7mm-08

[BrentM]

My buddies kid is shooting a 7mm-08 Savage Youth Edition, and has asked for some help with reloading. I am not too familiar with this cartridge but would imagine the combos are endless.

He will use it to hunt deer in Idaho and would like to do some LR shooting with me at rocks. So I was thinking a Berger VLD in 140-168 gr. I will likely use the extreme line of powders for temp stability. If anyone has any suggestions on where to start that would be great. I have Hodgon 4350, 4831, Retumbo. I have IMR 4831, 4350, 4064 and Superformance.

Not sure what to expect for speed but any experience shared would be great. I took a kid hunting about 3 years ago who shot a nice 4x4 muley with a 7..-08 at 350 yards. Perfect shot, pass through, 3 steps, DOA.

 

[Truc]

I use to shoot the 7/08 and my load was a 140 gr bullet w/ 43 grains of Varget, With heavier bullets a slower powder like 4350 might be a little better than Varget.

 

[CB11WYO]

Using H4350 and Speer 160 gr BTSP in my wife's 7-08. Can't remember the powder charge right at the moment... getting around 2500 fps (yeah... pretty slow) with a 22" barrel.

Right nice, handy little gun and fun to shoot!

I would like to try a berger vld sometime, would think the BC would help out a bit.

 

[jimbires]

I've played quite a bit with 7-08's . I just don't think it has enough case capacity for the 168 bullets . I was over loading to where case life was short , accuracy suffered , and if I remember right I was getting less than 2700 FPS with a hot load . I think 2600 is about max velocity with a safe load in a 24"bbl . I could be wrong on these velocities . I am using 140 Berger hunting VLD's with RL17 powder . velocity is good , accuracy is good , and velocity extreme spread is good . the last day I shot it over my chrony my low was 3077 and my high was 3081 for 5 shots . I think RL17 is a very good powder for the 7-08.
I found an old target with some data for the 168 . this would be after I slowed the velocity .

 

[den]

my wifes savage 7-08 with I think 1 in twelve or thirteen twist likes 47.5 h4350 45 is start 48 max min oal 2.750 from lee modern reloading second edition I use cci lr 140gr hornady ib or nos ab little over 2900 with 22inch barrel work good on deer smacks 10 inch gong every single time at 400yds

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

I use to shoot the 7/08 and my load was a 140 gr bullet w/ 43 grains of Varget, With heavier bullets a slower powder like 4350 might be a little better than Varget.

varget will do you well with mid weight pills. h414/w760 and rl15 are also good powders to look at.

 

[retiredcpo]

Brent
Hello where in Idaho?
Im in Star.
Just worked up a load for m new 7-08 I tried 160, 140 and 120 gr nosler bullets with several powders. None where really great except for 120 gr ballistic tips with 48 gr of CFE223 it shots dime sized groups at 100.
we are shooting almost every sunday for the next few weeks
retiredpo

 

[reeldawg]

My son shoots a Savage 7mm-08. We have been using Varget and 140 gn Nosler BTs and Berger VLDs. It shoot very well and is very deadly to Florida deer and hogs. I have good things about the 120 BTs,but never tried them.

 

[benchracer]

I have loaded for myRuger #1A in 7x57 using mainly RL-19 and RL-22. I believe my accuracy load with Hornady 162 AMAX's is with RL-19. I haven't chronoed it, so I don't really know what velocity I am getting. It shoots sub-MOA though.

Because the AMAX's won't be available for awhile, I plan to switch to Berger 168g Hybrids. I also think RL-17 would be worth a try.

At any rate, if you feel that the 160 class bullets are just too heavy, you might consider going with a 150g LRAB (I have been seeing them for sale lately) or a 150g Partition. Nosler data shows them doing around 2800 or so from a 22" barrel in 7x57 with RL-19. I would expect similar performance from a 7-08.

Experimenting with seating depth with that rifle may be worth a try. What you find out about the distance to the rifling may tell you something about where to start in terms of bullet weight.

 

[J E Custom]

This is one of my favorite cartridges for deer size game.

With the case capacity of the 7/08, heavy bullets normally wont have enough velocity to perform
at distance.

I know It goes against all logic but the best bullet I have found for it has been the 120 grain
ballistic tip. The 7/08 can push the 120 to over 3000 ft/sec, have very little recoil, good trajectory
and deadly results at normal hunting distance (100 to 600 yards).

I have a pet load that seems to work in all 7/08s All of the owners of 7/08s I have built( Almost
a dozen) use one of these loads for accuracy and performance.

49.5 grains of H414 - CCI BR2 primer - 120 grain ballistic tip for 3010 ft/sec.
or
45.0 grains of Varget - CCI BR2 Primer - 120 grain ballistic tip for 3132 ft/sec.

My Best group with the 414 load was .052 and with Varget was .078.

Longest shot on deer with 414 load was 519 yards (DRT) best shot was a head shot on a turkey @
260+ yards.

Just a little information based on use.

PS: I really wanted to use a 140 grain bullet but they never performed like the 120.

J E CUSTOM

 

[BrentM]

Great info guys, thanks. The rifle has the sporter weight barrel and they said the twist is 9.5. Barrel is listed as 22 7/16.

 

[old_heli_logger]

I've played quite a bit with 7-08's . I just don't think it has enough case capacity for the 168 bullets . I was over loading to where case life was short , accuracy suffered , and if I remember right I was getting less than 2700 FPS with a hot load . I think 2600 is about max velocity with a safe load in a 24"bbl . I could be wrong on these velocities . I am using 140 Berger hunting VLD's with RL17 powder . velocity is good , accuracy is good , and velocity extreme spread is good . the last day I shot it over my chrony my low was 3077 and my high was 3081 for 5 shots . I think RL17 is a very good powder for the 7-08.
I found an old target with some data for the 168 . this would be after I slowed the velocity .

If you don't mind me asking, can you tell me what your min and max powder weights were using RL17 with the 140gr bullets?
Thanks!
Steve

 

[jimbires]

If you don't mind me asking, can you tell me what your min and max powder weights were using RL17 with the 140gr bullets?
Thanks!
Steve

Steve , quickload shows 47.0 grains as being max with a berger 140 Hunting VLD . so the rule of thumb is 4 grains lower is your starting point , making 43.0 min .

I'm using 49.0 grains RL17 , CCI 200 primer , with a 140 berger hunting VLD . COAL is 2.844 off the tip . I'm getting no pressure signs on hotter days , and very long brass life . this load seems to be safe in my rifle . this is a 200 yard target . left is 48.0 , center is 48.5 right is 49.0 . the larger bottom spot is a different rifle .


this is a close up of the 49.0 target 200 yds from above .

 

[jimbires]

I have 3 different 7-08's . I find them easy to load for . another powder I'm using is H4895 . I'm using it with a 120 ballistic tip in my girlfriends browning rifle . it's a lighter load to help reduce recoil . this load is very mild mannered . I'm using 39.0 grains H4895 , with a CCI200 primer , 120 nosler B-tip , COAL is 2.800 off the tip . she didn't get a kill last year to know how this combo will work , but it is pretty accurate . I really need to shoot it over my chrony to check the speed . quickload says 2716 FPS . where I hunt with her 100 yds is a long shot . so I think it should be fine .
I was doing barrel break in and load development at the same time . it was very close to deer season . the taped over holes were the last of the shoot and clean . the three holes that are not taped are the first three shot group from the rifle .
this is a 100 yard target .