Building an Elk Load - 7mm08

[Yakcountry]

Just trying to solicit some opinions on an elk load for my 7mm08 with stuff I've got on hand. I'd love to be able to shoot out to 500 with this gun, but understand that is pushing it with an 08.

Gun:
Tikka T3x Compact. 1:9.5 twist, 20" barrel

Powder's I Own:

Hodgdon	Superformance
Hodgdon	H4350
IMR	4350
RamShot	Big Game
RamShot	Hunter
RamShot	Magnum
Winchester	StaBall 6.5

Bullet's I Own:

Bullet Make	Bullet Model	Grain	BC
Barnes	TTSX-BT	150	0.408
Barnes	LRX	145	0.486
Hornady	CX	150	0.455

 

[Idaho Lefty]

StaBall Powder, pushing a 150 gr. ELD-X, provided, a LOT of Penetration, a good Mushroom ( 70 % Retained weight ) and good Accuracy for, my son's 7MM-08, 22.4" barreled Tikka on, a nice sized, 5 x 6 Idaho Bull at, 247 Yards.

 

[P7M13]

Never shot the Hornady CX, but with H4350 and either Barnes, you have a winning combo. I am really enjoying both the LRX and TTSX in my 260 Rem.
You might be right on the edge of stability with the TTSX 150, but at your altitude, that's one I'd test to see. In my 20" 1:10 7/08, I'm doing Cutting Edge 149s & AA4350, 180' ASF / 50°F that are supposedly marginally stable. They are touching at 200 yards in tests. I remember 2600-ish in chrono value, but those notes are deeply buried with a move.

 

[wyrshunter1]

I started using Staball this year in my .270s because it was available for a time and I was running low on the 4831. Its a burner with good accuracy. It chronoed it at 1 grain above max at 3250 out of my 24 inch barrels and 2200 in 22s with 130s and 3100-3050 in the 145 ELDX. I reserve my 7mm-08 a bit slower loads for kids but it looks but if the .270 is any comparison it will beat the 4350 and be right there with the Superperformance if you want a max elk load. Ramshot Hunter also looks like a good bet. The more you compare the 7mm-08 with the right powders the more impressive it becomes for efficiency, mild recoil, and light configurations.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

You might want to read my 4th Post, under the Tikka 7mm-08 heading, IF you ever want to shoot, the High BC, longer, VLD Type, Bullets,..
IN,.. a Tikka. My son got, the 168 Berger H-VLD's, to shoot real well, in his Tikka at, 2,765 FPS with, StaBall.

 

[fireman13]

I have been testing loads for a 7mm-08 Browning X Bolt with a 22" 1 in 9.5 twist barrel with similar goals. I am group testing several good nodes with 150 TTSX today and will post the results. I am also testing 140 gr Absolute Hammers in similar charges of IMR 4895. I have also had very good results with 140 and 150 gr TSx and TTSX over H380. This is a powder that I have been able to find lately due to it being somewhat more temp sensitive than Varget and other similar burn rate powders. My best charges of H380 for 150 TTSX has been 42.0g, which hit chrono around 2650. That seems to be the speed where all three of my (including two adult kids) rifles like to shoot 150s. I have decided that 350 is about the farthest I am comfortable shooting Elk with these loads. I will likely be using my 7mm Rem Mag with 150 or 160s for Elk at the 500 yd ranges going forward.

 

[hudgic]

139-140gr bonded bullets pushed hard and accurate will get r done every day

 

[Darryle]

I am intrigued by the 145gr LRX, I have 50 of them loaded over VV 550 powder in Lapua brass. I am looking forward to testing them out here in the near future.

 

[Howard Van Horn]

I shoot a 7mm-08 in 7mm-Ackley Improved in a Model 7 Remington with a 20" barrel using 140 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets for Antelope hunting. I can get 2950 FPS, but to avoid excess pressure, I backed off to 2850 FPS. as it sometimes gets warm during September in the Utah West Desert.

 

[birddog 68]

I agree with hudgic that I prefer a lighter 140 bonded bullet that I can get the velocity up a bit. 7-08 has and will work out to 500 but wouldn't be my choice for a 500 yard elk rifle. Just my opinion and everyone has one!

 

[Idaho Lefty]

The high BC, 168 grain, H-VLD Berger Bullet, Launched at over, 2,750 FPS, will "Slay" an Elk,.. way, WAY, out there, in a 7 MM-08 but, you will need to,.. "Dial" for, Range. And,.. "ream out", the Throat's "Leade" angle, in a Tikka 7-08.
StaBall 65, will get, THIS Bullet,.. "Moving" !

 

[xsn10s]

I'd like to see if anyone has loaded a 175-180 gr something or other in a 26" barrel. See it it compares with the 7SAW.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

@ xsn10s,..
The Op said that, he has a factory "Stock",.. 7-08 Tikka, but,..
20" bbl, I believe.

 

[birddog 68]

That's some pretty impressive velocity there Idaho Lefty. I need to take a look at what staball will do with 140 grain bullets. I've always used IMR 4350 and W760