7mm-08 Load Data

[LVJ76]

I tested Nosler BT 120,150,160gr and found them to pressure more than SST, Berger VLD.

My wife's rifle loves the 120 BT with IMR4064 as mentioned on the other thread, did not like Varget at all.

 

[Brathany]

My wife's rifle loves the 120 BT with IMR4064 as mentioned on the other thread, did not like Varget at all.

Isn't that something! I saw a Hornady podcast that stated it doesn't matter the powder used, it's all about bullet and the velocity a barrel likes. I've never found this to be the case in 30yrs of hand loading. I've had powders effect groups like night & day.

 

[LVJ76]

Isn't that something! I saw a Hornady podcast that stated it doesn't matter the powder used, it's all about bullet and the velocity a barrel likes. I've never found this to be the case in 30yrs of hand loading. I've had powders effect groups like night & day.

Absolutely agree.

Regarding the velocities, my rifle does not shoot well at max velocities, and my wife's rifle likes hotter loads, with RL16, RL17, or H4350 I hear the powder kernels crunch when I seat the bullets.

 

[MagnumManiac]

I have Varget and H4350 to use as powder.
Any recommendations?

I could give you my loads, but they most likely won't work the same in your rifle.
I have 2 powders that get me fantastic groups in my custom 7-08, those being Varget and Win760. Have used H4350, but it was too slow burning to be advantageous. Works great in similar cases as an AI powder.
I load with my bullets within .010" of the end of the magazine, this is somewhat longer than book dimension.

Cheers.

 

[birddog 68]

To the OP, a non-MIA powder you might want to try is StaBall 6.5, it's smoky and dirty but it gives the best velocity and is near the top in accuracy for me in several 7-08's. I currently shoot the 139gr LRX at 2925 from a 23" barreled Sako.

I really wanted my 7-08 to shoot well with staball 6.5. Velocity was great but accuracy was lacking. I did find a home for it in my 6.5 cm.
Out of the 2 powder's he has I would go with varget. There's definitely better powder choices for 150 grain bullets but use what you have.

 

[Shankedit]

I have a bone stock, 22" pencil-barrel Savage 7mm-08 and it shoots the Barnes 120 TTSX and 139 LRX easily under 1/2" with IMR 4064. Got the 139s to about 2850 and the 120s to 3050+. I haven't shot it in a while or tried different powders since the IMR 4064 worked so well.
Sorry I don't have firsthand experience with the specific bullet info you asked about.

 

[HandgunHTR]

My 7-08AI likes H4350 and Big Game (150 grain bullets)

My 7-08 likes Varget (120 grain bullets).

The 7-08AI is a 20" barrel. The 7-08 is 17.5".

As for the RL powders, I would love to use them, but they are unobtainium and probably will be for a while (maybe forever).

 

[bill123]

I ran charge weights up in QL for both powders to just before max pressure (see attached). Since QL is only a mathematical prediction tool, I use it to find a jumping off point from which I back down 7-10% for a starting load.

It would appear that Varget will be your best bet as max pressure and velocity can be reached without a compressed load. On the other hand, H4350 requires a 9% compressed load. FYI, QL data used presets of 2.8" COAL and 55 grains of H2O capacity.

I did find Varget data for the 150 BT on Nosler's web site (attached).

Thanks for the work on this. I appreciate the effort!