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7mm-08

I find myself in need of some advise with my new AB3 7mm-08 for deer hunting.
I have a complete shoulder replacement on my rifle shoulder and need some reduced recoil load data to start reloading for her.
Where can I get low recoil data to begin with?
Thanks, JC
 
Recoil “data” is hard to come by, because it’s pretty subjective. That’s why it’s often referred to as “felt recoil”. Often times when people attempt to quantify recoil they miss the mark because it has a character and is different in different firearms. If you’re looking for a load with low felt recoil you should just start at the start loads and work your way up till it starts to get uncomfortable for you.

I have seen some numbers on it (force/period), but I don’t recall it being particularly useful....to me.
 
Put a brake on it. 7-08 has mild recoil to me but with a brake it should be next to nothing. It’s a hunting rifle so you won’t shoot it often without hearing protection. I’ve never been bothered by muzzle blast while shooting at a deer and any other time I’m wearing ear protection.
 
7mm08 Rem.

140 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip

35.5 gr of Hodgdon's H-4895

2.800" coal

22" bbl gonna run around 2,450 fps
More than enough for big deer out to 300 yards.

Recoil feels no more than a 243win.

You can do a test from 33 to 37 gr in 0.5 gr increments if you want. But if your rifle shoots between 1 and 2 moa with most ammo than this load will be closer to 1 moa in your gun.

According to Hodgdons 60% H-4895 rule, you can even start as low as 26 gr and work up from there.
But for hunting deer I wouldn't go below 2,100 fps at the muzzle, to which you'll need at least 30gr of H-4895 underneath a 140 gr bullet.
 
I have a Browning Micro Hunter in 7mm-08 that I load for my wife. I load a 120 gr Barnes TTSX and the lowest load of IMR 4350 that is in the loading manual I use. She is small and it doesn't seem to bother her to bad. And she doesn't shoot that much at all. And like what has already been posted, H4895 and the 60% rule.
 
Personally I would not start below a minimum listed load, except for the case where H4895 has been tested and the practice has been endorsed by Hodgdon.
 
I use this 7mm-08 load for my girlfriend . I played with quickload checking recoil , this load is about the same as a 243 with 100gr bullets . she has no problem shooting it .

rem brass , cci200 , 120 gr nosler ballistic tip , 39.0 gr H 4895 ,
 
4895 and 120 Ballistic Tip. Works great for my 8 year old. I am a few gr over the reduced load and it is a
Kitten.
 
An often overlooked bullet for the the 7mm-08 is the Sierra 120 grain ProHunter. It puts the hurt to whitetails and is priced so you can shoot lots of them!

Recoil is tolerated very well by most in full power loads. Reduced loads are very pleasant to shoot.
 
I have extensive experience with the 7mm08 (in MY opinion, it's THE best, all-round whitetail cartridge ever designed!) and my daughter used 1 of my 7mm08s when she started deer hunting at the ripe old age of 11. I lost that 7mm08 right then. She got 2 the 1st day, both 1 shot clean instant kills. I can tell you what I did to lessen the felt recoil. It is a old Remington model 788. I put a really soft Limsaver pad on it, and used a starting load for 120 gr Ballistic tips, and if I remember correctly without digging my notes/loading journals out, it was a starting load using H380, CCI BR-2 primers, and 120 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips. Without a brake it has roughly the same recoil as a .243 when using 100 gr bullets. If you do that above AND add a brake, it would feel about like a 5.56/223.
 
I had my wife practice for a Texas deer hunt this year with a light load of Varget and 130 grain Speer BTSP. That load was very accurate and mild. She actually enjoyed practice and she has had shoulder surgery and is recoil sensitive. Hope this helps.
 
ALSO -- If your shoulder has healed well, and you are able to do normal activity with no problems, don't worry so much about it. With most modern surgery these days, recovery usually is great, and often your injured shoulder comes out better than the other one. Unless your doctor has placed major restrictions on you, I wouldn't worry about the 7 08. jd
 

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