Record-Setting 7mm RSAUM Ammo from Berger SW Nationals
For top-level competitors, hand-loading is truly the “relentless pursuit of perfection”. To build ammo capable of winning major long-range matches, you’ll need the best tools — and an almost obsessive attention to detail. The bullets must be ultra-consistent, powder charge weights must be “dead on”, seating depths (as measured from base of case to ogive) must be precise, and neck-tension must be the same for every round that goes in the chamber.
When you get it all correct, when every phase of the reloading process has been carried out perfectly, then you have rounds that can set records and win world titles. So what does championship-grade ammo look like? Take a look at the photo below. This is the 7mm RSAUM ammunition used by Kenny Adams at the Berger Southwest Nationals (SWN). Kenny is the 2013 F-Class World Champion. And he was also a member of Team Grizzly which won the SWN F-Open Team Grand Aggregate, setting a new National record in the process. Does your ammo look this good?
Kenny’s World-Beating 7mm RSAUM Load
For his 7mm RSAUMs Kenny loads Hodgdon H4350 powder and Federal 215m primers into Nosler or Norma RSAUM brass. In the RSAUM he runs Berger 180gr Hybrid bullets seated “just touching” the lands. Kenny is very precise with his charge weights. Using a Sartorius Magnetic Force Restoration scale, Kenny tries to hold his powder charges to within 1-2 kernels charge-weight consistency.
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Tags: ammo, Berger SW Nationals, F-Class Nationals, Kenny Adams
Does Kenny not shoot with a cheek rest? Every picture I see of his rifle seems to be missing the cheek piece…
What bullet holder is that exactly?
Congrats on the win
What round holder is that with the timer?
I’ve got a PR&T lowboy with the adjustable cheekpiece and have considered doing the same. I shoot with very little pressure on the cheekpiece.
Due to an ammo problem, I shot a string without my cheek piece and saw no difference, maybe an improvement. It has been down ever since.
Kenny says he loads H4350 with Berger 180’s? That seems like an awfully fast powder for that load in a 7mm RSAUM, what am I missing? I ask because I’m having Mark Chanlynn build me a custom 7mm RSAUM as I write and I will be working up loads soon…
Over in Oz, a number of shooters are using H4350 (ADI 2209) powder. It is a faster burning powder, however you will use much less of course.
FWIW: While it is a very consistent powder through varying temperatures 15 to 35 degrees Celcius, the extra space left in the case could be detrimental to consistency.
Personally I run H1000, which fills the case nicely, and I find it to be super accurate with the Hybrids. After all 12 Super V’s out of 15 shots all in the center when fired over 800 yards should mean something.
As with all calibres, experiment with various components, and find what works consistently with your barrel. After all, there is no 1 perfect solution that fits all barrels.
Thank you Mike. That tempts me to play around with RL17 since its very close to H4350 but with some inhibitors for the short mag cases. Though it’s not very temp stable. I have RL25 and have been waiting for H1000/Retumbo to show up anywhere. Lots of great data on 7mm RSAUM here at AS so I’m sure I’ll find something that works