7mm-08 with 6.5 StaBall and 139 Hornady CX bullets

[Eric Musgrove]

This^^^^^^^^^

I am at .081 off now, see my other reply for details.

 

[cajun]

I had issues getting enough H4350 in the case.

 

[VinceMule]

Cajun, this was my issue also. Various brands of brass will hold more or less powder, also.

 

[Eric Musgrove]

I had issues getting enough H4350 in the case.

What brass where you using?

 

[cajun]

What brass where you using?

Alpha. I'm sure you could use a drop tube or something. Maybe vibrate the case to get it to settle but Unless it shot really well I wasn't going that route. This was new brass so maybe after fire forming it would be better.

 

[GSSPatterning]

Hornady states, across the board, their CX bullets need 2000 fps to expand. The 139 gr LRX's minimum is 1400 fps. Using an equal 2950 fps MV, sea level and 59 deg that lower expansion velocity will get you approximately 400 more yards if shooting the LRX.

 

[Eric Musgrove]

Hornady states, across the board, their CX bullets need 2000 fps to expand. The 139 gr LRX's minimum is 1700 fps. Using an equal 2950 fps MV, sea level and 59 deg that lower expansion velocity will get you approximately 400 more yards if shooting the LRX.

Thanks, yeah that's a big difference. I will see if I can find some locally

 

[VinceMule]

Eric, you may want to give the Hammer bullet guys a call.

 

[GWBowen]

Hi Eric,
I have a Ruger M77 7mm-08 I bought new in 1982 for deer hunting in Utah. It has a 1:10 twist with a generously long throat. Quite a bit different than yours so keep that in mind. I've been working up loads with 6.5 StaBall and Varget, Alpha brass, Federal 210M primers, and a variety of bullets. You'll probably get more mileage with your modern barrel and action and certainly have more bullet options with your faster twist.

I hunt Colorado elk at altitude of 9000 to 11000 feet. I've killed several inside of 200 yds using 150 gr Nosler Partitions. But one hunt I did have to pass up a couple of 300 yd shots because I didn't think my load had enough oomph for that distance. I got a chrony and turns out I was correct. With that in mind, I wanted to work up a load that carries 1700 ft/lbs 300 yds down range at 9000 ft altitude.

Using my sentimental deer round Hornady 139 grs BTSP, I get around 2650 fps with 45.5 grs of Staball with a COAL of 2.83. 46 grs was too hot.

For copper I ended up in the Hammer world. The gun loves the 140 gr Absolute Hammer. With 41.9 gr of Varget, it routinely meets or exceeds my target velocity of 2755 fps with very good accuracy. 47 grs of StaBall was consistently faster around 2780 fps. Bolt lift was not heavy, but closer examination of the brass showed it was too hot. I'll back off to 46.7 grs. COAL is 2.825 which puts the neck even with the first power band on brass 2.025 in length. Distance to lands is not applicable with Absolute Hammers. Stability should be good down to 5100 ft with my 1:10 twist

Looks to love the 130 gr Absolute Hammer as well. I got 2900 fps with 43.5 grs of Varget. Going to work up to 44 grs of Varget to see if I can reach or exceed the target velocity of 2930. Going to try 47 grs of StaBall as well. COAL is 2.805. Stability should be good down to 900 ft altitude.

I like the 150 gr Stone Hammer which is strangely efficient. I get close to my target velocity of 2690 fps with decent accuracy using 44.5 grs of 6.5 Staball. COAL is 2.67 with a distance to lands of 0.05. Hammer bullets in general seem to be less sensitive to distance to lands but this one is a "blunter" bullet so you have to pay some attention.

I like the high BC 132 gr Hammer Hunter Tipped. I get close to the target velocity of 2835 with good grouping using 42.8 gr Varget and a COAL of 2.835. However, for me, it groups 5 inches to the right of the 140 gr AH at 200 yds.

The 136 gr Stone Hammer should be an excellent mid-range all altitude deer round. I get around 2750 fps with good accuracy using 45 gr Staball and a COAL of 2.77. I just don't hunt deer much anymore.

For me I'll probably settle on the 140 gr and 130 gr Absolute Hammers.

 

[hesse]

I've seen it here in a couple other spots now the CX bullet is a model bullet which does create pressures get more charges because it is so hard

 

[Eric Musgrove]

Hi Eric,
I have a Ruger M77 7mm-08 I bought new in 1982 for deer hunting in Utah. It has a 1:10 twist with a generously long throat. Quite a bit different than yours so keep that in mind. I've been working up loads with 6.5 StaBall and Varget, Alpha brass, Federal 210M primers, and a variety of bullets. You'll probably get more mileage with your modern barrel and action and certainly have more bullet options with your faster twist.

I hunt Colorado elk at altitude of 9000 to 11000 feet. I've killed several inside of 200 yds using 150 gr Nosler Partitions. But one hunt I did have to pass up a couple of 300 yd shots because I didn't think my load had enough oomph for that distance. I got a chrony and turns out I was correct. With that in mind, I wanted to work up a load that carries 1700 ft/lbs 300 yds down range at 9000 ft altitude.

Using my sentimental deer round Hornady 139 grs BTSP, I get around 2650 fps with 45.5 grs of Staball with a COAL of 2.83. 46 grs was too hot.

For copper I ended up in the Hammer world. The gun loves the 140 gr Absolute Hammer. With 41.9 gr of Varget, it routinely meets or exceeds my target velocity of 2755 fps with very good accuracy. 47 grs of StaBall was consistently faster around 2780 fps. Bolt lift was not heavy, but closer examination of the brass showed it was too hot. I'll back off to 46.7 grs. COAL is 2.825 which puts the neck even with the first power band on brass 2.025 in length. Distance to lands is not applicable with Absolute Hammers. Stability should be good down to 5100 ft with my 1:10 twist

Looks to love the 130 gr Absolute Hammer as well. I got 2900 fps with 43.5 grs of Varget. Going to work up to 44 grs of Varget to see if I can reach or exceed the target velocity of 2930. Going to try 47 grs of StaBall as well. COAL is 2.805. Stability should be good down to 900 ft altitude.

I like the 150 gr Stone Hammer which is strangely efficient. I get close to my target velocity of 2690 fps with decent accuracy using 44.5 grs of 6.5 Staball. COAL is 2.67 with a distance to lands of 0.05. Hammer bullets in general seem to be less sensitive to distance to lands but this one is a "blunter" bullet so you have to pay some attention.

I like the high BC 132 gr Hammer Hunter Tipped. I get close to the target velocity of 2835 with good grouping using 42.8 gr Varget and a COAL of 2.835. However, for me, it groups 5 inches to the right of the 140 gr AH at 200 yds.

The 136 gr Stone Hammer should be an excellent mid-range all altitude deer round. I get around 2750 fps with good accuracy using 45 gr Staball and a COAL of 2.77. I just don't hunt deer much anymore.

For me I'll probably settle on the 140 gr and 130 gr Absolute Hammers.

Thanks so much for the information, I did another test with 6.5 StaBall this time with Nosler 140 gr AB, I figured if it wouldn't shoot those then I would move on to another powder. Then OCW test was not good at all. I decided to move on to another powder. I have some Barnes 139 gr LRX on order and just loaded some 139gr Hornady Interbonds up with H4350 to see if it likes that combo. We both have muzzle loader tags this year, but was hoping to get her out on a bear hunt with it next month.

 

[Ricky C]

Hey, I use it for my 7-08: 49.5grs of StaBall, 145 gr LRX, Rem 9.5, Fed case, 2823 fps, SD 8, 0.433 three shot group at 100yds. Shot out of a 700 w/22 inch barrel.
Take Care

 

[Eric Musgrove]

Hey, I use it for my 7-08: 49.5grs of StaBall, 145 gr LRX, Rem 9.5, Fed case, 2823 fps, SD 8, 0.433 three shot group at 100yds. Shot out of a 700 w/22 inch barrel.
Take Care

Very Nice, Hopefully I get the bullets this week so I can try them.