Reloader 7

[Hecklerusp45]

I was given some cans of Reloader 7 and don't have a good use for it. I reload 9mm, 45 acp, 45 colt, 38, 357, 44 mag, 308, 30-06, 7 mm mauser, 6.5 mm mauser , 8mm ,mauser, 5.56 nato, etc. Anyone know if Reloader 7 can be used in any of these?

[Tuna]

All of the rifles listed can use Reloader 7. Some do not shoot it very well at all but it was not bad in the .308 and in the .223. Are these cans or plastic bottles as there is old and new and they are a bit different.

[Hecklerusp45]

They are the papers cans. Do you have a 8mm mauser load to suggest? That may be where I would like to use it.

[Tuna]

Sorry sir I do not have any data for the 8x57. I can list that it's used for the .308 with lighter bullets. 150 gr. 35 grs R 7 for 2475 fps. for starters and 39 grs. for a max load at 2739 fps.

[Sunray]

You'll need a manual. Alliant's site doesn't have any 8mm Mauser Reloader 7 data listed. Might be listed in the Lyman book as well as Alliant's.
Mind you, I'm not seeing Reloder 7 on any 8mm Mauser load data site either. The stuff is supposedly used mostly in "light rifle" loads. Shows up for 100 grain bullet loads for .30-06(that being comparable to the 8mm) only.

[bruce]

Re: RE-7. I can absolutely assure you that RE-7 works very well in the .30-06. In both my Lyman and Speer manuals (ca. 1980-82), RE-7 is listed w/ 110 and 125 and 130 gr. bullets. From personal experience I can say that 41.0 gr. of RE-7 under a nice little 130 gr. JHP loaded in Win. or Rem. cases w/ standard LR primers produces a load that in my 03-A3 rifles is extremely accurate on target and, just as importantly, extremely effective on varmints and feral dogs. Fired lots and lots of rounds so loaded while a student in seminary. Simply excellent. You will find this load listed in both manuals of that era. As is normally recommended, reduce 10% and work up with attention to signs of pressure, etc. HTH. Sincerely. bruce.

[Tuna]

Reloader 7 goes back to at least the 1960's. Started with square metal cans, then cardboard tall containers and now plastic bottles. But all three are a bit different from each. I think the data Bruce has sounds like it's the same as Hecklerusp45 powder
so the data should be fine to use. But the closest I could find was an old Lyman manual and only contained the data for the .308 as close to the 8x57.

[Parashooter]

A 1987 Hercules data pamphlet lists the following RL7 loads -

6.5x55
Hornady 129gr. SP - 28.2 gr. - 2305 fps - 42600 c.u.p.
Hornady 160gr. RN - 27.3 gr. - 2100 fps - 43300 c.u.p.

.223 Rem.
Hornady 50 gr. SP - 21.5 gr. - 3195 fps - 53000 c.u.p
Hornady 55gr. FMJ- 20.5 gr. - 3080 fps - 52400 c.u.p.

.308 Win.
Sierra 110 gr. HP - 42.5 gr. - 3130 fps - 47200 c.u.p.
Sierra 125 gr. SP - 40.0 gr. - 2930 fps - 47100 c.u.p.
Sierra 150 gr. SP - 39.0 gr. - 2750 fps - 46900 c.u.p.

A couple of QuickLOAD simulations in 8x57IS indicate 40 grains would be a reasonable maximum (98 action) with bullets from 150 to 170 grains, giving ~2600 fps and ~3600 bar (Pmax is 3900 bar CIP piezo).

[Hecklerusp45]

You'll need a manual. Alliant's site doesn't have any 8mm Mauser Reloader 7 data listed. Might be listed in the Lyman book as well as Alliant's.
Mind you, I'm not seeing Reloder 7 on any 8mm Mauser load data site either. The stuff is supposedly used mostly in "light rifle" loads. Shows up for 100 grain bullet loads for .30-06(that being comparable to the 8mm) only.

Good idea. I will pull out some of Dad's old manuals. Thanks for the suggestion, I should have thought of that.

- - - Updated - - -


A 1987 Hercules data pamphlet lists the following RL7 loads -

6.5x55
Hornady 129gr. SP - 28.2 gr. - 2305 fps - 42600 c.u.p.
Hornady 160gr. RN - 27.3 gr. - 2100 fps - 43300 c.u.p.

.223 Rem.
Hornady 50 gr. SP - 21.5 gr. - 3195 fps - 53000 c.u.p
Hornady 55gr. FMJ- 20.5 gr. - 3080 fps - 52400 c.u.p.

.308 Win.
Sierra 110 gr. HP - 42.5 gr. - 3130 fps - 47200 c.u.p.
Sierra 125 gr. SP - 40.0 gr. - 2930 fps - 47100 c.u.p.
Sierra 150 gr. SP - 39.0 gr. - 2750 fps - 46900 c.u.p.

A couple of QuickLOAD simulations in 8x57IS indicate 40 grains would be a reasonable maximum (98 action) with bullets from 150 to 170 grains, giving ~2600 fps and ~3600 bar (Pmax is 3900 bar CIP piezo).

Thanks for the data. I may try out the 6.5 Mauser load.