7mm-08 bullet weights

Just curious what guys are running for heavy bullets in 7-08 handloads? I'm thinking of bumping mine up and seeing what it'll do. I know there is some load data out there but just curious...
Thanks

Loading 168 Berger VLD for grandson's 7mm-08. The 1:9.5 twist shoots them very well. Lapua brass, H4350 and 210M primers. He's 10, but good sized so he handles it well.

Cool. I was looking at loading some 175 gr accubond long range bullets. Just trying to get opinions on others experiences.

7/08 cases don't hold a lot of powder and when using the heavy 7mm bullets you give up a lot of velocity and this reduces the bullet effectiveness at longer distances on game. They may be very accurate, but it narrows the velocity window for a hunting bullet (The lowest velocity is normally around 1800 ft/sec) With a 168 grain bullet (Near max velocity for the 168 is 2540 ft/sec you have less than 800 ft/sec to deal with for best bullet expansion. and by the time you reach 100 yards you have lost significantly more velocity and narrowed the effective range of the bullet even more.

The 7/08 Is probably my most used cartridge and the range of bullet weights I have found that allow this cartridge to preform better than it should are 120 to 150 grain bullets. I like the performance on deer at ranges up to 300 yards using a 120 grain bullet. 300 to 600 I prefer the 140 grain bullets. And beyond that a 150 grain ballistic tip or the new 150 grain long rang Accubond are good choices.

For targets go with what shoots best for those needs. For hunting, I prefer to get the most performance on game, and that means expansion and delivered energy. Bullet BCs mean very little under 3 or 400 yards in my opinion, so why shoot a bullet that has good BCs for long range and not terminal performance on game at distances to be used.

Just My opinion

J E CUSTOM

Berger 168's if you have a stock twist rate (between 1:9.25 to 1:10). If you have a true 1:9 the Berger 180's, while slower will have some great down range ballistics. If you have a 1:8 twist, the Berger 195's.

Also, doing some research, found out that the new Ruger American Predator rifle in 7mm-08 comes in a 1:8.5" twist. Seems Ruger is following Browning and revamping their twist rates to modern bullets (Browning is now putting 1:8" twists for 7mm cartridges). I hope Remington soon follows once they get their bankruptcy crap out of the way.

I have three 7mm-08's .
the Tikka I shoot 139 BTSP hornady bullets . it is my carry rifle for whitetail hunting .
the X-bolt I load 120 gr ballistic tips with a slightly reduced load of H4895 . this rifle my girlfriend hunts whitetails with .

my third is a trued up rem with a 24" broughton in a McMillan A5 . I tried shooting 168 Bergers in it . it was accurate but I just couldn't get the velocity with the 168's . I switched to the 140 Bergers .
here is a 400 yard target shooting prone with the 168's . when I brought up the speed , accuracy dropped off . I shot 3 shots walked out to check the target and came back fired the other two. I'm not sure why the last two shots changed POI . maybe puffing from the walk . you can see the velocities I was getting and you can see 9.75 elevation for 400 yards .


I switched to Berger 140's . my velocity is 3080FPS . 9.75 elevation gets me about 600 yards . it shoots under an inch at 200 yards . load work up target . upper right bullseye is my load .

Thanks guys! I'm gonna start playing around once it warms up a little in northern MN!

It all depends what your shooting at. I agree with JE, it's easy to push this cartridge beyond its sweet spot with too heavy a bullet. For a hunting cartridge, I like the 150. I've tried the 168 berger and couldn't get enough velocity to out perform the 150 inside 450yds. (Drops below 2k fps) I have yet to try the 162 Hornady. It may be a good choice. This is in a 22"bbl.

We shoot the hornady 162 a max in ours. Still have about 400 of them. It has taken elk to 425 yards with great performance and a a mule deer buck at 847 yards, again great performance. We shoot it regularly out to 1200 + yards. Enjoy and have fun. Keep us updated with what you try.
Jon

162 Hornady ELDX in my 20" Bartlein barrel. 2635 fps using Varget. No game yet but promising on paper.

Tb

I like the 162 gr. A-max

My708 bbl is a Lilja 27 inch 1/9 tw #3 conture , tested muzzle velocity tmv 120 s 3146 varget,140s Sierra & Nosler 140 bal-tips 2840-2925 tested no 140 vld s, 150 sierras bts & match kings 2800-2835 ,160 Sierra bts 160 Nosler accbds160 tipped match kings 2780 ,2780,2717 in 50 degrees temp.168 vld tmv 2735- 2781. Have not loaded any 175 or 180s .all reloads tested over a Oehler 35p chronograph . Best powder is H4350 , varget used with 120s, 140s ....sleeper powder is H414 with 168 Sierra match king tmv 2750 = 5/8 3 shot group a100yds best 300yd 3 shots 160 tipped Sierra match kings 1 inch and 1/16 ctoc , best 625yd 3 shot group was 3&1/8 inch ctoc , I'm favoring the 150 s & 160 s they just fly great ,yeah I'm loving my 708 , thks jjmp

Mine is a 10 twist Douglas light weight barrel . I prefer the 140 AB with Varget. Lung shots have dropped several deer tht fell in 50 yds.