7mm08 and Barnes 140 tsx bt. Help

[Fleavitt]

I'm looking to load up the 140 Barnes in my tikka 7mm08. I'm looking for a good starting point for varget, rl17,. Anyone having good results with this bullet in a 7mm 08?

 

[ohiohunter]

Start at 39gr of varget

 

[TBuckus]

Try R15 or 4895.

Depending in your rifle, you may see the groups do better at much less than max velocities. My 7mm-08 did that. Other guns liked the upper end for the TTSX's

 

[ivorycollector]

My Tikka T3 shot 1/4" groups @ 100 yds with AR2209 (H4350) 47gn with 140 gn Sierra Pro hunter and 49 gn with 120 gn SPH. Tried AR2208 (Varget) is ok but groups not as tight.

 

[pods8]

Start at 39gr of varget

This would be a good spot to start.

I ran some initial single shot rounds in .5gr increment with the 145gr LRX looking for pressure signs and velocity. 42gr had primer blowby. I'll be loading up a ladder from 39.5-40.5gr in .1gr increments next (I'm using 40.5gr as the max for that combo in my gun ).

 

[JRE]

I'm getting good results with 140 tsx and 47.2 grains RL17.

 

[pods8]

Figured I'd come back and share what worked out for my 145gr LRX load:

This is a Tikka T3 SS, I can fit a max COAL of 2.82 which on my gun with this bullet is .12x" off the lands (I forgot the last number off memory). I also tested at .07" and .09" off after settling on a powder charge to see if it was worth getting a long action magazine and modifying my bolt stop. Luckily the 2.82" load actually grouped the best so I can happily run stock.

I'm running a 3.5-10x42 sightron bigsky which was on 10x for this group off a solid bench with caldwell bags.

So 2.82" COAL 145gr LRX, FC brass, WLRM primer, 39.8gr varget. ~2700fps average