7mm-08 Rem success on big game

[Dougfir]

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.

View attachment 931515

I've used H 4895 quite a bit, for reduced loads for my kids, as well as in my .30-06. I've found it to be a really easy, rewarding powder, much like Varget.

 

[JGRaider]

Not meaning to beat a dead horse.......I had some great loads for my 24" McWhorter using Varget. 120's were right at 3000fps, 140 AB 2820. I chopped it to 18, added a suppressor and immediately made up for the 125fps velocity loss with Big Game. Probably not necessary, but it worked like a champ.

 

[Pharmseller]

Different Tikkas, same load.





The measurement is COAL, this was pre-BTO sophistication for me.

One-half grain below max, per Nosler, so it’s stout. Work up to it.





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[mtg]

I’m getting just shy of 3200 with StaBall 6.5 and the 120 in a 24” barrel. I’ve gotten slightly better accuracy with other powders pushing the 120. The accuracy with 139s and 145s pushed by StaBall 6.5 is much better, at least in my rifle.

 

[NorthIdahoDude]

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

Interesting, maybe I should try SB 6.5 again with heavier bullets. I ran some SB 6.5 with 140 Tipped Game Kings, and it pressured out at just barely 2700 FPS (vs Varget got me 2860 FPS without causing me any pressure concern). Bolt lift didn't get sticky, but primers got flat as flat gets and looked like a mushroom when I de-capped em.

 

[NorthIdahoDude]

I haven't hunted with my new 7mm-08 yet, but I've been knocking over deer and elk for quite a few years with a 7mm 140 Accubond out of a 7x57 at 2800 FPS muzzle velocity; does that count?

Really enjoying messing with my T3X in 7mm-08; Varget + Tipped Game Kings so far is showing excellent accuracy potential (still too small a sample size to take it to bank, but it's sure looking pretty good so far).

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

I haven't hunted with my new 7mm-08 yet, but I've been knocking over deer and elk for quite a few years with a 7mm 140 Accubond out of a 7x57 at 2800 FPS muzzle velocity; does that count?

Really enjoying messing with my T3X in 7mm-08; Varget + Tipped Game Kings so far is showing excellent accuracy potential (still too small a sample size to take it to bank, but it's sure looking pretty good so far).

Looking at the Nosler data, Big Game should give good velocity with the 140 class bullets. However, this assumes a 26" barrel. According to GRT, in a 22" barrel, N550, Leverrevolution, CFE 223, and Power Pro would be worth consideration for 2800+ MV.

 

[NorthIdahoDude]

Looking at the Nosler data, Big Game should give good velocity with the 140 class bullets. However, this assumes a 26" barrel. According to GRT, in a 22" barrel, N550, Leverrevolution, CFE 223, and Power Pro would be worth consideration for 2800+ MV.

Yeah, I'ma have to pick up a lb of BigGame just to see what the fuss is about. Varget is cranking excellent velocity for me in the 22.44 inch Tikka barrel (just a whisker shy of 2860), and accuracy looks very promising. But I've got a ton of WLRM primers laying around and who hates free velocity in a hunting load?

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

Interesting, maybe I should try SB 6.5 again with heavier bullets. I ran some SB 6.5 with 140 Tipped Game Kings, and it pressured out at just barely 2700 FPS (vs Varget got me 2860 FPS without causing me any pressure concern). Bolt lift didn't get sticky, but primers got flat as flat gets and looked like a mushroom when I de-capped em.

that’s interesting but I believe you, maybe components? I have no idea I didn’t observe that with any of my loads.

sounds like you had issues before even getting anywhere near the top end? If I understand that correctly

I took it up to

48gr with 150eldx
46.5 162eldx/m

Only time I had a problem I tried 5 rounds with CCI 250s and 162eldx. Every shot had hard bolt lift. Obviously never tried that again.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

that’s interesting but I believe you, maybe components? I have no idea I didn’t observe that with any of my loads.

sounds like you had issues before even getting anywhere near the top end? If I understand that correctly

I took it up to

48gr with 150eldx
46.5 162eldx/m

Only time I had a problem I tried 5 rounds with CCI 250s and 162eldx. Every shot had hard bolt lift. Obviously never tried that again.

I hit pressure at 47.5 with the 162 ELDX even though they grouped nicely. Dropped down to 46.5 and no pressure and groups tightened up nicely. Attached is my daughter's best 10 shot group at 100 before we went on her hunt last fall.

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

I hit pressure at 47.5 with the 162 ELDX even though they grouped nicely. Dropped down to 46.5 and no pressure and groups tightened up nicely. Attached is my daughter's best 10 shot group at 100 before we went on her hunt last fall.

Yeah I remember you posting this before I believe. Pretty sure that was where I got the idea to try the 162eldx.
Congrats to her as well IIRC you guys were successful.

I just got through 200 pieces of Starline brass. Also going to be trying out xbr 8208 with a 162eldm just for heck of it.

I’ll be packing this rifle around for all my hunts/wife’s this year.

Edit: also tempted to play around with 139SST and powders I have on hand.

 

[NorthIdahoDude]

that’s interesting but I believe you, maybe components? I have no idea I didn’t observe that with any of my loads.

sounds like you had issues before even getting anywhere near the top end? If I understand that correctly

I took it up to

48gr with 150eldx
46.5 162eldx/m

Only time I had a problem I tried 5 rounds with CCI 250s and 162eldx. Every shot had hard bolt lift. Obviously never tried that again.

Yeah, I hit pressure WAAY before top. It was 47 grains or a hair over (quoting from memory/not checking notes) under a 140 TGK seated at 2.825 or somesuch OAL. Hodgdon published data say a 140 A-Frame over 51 grains of SB6.5 produced 2976 and 59.3 KPSI in a 24 inch barrel. To be fair, my bullet is longer, but I'm seating it nearly 0.075 longer and have a much shorter bearing surface, so if anything I'd expect to produce less pressure than their A-Frame, not more.

I was using WLRM primers, if memory serves (or WLR, which is still damn-near-a-magnum primer compared to most other primers), so that might have contributed to a pressure spike I guess.

I got similar results from Hunter in the way of early pressure/low velocity (admittedly Hunter is a bit slow for a 140 in a 708), but, I tried hunter with some 160 SBT's, and that did not seem to pressure out at all, and I'm confident I could run 2700 FPS with the 160's and Hunter without any excess pressure.