7mm-08 for 500 yard F-class ?

[Evlshnngns]

I’ll see if I can locate my notes. It’s been a little bit.
I wanna say 2375 was about as fast as I got with them in a 26” barrel?
The 7mm BC numbers are compelling.

I'm targeting 2600+ in the improved with a 26" barrel. Time will tell if my LRP brass will hold it. Might have to get Srp 308 brass.

Laurie's post from 2023

7mm-08 for long range

I was wondering if anyone here has tried the 7mm-08 for long range competition. I realize that the .284 is probably the king right now but considering how easy the .308 is to tune I would assume the 7-08 to be just as easy. You'd give up some speed but maybe gain some accuracy? Seems like the...

forum.accurateshooter.com

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

I'm stashing the pieces for a 7-08 30° improved on an 8 twist for 180s. Mine will be for steel at 6-1000yds. Thought about doing a 308w and 185-215gr. Its kind of like the tank game, lobbing heavies.

View attachment 1619388


If I want more speed, rechamber the barrel to a 284 or prcw or 7mm-338lm or 284-50bmg...

The OP already knows a 6 or 6.5mm will do the job at 500.

I would love to see what, a 7mm-08 with, a 30 or 35 Degree shoulder, would Do with, 162 Hornady ELD-X's or M's or 168 gr., H-VLD or, Hybrid Berger's for, LR Target and Steel to 1,000 yds / and on, Deer / Elk ( at, "Reasonable" ranges ) with a 1-8.3 or, 1-8.5 twist, in a 24 to 26 inch, barrel. This Bullet weight to, Powder Volume, Ratio seem's,..
Best, IMO

 

[64Rambler]

I would love to see what, a 7mm-08 with, a 30 or 35 Degree shoulder, would Do with, 162 Hornady ELD-X's or M's or 168 gr., H-VLD or, Hybrid Berger's for, LR Target and Steel to 1,000 yds / and on, Deer / Elk ( at, "Reasonable" ranges ) with a 1-8.3 or, 1-8.5 twist, in a 24 to 26 inch, barrel. This Bullet weight to, Powder Volume, Ratio seem's,..
Best, IMO

I'm can push 162 ELD-Ms and 168 VLDs just over 2800 with a standard 7mm-08 case, but they won't fit in a magazine - single feed only. But, I have a more stable node around 2730 for both bullets that's a lot easier on cases.

 

[Liven The Dream]

7-08 Years ago. Lodi Wisconsin about 1995? Winchester Target Action 28" Krieger Barrel ,Nickle Brass all you could get then. Hornady 162gr. ( great Bullet then) Imr 4064. 1000 Yard Prone Iron Sights.
Came Home with Master Card 4 points short of High Master.
Guy at the Range had to see My Ammo ? They were I shot a .308.

I think with the Bullets of today 7-08 at 500yard would do some Damage......
Unless your at Lodi.

Have Fun make them Wonder.

 

[Wild Bill IV]

Here's my 2 cents!!!
I had a REM 700 BDL Varmint Special in 7-08. 1:9.25 twist 24" target/varmint BBL. Started reloading with 140 SGK. Nice .45MOA @ 100M. Tried 150 SGK and had .30MOA/100M. Since the MOA was improving, I reloaded 160 SGK spitzers which patterned .19MOA/100M seated at 0.002" jump using max load IMR4064!!! BEWARE, 4064 is temp sensitivity and I did not fire those loads past 80°F because I would start getting extractor impressions on the base of the case, primer cratering, and heavy bolt lift at 90°F!!!!!!!

Shot 500M target and had less than 1-3/8" 7 shot group! At that time, I did not have a chronograph! So I set the scope at 200 yards dead on! Not moving the scope setting, I Shot 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 yard paper. By measuring the bullet drops and using the trajectory charts in the Sierra manual, I was getting just a little under 2700 fps. With a 33 inch BBL, the MV would be around 225fps faster or 2925.

I could have tried the higher BC SMK but the drag increases as the bullet slows down (decreasing BC as velocity drops). The 160 SGK BTSP has a lower BC than the SMK but the drag decreases as the bullet slows down (increasing BC as velocity drops). Why change bullets, the rifle/reloads took 12 big game with 12 one shot heart kills from 20 feet to a little over 450 yards on an antelope!!!!!

BC is not the golden torch for long range hunting!! Coefficients in the study of Physics is a starting point!! In bullets, the coefficient changes with velocity changes at STP and a fixed humidity! Drag coefficients are more important but not available to civilians!!!!

Let me explain:
When I was around 6 or 7 years old, my dad, a NG Captain with an MOS of field artillery instructor, left his briefcase open with the old slide rules used for 155mm artillery targeting. I don't remember the color of one of the slide rules, but on the back, was stamp CD!! There was no rule with a BC stamping!!


THINK ABOUT THAT WHEN YOU WANT TO SHOOT LONG RANGE!!! AND ASK YOUR SELF, WHY DO SOME MANUFACTURERS CLAIM LOW DRAG BUT THEY DON'T GIVE YOU THE ACTUAL NUMBER, BUT INSTEAD GIVE YOU A SINGLE FIXED NUMBER CALLED BC WHICH CHANGES WITH RESPECT TO VELOCITY AND/OR AIR DENSITY CHANGES???

Just food for thought!!!

aim small
HIT BIG!!!!!!
BILL

 

[std7mag]

I'm can push 162 ELD-Ms and 168 VLDs just over 2800 with a standard 7mm-08 case, but they won't fit in a magazine - single feed only. But, I have a more stable node around 2730 for both bullets that's a lot easier on cases.

Barrel length??

I would love to see what, a 7mm-08 with, a 30 or 35 Degree shoulder, would Do with, 162 Hornady ELD-X's or M's or 168 gr., H-VLD or, Hybrid Berger's for, LR Target and Steel to 1,000 yds / and on, Deer / Elk ( at, "Reasonable" ranges ) with a 1-8.3 or, 1-8.5 twist, in a 24 to 26 inch, barrel. This Bullet weight to, Powder Volume, Ratio seem's,..
Best, IMO

Why a 1:8.3-1:8.5 twist?
Your bullet weights are nothing special. Just stick with a 1:9 twist and be done with it.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Most 7 mm PRC factory Barrels are using, a 1-8 Twist ( PROOF, is ) and BRUX Barrels, is having real "Good luck" with their, 7 MM, 1-8.3 Twist, So think that, the 1-8.5 would be about, "Right" for, a 7 SAUM / 7mm-08 Improved,.. so you could shoot up to, the 175 - 184's without any, accuracy issue's at, Long range.
And just, my, "personal choice" IF, i were to Buy, a New 7 MM Barrel ( LOL ).
Probably Slightly "Over Spun" but, better than,.. NOT enough, "Spin",.. JMHO

 

[64Rambler]

Barrel length??


Why a 1:8.3-1:8.5 twist?
Your bullet weights are nothing special. Just stick with a 1:9 twist and be done with it.

26" Criterion shouldered prefit 1:9 from Northland Shooters. Staball 6.5, H4350, RL16. Am currently using N555 with 180 Hybrid getting 2630 fps, but can push to 2700 before a slight smear.

 

[ebb]

If 500yds is the max 6BR, 243, 6 creedmoor, 6grendel.

 

[SteveOak]

Instead of cartridge, find the bullet you want to shoot first. Then figure out what cartridge will make it do what you want.

You don't see certain cartridges because either it's been tried, or it's been tried by someone that couldn't make it work. Alot left in the trigger hands no matter what cartridge you experiment with.

This is the best way. Determine a bullet, or at least a bullet weight, and then work back to the case.

Bullet, this determines caliber
Twist
Velocity
Case

I'll give my take on it. Take it for what you will.

For me, I like to pair the bullet with the capacity of the cartridge.

I have been toying for years with a formula to determine the optimum, or at least the optimum range of bullet weight based on the water volume of the case. I haven't figured out yet how to factor in bore diameter and 'fatness', diameter vs length, of the case.

 

[std7mag]

26" Criterion shouldered prefit 1:9 from Northland Shooters. Staball 6.5, H4350, RL16. Am currently using N555 with 180 Hybrid getting 2630 fps, but can push to 2700 before a slight smear.

I have to ask...
Where and how are you determining a "slight smear"?

2,700fps from a 7mm with a 1:9 shouldn't have any issues.
The 7mm Rem Mag and 7mm Weatherby Magnum with a 150gr is doing well north of 2,700fps.

My Mark V in 7mm Weatherby is a 1:10 and stabilizes the 175gr ABLR just fine. Yes, I've taken it out to 800 yards.

 

[64Rambler]

I have to ask...
Where and how are you determining a "slight smear"?

2,700fps from a 7mm with a 1:9 shouldn't have any issues.
The 7mm Rem Mag and 7mm Weatherby Magnum with a 150gr is doing well north of 2,700fps.

My Mark V in 7mm Weatherby is a 1:10 and stabilizes the 175gr ABLR just fine. Yes, I've taken it out to 800 yards.

Ejector swipe on back of case head. Next charge up was a swipe and firm bolt lift. Next charge up was that plus a click. Yes, 2700 is good for 7mm and 1:9, but for my rifle, with 180 Berger Hybrids, that was the most I could get out of a 7mm-08. Considering 7PRCW uses 50% more powder for 200 fps more, I'll call it a win for me.

 

[JLT]

Ejector swipe on back of case head. Next charge up was a swipe and firm bolt lift. Next charge up was that plus a click. Yes, 2700 is good for 7mm and 1:9, but for my rifle, with 180 Berger Hybrids, that was the most I could get out of a 7mm-08. Considering 7PRCW uses 50% more powder for 200 fps more, I'll call it a win for me.

I load in the neighborhood of 56 grains of N-160 in a 7-6.5 PRC and getting ~2,930. I'll bet you're loading more than 37.5 gr. of powder. With the powders you mentioned earlier, you're probably loading between 45 and 48 grs. to achieve low 2,700s. Fifty percent more powder would put you in the neighborhood of 70 grs.

 

[Evlshnngns]

I load in the neighborhood of 56 grains of N-160 in a 7-6.5 PRC and getting ~2,930. I'll bet you're loading more than 37.5 gr. of powder. With the powders you mentioned earlier, you're probably loading between 45 and 48 grs. to achieve low 2,700s. Fifty percent more powder would put you in the neighborhood of 70 grs.

What barrel length?

 

[JLT]

Thirty

 

[64Rambler]

I load in the neighborhood of 56 grains of N-160 in a 7-6.5 PRC and getting ~2,930. I'll bet you're loading more than 37.5 gr. of powder. With the powders you mentioned earlier, you're probably loading between 45 and 48 grs. to achieve low 2,700s. Fifty percent more powder would put you in the neighborhood of 70 grs.

Correct, I was thinking straight 7 PRC. I load 45.8 of N555 and use basically an electric toothbrush to settle the charge in the case, and I still get a bit of a crunch.

 

[Heman]

Most 7 mm PRC factory Barrels are using, a 1-8 Twist ( PROOF, is ) and BRUX Barrels, is having real "Good luck" with their, 7 MM, 1-8.3 Twist, So think that, the 1-8.5 would be about, "Right" for, a 7 SAUM / 7mm-08 Improved,.. so you could shoot up to, the 175 - 184's without any, accuracy issue's at, Long range.
And just, my, "personal choice" IF, i were to Buy, a New 7 MM Barrel ( LOL ).
Probably Slightly "Over Spun" but, better than,.. NOT enough, "Spin",.. JMHO

I'm on my 4th .280 Remington barrel and they've always been 1:9s had no issues with 175SMKs or 180 Hybrids. No reason to go faster than a 9 on a 7-08 if you're shooting these bullets.