Reloading 7x64 (7mm Brenneke) - case capacity

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Rifleman.2

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Hi Folks,
I’m new to the AH forum.
For the past four years I’ve been hunting in SA – Eastern Cape Province. On my first hunting trip I rented an old Sako rifle in 7x64 and was so impressed by its effectiveness on plain games (100-400m shots) that when I returned home, I bought a Mauser M12 in 7x64. Since 2024 I’ve been experimenting with this cartridge and have collected some data for reloading with various cases, powders, primers and bullets. I am especially interested in heavy-for-calliber bullets (160-165-175 grainers) and have found that some combinations of case/primer/powder/bullet can shoot very well.
I always use QuickLoad for my reloading. One of the first settings you need to adjust is the case capacity. Although it is listed as 69 grains of water, I have found that many 7x64 cases have a smaller capacity, which may affect the safety of reloading and calculated velocities.
That is why I am publishing here my data on case volume in grains of water.

PPU - 65.9
Geco - 66.1
Norma - 66.6
RWS - 67.3
Sako - 68.3
GFL (Fiocchi) - 68.3
S&B - 68.8
Hirtenberger - 68.8

Good luck in reloading this excellent old classic!
 
Thanks for the detailed case capacity info! I've loaded for and shot several different 7x64 rifles, still own a Sauer 202 and a Sako M85.
One thing that loading data sources seldom if ever mention is the very long freebore in the throats of CIP spec 7x64 chambers. My rifles typically will not seat a 160 gr. Nosler Partition to the lands without the bullet being almost entirely out of the case. That makes the case capacity concern somewhat less relevant. Pressure is reduced with a long bullet jump to the lands, similar to having more case capacity.
Making side by side comparisons of the same loads fired in 7x64 and .280 Remington will almost always yield lower velocities in the 7x64. But many USA data sources publish "reduced .280 loads" for the 7x64 ( Lee, Hornady) because of the "lesser case capacity". Not sure about quickload.
In my experience my 7x64 rifles can handle more powder and yield higher velocity than most published data will indicate. I like the 7x64 and wish you success with yours!
 
Yeah, I would use Norma data. Norma is going to be the one in factory ammunition that’s pushed the hardest. My 7X64 is a very draconian Zastava. I like it a lot has a nice trigger, but she’s really well inch and a half Groups 200 yards.
 
Thanks for the data points - just a reminder on the reloading 'theory' of case capacity: the intention is the measure the chamber volume of your particular rifle. Yes different batches of brass will have different wall thicknesses and case/web thicknesses yileding different internal volumes but cases from the same batch of brass may well vary in terms of H2O capacity when fire-formed in different rifles. It is this variance that QL and GRT are trying to adjust for with the H2O measurement.

Assuming that Norma/Lapua/Hornady/whatever brand will be xx gr H20 in all rifles of the same calibre is flawed. I know that Rifleman.2 is not suggesting this - just trying to caution the unwary reloader
 
All my 7x64 brass is RWS, so I'd probably use their data, and if I could make it work Vita powder.
 
I have been hunting deer and reloading for the the 7x64 for about 30 years. I completely agree with Longwalkers comments above in regards to the long throat of the 7x64. I cannot get a 160 grain Accubond or a 175 grain Woodleigh to touch the lands. I have only reloaded for the 7x64 in Blaser R8 rifles, which have a very generous magazine length of 92.5mm or more with some models. I loaded to a COL of 87mm for years and feeding was still flawless, though every rifle is different. I have always found the Nosler 280 rem data to be very close to what I am getting in my 7x64. My favourite load is a 160 grain Accubond at 2850fps with ADI 2209/H4350. I have fired over a thousand rounds of this load and it has never shown any signs of pressure and always extracted easily.
It’s a bloody fantastic deer Cartridge.
 
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