7-08 for F-Open

[Laurie]

I love the 7saum, one of my favorites. 3000 will be no problem with 180s.

.300 SAUM Alex, different (lower BC) kettle of fish

Have fun with your 7-08AI variant. I think you'll do well with it. After a slow and discouraging start with the straight version in F, I've come to love my baby seven and really appreciate it now.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

.300 SAUM Alex, different (lower BC) kettle of fish

Have fun with your 7-08AI variant. I think you'll do well with it. After a slow and discouraging start with the straight version in F, I've come to love my baby seven and really appreciate it now.

Got your 2 mixed up! I have not messed with the 300 saum. The 7-08ai is old hat but kind of like some other old dogs, you need to put it in the right hands to see what it can really do. Those hands are not mine by the way In br you can get away with a load a little more on the edge. Not shooting as much and getting as hot as f-class. I am hoping to see 2800 with 180 in 30" but we shall see.

 

[Laurie]

In br you can get away with a load a little more on the edge. Not shooting as much and getting as hot as f-class. I am hoping to see 2800 with 180 in 30" but we shall see.

I got the 175gn SMK to 2,797 fps (49.0gn) and 2,816 fps (49.3gn) with Viht N560, Winchester brass and Russian KVB-7 primer from 31-inches so in an even longer throated set-up, the AI should achieve >2,800 fps from a 180 with a suitably high energy powder such as N560 and Re17/26 despite the lower capacity Palma brass and with an inch less barrel. (Groups weren't good enough in my rifle though with this powder.)

Groups and ES values were much better with N165 in the high 48s to 49.2gn charge weight range (also Winchester brass for its extra capacity and KVB-7), but still not up to my base 160 TMK standards. MVs peaked at 2,688 fps with 49.2gn. Heavier charges were as said earlier too heavily compressed in the standard shape case.

 

[boltman13]

First off, thanks for all of the information, references, and expert opinions on this subject. I also appreciate Mulligans refering me to the past posts on about this same subject. I do recall now going over that thread and perhaps it was part of the genesis of my plan. Aiex, I would also appreciate hearing of your project and any information you can share. Since I will already have a 6.5 Creedmoor F-Open rifle when it is rebarreled and a new stock fitted, I am not inclined to build another 6.5 mm rifle, unless it would also be a CM. At this point in my shooting life I am not really interested in reforming Lapua 308 Palma brass. I have no experience in this and although I could learn to do it I do not feel it is where I want to put my time and money. I plan to use Lapua 7-08 brass with the large rifle primer and do not plan to push the envelope on MV. Using the 160 class of match bullets is probably where I will go but the 7-08AI and the 180's have not been ruled out. The F-TR rifle I will have rechambered and rebarreled from 308 weighs about 17.5 pounds with a Sinclair bipod. I will pick up more weight with a heavier and perhaps slightly longer barrel. I plan to keep the same stock Doan Trevor did for me as it is a real beauty and fits me perfectly. I hope I can improve my F-Open shooting skill at local matches this year using my 308 and then the Creedmoor when it is finished, and then start this project. Thanks again everyone.