7mm-08ai and 168 Berger’s

[Elkeater]

Hey all, so I'm looking for some advice on powder selection. I recently had a 7mm-08ai built and am playing with 140 absolute hammers which appear to max out right at 3,000 FPS and 168 Berger's. I'm using IMR 4166 for the hammers and maxed out at about 43 gr. I tried using IMR4350 for the 168 Berger's and it turns out I couldn't get enough powder in the case to hit pressure. Went up to 47.5gr and got 2640fps out the 24" barrel.

So question is on the 168s would you try RL 15, IMR 4166, or Varget next? I have an almost full 8lb of 4166, 3.5lbs of RL15 or 2lbs of Varget.

 

[P7M13]

Hows it shoot with 4350?
Your velocities don't seem so bad.
Don't have an AI, but I found, with 7-08, chasing speed is detrimental to accuracy.
I'd try RL15.

 

[loonie]

RL 16 or 26 !!

 

[Elkeater]

Hows it shoot with 4350?
Your velocities don't seem so bad.
Don't have an AI, but I found, with 7-08, chasing speed is detrimental to accuracy.
I'd try RL15.

Ya not really chasing speed to much with the 168s but shooting that ladder I also didn't see any flat spots in velocity. With those 140 hammers I had a really flat spot at 43.0-43.5 where I had like a 5fps ES.

The AI case doesn't add a bunch of capacity. Maybe 2-3 gr. But it does result in no case trimming.

I think I'll try the RL15 and see what happens. And keep an eye out for some 16,17 or 19.

 

[LVJ76]

As @P7M13 said, your velocities ain't bad.

Varget might push the Absolutes faster than 4166, might.

Looking at load data for 168gr bullets 4166 hits max before RL15 does. RL15 should get you past 2,750.

 

[LVJ76]

As you probably already know or, for rhe future when available, H4350, RL16 and RL17 are pretty good options.

I've found RL17 and RL19 to perform similar except that with RL19 you'll need 4gr to 5gr more to match RL17. Also found RL17 more stable.

RL17 might also be good to try with the 140gr Absolutes.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

Might look at using, StaBall 65 in the 7mm-08 ( or, your, AI ) as it's a TINY Bit, slower than, the 4350's !
Think that, 47.5 grains ( IIRC ) pushes, the 168 HVLD Bergers, 2,765 FPS out of, my son's, 7mm-08, Tikka W/ 22.4 " bbl ( He started at, 45 grains ).
Hogdon's Reloading, MAY have Data on, the AI ?? Use caution and work up, carefully !
He's getting around 1/2 MOA on average, groups with,.. THAT, Bullet !

 

[Wachsmann]

I just finished up my on load development on a 7mm-08. 46 grns of 6.5 staball with a 162 ELDX at 2656 on the magneto speed. Second bullet is 168 ABLR with 47 grains at 2685 on the mag. Tested them on the applied ballistic app with all the needed data put in and 520 yards was an easy poke. Some one has some good data on IMR 4451 which is really close to RL16. I think out of all the powders I researched 6.5 staball, RL 19, and 17 produced the best velocity for the heaviest bullets. I plan on using the gun for mule deer and elk.

 

[Wachsmann]

One thing to add to my last post I'm running at 2.8 inches on the 162 and 2.8200 inch on the 168. All lit by BR2,s

 

[jpfrog]

Ya not really chasing speed to much with the 168s but shooting that ladder I also didn't see any flat spots in velocity. With those 140 hammers I had a really flat spot at 43.0-43.5 where I had like a 5fps ES.

The AI case doesn't add a bunch of capacity. Maybe 2-3 gr. But it does result in no case trimming.

I think I'll try the RL15 and see what happens. And keep an eye out for some 16,17 or 19.

Interested to see how it goes. Also, your next post is 1,000....so make it a good one

 

[jimbires]

in a regular 7-08 , I run 49.0 gr RL17 with 140 bergers at 3080 FPS . I did play with 168 bergers and RL17 , but I could not get speed and accuracy to come together so I gave up on the 168's .

RL17 is the cats meow with 140 weight bullets, velocity , case fill , accuracy , it offers it all . I think RL17 also gives the most velocity for 168 weight bullets , with a workable case fill . other powders will give more velocity with 168's , but the case fill is higher than I like to work with .

 

[Idaho Lefty]

@ jimbires,..
The 168 grain Bergers, ARE Hunting, VLDS and my son had to, Rent a Reamer and CHANGE his Chambers, Throat Angle ("Re-throat"/ Polish ) on his Tikka, T-3X for those, Secant Ogive designed, Bullets. YES, VLD's,.. they can be, "Fussy" ! Those 140's at, 3,080 FPS, WILL do, the "Job" for, you !
I agree, and think that, RL-17 and StaBall 65, ARE, the 2 BEST Powder for, the 7mm-08 !
Great Velocity and, Accuracy !

 

[jimbires]

I got good accuracy with the 168's , but it was slow where I found it . I'm thinking it was around 2500FPS .

 

[huntinfool18]

Imr4451 is magic in a 7/08 ackley