7mm08 help

[metalhead]

Picked up a Rem youth lightweight in 7mm08 with a 18in barrel. I have no experience with this round or a barrel that short. I got 6+ boxes of 120gn Fed Fussion with it so need to shoot that up for the brass. After that the plan was to start with H4895 and 140gn SGK. Any advice on how to get max performance from this little rifle would be greatly appreciated.

[7stw]

Originally Posted by metalhead

Picked up a Rem youth lightweight in 7mm08 with a 18in barrel. I have no experience with this round or a barrel that short. I got 6+ boxes of 120gn Fed Fussion with it so need to shoot that up for the brass. After that the plan was to start with H4895 and 140gn SGK. Any advice on how to get max performance from this little rifle would be greatly appreciated.

Metalhead, you do have a interesting dynamic with the 18 inch barrel, but with a fast burning powder, and a tough, but light bullet, that will be dynamite deer hunting package. First of all, with a parent case like the 308, accuracy will be easy to get.
I would suggest a 120 Barnes TTSX, and IMR 8208 powder. It difficult to speculate as to the speed, but maybe you could realize 2800-2900. Stick a whitetail in the ribs with that bullet, and he's going for a pick-up ride!! The H4895 is faster than the IMR 4895, but I believe that the 8208 is yet a little faster. With the Barnes bullet, at 120 grains, it PERFORMS as good as a 140 lead core bullet, but with a little more speed. Also, IMR 3031 is good for that bullet weight/ barrel length combo. Actually, the 3031, and 8208 are very close, but the 8208 is very consistent, and a great performer. Hope this helps, and good luck! The 7-08 is a great cartridge.

[varmintH8R]

My buddy's 11year old got a 7-08 youth for his first deer season. We took a similar approach on bullets, but not on velocity. I loaded him some 140 TTSX's in front of 37.5gr of Varget. The recoil was way less than factory 140's, and his shooting improved dramatically. Maybe too dramatically - he was shooting pretty close to his dad at 100 - next year I have a feeling he is getting max loads!

Depending on your max range and your son's recoil tolerance, you may want to consider a similar approach.

Good luck, great cartridge! Versatile and will serve you well.

[metalhead]

Thanks guys. Id like to get 300yrds. Think thats reaching with such a short barrel?

[Daveinjax]

Varget is what I would try behind a 140gr nosler BT. I think you will be surprised at how well it will do out to 600yards.

[varmintH8R]

At 300 yds you should have no issues.

Assuming you can get 2600fps at the muze with a 140gr TTSX (should be possible)

100 yds, +2.3 in

200 yds, zero

300 yds, -9.6 in, 1237 ft/lb energy

400 yds, -27.9 in, 1020 ft/lb energy

500 yds, -56.8 in, 857 ft/lb energy

Conventional wisdom is that 1000 ft/lbs is minimum for deer-size game.

[TJAY]

I have had great results with H 4350 and IMR 4007 with 140 g. bullets. Barrrel length doesn't matter whatever powder that was fastest in a 22 or 24 will be the fastest in an 18.5 barrel.