Powder choice, bullet, and group size.

aj427ci said:

No I didn't. With the mag length limit I just set it to 2.800. I guess for info sake I need to see how far the jump is.

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My .300 WSM also has a mag length limitation, but I wanted to shoot 215 Berger. As previously noted, I prefer around .020" off the lands. However, I ended up .080" off the lands to find the best compromise of velocity, accuracy, and mag limitation.

CaptDru said:

I would ditch the powder, keep the bullet and try H4350.

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THIS^^^

7-08. I've tried more powders in this cartridge then any other.
Varget, imr4064, H&imr 4895,
Rl- 15&16, Ramshot hunter, big game and tac, vv- 135,140,150. Just to name a few. Primers made a difference also.
I use to Hate this cartridge then I got a deal on one I couldn't pass up.
A Ca. Mesa and this gun shoot anything I load for it, thank God.
Ramshot Tac has been my favorite and Rl- 15 & 15.5. Wish you the best.

@, aj427ci,..
RL-17 was, the Best Powder my son found for Accuracy ( Sub 3/4 MOA ) with, the 150 gr. ELD-X and that, was the Load Combo He used to Kill a Nice,
5 x 6 Bull Elk, here in Idaho about 3 - 4 years ago with, his Tikka 7mm-08. The Range was, 247 yards.
The Bullet went thru, the Bull's front Shoulder at an Angle, thru One Lung, into the Rear Ham ( Broke, the Femur Bone W/ 112 gr's of mushroomed, Bullet recovered ) He was about, a 1/2 grain Under Max from, one of, the Newest, Hornady Books ( IIRC ).
StaBall 65 was Fine with, 168 gr Bullets BUT,. NOT with, the 150's ! ( Works Awesome, in a 6.5 Creed w/ 130's to 143's )
RL-17 is, a Pretty Hot Powder, so work Up, carefully ! Good Luck !
He Sold his 7 mm-08 Dies, Starline Brass and Bullets etc., So We have, NO exact, Powder chg. Data, to give you ( Sorry )
He thinks, he was Using, 47.3 grains of RL -17 BUT,. you need to,. Verify / Work up,. CAREFULLY ( 2,765 FPS from 23'' bbl )

Stefan Wild said:

I have a question: what is the "mission" in your selection of bullets and powders? If you are looking for hunting, paper poking or steel clanging wouldn't stability, accuracy and dependability be more important than speed?

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Yes of course.
My powder choice basis is just a starting point. I load develop from there.

Speed, at a good case fill as limited with SAAMI max pressure indicates burn efficiency to me.
And that reminds me of one other parameter I forgot to mention earlier - Muzzle Pressure.
With all else met, my muzzle pressure needs to be below 8Kpsi.
Another indicator of efficiency, and of right powder for bullet & barrel length.

If you can hit on MY basis for powder choice, you should be able to see a powder node near SAAMI max

I suggest you give the Sierra Game King 150 gr SBT a try.

7/08 Brux 9T, 26" standard SAAMI reamer, we are shooting the 150g eldx at 3000 fps with H380 in Lapua brass. We work up loads at 70* Max, then hunt in all cooler weather, never an issue.

H4350 did not give the results of H380, not even close.

My 6.5 CM loves Staball 6.5. I'm getting 3030fps pushing a 120ttxs from an 18" bbl. It groups .6". Maybe I just got lucky, I see several posts saying that it doesn't group for some people. I bought a pound of superperformance to try also, they are supposed to run about the same. I didn't get to it, because my loads with Staball worked out so well. I'll play with it after hunting season... but if staball isn't working for you, you may try the superperformance, considering you are trying to run faster than H4350.

I went ahead and got a MDT mag that allowed a little longer coal. I tried a different coal with sta ball 6.5 and getting just over moa at the moment. I'm out of time to keep messing with it. It will work for my use for now and I'll revisit it later.