7mm-08 all around hunting load

[KenLee]

Barnes 110 gr TTSX out of 20 inch barrels have always worked great for me

 

[KenLee]

Barnes 110 gr TTSX out of 20 inch barrels have always worked great for me

Crap. 120 gr

 

[JGRaider]

A 140gr accubond with enough Varget or Big Game to get it to 2800fps. Hard to beat.

 

[Llama32]

Looking for some suggestions on a all around in a 7mm-08. I’ve hunted with that round for the last 20 years in a Remington mnt rifle. Load has been a Barnes 140 gr and varget charge.

I’m having a custom built - ag composite stock, proof 18” barrel, and Kauger VPR action. Glass Leupold VX-6HD 3-18x44.

Plan is to use this gun from mule/whitetail deer to elk. 50 yards to 400 yards.

Thank you for for any suggestions.

I have a custom 708 AI with a 17 inch barrel and I shoot the 162 eldms with varget and I am getting 2750 out of it

I managed to get my hands on several boxes of the nosler ABLR 150grs
I will probably be trying those out this year

 

[Pharmseller]

Info is for 4-5 Tikka T3 rifles. Max loads so work up to them.

120 Ballistic Tip deer only
51.5 gr Big Game
WLRM primer
3126 fps

140 AccuBond or Partition deer antelope elk
47.5 gr Big Game
WLRM primer
2850 fps AccuBond, 2880 fps Partition

150 ELDX deer antelope elk
46.2 gr Big Game
WLRM primer
2790 fps


We’ve killed a truckload or two of deer with these loads, a few elk and a few antelope. My favorite these days is the ELDX, great accuracy and performance and, perhaps most important, they’re available.

 

[HiMtnHntr]

As many have suggested, 140 gr is the sweet spot for the 08, varget or biggame powder. My current load out of a tikka uses 140 gr accubonds over biggame powder. Another savage 08 like partitions over varget.

 

[Pharmseller]

As many have suggested, 140 gr is the sweet spot for the 08, varget or biggame powder. My current load out of a tikka uses 140 gr accubonds over biggame powder. Another savage 08 like partitions over varget.

I used to think that until I started loading the ELDX. Fantastic b.c., I think it’s more versatile than the 140 options.

 

[JGRaider]

I know people get all hung up on this high BC stuff nowadays, and to each their own. Since 95% of all big game is likely taken under 350 yards it's importance is over-blown IMO.

 

[Pharmseller]

I know people get all hung up on this high BC stuff nowadays, and to each their own. Since 95% of all big game is likely taken under 350 yards it's importance is over-blown IMO.

I don’t disagree, but if performance is similar and maybe a fella wants to shoot a rock at 700 yards, why not?

The amazing thing about shooting at 650, it makes 350 feel like 100.




P

 

[JGRaider]

And if a fella shoots a big mule deer buck at 40 yards, as I have done a few times, I'd take an accubond over any ELDX ever made. FWIW, I can shoot rocks all day long as well.

 

[Pharmseller]

I haven’t shot any mulies at 40 yards, but I have at 80 yards. So far (knock wood) no issues with the Hornadys.

 

[LeavittVr]

120 TTZX over 45 grains of RL 15 out of my Rem 700 with 24" barrel gets me 3110 and is equivalent to throwing lightning bolts. A handful of blacktails 1 mule deer 3 black bears and a truck load of hogs I've only recovered 2 bullets , both were picture perfect

 

[Ikmclean]

I am running 131gr Hammer Hunters with Varget and getting great groups with velocities around 3000+ on my Remington Model 7

My 7-08 loves the 131 hammers, about 3050 with Staball 6.5, 24" vanguard

 

[Newtosavage]

I have settled on the 120 TTSX out of my 20" 7mm-08 barrel. Easy peasy. I get 3k with a moderate load of 4166 and 3140 out of a moderate load of CFE-223. I'm hunting with the CFE-223 load this year.

In the past I've used 131 grain Hammer Hunters at 3k and the two deer I shot with them were bang-flops with very little meat loss. Easy bullets to work up loads for too.

Can't go wrong with either of those above IMO.

Before I went lead-free, I found 139 SST's to be very accurate and hammers on deer, but I wouldn't use them on anything bigger.

Most accurate 7mm-08 load I ever had was for a Tikka rifle shooting 162 ELD-X over 40 grains of 8208. That combo was easy money and I had it prepped for a cow elk hunt, but never got to use it. Sure was accurate though.

 

[Laramie]

Another vote here for the 140 grain Nosler accubond or partition. My wife and sons have killed everything from antelope to elk with ours with zero complaints.

 

[wilkup]

Could probably get more speed with a faster powder although 4166 is pretty quick
Someone on lrh has a 20" suppressed ai over 3100 with the ah and cfe223.



Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

I’d love to get a link to that so I could learn the details of that load. That’s screaming! What’s their handle?

 

[bonepoint]

We have had great luck with the 140 AB/BT and 47.5g Big Game, WLRM primers. This runs 2,770 FPS in a 20" Howa mountain rifle. That load from Pharmseller 5+ years ago.

We have taken 3 cow elk with the ABs from 150-300 yards and it punches well above its weight. Each resulted in nickel-to-quarter-sized exits and dead elk. Same results on a smaller 150 lbs bear at 275 yards.

My 12 y/o son took a buck last weekend with the 140 BTs at 450 yds. First shot was too far back, but shattered the pelvis and spine before leaving a nickel sized exit. Second shot went through the neck just above the shoulder and also exited.

This load is limited to around 500 yards with bullet expansion limits, but it is very lethal inside of that.

 

[KHNC]

And here i am with a 16" barrel on my 7-08. Recently cut from 22 I will add. But damn its accurate so far. I dont have a chrono.

 

[hseII]

Ruger American Predator 22”- I wish it was 18-20”.

Hornady 150 grain ELDX- 2750fps with single digit ES/SD.

Probably could go a bit hotter but it shoots dang good.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[JGRaider]

120 Ballistic Tip, 2975 at muzzle, 300 yd impact through right shoulder on a 225lb whitetail buck. Perfect bullet performance IMO.