7-08 case/rifle

[Nvreloader]

Well, a pleasant surprize happened,

The G-son (10yrs old) won a new Howa 7-08, 20" bbl w/1x9" twist, at the Reno NBH dinner, brought his new rifle to G-pa to load ammo for it, how hard can this be, just neck a 308 down to 7mm and go for it, wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The 308 sized to 7mm-08 spec is TOO short in neck length, this OEM chamber has a neck length of .355" total length, per measurements/chamber cast etc, approx .055" longer than OEM neck length.

This chamber needs small based dies to fit the brass properly, as regular dies won't size down the base small enough to fit the chamber. The maximum overall loaded case and magazine length is 2.850", a very good plus.

So, it appears that I will NEED form the 7-08 brass from Win 06 brass, along with the proper neck reaming/turning etc. I have several thousand Win 06 cases that weigh .01gr of each other to form this brass from. I already have an RCBS die form set that takes 06 to 7x57 to 257 Robts to 6mm Rem case sizes with all the proper form dies/reamers etc.

According to QL, RL-17 gives the best ballistics for a 140gr bullet Patition for deer/elk load etc, for this 20" bbl length.

Care to give any other info that may be of a help etc with this case.

None of my other 7mm/284 calibers has given me any problems etc. I just don't like the 308 case for some reason, not when I have my trusty 06 handy.

Tia,
Don

 

[bozo699]

Well I am not trying to e rude but I am in complete Awe! You can size down a .308 case to fit your 7/08 I have done it lots of times BUT!! why would you do that to a 10 year old boy?...Just spend a few dollars and buy some headstamped 7/08 brass, teach him how to properly load and how to shoot and hunt, then someday teach him how to wildcat. I can only see bad things possibly happening from this.
Wayne.

 

[bheadboy]

for a 10 yr old, head stamp is clear id of ammo

buy 50 new 7-08 brass and keep it in a separate box, as a hunting rifle, he will never wear out 50 pieces and that is plenty to work up loads.

my sons and I had 7-08 using 4064 and 140sbt. at 2850, great deer dropper. they usually got 1/2-5/8 groups with 3x9 leupold scopes.

Bob

 

[Nvreloader]

Wayne/Bob, FYI,
The G-son (Hunter) already loads his own "17 Hunter" case (17 cal Hornet based wildcat,which I built for him) under my supervision, has over 30+ Big Game hunts under his belt, for Deer, Speed goats, Elk and Desert B Horn, (his dad is a guide/fur buyer), and has spent the last 4/5 yrs on a 200+ trap line for cats/coyotes of his dads and my trap lines etc.
He has his own rifles/shotguns that he hunts with every year, under direct supervison, knows how to trap and grade furs, so I believe, he is quite capable to understand the caliber selection regardless of the head stamp. All this family does is hunt,fish and trap for the last 50+ yrs etc.

What is in question, was the short neck of the reformed 308 case as compared to the OEM chamber spec's of this rifle, I am dealing with.

Seeing that the reformed 308 case averages about 2.025" in total length per my measurements, and I need a total case length of 2.055" trimmed length to fit this chamber, so it appears that I should make new cases from other brass to PROPERLY fit THIS chamber etc. I just don't like this short necked reformed brass in continued shooting and causing problems down the road, from a ringed chamber etc.

Tia,
Don

 

[nastynatesfish]

Ya same with me. I se Hornady 308 match brass to load my 7-08. No issues, once size chamfer and load. I don't need small base dies. What kind of 308 brass are you using?

 

[nastynatesfish]

If the brass "rings" your chamber id say you have other issues. The brass will stretch and fit the chamber eventually. Also if it's just gonout abd buy some 7-08 brass let me know where cause I can't hardly find it. I'm sure the other head stamp will be fine. Honestly I wouldn't worry 2 seconds about the brass being a little short.