7mm-08: Heavy bullets & sporter barrels

[stirner]

On powder availability, Sportsmans Warehouse and Cabelas (and possibly now Bass Pro) will ship, free, to your local store for pick-up.

I just got a Lady Savage for my wife, that I've been playing with. It has a 20" bbl. The heaviest bullet that I've tried is the 145 gr Barnes LRX. Best results, and the load I'll be using, is 44.6 gr RL-17, Rem 9 1/2 in Lapua cases. It gets 2811 fps. with a SD of 7.8. At 200 yds I shot a 1.26" group. RL-17 and most Reloader powders are now temp stable.

Barnes tells you to start loads 0.05" off the lands, which was a COAL of 2.81". That COAL showed promis, so I then shot loads with COALs of 2.82, 2.83, and 2.84. 2.83 is the one that gave the best group and SD.

W748 also showed promise. RL-19 and 4350 left no room in the case for the bullet, so I didn't shoot them.

 

[jimbires]

with you having H414 , I'd give that a try . it gives up very little velocity ,and has a good case fill .

 

[Biggs300]

I'm getting ready to load 160 grain Sierra GameKings for my Tikka T3 7mm-08 and I will be using Ramshot Hunter with CCI 200 primers. I'm a big fan of Ramshot powders as I currently use them for heavier bullets in my 9.3x62 (Big Game) and 358 Win. (TAC). I would anticipate velocity around 2,700 fps in the 7-08. For me, spherical powders like Ramshot, meters and packs well. My 7mm-08 rifle will be used primarily for deer and hog hunting and for range practice.

 

[therifleman556]

I've wanted to try them, but like RL17 availability is an issue for me. Hopefully this weekend I'll try out my test rounds. I've got some loaded with H414, and some with RL19. I know it doesn't have a good showing on quickload, but I don't have any other uses for it.

 

[frankinaustin]

I'm loading just under 40 gr of IMR 8208 with 162 AMAX. I clocked 2620 on a cold day. This load shoots .4 MOA to 300 yrds. If I have better eyes and shot more, I believe this group would tighten significantly. (.4 MOA is the limit of my skills....) Shooting BR2 primers and neck sized lapua brass. Bullets seated to magazine maximum. It's a copper model 54 with a 22" sporter bbl. this load is extremely deadly on little texas white tails.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I'm getting 2830fps with RL16(regular primer) and 2850fps with Big Game(mag primer) in my 20" barreled 7-08 using 140 grain Partitions.

Both powders give great accuracy, as well.

I use Varget(mag primer) for my 120 grain NBT at 3000fps and great accuracy.

 

[Elkeater]

been playin with the wife's 7mm-08 weatherby and it likes 414 with 140 accubonds. can't remember the load off the top of my head though.

 

[therifleman556]

Got out to the field today.
RL19 was slow, as expected but accuracy was quite good. H414 was not as impressive accuracy wise, but velocity looked more in line with what @jimbires posted. One interesting point, I began seeing pressure signs with all loads. I shot loads in a round robin type relay (1 shot of each charge at different targets until I had three round groups).
As the shooting progressed, even the lighter charges of 414 began to show sticky extraction so I'm wondering if I don't have a carbon issue in the neck/throat area (they extracted easily in the beginning).

Here's the breakdown:
H414 CCI 250 mag primer, resized military brass (55.2gr water capacity)
2.262" cbto (.010" off rifling)
2.914" coal

44.5 gr-
-2727
-2721
-2727

45.0 gr-
-2745
-2751
-did not shoot

45.5 gr-
-2775
-2755
-did not shoot

45.7 gr-
-did not shoot any of these

RL19 CCI 200 primer, Peterson brass (54.7 gr capacity)
2.262" cbto
2.914" coal

47.0 gr-
-2538
-2546
-2530

47.5 gr-
-2597
-2573
-2526

48.0 gr-
-2606
-2601
-did not shoot

So 414 looks most promising from a consistency standpoint. I probably didn't need the magnum primer, but I had them and wanted to try them. The groups with RL19 were much better, but velocity was disappointing. Does anyone think 414 could be tuned up with seating length and a charge weight or primer switch? Or should I run the same test with RL15 and IMR 4350 (both of which I have)?

 

[den]

did you do anything too or measure the necks on the sized down 308 brass ? I think the necks grow in diameter when they are sized down could this possibly be the cause of pressure you were referring too with the 414 loads

 

[therifleman556]

I ran those same batch of brass up to max with Varget and 110 TNTs without issue, but I'll throw a mic on them anyway when I get a chance.
I have been getting faint soot marks about midway down the necks. I'd read elsewhere that was caused by less than optimal pressure.