7mm-08 Rem with H4350 or RL17?

[LVJ76]

For a long long time I've been using IMR-4064 for the lighter 120gr and 140gr bullets with great success and I still have quite a few pounds left of it, and for the heavier bullets ranging from 150gr to 168gr I've used IMR-4350, RL19 and IMR-4895 but I am running low on these powders.

I've decided I want to go with a temp stable powder that will also give me a little more juice. Looking at the Sierra, Nosler and Hornady manuals I saw that RL17 and H4350 are both up there. I also found that RL17 will also work good with 140gr bullets and provide more velocity than IMR-4064 and Varget.

I know some of you use these two powders on your 7mm-08's, so which one would work best with the mentioned heavier bullets? Or maybe try both?

Thanks in advance for the help and stay safe.

 

[fabricator21]

I run rl17 with a 140 grain accubond at 2840 fps in a 22.5 in barrel

 

[LVJ76]

I run rl17 with a 140 grain accubond at 2840 fps in a 22.5 in barrel

That is nice on a 22.5", I might get a bit more on a 24". Thanks fabricator21

 

[P7M13]

I'm using AA 4350 under Lehigh 149 gr monos. Havent chrony'd them, but I'm getting 1/4 MOA @ 200.
I could never get 139gr SSTs to shoot better than 2 MOA with RL15.

 

[jimbires]

I have three 7-08's . my girlfriends Browning X-bolt I use a slightly reduced load of H4895 with a 120 nosler ballistic tip . in my Tikka I use IMR4064 with a Hornady 139 BTSP . in my Remington I use RL17 with a 140 Berger vld-H . this rifle has a 24" broughton bbl . I get 3080 FPS using 49.0 grain . it's fast and it shoots well . I did play with RL17 and the 168 VLD's , but I couldn't get speed and accuracy to come together . it shot good , but the velocity was slow where it was accurate . I lost interest in the heavier bullets going slow , that's when I went to the 140's .

 

[LVJ76]

I'm using AA 4350 under Lehigh 149 gr monos. Havent chrony'd them, but I'm getting 1/4 MOA @ 200.
I could never get 139gr SSTs to shoot better than 2 MOA with RL15.

Both my wife's and my 7mm-08 do like the 139gr SST with IMR-4064, both shot it sub half MOA at 100m, although hers loves the 120gr Balliatic tips under quarter MOA with IMR-4064. I have not tried or looked in to AA-4350, is it temp stable?

 

[LVJ76]

I have three 7-08's . my girlfriends Browning X-bolt I use a slightly reduced load of H4895 with a 120 nosler ballistic tip . in my Tikka I use IMR4064 with a Hornady 139 BTSP . in my Remington I use RL17 with a 140 Berger vld-H . this rifle has a 24" broughton bbl . I get 3080 FPS using 49.0 grain . it's fast and it shoots well . I did play with RL17 and the 168 VLD's , but I couldn't get speed and accuracy to come together . it shot good , but the velocity was slow where it was accurate . I lost interest in the heavier bullets going slow , that's when I went to the 140's .

Yeah the 139gr SST and Interlocks shoot really well under 4064, I just want to push the heavies a little faster than I used to. Its not bad by any means but I want to reach out a little further. Thanks jimbires

 

[fremont]

I use Varget under my 140 SPH

 

[Patton243]

I would think H4350 and R-17 would work for bigger bullets in the 7-08 around 150 to 162ish. I think theyre a little too slow burning for 120-140s IMO.

 

[LVJ76]

Thanks fremont, Varget didn't work out too well on the lighter bullets but then again I did not try it in all bullets, I might go back and try on some 140gr bullets. Thanks again

 

[LVJ76]

I would think H4350 and R-17 would work for bigger bullets in the 7-08 around 150 to 162ish. I think theyre a little too slow burning for 120-140s IMO.

Thanks Patton243, as you mentioned I want it for the heavier bullets really, on the lighter ones I'm pretty well set, I'm curious which one to try first or try both. Thanks again

 

[jimbires]

RL17 will be tops in velocity in a 7-08 , with bullet weights 120 - 195 .

H4350 has the reputation of being very temp stable . it's usually very hard to find

 

[Goose71]

I've got a tikka t3x. Mine loves varget and 120 nosler ballistic tips

 

[Savage 12BVSS]

Varget is working best in my new barrel but thats not in your question. H4350 is also accurate and very temp stable, never tried RL17. The best in my new barrel were Varget - H414 - and RL15 in that order.