Need a good hunting load for 7mm-08

[l2ldc]

I am looking for a good hunting load for my 7mm-08. I have access to a wide variety of powders, and the bullets I have on hand are 120 & 140gr BT, 140gr AB, 139gr hornady spire point, 120gr pro hunter, 140gr gameking. It will be used for antelope and mule deer.

 

[magicofmt]

VARGET and 140 AB's should be a great combo!

 

[l2ldc]

how much powder do you recommend starting at?

 

[Freebore]

I2Idc,
I hunt with a BLR-81 in the 7mm/08. Here are some loads that work for me. These are max in my rifle. Yours could reach pressure BEFORE this so reduce load by 2 grains and work up please if you decide to try them out.

Case is R/P in all loadings
RP 9-1/2Mag primer WW760 powder 48.5 grns 139 Horn Sptzr
RP 9-1/2Mag primer WW760 powder 51.0 grns 130 Speer Sptzr
RP 9 1/2LR primer IMR 4064 43.5 grns 140 Bal Tip
CCI LR-Mag primer WW760 49.0 grns 145 Speer Sptzr
Overall length differs for each rifle, mine for the Speer is 2.793

The WW760 gives me my best velocity due the 20" barrel on these lever action Brownings. The 145 Speer is my favorite load the only load I shoot now shoot. Kills whitetails like lightning strikes..fast.

 

[magicofmt]

Start at 37 gr and work to 40.5, see what your gun likes best. My gun, Reminton Mountain Rifle, likes 39.3 gr with Fed 210 primer and Norma brass.
I loaded 3 shots at .3 gr intervals and groups really tightened up aroung 38.4 gr to 39.6 gr. No chrono that day, sorry. Alway start low!!!

 

[keithcandler]

IF YOU ARE DEER HUNTING the 130g Speer BT loaded with 45g of IMR 4895 is simply one of the most awsome killing combos that I have ever seen! Even at 300 yds, this bullet puts the shock on a deer and they rarely go 40 yards! The bullet has a great BC along with better speed than the 140 and may be the best bullet weight for this size case for deer.

 

[dawaba]

Keith and I agree on the excellence of the Speer 130 BT. My Model 7 cooks with R-15 or 4320....both powders approach close to 3000 fps with good case life and moa accuracy. If there is a better deer cartridge than the 7-08, I haven't seen it!