Powder choice, bullet, and group size.

[aj427ci]

Preface: I'm trying to put a load together for a 7mm-08 with 150 ELDX with Sta ball 6.5.

I bought a pound of sta ball 6.5 to try to get some more velocity over Varget or H4350 (powders I have on hand). I have found either the gun doesn't like the powder or the bullet. Best groups have been around 1.5 moa @100yrds. Would you give up on the bullet or the powder?

 

[CaptDru]

I would ditch the powder, keep the bullet and try H4350.

 

[MagnumManiac]

I have a 7-08 and I am using Nosler 150g Ballistic Tips with Varget, it is the most accurate powder next to Win 760.
I use H4350 in my 260AI, but have never found it any good in a standard 308 based cartridge, it's too slow.

I would say your rifle doesn't like that powder.

Cheers.

 

[birddog 68]

Been there and tried that. My 7-08 dislikes 6.5 staball. I tried it with 140 BT with about the same results as you. The velocity numbers really pull you in but over 1" groups are unacceptable for me.
I ended up using Ramshot big game but I think it's probably a little fast for 150's but then again I think varget is too fast for 150's to get decent velocity.
Edit to add: ditch the 6.5 SB and try the H4350

 

[Critter Picker]

My 7-08 likes 4350 but really shines with staball. However,it doesn't do well with Hornady bullets. All guns have a personality, get 2 identical guns and they still have preferences. Good luck finding yours.

 

[Eric H]

If you have Benchmark, try that.

 

[ARlife4me]

match might be a better fit than 6.5 would

 

[john k]

I'm shooting Barnes TTSX 150gr pushed by Varget with consistent.75"-.5" moa. My X-Bolt did not like the 140gr TTSX. My primary load is 120gr Hammer Hunter pushed by Varget at 3000fps with .5-.65 moa consistently. It's been a long time with Nosler BT and AB out of opening day lineup with IMR4350. 2600fps is a mental issue for me when in fact out to 250 yards it's fine. This is what this forum will do to you

 

[FEENIX]

Preface: I'm trying to put a load together for a 7mm-08 with 150 ELDX with Sta ball 6.5.

I bought a pound of sta ball 6.5 to try to get some more velocity over Varget or H4350 (powders I have on hand). I have found either the gun doesn't like the powder or the bullet. Best groups have been around 1.5 moa @100yrds. Would you give up on the bullet or the powder?

As with anything else, YMMV. It would be best to find out what works for your rifle using different powders and charges, bullets, seating depths, etc., not other people's loads and rifles. I prefer the -M over -X.

 

[sep]

Do you have any other powders to try with the 150s?

A few months ago, I started working up a load for my Sako 85 7mm-08. I have H4350, IMR4350 and RL16 on hand. Since this load will be used for cold weather hunting (below zero F) I wanted to stick with as temp stable powders as possible. So, instead of trying 2 or 3 powders with my chosen bullet, I tried RL16 with 5 different bullets. Two of the five bullets shot MOA or better. Both were flat based bullets. My rifle doesn't seem to like boattails.

So, there are a couple ways you can do this. Try several powders with your chosen bullet or try different bullets with the same powder. I still have two more bullets to try with RL16 but that will have to wait til next spring.