7mm-08

I'd go with 4350. You can find ppu 7-08 for like $14 a box.

R15 with 120 grain bullets for low recoil.

My young son has been using the 120's for a couple of years.... they work.

I like H4895 better, but R15 will work too.

Random 8 said:

I've been asked to load a supply of ammunition for a co-worker's son and daughter in this caliber, sufficient for some significant rifle practice and hunting. He's tired of paying jacked up prices for inferior ammo, and was very pleased with the 30-06 ammo I loaded for him last year. I have no experience with this cartridge, but experience with similar (6.5x55, .300 Sav, .308). The son hunts heavy cover, and currently shoots 154 Hornady ammo. I was thinking of simply approximating this load as I have a large supply of the H154 Spire point already and I know it's a good performer on deer.

The daughter is quite firearm savvy, but I still wants the recoil tamed slightly. The 154 Hornady ammo was a bit snappy for her. Was thinking of the Speer 145 BTSP stepped down a tad from maximum velocity, into the 2400-2500 fps range (per book quoted velocity, I know actual will likely be slightly less).

I have available IMR 4064, IMR 4350, R15 and wouldn't be opposed to adding a medium speed powder with a good range of versatility in medium cartridges. I definately wish to stick with these 2 bullet options or something similarly inexpensive, or perhaps just the 145 Speer to keep cost down. I plan on putting up 500 rounds, and with new brass it's already a bit of sticker shock for my friend, but he wants to get the kids off on the right foot shooting wise with lots of practice and is willing to foot the bill. Pet loads anybody?

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Quarry and range?
ETA: I'll suggest h4895 reduced loads under a 139 sst.

Random 8 said:

I've been asked to load a supply of ammunition for a co-worker's son and daughter in this caliber, sufficient for some significant rifle practice and hunting. He's tired of paying jacked up prices for inferior ammo, and was very pleased with the 30-06 ammo I loaded for him last year. I have no experience with this cartridge, but experience with similar (6.5x55, .300 Sav, .308). The son hunts heavy cover, and currently shoots 154 Hornady ammo. I was thinking of simply approximating this load as I have a large supply of the H154 Spire point already and I know it's a good performer on deer.

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Are you REALLY SURE you want to do this? If they're using the ammo you loaded and anything bad happens to them or their gun guess who will be blamed (hopefully you don't have too many assets a court can attach). Why should you be responsible for making sure he doesn't pay "jacked up prices" for ammo? If you believe you are going to have equal success in pleasing him in reloading a cartridge you have no experience in reloading for, I wish you luck.

Just a thought... Maybe one of the reasons commercially loaded ammo costs so much is because the ammo company has to cover overhead including such pesky things as insurance so if their ammo blows something up, they still have a roof over their head.

My rifle seems to prefer Max charges, I've used several powders for it. The one I use most is imr 4350 for 139 gr bullets, I'm partial to the sst's, but load interlocks as well, get 48.0 gr. 140 gr prohunters, gamekings, and ballistic tips 46.5 of same powder.

The rifle shoots well also with I and h 4895 with same bullets.

I also use win 760 for heavier 160 gr gamekings, who a magnum primer.

Tell him to buy this..https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/000449354/rock-chucker-supreme-master-reloading-kit (note... free die with purchase of this kit)and learn to reload. I did over 30 years ago. Money saved from buying ammo will pay for this in no time. Not saying they would hold you liable ,but I have seen some horror stories over the years, not over reloads per say. knew a great guy who needed land to hunt. His best friend allowed him to hunt his property.He did not use a harness and fell out of his tree. They are no longer friends and lawsuits are still ongoing. And yes he was one of those guys you would never expect this from.

What grumilkin said. I'd be real leary of handloading for anyone.

plus one on the no reload idea!

Sad to say but in this day and age, I would be a mentor in teaching reloading, rather than reloading for. People are different this day and age, the litigious side of people can come out when least expected or deserved.

I made low recoil loads in 7mm-08 for my nephew to use for a couple of years for deer and black bear (it was also my rifle) quite successfully using IMR4064 - they were very accurate at about 80-85% power and probably the biggest benefit was that they allowed him to practice shooting the rifle with confidence. He did harvest a couple of does with them although for the actual bear hunts I'm pretty sure my brother swapped in the full power ammo (I gave him the scope adjustments between the two). I used Hornady154s primarily because I had a surplus of them at the time.

I do load for a few family members and close friends, advisable or no - but I do insist they provide me with the rifle I'm loading for load development. And pretty much only for low volume tailored hunting ammo.

Bring him and his daughter over to your house, show them the steps, watch them while THEY reload the ammo.

Nosler 140 partition behind a good charge of Win 760, 4350, 4064, 4895 and similar will take ANY deer

I wouldn’t invite them over to my house, either. They might fall down the steps and sue you into bankruptcy.
Sheesh! What a bunch of grandmas.

Random 8 said:

If the man had a windstorm at his house, I'd loan him a chainsaw, if he needed to do some remodeling I'd loan him a compound miter and table saw, all of which are inherently more dangerous and just as open to any sort of real or imagined liability.

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With all due respect, this is absolutely not true. If your friend borrows your chainsaw and cuts off his own leg, you would not and could not be liable for any negligence, lest it could be proven you knew prior that he was mentally incapable of safely operating the chainsaw, with a high likelihood of self-harm intentionally or otherwise.

However, by manufacturing ammunition for his use, and that of his children, you are most certainly liable for any damages caused by the ammunition. If you accidentally double charge, or miss a charge and cause a squib-grenade, and blow the fingers off of his little girl, or put out her beaming blue eye and scar up her beautiful young face, you can bet both criminal and civil lawsuits will follow - if nothing else, for the simple fact their medical insurance company will sue you to recoup their outlay. Ammunition manufacturing is highly regulated, and while it’s not illegal to voluntarily GIVE reloaded ammunition to someone, it certainly carries with it a heavy liability. Even ammunition manufacturers, which have liability insurances, pressure testing systems and extensive quality assurance programs, still put a liability waiver - a warning label - on the box, with the intent to transfer assumed liability to the customer.

“A stranger on an Internet forum told me the load data was safe,” or “I learned how to reload by reading a book” won’t be a good defense.

Every man and woman has their right to choose to their path for following law, either the letter or court precedents, so I won’t say what another man should or should not do. But reloading for others with the position that your produced ammunition only carries the same legal weight as loaning another man a chainsaw is silly.

What I worry about with loading ammo for others is the outside factors that can cause issues. Say for instance the barrel gets plugged with mud, bugs or whatever and the rifle blows up when shot, the first thing thats going to get blamed is the ammo. How about the guy that keeps reloading the mag leaving the bottom round or two in it for years and numerous fired rounds until he finally goes to shoot the whole mag and blows up the rifle due to bullet set back.

Everyone is a nice guy until there in pain, facing large doctor bills and can't support themselves and there family then the gloves come off and they want to get there's anyway they can.

Not to mention your now responsible to keep 3 rifles feed with ammo that might seem fine now but what about a year later when your busy with your life and there calling last minute saying they don't have enough rounds to go hunting tomorrow?

Personal relationship doesn’t matter. Your friend may not want to sue you, but his medical insurance company will with a smile on their face.