Very impressed with Ramshot Hunter powder

[Fat_46]

I recently loaded my hunting rounds (270 150 gr spbt) with "new" Ramshot Hunter powder. It measured well, and the pre-season shooting I did impressed me with its repeatable accuracy.

I load my hunting rounds at the bottom of the suggested powder charges. .1 grain over minimum, as a matter of fact. I also don't use or even own a chrono. I'm more concerned with groups than speed at this time.

Around lunch time Saturday our hunting party gathered back at base camp for lunch, and we saw 6 does crossing a field. One of the guys lasered the distance at 478.15 yards. After the big boys missed all six with their .300 Win mags and 7mm magnums, I consulted my index card with the ballistic information I had made up, held over 6.5 (or 5.75 or 7) inches thereabouts, and dropped a 156 lb. (dressed) doe in its tracks.

I fully credit the powder for creating a hunting round with extremely low recoil, but more than enough ooomph to humanely kill.

 

[CZ57]

Fat_46: It is still a relatively undiscovered powder, but that won't last much longer with a burn rate like R-19 and the excellent metering it yields. What I believe to be the reason it hasn't caught-on like wildfire with reloaders is that many are not aware that this is a very dense ball powder that is very stable in regard to temperature fluctuations. Ramshot claims it will rival extruded propellants in that regard. This is an advance in ball powder technology. I have wanted to add a .260 or 7mm-08 to my battery. I really prefer the 7mm-08, but there were more powder options for the .260 Rem, including Hunter data for .260, but I procrastinated. In their last load booklet, Ramshot provided Hunter data for 7mm-08 and pretty much sealed the deal for me. Performance for 160 gr. bullets is about as good as it gets and although they didn't provide data for it, I believe it will work great for 140s and provide 100% or better load density.

 

[Schleprok62]

CZ57:

Do you have any further sources for 7mm-08 load data with Ramshot powder? I've been looking here and there and haven't found much... any links?

Thanks...

 

[lenny Cianciotto]

From: Leonard Cianciotto [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 11:32 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Lenny -- Hunter vs 7mm-08Rem

Johan,
Have not had too much of an opportunity to test this data, but here is what I have so far.

Case: Federal
Bullet: Barnes Triple Shock 140 grain
Primer: Federal LR Gold Match
Powder: Ramshot Hunter
Barrel length: 22 inches

49 grains = 2775 fps and less than MOA accuracy

Incremental powder increases up to 51 grains did not yield improved accuracy, and 51 grains showed signs of pressure in the primer, but not in the case.

thanks,
Lenny Cianciotto
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Johan Loubser" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Lenny -- Hunter vs 7mm-08Rem
Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2005 10:18:38 -0700

Lenny,
Since we not have any extensive lab tested data on this powder/caliber combination, we can provide you with some guideline, based on calculations and information from other sources. (see notes 1.1 and 2.1 below).

Caliber: 7mm-08 Remington.

Barrel length: 24”

Powder: Ramshot - HUNTER

Bullet weight: 120grains.

Start load: 50.0grains (2800–2900 Ft/p/sec)

Maximum load: 55.0grains (3100 – 3200 Ft/p/sec).

Bullet weight: 140 grains.

Start load: 47.0grains (2700 - 2800 ft/p/sec)

Maximum load: 51.0 grains (2850-2950ft/p/sec).

Bullet weight: 160 grains.

Start load: 44.0grains (2500 - 2600 ft/p/sec)

Maximum load: 48.0 grains (2700-2800ft/p/sec).

Bullet weight: 175 grains.

Start load: 42.0grains (2400 - 2500 ft/p/sec)

Maximum load: 46.0 grains (2600 - 2700ft/p/sec).

NOTE:

It’ important to note that:
Whenever Western Powders do not test, and have actual data, on a particular caliber or caliber/bullet combination, we may in some cases provide some guideline. This information will be based on various procedures and calculations, or from other very reliable sources.

1. SAFETY is our prime concern therefore:

1.1. The loading data is conservative, especially regarding the minimum or start load to ensure a safe baseline to work from.

1.2. The safety margin built into the start load might be more than the customary 10%.

2. We strongly recommend.

2.1. To always start at the recommended minimum “START” load.

2.2. If at all possible, measure the velocity.

2.3. Contact us again with the velocity data, so that we can verify, and correlate with our calculated/estimated data. The data should also be compared, with the typical velocity levels accepted in the industry, for that particular caliber-bullet weight combination.

Regards
Johan Loubser
Ballistician
Western/Accurate Powders
Tel: 1800 497 1007 or (406) 234 04 22
Part of Western Powders -- Miles City Montana
For all Sales, Marketing, Pricing Distribution and related issues, please call toll free 800-497-1007

 

[CZ57]

Schleprok: looks like Lenny has the most up to date info. The loads I have seen at other forums has been almost exclusively for the 160 gr. bullets and accuracy has been reported as excellent.

Lenny: have you tried Hunter with a 140 gr. bullet other than the Triple-Shock? And, have you had MOA accuracy with the 140 gr. Triple-Shock and any other powder in this rifle. May be that your rifle doesn't like that particular bullet.