Anyone loading 7mm-08?

[Elkeater]

I can get 3050 with a 140 absolute hammer in my 7-08ai with varget. It's a 24" proof barrel and I'm pretty sure it's a slow barrel. So I would guess a 140gr would need a 24" in 7-08 as well to get 3k. Though I would guess it'll be hard on brass. 2900 is probably possible in a 22". I also tried 6.5staball with good velocity but not he accuracy I got from varget.

 

[Catskills]

Big Game gets me 2925 out of 22" Tikka without being pushed hard.

 

[Seabeeken]

Played with it in GRT and the only powder that got close in a 22" barrel with 139 Hornady SST was reloader 17 at about 2950 fps. The others pressured out before 2900

 

[Rosebud]

CA Ridgeline, 118 gr Hammer Hunter tipped. 45.2 Varget @ 3210fps. Very sub moa.was shooting120 hammers @ 3170. Deer killer.

 

[10ring1]

As with anything else, YMMV, and which bullet 139/140? Check out similar threads below.

Hornady 139 interlock

 

[cape cove]

With a 24" barrel using StaBal 6.5, WW760 or H-100V and the 145 Speer SBT you can expect from 2925-3000 ft/sec depending on your barrel and powder lot.

 

[Roughrice]

I'm with others who have tried.
Staball 6.5, Big Game and RL 17 drove 140's the fastest but accuracy wasn't what I require.
3000 fps is in the big boy territory... excessive pressures trying to get there in a 20-22" barreled 7mm-08.
Save yourself trouble and settle on 2850-2900 with accuracy with several powders mentioned.

 

[Arcola]

H4895 gets me over 2900 with 143s. A touch over 3000 with 131s. I've got a ton of Varget and Big Game, but my groups are so tight, I haven't taken the time to try either.

 

[nhenry]

Back when I had my 7-08 for the brief period I had it, I used LeverEvolution and CFE 223 with pretty good success.

 

[john k]

I'm with others who have tried.
Staball 6.5, Big Game and RL 17 drove 140's the fastest but accuracy wasn't what I require.
3000 fps is in the big boy territory... excessive pressures trying to get there in a 20-22" barreled 7mm-08.
Save yourself trouble and settle on 2850-2900 with accuracy with several powders mentioned.

Concur!

 

[MagnumManiac]

I run a 28" barrel 8" twist for F-class and get 3000fps with 139/140g pills and 2960fps with 150's using both 760 or Varget.
I run 168's for target shooting and get just over 2800fps but the load is very mild.

Cheers.

 

[birddog 68]

Staball 6.5 will get you close but your rifle may be like mine and refuse to group.
Big game got me close to SB in velocity but it actually shot good groups.
If you want to hit 2900-3000 fps with a 20" barrel I would recommend going down to 120 grain bullets especially if you like your brass.

 

[Two Trax]

I picked up a 7mm 08 last summer, 21 inch tube. Had some Win 760 to use up and 46 gr with a 139 Horn IB got me a tick over 2800 over the screens. With good groups. Increasing the charges only opened the groups so I stuck with the 2800 load. Shot 3 deer with it and none of them noticed it was "only" 2800.

I picked up some Staball 6.5 but have not tried any yet. I was cautioned by a savvy reloader that SB does not start showing pressure signs until you exceed 70,000 psi and then it lets you know in a big way. So you may want to keep that in mind.

IMO 2900-3000 fps is more liike 280 Rem territory anyway.

 

[Roughrice]

I agree with Two Trax.

I developed this load and it's 2830ish out of a suppressed 20" Lilja 7mm-08 for best accuracy.
It is above max so work up!

As stated… RL 17, Big Game and Staball 6.5 were faster but couldn't get below 1+ MOA for me.

Shoots 140 NBT's as good with 1/2 grain less.

My 24" barrel goes a good bit faster of course… but, OP's question was about 20-22" barrels.