7mm-08 Rem success on big game

[Pharmseller]

What a sissy!




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[Weldor]

Bought a bunch of 139 gr seconds, going to give them a work out this summer. Have had really good luck with 150 cup and core . Accuracy surprised me.

 

[Mogul1]

Mule deer taken last year with the 120GR NBT. 150 yards exactly. Estimated impact velocity of 2620 fps. He kicked at impact, took two steps, then toppled over. I dressed him with the gutless method, so I did not see the internals, but I assume they were soup. There was no exit, but a few fragments were found under the offside hide.

 

[Pharmseller]

Mule deer taken last year with the 120GR NBT. 150 yards exactly. Estimated impact velocity of 2620 fps. He kicked at impact, took two steps, then toppled over. I dressed him with the gutless method, so I did not see the internals, but I assume they were soup. There was no exit, but a few fragments were found under the offside hide.View attachment 877657

Are you a woman, or a child?

And remember, this is for posterity, so be honest.




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[Dougfir]

I took this cow with a 150 gr Nosler ABLR from my 7mm-08. 200 yard shot and she made it about 40 yards. The bullet was recovered just under the hide on the off-side. It's just a great all-around cartridge.

 

[casey36]

My daughter killed her first elk on Saturday with her suppressed 18” Tikka in 7-08. She was a big old magnum cow with worn out ivories and a huge body.

The load was a single 162 ELDX over 46.5 grains of SB 6.5. The shot was 185 yards quartering away, and impact velocity was around 2420. I dialed .4 mils and she placed it perfectly in the crease behind the right front shoulder. Upon impact, the cow jumped up, took a couple steps downhill, staggered on stiff legs, and fell over up hill.

The entry was caliber sized and she pulverized the heart, both lungs, and far humerus. The exit from the chest was roughly a quarter to half dollar in size. We recovered the bullet and lead core under the far hide.

I want to give a HUGE shout out to @wymtnpounder for his guiding and hospitality. He is a tremendous horseman and extremely personable and talented guide. He also has a wonderful family.

It was a special hunt that I got to share with my daughter, and a trip we’ll never forget.

Love seeing young hunters with a huge smile on their faces! Congratulations to your daughter.

 

[Kimber7man]

Just bought a bunch of 120 NBTs for my 7mm08, time to bring blood….

 

[JGRaider]

Just bought a bunch of 120 NBTs for my 7mm08, time to bring blood….

Good call........

 

[Kimber7man]

Good call........

I know, right? Ole dogzapper would be proud….

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

I know, right? Ole dogzapper would be proud….

Keep us in the loop on your load data. All this 120 talk has me wanting to dig a little deeper into my can of Varget.

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

Keep us in the loop on your load data. All this 120 talk has me wanting to dig a little deeper into my can of Varget.

It’s been brought up enough I think I’ll finally cave grab a few boxes to try out with my varget cache

 

[casey36]

Ive been loading 120grn. NBT's with Varget forever it seems. Might not always give the top book velocity but ive never had a problem getting over 3000 fps in any Model Seven ive loaded for. My current Model Seven runs an average of 3020 fps with half inch groups if I do my part and I let it cool between shots. 3 shot groups.

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

Ive been loading 120grn. NBT's with Varget forever it seems. Might not always give the top book velocity but ive never had a problem getting over 3000 fps in any Model Seven ive loaded for. My current Model Seven runs an average of 3020 fps with half inch groups if I do my part and I let it cool between shots. 3 shot groups.

When I look at load data for it doesn’t seem like there is another powder that really blows the doors of varget in the velocity department.
Seems varget is always the powder that comes up with that combo when someone mentions it.

 

[JGRaider]

IME, Varget and Big Game (with magnum primers) will do everything you ever want to do with 120's and 140's.

 

[Dougfir]

When I look at load data for it doesn’t seem like there is another powder that really blows the doors of varget in the velocity department.
Seems varget is always the powder that comes up with that combo when someone mentions it.

Varget is awesome, but for velocity, I've been able to do much better in the 7mm-08, with Big Game. I shoot 140 gr E-tips, not a 120 NBT. But, I was able to add 50 fps, or so, with Big Game. Nothing major, but if you have a good reason to want to squeeze out every bit of speed...

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

Varget is awesome, but for velocity, I've been able to do much better in the 7mm-08, with Big Game. I shoot 140 gr E-tips, not a 120 NBT. But, I was able to add 50 fps, or so, with Big Game. Nothing major, but if you have a good reason to want to squeeze out every bit of speed...

Oh ya I’ve been enlightened on big game in 7mm08, Ive done well with 150eldx,150ABLR,140BT. All with Big game.
@Pharmseller gave me some load recommendations when I reached out and asked.

 

[casey36]

When I look at load data for it doesn’t seem like there is another powder that really blows the doors of varget in the velocity department.
Seems varget is always the powder that comes up with that combo when someone mentions it.

StaBall 6.5 and Ramshot Big Game do very well velocity wise. I haven't played with them yet because I can't get them! Varget is going to be hard for me to replace.

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

Stabill 6.5 and Ramshot Big Game do very well velocity wise. I haven't played with them yet because I can't get them! Varget is going to be hard for me to replace.

I’ve ran through about a pound of SB 6.5, really good velocity. Especially with 150-162 Eldx/M

 

[Dougfir]

Stabill 6.5 and Ramshot Big Game do very well velocity wise. I haven't played with them yet because I can't get them! Varget is going to be hard for me to replace.

Yup, and if you don't care for that extra 50 fps, why bother? Big Game is more of a pain to handle. I was able to stock up when the Covid shortages moderated. I'm set for a while. Varget does seem to make life easy; they carry it everywhere, tons of data and it seems like accuracy is just a given.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Here is an interesting sim for guys like me that are running a short 7-08. I noticed burn and fill rates aren't spectacular with 44 grains of Varget, so I checked the burn rate chart and did a little experimenting. I've never used H4895, but 2935 MV with the 120 out of an 18" barrel is impressive. In a 9 pound rifle you're looking at 11.8 ft-lb of recoil and much less if shooting suppressed. This may be a sweetheart of a load if its accurate.