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Powder Replacement 7mm Rem Mag

warnera1102

Sergeant of the Hide
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 25, 2020
322
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So evidently IMR7977 has turned into unicorn dust , which sucks as I finally found a good load for my 7mm Rem Mag shooting 184 Bergers at 2850fps. I really hate to do a new load development considering the lack of supplys but does anyone have a recommendation for a replacement powder? The gun typically shoots steel in various temps so a stable powder would be nice.
 
So evidently IMR7977 has turned into unicorn dust , which sucks as I finally found a good load for my 7mm Rem Mag shooting 184 Bergers at 2850fps. I really hate to do a new load development considering the lack of supplys but does anyone have a recommendation for a replacement powder? The gun typically shoots steel in various temps so a stable powder would be nice.
I have had great results with H1000 with 175 Berger. Very temp stable.
 
A buddy uses H4831sc. I just got him a few pounds when I saw it a few weeks ago. I've seen it come up on brownels in the powder thread since though. He loves that stuff for those types of rounds. He's pretty familiar with loading for those calibers but I'm not.
 
Sadly I have seen more H1000 than I have 8208 and 7977. I thought about just buying an 8lb next time and redoing my development.
 
I have had great results with H1000 with 175 Berger. Very temp stable.
Thank you, I may end up going this route if I can find several lbs of h1000. What kinda of velocities are you getting with the 175?
 
They should be making a push soon of imr 7977. H1000 has been around a lot. Just keep your eyes out. Make sure you buy as much as possible. But any of the rl 26 h1000 rl 23 rl22 imr 7828 4831sc retumbo imr 8133 should work and anything in that burn rate. Now just better buy what you can at the best volume you can and don't be picky. Good luck.
 
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They should be making a push soon of imr 7977. H1000 has been around a lot. Just keep your eyes out. Make sure you buy as much as possible. But any of the rl 26 h1000 rl 23 rl22 imr 7828 4831sc retumbo imr 8133 should work and anything in that burn rate. Now just better buy what you can at the best volume you can and don't be picky. Good luck.
Out of curiosity why do you think the 7977 push is coming? Sorry I dont know how they decided on what and when to manufacture, Im pretty clueless on that haha.
 
Out of curiosity why do you think the 7977 push is coming? Sorry I dont know how they decided on what and when to manufacture, Im pretty clueless on that haha.
Haha honestly just a pure guess. Basing it off of they havent sold any since the summer time and other powders in burn rate have been coming up so I'm guessing it might be next soon. Last time h1000 came and so did imr 7977 if I remember correctly
 
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I watch all the places online at least a couple times a day, I check with my local reloading shops, and I haven't been able to buy IMR 7977 in a store or online for prob 9 months or more. Not saying I didn't miss an online purchase considering entire lots will blow out in minutes online but I have been slowly dwindling down my supply of IMR 7977 for a 7 SAUM running Berger 190's so I feel your pain. My suggestion would be get your hands on at least 3 other powders that have a similar burn rate. With the way reloading supplies are these days you never know when something will be back in stock and chances are if you shoot regularly your going to run out of something and have to switch over. Obviously H1000, IMR 7828 SSC, Retumbo, N170, RL26, all these are popular too so your likely to be up the same creek but if you can get your hands on 3 lbs of one and 5 lbs of another and catch some in stock from time to time you can still shoot. Swapping loads is a pain in the ass but its better than not shooting at all...
 
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Just an update here I got in contact with IMR/Hodgdon and they said it will be Summer of 2022 before IMR 7977 will be produced again. So unless you find it on the shelf somewhere you better have a substitute, I can almost guarantee you there's none online anywhere.
 
Just an update here I got in contact with IMR/Hodgdon and they said it will be Summer of 2022 before IMR 7977 will be produced again. So unless you find it on the shelf somewhere you better have a substitute, I can almost guarantee you there's none online anywhere.
Dang that sucks. I wonder if it's the same with imr8133
 
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Just an update here I got in contact with IMR/Hodgdon and they said it will be Summer of 2022 before IMR 7977 will be produced again. So unless you find it on the shelf somewhere you better have a substitute, I can almost guarantee you there's none online anywhere.
Thank you for the update, I may try H1000 or N170 as it seems to be coming available. I assume RL26 is a comparablepowder?
 
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RL26 works well for me in the 7RM. 67.4gr sends the 180 ELDM right at 3,000fps out of a 26" barrel. H1000 was good too, but I chose to focus on RL26 since I have more of it.
If you're anywhere near Fargo ND, I'd trade some of my H1000 for H4895.
 
Thank you for the update, I may try H1000 or N170 as it seems to be coming available. I assume RL26 is a comparablepowder?
H1000, 7977, RL26, N170 are all right in there on the burn rate chart. I would say that H1000 and RL26 are top choice and they get produced more but they are more desirable with most guys and they also get snatched up waaaay faster when it does come available. I personally use the IMR/Hodgdon 2019 Burn rate chart for substitutes when I cant find my go to powder.
 
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RL26 works well for me in the 7RM. 67.4gr sends the 180 ELDM right at 3,000fps out of a 26" barrel. H1000 was good too, but I chose to focus on RL26 since I have more of it.
If you're anywhere near Fargo ND, I'd trade some of my H1000 for H4895.
Thank you, I am running a 184 berger at about 2850 right now with 66.9 gr of 7977 so that is good to know RL26 can do the same. I appreciate the offer but ND is a little far from eastern NC haha
 
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@warnera1102 if you ever drift west and hit Ohio I have 8lb of 7977 that I have been tempted to crack open. I have other powders that I use more often so it's there in the back row for now
 
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Nosler AB 160 gr
WBY Vanguard
7mm WBY Mag

RL23 64 gr
2988 fps
No pressure
0.75”

H1000 84 gr
AB 160 gr
1”
85 gr
1”
 
Can anyone be close to Oklahoma with some damn powder I use geez... I find guys with powder I could really use but I gotta drive across the United States 🤣...
 
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I liked 7977 in a couple .270s, RL23 is another great powder in that burn range that's very temp insensitive, gives good velocity and is usually the most available of the new Alliant powders.
 
Well I finally found something.
I ran across some retumbo to give it a try. If it doesn't work out my buddy uses it in his 300prc so I know he will take it.
I have never messed with retumbo but I guess I'll see now.
I do think the Hornady book is off as it says max for retumbo is 65.4 on a 175 eldm
 
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Thank you, I may end up going this route if I can find several lbs of h1000. What kinda of velocities are you getting with the 175?
2950 fps in a 26 inch barrel with 70.0 grains. The picture is a 5 shot group.
 

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I ended up finding some Retumbo. I'm getting 3013 average on a 184.
Group is .6 ( iirc) shooting out the back of my truck haha. I'ma try it for a while.
 
I think Midsouth has 7977 right now.