I am getting serious about dialing in a couple excellent loads for my Tikka T3 in 7mm-08 I am looking at the Barnes 110gr & 120gr TTSX bullets, the Speer 130gr BTSP (soon to be illegal for hunting in CA but will make a load anyway) and the 162gr AMAX for long range fun. So, 7mm-08 users, let's talk 7mm-08, what is your best loads? What powder does your rifle like?

Well, these loads are probably less than you are looking for..... I loaded these up for my one of my daughter's rifles. The 243 was a bit big, so tested some loads in a Weatherby Vanguard 7mm-08 with a 20" barrel. I wanted to keep the recoil down.

Here is the load I settled on:

Sierra ProHunter 120 gr
Remington Brass
2.780 COL
41 gr Varget
2,640 fps (magnetospeed chrono, so right at the barrel)
1/2" group

Hotter loads I did (everything else the same)
42.5gr = 2,764
44 gr = 2,847

You'll pick-up some speed with your barrel, it's 2.438" longer.

quote:

Originally posted by Austin Hunter:
Well, these loads are probably less than you are looking for..... I loaded these up for my one of my daughter's rifles. The 243 was a bit big, so tested some loads in a Weatherby Vanguard 7mm-08 with a 20" barrel. I wanted to keep the recoil down.

Here is the load I settled on:

Sierra ProHunter 120 gr
Remington Brass
2.780 COL
41 gr Varget
2,640 fps (magnetospeed chrono, so right at the barrel)
1/2" group

Hotter loads I did (everything else the same)
42.5gr = 2,764
44 gr = 2,847

You'll pick-up some speed with your barrel, it's 2.438" longer.

That first one look like a nice low recoil load! How was the accuracy on those different loads?

mine really likes RL-15 or IMR4064 with 140 grain Nosler BT or Sierra SPBT.. I have found over the years, the 7MM-08 is not a hard round to load for. the very best load for mine is 43.0 grs. RL-15, that might be a little hot for some guns i worked up to this. this round also likes 4895 and varget.. H-414/W-760 would be the slowest powder i would use for this round.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael b Freeman:

quote:

Originally posted by Austin Hunter:
Well, these loads are probably less than you are looking for..... I loaded these up for my one of my daughter's rifles. The 243 was a bit big, so tested some loads in a Weatherby Vanguard 7mm-08 with a 20" barrel. I wanted to keep the recoil down.

Here is the load I settled on:

Sierra ProHunter 120 gr
Remington Brass
2.780 COL
41 gr Varget
2,640 fps (magnetospeed chrono, so right at the barrel)
1/2" group

Hotter loads I did (everything else the same)
42.5gr = 2,764
44 gr = 2,847

You'll pick-up some speed with your barrel, it's 2.438" longer.

That first one look like a nice low recoil load! How was the accuracy on those different loads?

All under an inch. I had some lower speed loads at 39.5 and 38 gr, but figured the 41 gr was the minimal usable load.

120gr Sierra Prohunter
45.0grs AR2208 (Varget)
FC case
Win LR primer
COAL 2.735"
Average Chrony MV 3025fps (in 22" barrel Marlin XS)
MOA group

140gr Sierra Gameking
42.0grs AR2208 (Varget)
FC case
Win LR primer
COAL 2.800"
Average Chrony MV 2800fps (in 22" barrel Marlin XS)
MOA group

140gr Sierra Gameking
47.0gr AR2209 (H4350)
Rem case
Win LR primer
COAL 2.800"
Average Chrony MV 2900fps (in 24" barrel Rem SPS 700)
MOA group

140gr Sierra Gameking
44.0gr IMR4320
Rem case
Win LR primer
COAL 2.783"
Average Chrony MV 2863fps (in 22" barrel Ruger M77 Mk1)
MOA group

145gr Speer SP
44.0gr IMR4320
Rem case
CCI200 primer
COAL 2.783"
Average Chrony MV 2800fps (in 22" barrel Ruger M77 Mk1)
MOA group

140gr TSX over 47.5gr H4350 and a CCI 200 primer. 2840fps, and extremely accurate from a Weatherby super predatormaster.

150 grn Sierra Match King BT,40grn H4895,Norma Brass,Fed 210 or 210M Primers. 2728fps.
Works pretty much the same with the 150 Game Kings BT

120grn Game King,41grn H4895,2931fps
Sako 75 Delux 7MM-08 Sweet loads.jc

I find the 7mm08 very easy to load.

My goals are to get 1 inch accuracy at 100 meters and I shoot out to about 350 meters very rarely. Most of my shots on game are under 50 meters. I have taken mostly fallow deer, goats and wallabies with these loads. One deer was at 330 meters - did not get up from its bed.

Bullets used - 140 gr & 150 gr Remington PSPCL & Barnes TSX

Also tried 154 gr Nornady SP

Powders used most common in ADI 2208 - Varget. also tried ADI 2209 - H4350, VV N150 & Re15.

Velocities are in the range of 2750 to 2850 fps in my Kimber Montana.

Either in a 15" handgun barrel (XP-100 or Encore) or a rifle the 7mm-08 is probably my favorite round.

In a rifle my Leupold 6X scoped Savage Classic 14 in 7mm-08 is extremely accurate with the below load.

Remington brass
WLR primer
42.5 grs. Varget
Sierra #1900 120 gr. Pro-Hunter
2.790 OAL

I've been loading the 7mm-08 for over 30 years. I like 120 grain projectiles since I also load for 7mag and want a big difference between the two.

My go-to load is 48.5 gr of H414, Federal 215 and 120 grain ballistic tip. Not super hot out of my shillen barrel, but great accuracy and long brass life.