What is your favorite Light 7mm-08 load for white-tails?

Joined
Feb 6, 2020
Messages
99
I'd load the 120 BT with whatever powder you choose to a book minimum, or maybe 1-2 grains over min. Velo should be 2500-2700 and will kill any whitetail that walks within 150 yards. Recoil should be very mild.

Hearing protection and having a stock that fits will be more important than the actual recoil ft-lbs.
 
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swampmaster
Joined
Jan 2, 2025
Messages
22
I already have an extra youth stock for a model 7 otherwise I am looking to a 700 cmpt with a 20" barrel. Then when he outgrows that he can get into whatever caliber he chooses. My work will be done by keeping the recoil low and fitting him with the gun to use until he gets his own. I'm hoping to encourage him to save his $$ to buy his first rifle like I did and not just have one bought and given to him. Seems when a kid associates the work that went along with earning the money they tend to appreciate what they pay for themselves.
 
Joined
May 22, 2023
Messages
384
Great load.
I'm getting just slightly more velocity (3170/3180) with CFE 223. Puts 10 rnds just under an inch out of a Montana. In 16 years it's killed about everything from coyotes to bull elk with impressive results.
I tried that CFE223 and was getting comparable velocities to big game but the it was giving 2” groups. Big game was able to give me 1 mos. I picked up this American used for my wife and it’s been difficult to find a factory ammo that’ll group at all. I suspect this is why it was traded in. I’ve was trying to get the 120gr ttsxs and the 139gr to shoot well and landed on my 120/big game combo right before season.

I’ve never had a ruger American not shoot well with anything you feed it but this one is picky.
 
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