I have posted some of this in other threads, but as they are older and may be buried I am starting a new thread to get some help.
ChatGPT is telling me that H1000 generally is a better powder to 7PRC for Speed and heavier bullets. Jim recommends N-565. Can anyone confirm which is delivering betters results for speed/accuracy without overpressure?
I have been looking at reloading books and could use recommendations. I know my 7PRC does really well with ELDx out of Federal Premium and my 6.5 CM does well with Norma Bondstrikes and Sig Marksman. What books should I be looking to get?
Do I really need a Case Trim and Prep System right away?
I have the Redding T7 with the Creedmoor Sports turret ring on its way. Redding dies. Getting the Hornady Auto Charge Pro next month as well as a Bullet and Headspace Gauge Comparator Kit.
I have looked at Jim’s Best for Reloading, just trying to get a little more info here.
1. Zero experience with 565. With any type of load.
I do have a 7prc with h1000, the 168 lrx. I’m shooting it out of a 22-in barrel.
It is slow, I’m only getting 2860. However it’s very accurate and has good standard deviations. I developed this load before I knew about things like Gordon’s and quick load. If you look at this load with either of those two programs that says it should not work at all, compressed loads and not 100% burn rate. But looking at the Target this thing works perfectly well. And even with 2860 at sea level I’ve still got the bullet in it’s operating window all the way out to 600 yards which is further than I typically shoot with anything.
According to those programs the only way to get good results with h1000 is to use a longer barrel. It just does not burn completely with shorter barrels at all.
I really don’t see a need to go through all the hassle of developing a new load for this gun. If I did, I know it shoots the factory 160 lrx perfectly. And I would probably just buy several boxes of that and not worry with development at all.
My XB2 loves the factory Federal ELDX load, so again I just purchased a bunch so I got a single Lot number and I’m not going to bother with reloading for it
2. I just focus on the online programs. Hodgkin, VV, and since you’re looking at an eldx, Hornady all have good online programs. Well, technically, Hornady is an app . You will need to spend a little money for the Hornady one. Anything you see in print is going to be several years if not decades old and with something as new as the 7prc, it’s going to take forever for that to show up
3 I would say that is a little bit to a personal preference. If you get a bunch of new brass one option would be just to go ahead and shoot nothing but new brass until you are 100% done with them, then Circle back around and start reloading. I’m sure there are other people who would take a large quantity of brass, then subdivide it and go through one division then Circle back and reload that one saving the other divisions as being new to be used later. I think both approaches have their pluses and minuses.
N565 works great for my 6.5prc. Short Action Customs comparators are what i have now upgrade from Hornady. I have the Lyman electric for case length. I had an autocharge pro is crapped out on me so i sent it for repair. In the interim i bought the FA intellidropper 2.0 super happy with it. Received a new autocharge from hornady havnt opened it selling it to a buddy. The FA suits my needs
H1000 is a great powder for 7PRC. Mine is running 2875 FPS with 65.5 grains and my COL 3.370”. I use CCI #250 primers. My groups are averaging 0.550”. This is out of a 24” barrel using 175gr ELDx.
To your previous question. I run 3 different single stage presses. I do most of my work now on the FA Precision press. I find the FA m-press to be good for things like running the expander mandrel.
You definitely need some case prep tools, but a case prep station will save you a lot of time. You will most likely need to trim cases after 2-3x firings. Doubtful Hornady brass will last much longer than that especially if you are not annealing. Highly recommend getting nice brass - Lapua, Peterson, etc. You will be able to reload it 10x+.
You will want magnum primers - CCi or Federal.
Watch Cortina’s video on finding your jam, you won’t need to buy extra tools. Will help you with seating depth. You will definitely want a pair of digital calipers and headspace and bullet comparator tools.