Project Little 7 Episode 9. Did we just hit a home run with a 160?

[@jasonacosta3860]

I swore off Hornady factory ammo since I bought a box of Hornady Custom Lite 7mm-08 for my son's rifle and there was 2 rounds with cracked necks in the box.

[@edwardabrams4972]

They are the worst! First the company encouraged long range shooting instead of hunting then then started selling ammo that they said the 7 PRC would beet the 7 rem mag but changed the powder without telling anyone until the public called them on the rug and then I started getting ammo where half the box of ammo would not close on my 4 factory 30-06 rifles🤮 Those guys are a big joke 😡

[@dyouden]

I like staball 6.5 and superformance with 160 grain in my 7mm-08. I also tested Nosler BT and Speer GS and noticed the GS runs about 100fps less than the BT with the same powder charge

[@huntsimple9527]

Thank you for sharing. I could not get the groups I wanted with Staball 6.5 using 160s, but the velocity was impressive for sure. That is good to know the GS were slower for you too. My guess is the GS are slightly less in finished diameter and that is causing 1) less neck tension and 2) reduced sealing of the gases in the bore. These would both potentially create reduced velocity.

[@guardianminifarm8005]

Good results overall. The IMR 4350 is not formulated or advertised as a temperature stable powder. I have been pleased with it in 7 mag over the years. It isn't a big velocity powder in it but I have always gotten great accuracy. It is better than W760 for ES/SD in my experience and as good of accuracy. Concerning the NBT, we have chosen to not use them hunting whitetail any longer. They have fragmented a good bit more than desired and left lead and jacket in meat a considerable distance from impact area out of a 30/06. They are very accurate. They anchored the deer great, probably due to the serious energy dump. Have you experienced that with the Ballistic Tip?

[@huntsimple9527]

Thank you for the info. On the Nosler BT's I started using them on game around 1994. They were very fragile on impact velocities over 2500 or so. Nosler BT's are not a great choice for impact velocities over about 2500 +/-, maybe slightly higher. In my experience they work well from around 2500 down. Examples of where I think the Nosler BT is a great fit for deer hunting include 180 grainers in the 308/30-06. 160s in the 7mm-08, etc. I would never use a BT in a higher velocity cartridge like a 7mm RM, 300 WM, etc.

[@jameskiser3344]

Great shooting ol buddy and now here in WV we r getting all kinds of snow lol

[@Accuracy1st]

IMR4350 is the first powder I ever purchased and loaded. IMR4831 is the second. First rifle to load for was a 270 Winchester. Thereafter I was loading 30-06, 308, 7RemMag, 300WinMag. As to your comment on IMR4350 and temperature, like you I've been at this a long time. I still have the cans the IMR powders came in from the 80s. Using a reference of 350 yards, which was my max distance I was willing to consider for hunting, I have NEVER had an issue killing game cleanly using IMR4350 and that includes loading mid summer and testing when it was 90+ degrees and shooting mule deer or whitetail at zero degrees. I completely dismiss temp sensitivity issues I read about including some ball powders and Alliant, like Reloder 22. Just don't care. Never had a problem with massive temperature differences. Never had a bullet strike an animal more than a couple inches from where I was aiming and that had more to do with wind call than bullet drop due to colder hunting temps.

[@michaeljames2814]

Now you're talking! BTs and IMR4350! Keep going cuz you're onto something. I have never tested for temp difference but if you do at some point please include us.

[@huntsimple9527]

Thank you!

[@johnkaraphillis754]

I quit shooting/hunting/loading with ballistic tips in the early 90’s due to their grenade like performance. Couple of years ago a friend mentioned they refined the bonding process and I’m extremely plea with the results and performance in my 7’s. Looking forward to seeing your results with them. Thanks

[@huntsimple9527]

Agreed, when the BT's first came out they were very thin jacketed. Nosler changed that up and thickened the jacket on some of them and now the are much better. I still won't use them in high velocity cartridges, but for 160s in the 7mm-08 they would be an ideal choice!

[@mattmills5145]

@@huntsimple9527 exactly! People use bullets in applications that they aren’t designed for, then complain about performance. People load 100 grain ballistic tips in a 257 weatherby then complain that they won’t penetrate when they shoot an elk. Then they proceed to trash the bullet as ineffective and an animal wounding bullet.

[@huntsimple9527]

@@mattmills5145 You are singing my song! Exactly!

[@patchitwood7428]

When you get to the “middle range” projectiles, give the Hornady Superformance factory ammo in 139 gr. CX a try. They work well for me in my 7mm-08. Good velocity. Good accuracy. Devastating results on game.

[@huntsimple9527]

Thanks for the suggestion. I am looking forward to the "middle range" for sure!

[@luvtahandload7692]

I would tweak the COAL with those Grand Slam loads. Start with 10 thou off the lands and go deeper in 20 thou increments. You can actually do a COAL ladder test too, not just powder charge weight. Of course, seating to the upper edge of the cannalure and giving it a full Lee Factory Crimp never seems to fail. Thanks for the vid!

[@huntsimple9527]

I bet a crimp on those would drive up the velocity for sure! I probably won't do it simply because I can get the velocity I want with the BT's and not have to deal with crimping (even though I know crimping is not that hard!).

[@luvtahandload7692]

@huntsimple9527 you might be surprised. I have tested, in multiple rifles, two loads, everything the same except one is crimped and one isn't. The difference in velocity is rarely more than the standard deviation of the load. FWIW, if the bullet doesn't have a cannelure, I never give it more than a 1/2 Lee Factory Crimp. Have a great week!

[@docholiday6650]

Great results! Thanks for the content. Looking forward to project 270 Win

[@huntsimple9527]

Cranking up the 270 and revisiting that will be fun. I think we will do that after 7mm-08 wraps up.

[@MrTacklebury]

The grandslam is a flat base, so probably used less case capacity up. Probably can bump a grain or so and have them even. 8)

[@huntsimple9527]

I thought about the flat base and also the Grand Slams all seated with very, very little neck tension so I wonder if they are slightly less diameter and therefor not sealing the barrel as much, losing some gas pressure and hence some velocity???

[@thallusa123]

Thumbs up for using the cardbord box target 👍

[@huntsimple9527]

They are great in the winter when the ground is frozen and I can't get my other target system into the ground!

[@warrenpolidori5541]

You're on to something. Keep it going.

[@huntsimple9527]

Next time I see a gap in the weather and it lines up with my time, we will see if we can prove out these 160 Ballistic Tips. I might even sneak in another 0.5 grain, but I was very happy to break 2700 with an old school powder and 22 inch barrel.

[@warrenpolidori5541]

2700 with that combination is awesome. If it gets better groups, with +.5g that's a plus.

[@huntsimple9527]

@@warrenpolidori5541 My thoughts exactly.

[@JeffBush-sw8yk]

You will just shoot better some days. Those 160 bt look good

[@huntsimple9527]

Thank you. That is the truth. The 160 BTs gave some promise, we will try to prove them out soon!

[@sandybarnett7502]

Some days I can't get with the program either

[@huntsimple9527]

I am finding I have more of those days all the time. LOL!

[@ReloadingWeatherby]

Nice shooting! Do you have a preferred bullet weight for the little 7? I know you got to go with what the gun likes most, but what weight would you prefer?

[@huntsimple9527]

Thank you Austin! I don't know yet on preferred bullet weight - I could see really liking the 160s if we can prove out 0.75 MOA and >2700 fps........those would be amazing for this little cartridge!

[@craigsmith6710]

Hornady kind of left a bad taste in my mouth when they switched powders for their 7prc ammo and didn’t adjust their advertised velocities on the box. I understand the powder shortage but don’t mislead your customers especially those that don’t have chronographs.

[@huntsimple9527]

Agreed. I think Hornady is a master at marketing and while I have had good luck with some of their bullets, it sure feels like marketing takes precedence over quality control and honesty at this point. For the time being, I am going to avoid Hornady factory ammo - there are so many other better choices.