7mm-08 favorite loads

[Kachok]

I just got a Browning A-Bolt in 7mm-08 and I am looking to work up a good hunting load, I have 140, 145, 154, and 160gr bullets in 7mm. What are some of your pet loads for my new sissy kicker?

 

[oneounceload]

140 is what the 7-08 was designed to be the most accurate with. Look up some loads at the various powder maker sites

 

[Kachok]

I have a hard time getting Hunter or Big Game powder, nobody carries it locally. I can get IMR 4350, H414, RL-19 and 4831 all day but those don't preform as well from what I have found. My Browning has a 1:9.5" twist which can use 160gr easily if need be, though I doubt I would need such heavy bullets for deer (but they could not hurt)

 

[eastbank]

i use varget,but 4350 has be alright to. i shoot the 120gr hornady,deadly on deer out of a rem 700 sps. eastbank.

 

[Bull Nutria]

my favorite load is 42.5 g of IMR 4064 and a 140 Rem coreloct, I have tried 180 gr berger vld with 43g of Imr 4350 and it is very accurate also.i try to seat the bulets to 2.82in as i am limited by the box mag on my TC Venture.

look at 7mm08 at 6mmbenchrest.com for load suggestions

Bull

 

[steve4102]

It's tough to beat Hunter with the 160's, fast and very accurate. My LGS do not carry Ramshot either, I buy in bulk from Powder Valley.

For the 140's my rifle likes BigGame, R-17 and R-15 in that order.

 

[GooseGestapo]

140gr Sierra, Nosler, Rem.Corlokt @ 2.830"
47.0gr RL17 (except win brass 48.0gr)
Win or Fed LR primer
Runs 2,800fps, win brass @ 48.0 runs 2,900fps w/20"bbl

46.0gr RL17 w/150gr bullet @ 2,750fps

Accuracy: 46.5gr IMR4350; 139gr-154gr bullet @ 2.830"

 

[Kachok]

I cannot get any of the powders the 7-08 seems to like except 4350 (I have the slightly slower burning H4350) No RL17 sold locally either. I guess I need to just suck it up and pay Hazmat transport to get the powders I want. Hope to get to shoot my new Browning tomorrow if the weather is clear.
I am new to the 7mm-08, what do you guys think would be the best deer hunting bullet between the 140gr/154gr SSTs, 140gr/160 SGKs or the 145gr Speer Boat tail.

 

[Bull Nutria]

2 nice bucks were harvested mwith the Rem 140 corelocts by my rifle last fall.

1 fell over DRT,the other ran a short piece. I haven't used other bullets in my 7mm08. didn't need to!!

Bull

 

[matt 7mm]

i have had good luck with 139gr hornady sst over varget powder powder in my savage 7mm-08

 

[Kachok]

I have varget, Hogdon shows a 43.5gr max, what charge are you using and how well does that group for you?

 

[GooseGestapo]

For deer; 139gr Hornady fb or BtSpt; Sierrra 140gr FB or SpBt, Speer 130 or 145 BtSpt.
With the 130gr Speer, try 43.0gr of IMR4064, with the 140-150gr bullets RL17 or H4350.
A "sleeper" load for my Remington Mod-7 is 44.0gr of BL-C2. It's "hot", but very accurate and near 2,900fps. Only powder/load faster than IMR4350 I've gotten decent results with. YMMV.

re: 6.5x55; I agree, however my 7mm08 leaves a bigger/wider blood trail which is as short or shorter than the .260. Either kill as quick as my .30/'06,.338/06 or .300RUM on deer, with less of "my blood" shed.... Every deer I've shot with my .300RUM drew my blood as well as deer's.... (Weatherby "eye")....

 

[matt 7mm]

I use 43 grains of varget under a 139 sst. in my savage 16 these loads group bettter than i can shoot usualy under 1inch at 100 yards and rarely miss a beer can at 220 yards (distance from my back porch to hedgerow)

 

[Kachok]

Yeah I have no complaints with my 6.5x55, I have yet to track anything I have shot with it, and it has filled qute a few freezers over the years, but I have always heard great things about the 7-08 too (often from other Sweed fans) besides I always wanted a Browning and this was a chance to get both at a stupid cheap price ($499!)
I am going to play with the Varget/H4350 data that I have gatherd and will let you know how it works out.