7mm-08 elk load

[Shrek]

All this talk about Rodney chopping the legs of his 7mm mag has got me thinking about building an elk load for my 7-08. I have a couple hundred 168 berger classics that I intend to use with my 7mm wsm so I'm going to run them in my 7-08 too. My question is what powder ? I have H4350 , 4000mr , 7828 , and H1000. I'm thinking of picking up some H4831sc and any suggestions that sound good.
My primary suspect is H4350 but I'm thinking I could get more from H4831sc. I have 2.93 col to work with so I could probably cram 52+gr of it in a case. I don't know what a good starting load for H4831sc would be but I'm guessing 48grs would be about right to start.
Any suggestions guys for the best powder ? I want a minimum temperature sensitive powder because it will be hot as hades when I build this and it will be Montana in November cold when I need it. Oh , cci 200 primers and Winchester brass is what I have to work with. My goal is 2700+ fps out of a 24" barrel. I don't think that it will be a problem.

Edit; I just went and did a quick measure and the 168 burger classic is probably out. I'm hard to the lands at 2.747. Half the bullet is in the case. Any bullet suggestions ? I'm thinking of the 154gr sst or 150bt may work better.

 

[rodney482]

Interesting

 

[Shrek]

Interesting

Food for thought , I punched in some numbers for the 154 sst . 35ºf , 6000' , and 2675 fps which I think is a very realistic load from a 22" barrel I got 2132 fps and 1554 ftlbs with -22.85 " at 400 yards on a 200 yard zero. Plenty of energy to kill an elk. At 500 yards I still have 2007 fps and 1377 ftlbs energy. That would be my personal limit and really my comfort would be at 450 yards. I think a hot load would easily get you to 2710 + fps but a short barreled 7-08 has plenty of gas for elk to 450 yards.

 

[luke moffat]

The twist on your 7-08 fast enough for the 168s?

 

[Shrek]

9.25 twist , plenty fast enough. Berger calls for 10 twist or faster.

 

[Shrek]

If I was willing to cut the throat longer I could use the 168's but that would ruin my 140 vld deer load that I love. This would only be a backup for elk so I'm not going to rework everything to suit it. My 7mm wsm is my western rifle.

 

[luke moffat]

Why not just go with a 120 ttsx or a 140 Accubond and get within 500 yards and call it a day?

 

[Shrek]

Heck , I can do what I did last year and just take the hot 140 vld's but then I wouldn't have a new load project. If I can find a bullet that interest me I'll do it and if not I'll stick 50 of the 140 vld's in the case and ride. Unless I have a really bad day the rifle will never see the light of day for the whole trip.

 

[Rucker61]

Why not just go with a 120 ttsx or a 140 Accubond and get within 500 yards and call it a day?

With the extra room he has he might be able to fit the 145 LRX in there.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Why not just go with a 120 ttsx or a 140 Accubond and get within 500 yards and call it a day?

I agree. I would go with the 140 Accubond. They expand very well at slower impact velocities.

 

[TRIPLE]

I defenantly wouldn't use h1000.......you should just send that my way.

140 accubonds will handle elk well at 500.

 

[Shrek]

I can't see the need for bonded bullets and the cost of Barnes bullets is ridiculous and not going to happen. I think an inexpensive traditional bullet will do just fine and the 154 sst with its secant ogive has pretty decent bc's. I'll order some to try today.

 

[Rucker61]

I would opine that compared to the rest of the expense of traveling out west to hunt elk that the difference in cost of a few hundred Barnes to a few hundred of the inexpensive traditional bullet is negligible.

 

[Shrek]

I would opine that Barnes bring nothing but poor ballistics and high cost to the table. I don't foresee me hunting in California so I don't see me considering Barnes bullets. I'm a Berger fan and believe in leaving all the energy possible inside the animal. If I want a tough bullet with bad ballistics I'll buy a partition.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Barnes are one of the best killing bullets out there. I've never had a bad experience with them. I just don't like the BCs for longer shooting.

 

[Justin Crossley]

I can't see the need for bonded bullets and the cost of Barnes bullets is ridiculous and not going to happen. I think an inexpensive traditional bullet will do just fine and the 154 sst with its secant ogive has pretty decent bc's. I'll order some to try today.

Remember that there is a big difference between killing a Florida whitetail and a bull elk.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

As someone who uses the sst, albeit in .30 cal, I think at those slower velocities it would do well. The 165's I shoot from my '06AI are going around 3k at the muzzle and they blow up REALLY violently on mule deer, even at 500 yards. I'm a little hesitant to send them at an elk inside of 200 yards for fear of a rib causing partial bullet disintegration. But at those slower velocities you anticipate, I would imagine they do quite well on elk.

Edit: I still get complete pass through's on deer, so maybe I'm just paranoid.

 

[Shrek]

In the velocity range of a 7-08 I think the 154 sst will be fine . I've shot larve boar hogs in the shoulder with 140 sst's and the base penetrated fine. People will talk all day about shooting a bull with a 25-06 or 243 that the bullets will start smaller and lighter than I will have left after the tip of a 154 sst blows off and reaches the vitals. Unless I hit the knuckle I should be fine and I would need to tote a cannon to be sure on the knuckle. I'd shoot a partition or bonded bullet long before I'd shoot a barnes.

 

[LaGriz]

I would look hard at the 150 gr. Scirocco. Controled expantion design with a BC of 0.52 and good weight retention. Should be compatible with the twist in the 7MM-08 with a 22" barrel. My .280 Rem has been up to the task on 4 bulls pushing a 160 gr. Win. Fail Safe load (2800 FPS + or minus) that was discontinued back in the 90's. The .280 is only 90 FPS slower (+ or -) then a Rem 7 Mag. with the same load. Your 7MM-08 is even more efficent with slightly less velocity generated from a smaller case. Resulting in a lighter, shorter, quick pointing rifle with less recoil and muzzle blast. What's not to like? The elk might know the difference on a well placed shot.

LaGrizz

 

[Shrek]

I have 24" of barrel to burn in not 22". The 22" reference was to a shorter more compact rifle for Rodney. I'm not thinking of high dollar bullets here , I'm thinking SST's, Game Kings , ect. Top velocity is around 2800 fps and minimum is 2000 fps or 1500 ftlbs.