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7-08 loads for deer hunting

john 800

I am thinking of have a barrel chambered up in 7-08 for a 700 I have that has a 22-250 barrel that is near the end of its life. A 7-08 is one of those cartridges that I have always looked at and said “aI should have one of those” but havent yet done it. I can (and have) certainly look at load data, but I was just curious what some of your favorite bullets are for deer and powders for this cartridge. I load for 308w, 270w, 7rm. I’m am thinking I will have powders on hand that will work. Anyone use the 130 speer bullets on deer? Ranges are from “sometimes I wish I had a bayonet” to about 300-400 yds max
Any standby loads that seem to work in every rifle like are around for 308 and 270?
 
Loaded for several rifles since my first Rem Mdl 7 in 1981. Settled on 140 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips with Reloder 15. Started with WW 760, then IMR 4064, but 15 was most accurate across the board. Started with Nosler BT's because the Nosler Solid Base Boattails performed so well in previous cartridges prior to getting the 7/08.
 
john 800 said:
I am thinking of have a barrel chambered up in 7-08 for a 700 I have that has a 22-250 barrel that is near the end of its life. A 7-08 is one of those cartridges that I have always looked at and said “aI should have one of those” but havent yet done it. I can (and have) certainly look at load data, but I was just curious what some of your favorite bullets are for deer and powders for this cartridge. I load for 308w, 270w, 7rm. I’m am thinking I will have powders on hand that will work. Anyone use the 130 speer bullets on deer? Ranges are from “sometimes I wish I had a bayonet” to about 300-400 yds max
Any standby loads that seem to work in every rifle like are around for 308 and 270?
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I bought a McGowan prefit for my tikka in 7x57. Very similar ballistics to your 7mm08. I have had great luck with the speer 145gr flat base. I have not hunted with it, but I wouldn't hesitate to use it out to 300. We rarely get 200+ shots where I hunt.

If you want something further, it would be hard to beat the Hornady interlock 139gr BTSP. I think every single deer I have shot, using a handload, has been an interlock. Never lost one ever. Never had a hard time finding a blood trail. They just work.

You could go with more premium bullets both bonded and solids, but with 7mm08 speeds and upto 400, I don't really see the need.
 
Used 47 gn H4350 and Hornady 139 BTSP for many years. Opened one buck's chest at close range and could hear him wheezing. Running right toward me. Next shot broke both front legs. Can't beat the 7-08. Went to Nosler 140 Ballistic tip for better long range accuracy. Bullets never exit the chest cavity like they do with a 308 and the deer keep on running.
 
I use sierra 120 grn Spitzer flat base with varget I shot many whitetails with this set up very accurate I have several friends that tried this also and shoot this now puts deer down quickly try it and don't look back
 
My go to bullets are the 140gr Nosler Ballistic Tip and 140gr Berger VLD in the 7mm-08.

Though i should note that I haven't shot standard 7mm-08 in quite a few years. I ream mine out to "AI".

Fastest velocities were RL17 for me. Friend uses Big Game in his, and is close in velocity. 2,916fps out of a 22" barrel.

I tried RL15, Varget, 4064, IMR4350, H414/W760.
All gave me low 2,800fps velocities with decent accuracy.

Best powder for me was Alliant PP2000MR. At 2,832fps.
 
I think everyone should own a 7-08. :)

I have given one away and rebarreled my other one to 7-08AI, but have been killing deer with them for about 25 years now.

My favorite loads are a 140 grain Nosler BT over 47.0 grains of H4350 and a CCI 200 primer. That load was leaving that 22" Browning barrel at 2725 fps. Plenty for any thin-skinned game to 400 yards.
My current 7-08AI load is a 150 grain Nosler Accubond Long Range over 48.5 grains of H4350 and a CCI200 primer. That load is producing 2790 out of a 20" barrel.
 
Dimner said:
Just incase anyone gets the 7mm08 bug. Yall will probably be happier with the 7mm mauser. I love shooting Itty bitty groups with a cartridge that has been around since before we invaded Cuba.
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For me these days component availability trumps any attraction to nostalgic cartridge selection- and I have a .250 Sav. and a 6.5 x 55 in my deer hunting arsenal which I learned to maintain a large stock when it became available. A quick check found one on-line supplier (Grafs) had 5 different brands of 7/08 vs. one for 7x57. Most did not have any 7 mauser. And finding brass won't be getting easier in the near future.
 
john 800 said:
What do you like better about the mauser?
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In all practical senses... it's just nostalgia.
The 7x57 does have 12% or so more case capacity and the standard 7x57 chamber can take the heavy 7mm bullets over the standard 7mm08 chamber.

However, being able to find off the shelf factory 7mm08 ammo is a big plus for the 7mm08. Brass is not a big deal. It's easily formed out of other calibers and ppu does a 7x57 run every couple or three months.

For the casual hunter, 7mm08 is the way to go. Me, I like odd stuff. If I was ever worried about a lack of performance in 7x57, going to would a 7mm08 wouldn't help. You'd want to go with something with more oomph
 
I have a Tikka 7mm08 that I used for a couple of seasons. It worked great with factory hornady ammo with 139 interlocks, also loaded Sierra 140 gamekings that killed a few deer with. Both bullets killed very quickly. Powders used were varget and n540.
 
XTR said:
I shoot 140SGKs over 2000MR at about 2900fps from a 25” barrel.
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Are those the lead exposed SBTs or the TGK with the poly tips?

Also, have you had any shots on deer with this load under 75 or 50 yards? Interested in the results. I ask, because I'm torn between the sierra offerings and the Hornady ELD-X. Thanks.
 
mine a the old BTSP with the lead tip. I worked up the load about 12 yrs ago looking for something to do with 2000mr after it didn’t work for F-TR. I loaded about 60 of them in new brass and have’t revisited it since.

havent shot anything that close.

i also have an identical load with 140 accubonds but I almost never take them out. Never shot at anything with them.
 
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