7MM-08 Heavies

[bluetick78]

My youngest son (10 years old) and I have been working on reloading for a 7mm-08 this winter. The rifle is a Rem Model 7 with a 20" barrel. I've been reloading for this gun for lots of years, and have good luck with a variety of bullets in the 140-150 gr range. SST's, Speer's, Cor Lokt's, etc. My son wants to load the 175 Berger Elite Hunter. The gun has a 1-9.25 twist, which should work to stabilize the 175. I'm curious to hear if any of you have loaded anything in the 175 gr weight range, what powder did you use, what velocities did you get, how accuracy was, and how terminal performance was at different ranges on different animals?

 

[Shooter Mike]

168gr Bergers VLD-H is the heaviest I loaded in 7mm-08, with 39.5gr Varget and achieved 2497fps from a 24” barrel. Accuracy was fine- don’t recall specifics on it. Have shot 3 or 4 deer with it, inside of 250 without issue. The closest shot was 34 yards. The heart of that deer was disintegrated.


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[longridge]

I loaded some 175gr Speer Grand Slams years ago. I believe it was H414 and was getting in the 2550fps range.

I believe the 160 class bullets are often overlooked in the 7mm-08.

 

[bluetick78]

We're loading them for bear hunting in thick to semi-open country, shots shouldn't be much more than 150-200 yds. Also for treed bears. I figured a heavier, somewhat easy-opening bullet would give good penetration and good wound channels for quick kills.