7mm-08 short barrel recommendations

[BlakeJ]

I'm about to chop a few inches off a tikka 7mm-08 to make it easier to handle with the suppressor I'm going to use on it. Does anyone have any advice on what barrel length to go with, and what pills to try out for loads? All I'm really looking for are ballistics that would let the bullet reliably expand out to 500-600 yards. Thanks.

 

[A382DWDZQ]

Here’s one of the ballistic calculators I use frequently.
Estimate a loss of 25fps per inch of barrel you take off. For out to 500 yards, I think most bullets around 150gr would get you there with a 16” barrel. To get out to 600, you may need to only go 18”. If you throw a faster twist barrel on, you can run some long range bullets with a better chance of stabilizing and that would get you back down to 16”, but I don’t think I would try it with a stock Tikka barrel. ABLR and LRX are around 1500 minimum impact velocity per manufacturer, but I would leave myself some room on that as well, and check my load’s B.C. at 500 as well.

 

[Elite]

Mines 20” and had loads are 2800 140 accubonds


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[A382DWDZQ]

Mines 20” and had loads are 2800 140 accubonds


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That’s excellent!

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

If you look at Hodgdon's reloading data page, a guy can theoretically get 3,000 MV and change with 120 Nosler Ballistic Tips and staball 6.5 in an 18" barrel, assuming 25fps per inch reduction from 24". I just got a new Tikka 7-08 and this is the load I'm starting with for rifle. I'm gonna check velocity with the factory 22" barrel and then cut/thread.

 

[sierracharlie338]

18-20 depending on your goals. 16 possibly if you have a longer suppressor

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

If you look at Hodgdon's reloading data page, a guy can theoretically get 3,000 MV and change with 120 Nosler Ballistic Tips and staball 6.5 in an 18" barrel, assuming 25fps per inch reduction from 24". I just got a new Tikka 7-08 and this is the load I'm starting with for rifle. I'm gonna check velocity with the factory 22" barrel and then cut/thread.

View attachment 658663

For what its worth I haven't hit the velocities published with staball 6.5 in my usage of it so far. Its a perfectly fine powder and I'm using it in my 243win and the velocities are on par with other powders, it just isn't the extra 100-200fps that hodgdon is posting up over most other powders. IE keep expectations in check you may not get that much oomph.

OP, I was looking at the same thing a couple months back but temptation go me and I opted to order a 284win barrel at 19" vs chopping my 7-08 barrel at this time. I like to tinker though.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

18-20 depending on your goals. 16 possibly if you have a longer suppressor

My suppressor (if I ever get it out of jail) is 7", and at 18" I'm still at 25" which I'm comfortable with.

 

[prcwv]

Savage Storm lightweight factory SST Superformance says 2950 from 24 inch barrel I doubt they are but here's what they do from 16.5 inch barrel. I love this gun. An shoots around .75 with factory hard to beat.

 

[astocks2622]

I just shot 150gr core-lokts through a friend's 22" 308 Winchester Mod 70 and a 16.5" Ruger Hawkeye because I am looking at getting a compact 7mm-08 for my daughter and was curious about speed loss.
I got 2740fps with the 22" and 2520 in the 16". I assume the 7mm-08 would get similar results as far as velocity loss.

 

[prcwv]

Seems about right. I'd like to tried 24 inch but idk if I ever seen a 24 inch 7mm-08. With a suppressor that Hawkeye be a excellent kid gun. If they offered left hand I would of gotten one

 

[astocks2622]

Yeah, I'm looking for a Left hand 7mm-08 for her too. They're like hens teeth unless you want to get a savage axis. Going to find a full size and cut it down to 18" and 12.5" LOP

 

[prcwv]

Yeah, I'm looking for a Left hand 7mm-08 for her too. They're like hens teeth unless you want to get a savage axis. Going to find a full size and cut it down to 18" and 12.5" LOP

My Storm Lightweight was 20 inches to begin with weighs under 6lbs lil extra change to get one left handed but savage will do it. I recently got a Savage Apex hunter in left hand. Their about $630ish variety of caliber comes with 3-9x40 vortex just an extra scope but has the adjustable length of pull be one to consider. All in mine with a suppressor at 18 inches weigh 8.5lbs in 7prc so shot action be better. I figured if I was gonna have the barrel I'd go cheap. I tell ya best left handed gun in my opinion for the money is a Tikka
I bought a 22-250 an rechambered to 22 creedmoor an I love that gun. Light shoots good bolt is like butter. Winchester is offer xpr in lefty too not many calibers

 

[prcwv]

An that's a long action magnum.

 

[CentralFLMike]

Yeah, I'm looking for a Left hand 7mm-08 for her too. They're like hens teeth unless you want to get a savage axis. Going to find a full size and cut it down to 18" and 12.5" LOP

Ruger offers a lefty American Predator in 7mm-08 with a threaded barrel. Mine shoots well under 1 MOA at 100 yards with factory 139 SST ammo.

 

[01Foreman400]

My Tikka is at the smith right now getting cut to 16.5”.

 

[GLB]

I’m running 2720 FPS with a 20” Kreiger barrel using 140 Accubonds and Varget.

 

[Loper]

My Storm Lightweight was 20 inches to begin with weighs under 6lbs lil extra change to get one left handed but savage will do it. I recently got a Savage Apex hunter in left hand. Their about $630ish variety of caliber comes with 3-9x40 vortex just an extra scope but has the adjustable length of pull be one to consider.

I’ve considered getting a savage lightweight storm in left hand but was hesitant because of the process of going through the custom shop. I haven’t heard of anyone doing this for a LH.

How long did it take to get your rifle from the moment you ordered it?

What was the extra cost?

Why didn’t you get the barrel cut and threaded to your desired length right from the factory?

 

[EdP]

I get 2500 fps MV from my 20" Rem M7 with 140 gr GKs. The Hornady ballistics program shows energy dropping below 1000 ft-lbs between 425 and 450 yds. If you stick to the old thumb rule of 1000 ft-lbs for deer size game, a 16" barreled 7mm-08 for 500-600 yd may be a stretch. Others got MVs a few hundreds of fps faster with the same weight bullet and that difference may get you out past 500. I would suggest you see what you get with the bullet you want to use in your current barrel and take that into consideration before deciding how much to cut off.

I realize there has been a lot of discussion recently that the old thumb rule doesn't apply anymore. That's because apparently some shots have been made at long distance that were perfectly placed and dropped animals where they stood. To me, when shooting at distances where wind becomes a significant factor, the old thumb rule is more applicable than ever for most shooters.

 

[astocks2622]

Ruger offers a lefty American Predator in 7mm-08 with a threaded barrel. Mine shoots well under 1 MOA at 100 yards with factory 139 SST ammo.

Thanks. Yeah, I've looked at that, but I'd have to get an aftermarket stock to get it short enough for her. Still an option though