7-08 and heavies

[jsthntn247]

I've got a 25 1/14 inch 9 twist barrel on a custom hunting rifle I want to shoot 162 or 168's out of. The gun was throated to keep the bearing surface in the neck and increase powder capacity. I've got allot of H4350 that I can use. I've got several reloading books and every one has a different min and max. Anybody ever run 4350 with heavies in a 7-08, what were your experiences?

 

[bheadboy]

it will make a good combination, 4350 and 4831 should make you very happy.

take Hodgdon's loads, starter and max, pick a mid point and work up from there. keep all else stable, primer, cases, loaded round base to OJ (jump) and case bumb change only the powder charge as you ladder up. look for pressure and see how it shoots and if you have a crono, look for sd/es to tighten.



Bob

 

[XTR]

For my hunting rifle I set it up to shoot the 162s, then reality hit me and I'm shooting 140s.

You are limited to how fast you'll ever get the 162s, (compared to bigger cases) and making them mag length and shooting them fast is kind of a non-starter. When I did the math I decided that I was better off with fast 140s than slow 162s for my applications.

I love mine with 140s.

 

[jsthntn247]

For my hunting rifle I set it up to shoot the 162s, then reality hit me and I'm shooting 140s.

You are limited to how fast you'll ever get the 162s, (compared to bigger cases) and making them mag length and shooting them fast is kind of a non-starter. When I did the math I decided that I was better off with fast 140s than slow 162s for my applications.

I love mine with 140s.

I have a load that stacks 140 accubonds. I had this one built on a long action action so I could use long bullets. I started at 44.4 up to 46.4 of 4350. If it doesn't shoot well I'll go back to the 140's.

 

[slm9s]

I have a custom 7-08 that loves h4350 under berger hunting vld 168s. No, they don't start out screaming fast, but they do very well at long range. One of my most accurate rifles.

 

[bheadboy]

my lsdy 7-08 is a AI, and wow, the 140 easily go 3025 and shoot one hole, the 160's clock around 2900, whats not to like.

Bob

 

[Fordnutter]

I built a long throated 7-08 that gave me a 162gr Amax seated with the bullet base at the base of the neck. This worked out better than expected with 162's averaging 2,700fps behind h4350 or RL17 with 24" barrel. I found the secret was to use Lapua 308 small primer pocket brass, CCIBR4 primers, H4350 powder & a 162gr Amax seated with about 0.005" jump gave amazing accuracy with suprising good velocity. In a weak moment a mate wanted it more than me, I'll build another one I was so impressed. Expect an easy 50fps if not 100fps gain - also give some thought to a "Long throated" 7mm08 AI!
That will probably be the next build.

 

[jsthntn247]

Shooting it now and have a good node at 44.6 and 2650. Expect to see another around 46 and 2720. Will know shortly

 

[Quickoz]

I have a long throated 7mm08AI 180gr VLD. Does very nice. Im loving it so much I'm probably going to get another barrel and reamer set up for short range bullets ie 162gr amax. I now have 1100 on hand on ill do a lil testing with those aswell. Part of me thinks why will I ever need another cal? Hahaha. H4350 will be your friend with this cartridge.

 

[jsthntn247]

From top left to bottom right. 44.4, 44.8, 45.2, 45.6, 46, 46.3. The second shot went low on 46 and 46.3. Thinking about doing a seating depth test at 46. After that I will tweak powder charge in .2 from 45.6 to. 46.2. What you think?

 

[swd]

I shot a lot of 162 A Max's out of mine. 4350 works fine. I settled on RL17. It went a little faster with even better accuracy. A great, underrated cartridge. It nips right at the heels of the 260 at 1K.

 

[jsthntn247]

Shot a seating depth test today and Settled at .012 off and 45.8gr. ES was 6fps at 2690. Theses were 168 classic hunters.

 

[johara1]

I used 46+ gr. of 4350 and the 162 amax about .010 in and it was super, some groups were in the 1/4 min. range but the down side they wouldn't come close to fitting in the magazine. Seated them to fit and they wouldn't shoot. So i went to the Berger hunting 140's and they were good enough 1/2 min.and they fit in the magazine. A 22" SS. Savage recrowned and bedded in Boyds stock that will just amaze me sometimes ……… jim

 

[normmatzen]

I have some experience with 7mm 162 gr A-MAX's.

I have a 7X57 hunting rifle (kind of like the 7-08) and a 284 WIN F Class and Heavy gun BR. I have found that it is a fallacy that 162 A-MAX is a short range bullet! It does just fine at 1000 yd at about 2850 fps!
And I christened my sporter 7X57 a couple years ago with a black tail and a small pig within 30 min! The 7X57 was shooting 162 A-MAX at about 2650 with RL-17. Problem was, the A-MAX made REALLY big exit holes and ruined a lot of meat on small, thin skinned game like Black Tail bucks and small pigs! But, even at only 2650fps, they still have pretty good accuracy at long ranges.

I've changed to 140gn Barnes TTSX for the 7X57 and still like 162 A-MAX for 600 and 1000 yd BR and F Class. No real difference compared to 180 gr Hybrid Bergers in my 284 WIN barrel with H4831sc.

 

[shooter65]

H4350 or IMR?

I used 46+ gr. of 4350 and the 162 amax about .010 in and it was super, some groups were in the 1/4 min. range but the down side they wouldn't come close to fitting in the magazine. Seated them to fit and they wouldn't shoot. So i went to the Berger hunting 140's and they were good enough 1/2 min.and they fit in the magazine. A 22" SS. Savage recrowned and bedded in Boyds stock that will just amaze me sometimes ……… jim