Still not able to go over and shoot the Savage 11/111 to see if the new scope/ bedding screws fixed the very poor performance.

I want to work up some hand loads for this rifle in the 139/140 range plus I found a bottle of Varget in storage that has never been opened.

Looking at earlier posts from 10 -12 years ago many of the posts liked Re15 or Varget.

Will you share your pet loads for your 139/140 and 150 grain bullets?

Another question is I have shot Nosler bullets since the early 80's in reloads or changing out the bullet in existing loads. I have not lost any deer or missed shots but the Nosler 140 and 150 BT do not seem to do as good of a job as the old ones did with the lead tips. I have had the bullet debond and had couple of lung shots where the bullet deflected down and there was almost no blood trail for 50 yards. I rarely shoot over 325 with my 260 or 7mag.

Let me also aske "What bullets do you like?".

Thanks,

Jim

With 140 gr bullets, RL-17 will give you 100% load density and a bit more Mv than RL-15 at less pressure.

I have been using the Nosler Partitions that I get from SPS as seconds. I have only been using the 7/08 for a couple years and haven't shot anything but paper with it yet. I've read that Re17 increases the performance of 150 gr bullets in 7/08, but I don't have any of it and am happy with Re15 performance - at least over the chronograph and targets. I do think the bullet structure of the newer tipped Noslers is not as sturdy as the older Solid Base bullets.

I shoot mostly 120 Vmax and 120 and 140 Noslers...same loads in both my XP and S-11, same excellent bugholes...748 and CFE 223, 95% plus densities and Varget/RL-15 before CFE came out...Vmax for varmints, Noslers for anything bigger.

I've poked critters/targets with almost all the 7 mm cal brands and weights from ~100-190(cast)...still have a few hoarded 150 gr Nosler solid base from way back that bughole groups for my 7 mag and 284.

I like the 120-150 gr for 7-08/284/'06 case because you start losing case volume thus velo as the bullet length gets longer in standard length 2.8" cases/mags. If you use a LA receiver and specifically throat for the long bullets the 175-180 gr match and VLD bullets you can be surprised just how effective they are way the heck and gone out there.

I "long" throated my S-11 7-08 an "extra" so I could seat out and/or use long bullets...didn't seem to affect accuracy any but did increase velo somewhat but that could be from other factors also.

My XP is basically a sagerat eliminator with a 10 x LER scope and I only shoot 120 Vmax, 120 Speer SP's and 130 Sierra MK's (when I can find them on sale).

Most loads are within 5% of the top of the reloading manuals/QL, and accuracy is a direct/result function of the futzing I do to produce highly accurate ammo and the work I do to the rifle system.

LUCK

42.0 grs. of IMR4064 OR Rl-15 with 139 and 140
i have been testing some IMR 4166
the 7MM-08 is kinda like the .308 there are a lot of powders that work well with that round. i have also got some real good groups with H-380

25 years I've been using IMR 4320 41.5 grs, any primer, 140 grn balistic tip bullets still killing deer so why change now.

I use Varget (AR2208) & H4350 (AR2209) in my 7mm08 for great results in 139 to 154 gr bullets from Hornady, Remington, Accubond & TSX

I do not try for max velocity though it not difficult to 2850 fps with 140s.

43gr of Varget was good in most 140gr bullets. I found 44gr to be a bit hot in 140 Accubonds.

I get over 2600 fps with 160 gr Accubonds.

Be careful & start at 41gr & work up as per normal safe practices.

I've used Varget and H4350, both good for velocity and accuracy with 140gr bullets but at the moment I'm loading 150gr Remington SPCL ahead of 42.0grs W748 for 2700fps. Both Remingtons and W748 are bought in plastic bags from bulk batches and cheapest you can get. Can put the bullets touching at 100m when I'm on and last two deer shot at longish range in the spotlight I could hear the bullets hit with a real thump. Suffice to say the deer hit the deck pretty good too.

Have loaded 120 Sierras ahead of 45.0grs W748 for 2900fps with good accuracy. W748 meters beautifully so once set I don't need to weigh charges. These loads are shot in a 22" barreled Marlin XS and are up where they should be but not hot.

I've tried RL-17 and Norma 203B (RL15), but Varget has been the most accurate.

Here are my two loads for my daughter's 20" barreled Vanguard:

120 gr Sierra Pro-Hunter
2,640 fps (20” barrel)
CCI #200 Primers
Remington Case COL 2.780”
41.0 gr Varget

140 gr Sierra Game King
2,710 fps (20” barrel)
CCI #200 Primers
Remington Case COL 2.780”
43.0 gr Varget


I started her on the 120 gr for 2 years or so and then moved her to 140 gr. Both work great on deer sized game.

I got good results from CFE223 and 110 gr TTSXs (which are very similar in length and performance to 140 gr lead core bullets.)

Match the twist rate with bullet weight first. I suspect your twist is 9.5/1 and 160 grain bullets could be a better match plus the longer bullet gets you a higher ballistic coefficient.
Favorite 7mm bullet and powder 175 grain Nosler Partition, H-4831.

Nosler Partition SP 16327 0.284" 160 0,475
Nosler Partition SP 35645 0.284" 175 0,519

For deer the 130 or 145 gr. Speer..

For elk the 150 Nosler partition or Accubond.

For an all around the 150 Nosler partition.