the lands but can be insanely accurate. Excluding my cold bore fouling shot, this is what I get every time.

Nice, yea my saum is one hole groups with Rl26 and 168vld also.
But I'm trying to find a accurate load for the 7mm rem mag and the 168vld for a mate atm.
Cheers all the same

Originally Posted by Pongo12

hi can anyone share a good combo for the 168 vld and 2225 in a sako 7mmrm ie best seating depth etc. Was thinking around the 72grns powder mark.
We have norma brass and 210 primers.
Cheers

Greetings,
You may wish to use 215 primers in the Rem Mag. 210 primers may not be up to the job.
Regards Grandpamac.

Ok will give a whirl thanks i have plenty here. Only got back to mucking round with it yesterday and have got sub half inch groups but I know it can do better so will muck around a bit more

I had good results with 168s in Norma brass with 72g of 2217 using federal mag primers.
In my past RMs.

I also used Berger classic hunters with the same load. For game I anneal VLDs as per Nathan Foster method. This is In case a shot presents itself at the 2000fps range. And you want more reliable expansion. I used them to great effect to 250m bang flop. And match accuracy.

But
Shot a stag at 620m last year, but using ELDs. I would Have been worried about the VLD at the long range unless bone was struck.
Just my 2c

If its anything like that one of ours itll want abit of fouling bro if your half moa now chrony it give it to him tell him to start thrashing it he probably cant shot half noa anyway so no stress

Originally Posted by Jit

I had good results with 168s in Norma brass with 72g of 2217 using federal mag primers.
In my past RMs.

I also used Berger classic hunters with the same load. For game I anneal VLDs as per Nathan Foster method. This is In case a shot presents itself at the 2000fps range. And you want more reliable expansion. I used them to great effect to 250m bang flop. And match accuracy.

But
Shot a stag at 620m last year, but using ELDs. I would Have been worried about the VLD at the long range unless bone was struck.
Just my 2c

Ok thanks for that ill do a bit more mucking about. We currently sitting at 69grns 2225 , has a 22 inch tube also but haven't tested speed yet.
Shit mate just my opinion but ya wasting time annealing vlds,They work brilliant from 2m to 1000m without worrys at all with muzzle velocity of 2800 to 3100 etc. Well touch wood ive never lost any animals using them the last 6 or so years.
Cheers all the same