Remington Model 7 - 7MM-08 Success, Finally!

[joerotter]

My son has the Remington Model 7, matched up with the HS Precision Stock package and it's been a super gun to handle but we've had a heck of time getting it to shoot. VERY FRUSTRATING. We tried about (6) different box ammos from 120-150 grain, including the Precision Hunter which works through almost everything we own. We had a handload with 162 ELD-X rounds that showed promise but eventually would see flyers. We dremmeled out the stock bump in the foreend as well but that didn't help.

We finally loaded up this round, and immediately got to .75" groups at 100 Yards consistently, holding sub 1.5" at 200 yards. I thought this might be helpful for anyone looking for a solution in a barrel this light.

41.0 Grains Varget (anything hotter opened up)
2.810" COAL
CCI200 Large Rifle Primers
139 Grain SST

 

[N2TRKYS]

That seems weird. I load for 8 Remington Model Seven rifles with 3 being 7-08. All of them have been easy to find accurate loads. Yours does sound aggravating.

 

[joerotter]

I’m glad to hear that, we love all the qualities about the rifle but has been frustrating up until now. Especially when we would shoot a few rifles that cost half the price that shot twice as well! Feels great to finally see it behave!

 

[N2TRKYS]

Big Game powder gave me the best velocity with 140 grain Partition and Accubond at 2850 fps from a 20” barrel. 120 grain NBTs with Varget got me to 3000 fps. Big Game would have gotten me a higher velocity, but 3000 fps is all I wanted from that load.

If you don’t have any Big Game powder, try some. It’s worth it.

 

[OXN939]

I’m glad to hear that, we love all the qualities about the rifle but has been frustrating up until now. Especially when we would shoot a few rifles that cost half the price that shot twice as well! Feels great to finally see it behave!

Try Hammer Hunter 120s with Varget. Easy button all day long

 

[Ringbill27]

I’m wife’s Ruger American in 7mm08 hates every factory load I’ve tried in it and took me awhile to find a hand load it liked. Landed on the 120TTSX and Big Game powder shoots MOA. Still pretty finicky. I might trade it off on a tikka or pull the barrel. I’d like to stay 7mm08 tho. It’s a fantastic cartridge.

 

[joerotter]

Big Game powder gave me the best velocity with 140 grain Partition and Accubond at 2850 fps from a 20” barrel. 120 grain NBTs with Varget got me to 3000 fps. Big Game would have gotten me a higher velocity, but 3000 fps is all I wanted from that load.

If you don’t have any Big Game powder, try some. It’s worth it.

I’ll give that a try, thanks!

 

[SDHNTR]

Is it bedded?

 

[06 SB]

I have a Remington Mountain Rifle in 7mm-08 that is similar. Plain jane factory Remington 140 CoreLocks is an adequate load but everything else is 2" or more. The worst was Precision Hunter. It is in the back of my safe for further load development sometime later this year. I am planning on trying Federal Fusions, Barnes 139gr LRX and 120 TTSX. I have had good luck in other 7mm-08s with Varget, and IMR4895. If they do not work then CFE223 or other similar burning powders will be on the table.

I am not a fan of SST bullets. In my experience, they are too soft and and do not penetrate well at all.

 

[joerotter]

Is it bedded?

Technically, no, it came with that stock. We've got 'er tuned in now. I should have done that first. Once I loaded it down to 2695 fps it really stabilized. I think the factory ammo was a bit on the hot side.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I’ve never had to bed any of my rifles to get them to shoot accurately.

 

[N2TRKYS]

Technically, no, it came with that stock. We've got 'er tuned in now. I should have done that first. Once I loaded it down to 2695 fps it really stabilized. I think the factory ammo was a bit on the hot side.

Dang, that’s crazy slow.

 

[SDHNTR]

I’ve never had to bed any of my rifles to get them to shoot accurately.

I’ve never not. But then again, accuracy is subjective.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I’ve never not. But then again, accuracy is subjective.

I guess so. Some folks have to blame their inaccuracy on something.