Reloader 7

[300BLK]

My first cast bullet loads with Reloader 7 were in a 38-55. It seemed to build pressure quickly, or at least more quickly than I liked, so I switched to AA2015 and didn't look back. A couple of years back I was working with a 5.56x45 AR with cast and worked backwards in burn rate until I found Reloader 7 delivering the consistent accuracy I was looking for. I loaded the remainder of that lot, and bought more. The new cans were marked "Made in Sweden" vs the older cans "Made in USA". To get the same accuracy with the new lot as the old, I had to back off 10%. I didn't chrono to see how the velocities compared, and didn't give it much thought until just recently.

Most of my 30cal loads 30-30, 308, 30-06 are/were over 2400, 5744, and H322. The 300BLK has been fed H110 and 4227 almost exclusively. Quicksylver's Lee 155s over Reloader 7 in the '06 caught my attention, and then Ian's experiments with heavy bullet subs in the 300BLK again lit the light.

I shot some 203gr over what I expected to be "too light to cycle" 300BLK today, and was surprised to see how little unburned powder remained. With 2400 seemingly "unobtainium" and 5744 so pricey, I'll have to work this into some of my other 30cal to see what I've been missing.

 

[quicksylver]

300..it's fast becoming my "go to" powder....
Readily avaliable and resonably priced....glad you ..."rediscovered" it...Dan

 

[Ian]

I don't know the full story, but what comes in a Reloder 7 can today has been reformulated and has a lot more nitroglycerin, I've read somewhere around 15%. That makes it light easily and burn cleanly at low pressure. Another wonderful property of the stuff is it doesn't get spooky when compressed or nearing compression and burns very consistently at low charge volumes. I use it for everything from .45 Colt to .223 Winchester. It's also my go-to in both the 30 and 45/90 WCF.

 

[RicinYakima]

Rumor has it that the "new" Rx7 is Norma 200 at a cheaper price. FWIW, Ric

 

[Ian]

Interesting, Ric. I just put in an order for a bunch more of it, thanks to 300BLK for the reminder!

 

[RicinYakima]

The original Hercules ReloadeR 7, ReloadeR 11 and ReloadeR 21 from the 1960's (discontinued in 1971) were made by Norma and were standard powders as Norma had no importer at that time. Once Norma got a powder importer, they quit selling to Hercules. Then Hercules had Rx7 made by the Scot powder maker in Scotland. When Scot/ICI got taken over by the British Government in the "Great Socialization" in the UK, Hercules make their own until bought out by Aliant. Since then it has been from whom ever would make double based nitro powder to their specifications (reportedly IMI). HTH, Ric

 

[300BLK]

The "made in USA" and "made in Sweden" on my last lots leave out IMI. Another source had indicated that Rx7 was 7%, but no time period info given, and was the replacement for HiVel#2, IIRC.

My first jug of AA5744 would have been mid to late 90s production. When I ran low on that, I found a deal on the 'net since I had no local source. Supposedly, the earlier lot was 10% NG and the later was upped to 20%.

Along with 2400, both of these are double base, relatively high NG, so ignite rather easily. 2400 seems unobtainable, and 5744 is pricey when encountered, so Rx7 seems to be a palatable alternative. I'll have to check and see if I can find a jug or 2.

 

[KHornet]

In the past 2-3 years I have found myself shooting more and more Rx 7. And as said it is obtainable, which is a big factor.

 

[358156 hp]

RX7 has long been my favorite powder for 55 gr 223 loads. IIRC, 21.5 gr of RX7 with a 55 gr spirepoint has long been Sierras "accuracy load" for AR15. I load a lot of them with Nosler Ballistic Tips, and Hornady VMax.