thoughts on a 7-08 improved

[wildchild]

I have a 6 dasher with a benchmark 3 groove lilja tactical taper on a BAT SV RBLP in a mic A5 stock.
With hunting season coming Im looking for a cal. swap for hunting so I called Benchmark and they happen to have a 7 mm in a 9 twist on a remmy sendaro taper flutted so I hade em send it out.
So I have reamer options and one is a 7-08 imp none turn neck and set up for 150 to 168 ish bullets.
This sounds like an all around MN cal. and was wondering from everyone or anyone who owns one (1)if you would do another (2) what kind velocity are you seeing with these bullets weights(3) have you tried the 308 small primer brass?

 

[TikkaShooters]

Hi WildChild

I thought about a project like this a few years ago and came across on article on 6mmbr.com about the .284 Winchester. With RL17, you can push a 180 Berger at almost 3000 fps.

That would be a significant improvement over the 7-08 and would not require custom dies or fireforming.

Just get Lapua 6.5-284 brass and run them through a 284 die and you're done.

My 2 cents

 

[J E Custom]

I have a 6 dasher with a benchmark 3 groove lilja tactical taper on a BAT SV RBLP in a mic A5 stock.
With hunting season coming Im looking for a cal. swap for hunting so I called Benchmark and they happen to have a 7 mm in a 9 twist on a remmy sendaro taper flutted so I hade em send it out.
So I have reamer options and one is a 7-08 imp none turn neck and set up for 150 to 168 ish bullets.
This sounds like an all around MN cal. and was wondering from everyone or anyone who owns one (1)if you would do another (2) what kind velocity are you seeing with these bullets weights(3) have you tried the 308 small primer brass?

I have both the 7/08 and the 7/08 x 40 improved and find they both have there good points.

The 7/08 is a great round for hunting and targets out to long distances. (600 yards+ for hunting
and 1000 yards for targets.

The 7/08x40imp ads about 150 to 200 ft/sec to the same bullets as the 7/08 but is still less than
the 7 WSM is capable of.

The 7/08x40 imp is good on brass like most 40o shouldered cases but some say not worth the
difference between it and the 7/08.

They both will work in a short action and if you want to use 140+ grain bullets the 7/08x40 has
the edge.

But for deer size game the 7/08 is ideal and capable of great accuracy and stopping ability, plus
it is easy to load and doesent beat you up in a short, light rifle.

When fire forming brass for the 7/08x40 I use the 308 Lapua brass and like the end results.

I hope this is not to much information and will help you decide which one to go with.

J E CUSTOM

 

[wildchild]

Hi WildChild

I thought about a project like this a few years ago and came across on article on 6mmbr.com about the .284 Winchester. With RL17, you can push a 180 Berger at almost 3000 fps.

That would be a significant improvement over the 7-08 and would not require custom dies or fireforming.

Just get Lapua 6.5-284 brass and run them through a 284 die and you're done.


My opinion( not making this a debate) is that for 1. brass is well over 100.00 for brass.
2. 3000 fps i believe is a pipe dream unless you like to by brass, seem the people who manage these miracles get articles on forums and everyone thinks they can repeat it. I bought into it and ruined alot of expensive brass, primer pockets loosen quickly and I think ya, some lucky customers barrels are at or close to this velocity, but the majority is around 2850 to 2900 (30"+ barrel) without ruined brass.
3. I have a 284 reamer set up for 180's I don't think I could eject a loaded round out of a SA type receiver.

 

[TikkaShooters]

No debate necesary. Go to 6mmbr.com and read the article about the new f-class record.

 

[diriel]

7mm-08 is certainly a nice round in stock form. In the Ackley form about the only thing that comes to mind is just making sure that it feeds reliably. They are not exactly notorious, but at the same time you do occasionally see FTF out of the 308 case-type Ackleys.

I wonder if the AI version would allow you to make best use of H4350?

Another powder I have not yet tried but I really want to is Alliant Power Pro 2000MR. It is a ball powder, but it is pretty temp stable @ about .85 FPS per degree of temp change from -20 to +165 I think is what was listed. Velocity increases have been pretty nice, and some folks are saying that this powder does really well in the 7mm-08. It was actually designed with the 308win using a 175gr bullet in mind.

A little OT, I have actually been looking at the 6mmXC brass necked up to 7mm here recently. Reason being, it is a lot like the old 7mm IHMSA, but you can get Top Notch brass from David Tub for about .69c a piece per 100 which is not too bad. My thoughts are to use Varget / IMR8208XBR / AR-Comp with the 139gr Hornady GMX bullet. These powders are very temp stable, which is something I like for an ALL Weather All Use type round. Less Shoulder Thump, and less to go wrong in general. I am sorry for the OT part here!

The 7mm-08 is definitely a great round!
Gary

 

[backwoods83]

Well I agree with 1 thing, a 284win loaded to length is a hassle on a short action, but I've been seeing 2940-2960 with 180 bergers and around 3070 with 168s from a 28" 9 twist in win brass with H4831. So its not that much of an exaggeration, they are becoming quite popular in ibs.

 

[J E Custom]

Hi WildChild

I thought about a project like this a few years ago and came across on article on 6mmbr.com about the .284 Winchester. With RL17, you can push a 180 Berger at almost 3000 fps.

That would be a significant improvement over the 7-08 and would not require custom dies or fireforming.

Just get Lapua 6.5-284 brass and run them through a 284 die and you're done.


My opinion( not making this a debate) is that for 1. brass is well over 100.00 for brass.
2. 3000 fps i believe is a pipe dream unless you like to by brass, seem the people who manage these miracles get articles on forums and everyone thinks they can repeat it. I bought into it and ruined a lot of expensive brass, primer pockets loosen quickly and I think ya, some lucky customers barrels are at or close to this velocity, but the majority is around 2850 to 2900 (30"+ barrel) without ruined brass.
3. I have a 284 reamer set up for 180's I don't think I could eject a loaded round out of a SA type receiver.

There are lots of cartriges that best the 7/08 in velocity, like the 284s but not that many in a short
action.

I also have a 7 RUM in a 31'' barrel that will best all of the 7mm's, but in a short action the 7/08
is hard to beat for ease of loading, brass availability, good hunting and target bullets, recoil and
capable of great accuracy.

My 7/08 has killed more game than all the other rifles in my collection put together. So it is my
#1 hunting rifle and pistol cartrige. There is a reason for that, IT JUST WORKS.

The smaller 7mms are not considered LONG RANGE HUNTING cartriges Unless you consider
500 to 600 yards long range ,because of the velocity with heavy bullets. But make no mistake
about it they will and have won many 1000 yard matches.

I chose the rifle best suited for the game and distance to be used, and on deer sized game the
7/08 is my go to rifle/pistol.

There are 3 or 4 good 7mm's that will work in a short action with ease and the 7/08 is just one
of them. The 7/08 x 40 is another but comes with a few more problems.

J E CUSTOM