I've been working up loads @ 100Yds for my new Rem 700 Mtn LSS 7MM-08 which I just got this past spring. Shot my first 200Yd groups today and am quite pleased with the guns performance.

I shot a 1.67" CTC group at 200Yds shooting 140Grn Sierra Game King SBT's on top of 43.5Grn Varget and using a Burris 3-9X40 Ballistic Plex scope. Average velocities at 10 ft from barrel were 2,860 FPS. This was my best group of the day with other 200Yd groups averaging just a little less than MOA.

Dark lines are 1/2", lighter lines 1/4"


I have been getting 1/2" CTC groups at 100Yds with the 140 Game Kings using a Simmons 6.5-20x50 Whitetail classic, but using the 3-9x40 Burris 100Yd groups were about MOA. I was sighted in dead on at 100Yds and this group was shot using the first (200Yd) aim point on the ballistic plex reticle.

The vast majority of my shots on deer are 150Yds or less and I really like being able to sight in dead on at 100Yds and then being able to use the 200, 300Yd aim points if I need to. Being sighted in dead on at 100Yds allows me to "thread the needle" through brush a lot better than if I was sighted in 2 to 3 inches high.

Now it's time to get some off-hand, sitting, kneeling, leaning against a tree, etc. practice in between now and deer season. Just a few more months!!! I can hardly wait!!!!

firstshot
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Make your first shot count!

First Shot: GREAT GROUP !

I also recently bought a new Remington 700 Mountain Rifle LSS in 7mm-08 Remington. I am really impressed with that little rifle.

I have not had a chance to shoot mine at more than 100 yards, but I am getting pretty darned good groups from mine as well. I only have a Leupold 2.5 X 8 Vari-X III on mine and am also routinely getting one inch groups at 100 yards.
I think that is pretty darned good for a gun with such a thin little barrel.

The best group so far has been the same load you are using except it was with the 140 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip. Center to center the group measured 0.57 inches.

Now, I cannot shoot a group that small with it every time, but with the 140 BT or with Sierra 140 Pro Hunters the average group is an inch or so. (Maybe it is the shooter and not the gun.)

Sounds like you are on the right track with that Burris scope. I have not tried that one yet, but have two new Leupolds with the Boone and Crockett reticle. I put them on a 7mm Wby mag and a 300 Wby Mag and they work quite well.
(They are 3.5 X 10 power.)

I concur also with your velocity readings. I think my average with that load is about 2840 fps.

Again, great group at 200. Like you, I am anxious for deer season to come around now.

Heck, I may have to take the darned thing hog hunting before that!

R Flowers

Thanks!! Like you, I have been totally impressed with the Mtn LSS. It's the first Remington I've ever owned and it shot MOA or better right out of the box. The only thing I've done to it is adjust the trigger to a crisp 2 1/2Lbs.

I really love these Ballistic Plex / Boon & Crocket type reticles. If you know the yardage, there is no guessing about how much to hold over. My ballistics program says I should be within an inch all the way out to 500 Yds. Not that I would ever take that long a shot.

Longest shot to date was 225Yds & I took a nice 8PT with a 6.5x55 Swede. I plan to get real comfortable with the 7mm-08 + Ballistc Plex out to 300Yds, but seriously doubt I'd ever take a shot past that.

Good idea about going hog hunting, think I might have to go see if I can't find one myself! Don't know if I can stand it waiting all the way till deer season...LOL

firstshot
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Make your first shot count!

7mm/08 really is a sweet round, isn't it? Of course, with no belt, and not being able to hold 80 or so grains of powder, you won't be able to kill anything with it. Or so some would have you believe!
I bought one for my daughter, a Rem. CDL, and now I may have to get one for me (she doesn't want to share hers )
My best results so far are from 414, and Speer 145gr Hotcores.

acsteele

Won't be able to kill anything with it??? I thought the mm in 7mm/08 stood for mega magnum!!!

I've got some H414 and have really been thinking about trying out those 145gr Speer Hotcores. Even though they aren't bonded per se, it just seems to me that they would hold together better than a regular cup & core bullet.

What kind of groups are you getting with the 145 hotcores?

firstshot
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Make your first shot count!

Hey First Shot

When you got your Boone & Crockett reticle Leupold did it say in the instructions what the reticle was calibrated for? Like the Burris BMD says that the reticle is calibrated for a 22-250 shooting a 55 gr Sierra Boat Tail @ 3680 fps and gives the drop for each dot below the cross hairs.

Just wondering what the Boone & Crockett lines are set at.

woods

I've got the Burris 3-9x40 Ballistic Plex.

For the Ballistic Plex "Standard Calibers" sighted in dead on at 100Yds, the "expected" bullet trajectory at the various ranges indicated is as follows.

100 Yds........0
200 Yds........-3.1"
300 Yds........-13.5"
400 Yds........-30.1"
500 Yds........-55.3"

For example, if your "Actual" bullet trajectroy is -12.5 inches low at 300Yds, the B-Plex would be compensate for -13.5" and so your bullet impact point would be 1" high at 300Yds using the 300Yd aim point.

Conversely, if your actual bullet drop at 300Yds was -14.5", you would hit 1" low using the 300Yd aim point.

Here is a link to a PDF from Burris that explains it very well. Ballistic Plex Tech Notes

firstshot
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Make your first shot count!

quote:

Originally posted by First Shot:
woods

I've got the Burris 3-9x40 Ballistic Plex.


100 Yds........0
200 Yds........-3.1"
300 Yds........-13.5"
400 Yds........-30.1"
500 Yds........-55.3"


firstshot
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Make your first shot count!

Sorry, I misread. It was R Flowers who was talking about Boone & Crockett. First Shot, your load should shoot

100 yds......0
200 yds......-3.5
300 yds......-12.9
400 yds......-29.3
500 yds......-54.1

so you are indeed very close. I guess the Ballistic Mil Dot from Burris and the Ballistic Plex are different. The Mil Dot is

100 yds......0
200 yds......-1.6
300 yds......-7.3
400 yds......-18.3
500 yds......-36

which I have to really push my 270 to keep up with. That's why I was wondering about the Boone and Crockett.

Now Kahles has scopes that you zero at the different yardages and lock the top turret for each yardage, called Multi-zero. That might be a good thing.

quote:

Originally posted by woods:
Now Kahles has scopes that you zero at the different yardages and lock the top turret for each yardage, called Multi-zero. That might be a good thing.

Whooooh.....geeze, I wish you hadn't told me about that one!!! That sounds so cool! Do you know anyone that has tried one? I'm going to have to check that one out!!!!

firstshot
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Make your first shot count!

http://www.kahles.at/en/pdf/HeliaCSengl2005-01.pdf

Besides the multi zero part, it looks like a helluva scope

Is it true that you have to have a Burris Fullfield II zoomed to 9X in order for the Ballistic Plex trajectory to be correct?

Steve

HUNTS

That is correct! The B-Plex trajectory is calibrated for the 9X power only.

With my load, on the lower power settings and using the main cross hair, I'm within 2" of aim point from 0 to 175Yds. Past that, I would be using the higher power setting anyway.

firstshot
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Make your first shot count!

If you are looking for "hunting accuracy" stay away from the Game King's and use the bullets you will taking hunting.

quote:

Originally posted by DB Bill:
If you are looking for "hunting accuracy" stay away from the Game King's and use the bullets you will taking hunting.

DB Bill

What's wrong with the Game Kings for use on Whitetails at standard velocities like those from a 7MM-08?

firstshot
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Make your first shot count!

WOODS:

In regard to the Luepold Boone and Crocket reticle I would suggest going to the Leupold web sight. I believe it has an explanation of how the thing works.

Leupold has directions for their use that suggests that certain groups of cartridges are going to drop similar amounts.

The scope has two diamonds on the power ring. You use the appropriate diamond depending on the cartridge you are shooting. For most cartridges you sight in at 200 yards, use the correct diamond, and then the reticle lines are on for 300, 400, 450, and 500 yards. For very fast cartridges, you sight in at 300 yards then the drop lines are on for 400, 500, 550, and 600 yards.

I put two of these scopes on my Weatherby Magnums and did some testing. I went to a range where we have a 400 yard gong. My dad came along with two 4.5 X 14 scopes with the same reticle. We had no problem hitting darned near center on that 400 yard target time after time using the 400 yard mark in the scope.

I took the guns to the range where I sight in and shot groups at 100 yards using the 300 and 400 yard lines. I measured the point of impact of the groups and plugged the data into my Sierra ballistic program. It said that those lines in the scope are on at 305 and 405 yards. Pretty damned close, I would say.

Last fall my dad and his guide put a stalk on a fine antelope in New Mexico. When the guide lasered the antelope at 396 yards my dad decided to take the shot. He used the 400 yard line in the scope on his 270 Winchester. He made a perfect shot right behind the shoulder, midway up the body. The goat took about three steps and was down for the count.


Check out the Leupold web site. The scopes even come with a CD that you can put in your computer that explains their use.

quote:

Originally posted by First Shot:
HUNTS

That is correct! The B-Plex trajectory is calibrated for the 9X power only.

With my load, on the lower power settings and using the main cross hair, I'm within 2" of aim point from 0 to 175Yds. Past that, I would be using the higher power setting anyway.

firstshot
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Make your first shot count!

First Shot,

Thanks for the confirmation on using 9X!
That could be a little important!!

Steve

FIRST SHOT;

I got a chance to take that new 7-08 hog hunting and came home quite pleased.

The hunting was pretty tough as it has been over 100 degrees every day and the hogs are pretty much nocturnal. Finally on the third day we got a break and got a couple of really nice boars.

On the one I shot my buddy and I both got to do some testing of the new Nosler Accubond bullets.
We had taken a stand while another guy made a drive through a place where we thought some hogs might be bedded. He kicked out an old boar that was well over 200 pounds and had about 2.5 inch teeth. The hog was about 50 to 75 yards below us and getting the heck out of there.

I had the hog in my scope but he went behind some brush from me. From the angle he was at my buddy could still see him and hit him with a 110 grain Accubond from his .257 Wby Mag. The hog cleared the brush and was still hauling it so I busted him with the 140 grain Accubond from my 7-08. The hog showed little reaction to either hit but had visible blood spots on his side as he went out of sight. We found him down the trail a ways with two shots through the lungs.

Both bullets made exit so we have no idea how they held up. But, judging from the entrance and exit holes and the damage inside, I think they did quite well.

We were well pleased, both of us were using new rifles that we had out for the first time.

About the same time this was going on, my dad was collecting an even bigger hog over on another mountain. He shot a big old boar with teeth at least 4 inches long. He made a long shot on him with his .257 Wby Mag using the 100 grain Nosler Partition. They had been playing around with a laser range finder just before this hog came out and knew the hill he was on was about 350 yards.


R F

R Flowers

Sounds like you had a great time and the 7mm-08 + 140 Accubond worked like a charm. You said you both had shots through the lungs. What was your shot angles? Did either of the complete pass through shots go through the shoulder plate?

I haven't gotten to hunt with My 7mm-08 yet, but I did work up another load for a bullet that I'm now thinking about using. I used H414 and the work-up load charges ranged from 44.5Grn to 48.0Grn. Every single group across the charge spectrum were sub MOA. I'm seriously considering these this season.

Check out the Poll I started about these results: Just For Fun - Name That Bullet

I also picked up some Speer 145Grn SP (hot cores). I've got some work-up loads loaded up and will be testing them this Saturday morning. Will let you know how it goes.

firstshot
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Make your first shot count!

FIRST SHOT:

Neither of the shots on the wild hog hit the shoulder plate. Both were simply lung shots through the ribs. Very reasonable entrance and exit holes and lots of damage inside. Both bullets were complete pass throughs.

My biggest problem with the use of H 414 is that it is terribly "dirty" powder, hard to clean out of a barrel. AND, I have seen some terrible lot to lot variations with that powder on the chronograph.

I agree with the use of the Speer 145 grain Hot Core flat based spitzer. (The Speer boat tails are not hot core bullets.)

I used to shoot the 145 Speer in a 7mm Rem Mag and had very good luck with it. I too, have been tempted to try it in the 7-08.

R F

You can get extremely tight groups using the Sierra 160 HPBT Gameking and H4350 EXT. You lose a little speed but it kills the heck out of deer so I go for the most accurate load.
I got a wild hair back in the spring and tried to get the Barnes 140 TSX to print tight groups and could not compare to the 160 Sierra but they were tight enough to hunt. I just expected too much.

First Shot
Good rifle, good caliber, good "sight in/long range ballistic plan". The Sierra bullets will do fine.
For walking in the woods and raking shots I would try Nosler Partitions with the same powder charge, at distances out to 100 yards you might have to adjust up or down a little, but in my various 308's I use and like the Sierra 165 HPBT Gameking, but I often substituted the 165 Nosler Partition when walking and hunting in the thick with the same powder charge, and close in, never had to worry about a zero change.
Your plan on having a "100 yard zero" and using the ballistic dots for increased range are great.