powder choice for the 7saum

[BATattack]

Up untill recuntly i believed that 2217 has been the best powder for the 7 saum due to its load density and a burn rate that should suit 180gr bullets.

After seeing a few posts on here and on 6br about the world champ using 2209 ist making mw wonder why that powder doeasso well?!??

To me it would seem WAY too fast with a low load density and woild be hard on barrels?!

Its interesting thet no one seems to use 2213 and its either 2217 or 2209. I tried 2213 and it didn't show much promise and didn't even bother with 2209 as i thought its heading further in the wrong direction..

Is 2209 a magical powder that despite all logic just seems to have really good ES or pressure curve ?!

[DaveMc]

YEP!!!

[bruce moulds]

the 6.5/284 always shot better with 2209.
it gave higher velocities with 2213sc and re 22, but always shot better with 2209.
with the limited barrel life of this cartridge, you just went to 2209 to start with.
keep safe,
bruce.

[Brad Y]

260 improved seems to run better with 2209, though my small primer cases might have just been lacking in the ignition department with 2213sc. Plan on using 2209 in the shehane too.

[KHGS]

2 for YEP on 2209!!!! Believe me load density is not as important as is popular belief.
Keith H.

[saum2]

With limited barrel life for the 7saum. How much running in and testing would you do to find the best node/group??
Geoff

[BATattack]

With limited barrel life for the 7saum. How much running in and testing would you do to find the best node/group??
Geoff

as little as possible!! haha

nah at the end of the day you have to get it just as accurate as every other rifle out there. there is no point drawing a line in the sand and saying that's where im going to stop my load development.

the 7saum was/ is a learning curve for me because there was very little load data when I started so I only found out its limits by pushing it until something gave.

ive treated the first barrel as an experiment to narrow down the starting window for the others. Also now that i know what im looking for and have the confidence to tell when its really humming i will be doing more load testing during club shoots where you actually get some "use" out of the barrel life your using during testing.