What powder and load for 7mm-08?

05 October 2002, 17:57

<wolf6151>

My dad does my reloading and we use 45gr. of IMR 4064 with a 120gr. bullet and get decent performance. I know that this load is above the max. load shown in Hornady and Barnes reloading manuals but so many reloading manuals are written by lawyers today instead of reloading experts. This load shows no signs of excessive pressure. I'd like to get everyone else's favorite load for the 7mm-08, powder and bullet weight. Is there a best powder to use for the 7mm-08? Thanks.

05 October 2002, 18:30

<BigBob>

WOLF,
I have several loads for the 7mm-08. All of these loads are book max and should be worked up to.

Rifle-Win. M-70
Sierra 140 grain SBT-CCI 200-Rem. cases-43.0 grains H-Varget-Vel=2805fps.
Sierra 120 grain SPT-CCI 250-Federal cases-48.5 grains of W-760-Vel=2967fps.

Rifle-Rem. M-700 BDL
Nosler 140 grain B.T.-CCI BR2-Win. cases-44.0 grains H-Varget-Vel=2883fps.

Rifle-Rem. M-700 BDL #2
Nosler 140 grains Pt.-CCI BR2-Win. cases-44.0 grains H-Varget-Vel=2866fps. E.S.=8.2 FPS--S.D.=3.6 FPS.

I had the best results with H-Varget in all three of these rifles. I hope that this is of some help. Good luck.

06 October 2002, 04:21

Mauserkid

My 7-08 Remington likes Varget too. Use same loads as Big Bob, My first two shots print over each other. After that I forget what I am doing.....

44gr. Varget, 140gr. Nos. Ballistic.

Later.

06 October 2002, 11:14

Ol` Joe

My favorite hunting load is the 139 Horn SP over 42.5 gr Varget with a Rem primer seated .015 of the lands.
I also have had good results with the 145 Speer sp over 50 gr of R19 (highly compressed)and the 140 Nosler BT with 46.5 gr IMR4350. The most accurate load I`ve found in my Walther bbl`ed M700 is the 120 Horn V-Max and 45gr of Varget,Rem 9 1/2 primer, Win case, THIS IS VERY WARM in my rifle be sure to start lower.

06 October 2002, 13:59

<Ohaygen>

mine likes varget also. 42gr.w/139gr. Hornady SP
about 2750 fps.

07 October 2002, 00:51

<Fanback>

My 708 does great with a variety of powders. The ones mentioned do very well with 120 and 140 Gr bullets. I have settled on ww760 for 140 Gr and H380 for 120 Gr just because these powders meter so well.

07 October 2002, 03:27

jeffeosso

quote:
Originally posted by Ol` Joe:
My favorite hunting load is the 139 Horn SP over 42.5 gr Varget with a Rem primer

This is also my favorite load, and I've shot thousands of em through 3 different 708s... but...

A friend bought a 708, on my suggestion, and then got brass and bullets... he got the nickle remingtons... and so I threw together some loads and took it to the range.

With the nickle brass, it rifle started showing pressure at 41 grains. Which gives credence to every rifle is a creature unto itself. Yet, with brass brass, it took the 42.5 easy. Interesting issue, that I can't figure unless the nickle cases have either less capacity, or the hardness impacts it somehow... or both...

Anyway, that's a pretty good top load, and it seems to do alright with 140BTs as well, but you might want to start working up from 39.5 grains to get there
jeffe

07 October 2002, 04:03

<Varmint Hunter>

Just to be different:
After doing a little research, I purchased a fresh can of Varget to shoot in a new Tikka 7-08. While the Varget produced extremely low SD, it only produced mediocre accuracy.
Top shooting powders in my rifle proved to be H4895 and H4350. Either one easily shoots under .5" @ 100yds with hunting bullets. I do use match quality brass, primers, dies and loading methods.
VH

24 October 2002, 20:54

<Iain Marshall>

Hi there,
I use IMR 4895 with great results in my Remington 700 a load of 46.5gr with a Nosler 120gr Ballistic tip for 3150 fps this load groups .75moa and is an outstanding deer load.
good shooting

25 October 2002, 00:53

wildcat junkie

I can duplicate Hornady "Light Magnum" performance in my 7mm-08 M700 Mountain Rifle with 43gr IMR 4064 behind a 140gr Nosler Ballistic Tip.

2850fps from a 22" barrel. Very low SD. Good consistant "hunting" load.