7-08 loads, New Bergara Ridge

[Herbie]

Dave, thanks for reply. My goals for this rifle, is to do some target work, out to about 600 yds. Also shoot a little steel in the off season. This rifle, scope, cartridge, is a great match, and I want to take advantage of it all. Come deer season, May take it for a walk too! Love the sevens!

What scope did you pick for this project?

 

[7stw]

What scope did you pick for this project?

Herbie, I chose a Meopta Optika6, 3-18x50, SFP, with BDC crosshair. No doubt the best piece of glass I've owned or looked through. Mounted in Warne rings and bases.
I feel like its a well matched rig, top to bottom. Probably my last big purchase, I've got others, this ones a gem. Need to send some down the tube soon!

 

[Turbo2160]

What is your load info on the 140 weight bullet?
I have Barnes 140TTSX, and 139 Interlocks. Thanks.

the wife shoots a ruger 7mm-08 with Barnes 140gr TSX and 140gr TTSX.. the first one is with 41gr varget then 41.1gr then 41.2 gr. All rounds are c.o.a.l of 2.800"

 

[7stw]

What is your load info on the 140 weight bullet?
I have Barnes 140TTSX, and 139 Interlocks. Thanks.

the wife shoots a ruger 7mm-08 with Barnes 140gr TSX and 140gr TTSX.. the first one is with 41gr varget then 41.1gr then 41.2 gr. All rounds are c.o.a.l of 2.800"

That's great info, as I'm a Barnes freak any way. Probably one of the best hunting bullets around. II was going to get dialed in on it come deer season, but I'll record that in my "go to " formulas. Thanks for the reply and info!

 

[LVJ76]

I have used the 7mm-08 for 30+ years now for both hunting and competition. 4064 has worked best for me with 120gr to 140gr bullets. Heavier bullets with 4350.

For Target shooting the 162 ELD-M is a great choice with the high BC, starts slow but maintains speed. My prefered hunting bullet is the 139gr SST, it just kills fast.

120gr and 140gr Ballistic Tips also work great, 140gr and 150gr Ballistic Silvertips as well. If you like heavier the 162gr ELD-X is another great option for hunting with 4350 and 4831. Varget has worked great on the 308 and I keep reading it does as well on the 7mm-08.

 

[Turbo2160]

I have used the 7mm-08 for 30+ years now for both hunting and competition. 4064 has worked best for me with 120gr to 140gr bullets. Heavier bullets with 4350.

For Target shooting the 162 ELD-M is a great choice with the high BC, starts slow but maintains speed. My prefered hunting bullet is the 139gr SST, it just kills fast.

120gr and 140gr Ballistic Tips also work great, 140gr and 150gr Ballistic Silvertips as well. If you like heavier the 162gr ELD-X is another great option for hunting with 4350 and 4831. Varget has worked great on the 308 and I keep reading it does as well on the 7mm-08.

What is your barrel length and twist might I ask ?

 

[bubbaonpc]

139 SST's and 140 Nos. Bal.Tip's and RL15 @ 40.3gr has been sweet for me over the last 8 years. No shots over 200 yards in the Mountains of NC...so I havent pushed em. Testing loads now for Wifey with 120 Nos. Bal. Tips....looking like she'll have a shooter nexxt year. Best of luck, I don't think you can go wrong with 7-08...it's my favorite.

 

[wv270wsm]

Had my 7mm08 now for a little over a year . Been loading for my oldest sons now for about 7 years . One thing I can say for sure so far with both of them anything 120-140 gr shoots very good over a stiff dose of imr 4064 for us and kills like lighting for the hand of god.
mine shoots the nosler 120 ballistic tips very well right at 3000 . They are devastating on whitetail . My sons gun has a much wider diet it will shoot everything we've tried in it so far from 120 sierras to 154 Hornady bullets very well . He likes the way the 130 speer kills the best .
I've tried the varget powder in mine and can't find a good load with it yet not knocking it by no means just haven't had the luck that most do with it

 

[LVJ76]

What is your barrel length and twist might I ask ?

24" with 1 in 9.25

 

[RYEWSKY25284]

Well guys, did a little grocery shopping today, csme home with, 4064, IMR4350, and RL17. Also, 150 smk, 150AB, and 139 Interlocks. Br2, 210 gm, and wlr primers. Some of which are for this project, some not. Really having info problems getting good start-stop loads using RL17. And the info on 4064, and 4350 is all over the place. Two of the powders are also for 6.5 creed, as well as primers. Want to play with the smk's, just to see the potential.
Brought the rifle home today as well, and have been drooling over it all day. RCBS dies are all set up, have comp die seater, that Ive had for years too. Thoughts on the 150 smk?
Also have a little varget!

The 7mm/08 does well with the 139gr Interlock's also does really well with Varget. 1-9.5 this is best twist rate. My experience with the 7-08 is, it favors REM 9 1/2 primers.
I liked the Varget over the IMR powders because the IMR powders are much more temp. sensitive.
The IMR powders will give you more velocity. I found IMR 4350 shot better groups with a lower ES
IMR 4064 Shoots a bit hotter good accuracy but, higher ES.
Running Varget through the powder dispencer is easy......not so easy with the IMR powders.
Best of luck

 

[mdbiggerstaff]

Weatherby 24" 139 SST's IMR 4064/41.5 2915fps or IMR 4895/43 2893 or 168 IMR 4350/46 2655.

 

[David Green]

Well I shot my tikka t3 7/08 today with that combo. I couldn't group to save my life. I'm so mad I could spit nickels.

For what it's worth, I worked up my first set of loads for my T3 in 7-08 last month: Horn 139gr BT ahead of 40gr IMR-4064, Fed 210M. Sub-MOA groups. No chrono data, but I took it up to 42gr and groups opened up. Good luck.

 

[7stw]

Guys, I love this rifle, and caliber combo. I thought I was on track with powders I picked. And almost sure she will perk with the 4064. Speed probably won't be there, but it's interesting to here about high ES. My .308 loved Varget, so that all makes sense.
Any thoughts on the 150's with RL17?

 

[73driver]

I've owned 3 different 7mm/08's and still have 2. Shot bullets from 140 to 175 grs with many different powders. While several different powders were good my hands down best was WW760/H414 for accuracy and velocity.

I also had good accuracy with H414