Hi Guys, I recently picked up a 7mm-08 for the Mrs. She had a hard time shouldering and sighting my regular hunting rifles so I had to get her hooked up with a hunting rifle. It is a Rem 700 SPS youth gun, that she can actually see out the scope with now. It has a 20", 1-9.25 twist barrel. For our Oregon hunting we will probably not be shooting much beyond 200 yds. We will be hunting deer and elk, so I am starting off with Hornady 154gr SP. Partitions may be checked out later, due to cost and range practice. My question is - What powders and game bullets do you recommend for this situation? Thanx

I have put many 7-08 loads to the test through the years and have settled on Varget and 140 grn bullet of your choice.

My records show mostly H414, followed by RL-15 and IMR 4350

140 grn C&C bullets

My 7-08 likes H4350 with Barnes 140 TSX. 47 gr. is the sweet spot. Last group shot wa 7/8" at 220 yards.

From what I gather from others, including my S-I-L, the velocity of the 7-08 doesn't seem to stabilize the bullets very well above 140 grains with the 1/9.25" twist rate barrel. I loaded up some rounds for a model 7 in 7-08 that I gave my daugher with this rate of twist 20" barrel using 41.5 grians IMR4064 and 139 grain Hornady SP bullets in Winchester brass that shot three into a cloverleaf. I think accuracy kills better than bullet weight, with-in reason.

i have loaded the 7-08 for about 20 years for my sister. i have shot one for about 10 years. tried everything from 3031 to 4350.. i have settled on for years and my go to powder is RL-15 with 140 sierra or nosler bil. tip. and WLR primer.. shoots about .750 groups..

Hot load of H414. Workup slow I am a bit over suggested max. Top that with a 140 grain ballistic tip. I am getting around 2800 fps and .5" or better groups. I am shooting an early model 7 with the shorter 18" tube. Drops deer like lightening. For the elk go to the partitions or accubonds. The ballistic tips might be ok but keep them off the shoulder of an elk. I took a bison cow about 800 pounds with 160 grain accubonds.I only went 160 as I needed to be certain to break the skull or spine. The 140 probable would of worked fine though.

Thanks for the responses! I had picked up a box of Winchester 140gr PP factory ammo, and the gun didn't like them the least. I figured that going heavier might help. This is the only 7mm rifle I have so I hoped to get the bullet right. I loaded up some of the 154grs with (Old) RL12. It was better at 100yds then the factory 140 PP were at 50yds. Thanks for the info so far!

h4895 and 140 gr bullets of your choice FWIW

I've heard so much about Varget and R-15 on here, I'm going to get some to try next time I order supplies.

The 140 bal tips have been seriously deadly for whitetail and hogs in both my 7mm08 and my dad's. We've piled up a bunch and none have gone more than 10 yds. I don't like BTs in my 7mm mag though. They tend to do A LOT of damage at those speeds.

Accuracy with 140 grain Nosler Partitions, and 45.0 grains of H-414 with Federal 210 primers is very good in my 7-08; 3 shots into a 1/2" group at 100 yards.

I've had a 700 Mt. rifle for some time. Two kids used it, and myself. For mule deer, antelope. cow elk. A 140gr. Barnes TSSX with IMR4064 worked the best.

Well I still have some H4895, IMR4064, and a can of H380. I am still not seeing alot of powder on the shelves here.

H380 falls between RL-15 & H414 on burn rate charts

I own a Browning BBR 7mm/08 with a 24" barrel. Best powder I have ever used in mine is Win 760. With a max load ( 49grs in my rifle) and the 145gr Speer I get 2895ft/sec and very good accuracy.

Thanks guys for your recommendations. I will work up some Audette Ladders using H380, and H4895. Varget and H414 aren't showing on the shelves around here right now. Looks like most guys like 140 gr pills for their 7mm-08, so I'll work those next. Thanks again.

Don't let your trouble with the Win. 140 PP's sour you on the bullet weight.

I use 41 gr. Varget and 140's, or 42 and 130's (I like the Speer) for fine accuracy in my 7-08's. Not a hot load, but always works for me.

When I first got my Encore barrel I bought a variety of factory loads. The Win. PP's were the only ones that wouldn't group worth a damn.
The Win CT's in 140 shoot just fine. (so do Remington and Hornady).

When I've been looking for the best accuracy in my reloads I usually try Sierra bullets. 140 pro hunters on top off 48gr. of Ramshot Big Game gives me moa accuracy and 2850 fps from a Stevens 200

varget and benchmark
138gr hornady bullets
or, for fun, 100gr hornady bullets

I had a hard time getting my Weatherby SuperPredatorMaster to shoot well. Four powders and two bullets later, I hit the sweet spot. 47.5gr H4350 under a Barnes 140gr TSX gave 2840fps and about 3/4moa. I've killed multiple white tail over the last several years with that load, and it dumps them quickly and predictably. Penetration with the TSX bullets is so good, I think it would be a good load for elk, but have not yet done that.

Hi
I picked up a Model 7 7mm/08 for the wife some years ago and since my son has also taken a liking to it. It has a short barrel so I started experimenting with 120gr bullets so I could get some reasonable velocity out of it for longer shots.

After working with several bullets I discovered that Reloader 15 shot every one very well.

Rem brass
Fed 210 primers
43.5 - 44.5 grains Rx15

My favorite all-around load for this Mod 7 now is;
120gr Barnes TripleShockX
43.5 grs Rx15
Rem brass
Fed 210
velocity 2850fps at 10 feet.

This load consistantly prints 2" at 200 yards.

Yes, all barrels are different, but some powders seem to lend themselves better to some caliber/bullet wt. combinations better than others. Anyway just my 2¢

R19 works well with the 154gr Hornady you have in my rifles. Best accuracy in mine though come with 4007ssc and the 120 gr Ballistic Tips and is now my hunting load. Prior to this I used the 139gr Hornady SP with Varget in the last 2 708s I had.

varget and 140gr accubonds

I shoot 41.0 grains of H4895 with a 140 gr. Sierra SP out of my 700 Ti. First shot out of a clean barrel is within an inch of the next two. It's not the fastest load ~2700 fps, but it sure does a number on deer.

I've been shooting 7-08s since they were wildcats and acrost the board I could get my best accuracy with H4895 and a good 140gr bullet. I've always gotten good service from NPs and Grand Slams and Core Lokts.
If I were going elk hunting with a 7-08, I think I'd step up to a 154gr or 160gr bullet if my 7-08 would shoot them. Which mine all could.
I have shot a few WTs with the Hornady 154gr Round Nosed bullet and it will put a deer down in a most convincing manner.

Porchdog, I have recently tried RL 15 up to 44 gr w/120 gr TSX. Trying to seat bullet in my Encore to the lands and coming up with 2.82 OAL. Is that about where your relaods come out on your barrel?

I have seen very good results in 7mm08 MTN rifle with HDY 139gr SST's & IMR 4064 powder.

My M700 is also 20" and was rather dissapointing with most of the reccomended powders (H4895, Varget etc) on 140s at around 2,600fps.

I tried VVN550 under 140gr sierra prohunters and got 2,800fps and accuracy. What a great round!

I am considering it for my annual swedish moose trip - 175gr A frames at 2,450fps anyone?