Thread: 7mm RemMag Howa- what loads have worked?

Tried 5 different pills in the Howa 7mm Rem mag. Nothing better than 1.75 Moa at the moment. Tried different seating lengths & powder weights too.
Using uniform brass, federal mag primers and R22 & AR2213sc.

Originally Posted by FRST

Tried 5 different pills in the Howa 7mm Rem mag. Nothing better than 1.75 Moa at the moment. Tried different seating lengths & powder weights too.
Using uniform brass, federal mag primers and R22 & AR2213sc.

Try 2217 70-72gr with 162gr

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+1 for what GWH said. Got my sons Howa RM in Hogue stock shooting 0.75 moa with 2217.
Also pay to check your action screws & scope rings/bases that’s all nice and tight.

If you can get some bedding around the recoil lug as well helps alot!

An important thing with howas is to check that the magazine well is properly fitted into the receiver and into the trigger Gard bottom metal as a lot of them are compressed by the bottom metal un properly fitted which create tentions in the whole systems.
Somehow the weatherby vanguard which are the exact same rifles don't have those issues as much

Originally Posted by Friwi

An important thing with howas is to check that the magazine well is properly fitted into the receiver and into the trigger Gard bottom metal as a lot of them are compressed by the bottom metal un properly fitted which create tentions in the whole systems.
Somehow the weatherby vanguard which are the exact same rifles don't have those issues as much

Hmmm

Thanks for the replies. What 162's are you guys using?

G'day FRST what twist rate is your barrel ?
A 1-10 twist should handle up to 168gr I use AR 2217 @ 67gr for both 162gr ELD-X and 168gr Vld I also run 162 ELD-M
for some reason they both shoot .3 with 67gr of powder
I've tried RL 22 but couldn't get better than .7 at 100yds and its too touchy with temperature variations
All projectiles are kissing the lands or slightly into them the Vld's wouldn't shoot when away from the lands in my rifle
I tried 175gr projectiles but couldn't get them to stabilise 1.5'' was best group
I find the lighter projectiles up to around 140-150gr like faster burning powder where as from there up likes the slower burning one
Also tried AR 2225 but its too slow in my rifle
It all depends on what you want to shoot and as the boys have said 162gr seams to be the middle of the road weight
Also do as someone has said check all is tight around the scope
Also has your rifle been glass bedded ? if not it would most likely help to do it
Hope this helps a bit mate

Cheers

FRST... what stock do you have? And how are you shooting it, off a bag or a bipod?

If it is the Hogue stock then check the clearance of the tip of the forend to the barrel. I found that I could create wide groups with one of my Howas by pulling down on the forend off a bipod and touching the barrel / forend tip. If I used less pressure, no touching, tight group. I trimmed the plastic at the forend (very easy, nice and neat) and problem solved.

As per post above, I had epoxy bedded all the Howas, recoil lug and tang, has made noticeable improvement.

62.5 grains AR2213SC, nosler 140 grain partition. federal magnum primer.
great accurate load

Thanks for the advice fellas. Found a couple of loads she likes now. Did a trigger job too and think I can live with these groups after the first dismal efforts, but I would like to try some slower powder too and see if I can get it even better. It's hard work shooting lightweight mountain braked rifles off a bench! Interestingly I couldn't get under 1.75 moa with R22 no matter what I tried.

It's funny how some rifles won't shoot certain bullet weights, my son's Tikka 7mm RM won't look at anything in the 160 plus range but loves the 140 gr. my old Rem 700 likes the 162 gr and 65 grs of AR 2213 SC ( this load is over book max but works well in my rifle)

So many variables with re-loading. Just pays to never give up without a fight though!!
To answer the previous questions:
The rifle has been re-stocked in carbon-fibre with pillar bedding. Not sure on the twist- I should have a look at the Howa website.
Talley rings are epoxied to the action. I shoot off two sand-bags, with the front one not too far forward.
Metal mag box is relieved in the blind mag-well to just floating.

Should be 1:9.5”