7mm-08AI- yes, no?

[mattri]

Have a Savage PTA with a CBI 30" 7mm-08 barrel in a Stockade Prairie Dog/Tactical that is shooting pretty well, really like the combo.

Use it for informal targets/steel out to 600 mostly, will be taking it out west to shoot varmints and targets farther out. Would love to get to where I can enter some local comps. Nothing super serious just a lot of fun to shoot.

7mm-08 should have pretty decent barrel life, not quite as good as the 308 but better than the 260 theoretically. But obviously at some point the throat is going to go, at which point I'll unscrew it and have it re-chambered.

Considering a 7mm-08AI- half to see what it can do and half just for the fun of trying something new. Velocities will be up a tad, barrel will still be long enough to make that interesting, brass life should be great, get to play with something kind of different- whats not to love?

Anyone have any experience with this round that would swear by/against it?

 

[Glenn Powell]

I don't have any experience with it, yet. I have a barrel waiting for action and stock just itching to be cut for the 7mm-08AI. I will let you know how everything works out here in 8 months or so

 

[bheadboy]

i have a 700 bdl, trued Hart bbl 9 twist 24" 7 1/4 lb 7-08 AI you guys need to try it,

i get 3024fps out of 140 sierrs sbt and Nosler bt shooting into the mid .300's.

it is my replacement for my 280AI which weighted 9 1/4 lb and being just over 78 wanted a lighter rifle to carry at 4000ft in Wy.

email me and i will send pictures of groups and loads

Bob

 

[mattri]

Awesome thanks! I certainly have more time than that to decide- it's more of an exercise for the sake of an exercise than anything.

Thx for the reply Bob, where are you in WY?

 

[turbo54]

If you want to play, go ahead.

600 yards isn't far enough to really allow the bit of extra speed to change much.

40° ackleys can have feeding problems, if you care about the rifle being a repeater. Not insurmountable.

Personally, I lose way too much brass to run anything that requires fireforming.

Also, 708 requires ~2.950"+ COAL with a 162amax for the bearing surface to be fully north of the shoulder, the Ackley increases this. Food for thought.

 

[22BRGUY]

I've been considering this cartridge for awhile and like the info this thread is giving. It might be a real competitor for 1000 yd benchrest. Would think the 162's could achieve 2900+ fps. Thanks all and hope to see more.

 

[XTR]

Personally for a hunting rifle I don't see that an AI round gains me anything particularly useful and means that I have to fire form all my brass. (Or get one of the hydraulic formers which I'd do if I ran any AIs)

My 7-08 runs 140s easily at 2800. I can kill anything you can for less effort. The problem I see with the 7-08AI is that it's in no mans land between the 7-08 and the 284, and the 284 itself is caught out between the 7-08 and the 7Mags.

I wouldn't bother with it. If I wanted more velocity I'd either go 284 or whole hog and go 7mmRM for hunting or a RSAUM for target shooting.

162s are a questing beast, there is really no application for them in a 7-08. Optimal seating is in the range of 3.0 OAL. Significant;y longer than any mag fed short action, it is a target round, and it doesn't pay significant dividends until you get past 600 yds (outside of reasonable hunting range) and it's inferior to the Berger 180 if you are driving a mag of some variety. I'm sticking with 140s.

 

[mattri]

Thanks for the replies, rifle is built on a PTA so mag length isn't an issue.

Have been running 175 SMKs, just couldn't get the 162s to shoot.

Really not a hunting rifle, use on prairie dogs etc but with the weight added to the stock and the 30" bull its not something you want to be carrying around for sure.

I'll be kicking the idea around for a while, appreciate hearing peoples opinions one way and the other.

 

[Terry]

I like the idea of a 7-08 AI. I have 7-08's and a .284 Shehane. The thought of using the 7-08 for steel to 600 yards is very interesting.
I look forward to hearing more.

Terry

 

[bheadboy]

as to feeding problems, i have not had any, none, mine is a hunting rifle and intended for mule and elk in the desire to have the following,

moderate recoil,
light carry rifle,
short action
Luep 4.5x15 50mm
ability to take cleanly mule with 140, elk with 150/160's
mule to 500 - i have taken as far as 625
elk to 350
subsitiute for 280 AI/7mm rem mag or short mag
far less powder than 284's or any of the other mentioned in this post by you fellows

i am 78+ yr old and walking hunt in Sheridan wy area between 3500 and 5000ft. this rifle was built after open heart surgery to replace my 9 1/4 lb 280AI -- i only gave up 100fps and nothing in accurcy in the change over.

Bob

 

[mattri]

Very cool. Good to know that you're not having feeding issues in case I ever decide to build a repeater. Sheridan is beautiful, we'll be down around Green River shooting dogs next week, can't wait.

 

[bheadboy]

matti, i have shot pd as far down and over as Arlington but never to Green River, it is a beautiful area, i do pd in the Buffalo and Sheridan area,

long drive from GA but once out there nothing like it. - have a good shoot.


Bob

 

[mj2evans]

No experience with 7-08AI (but really thinking of have a M70 308 switched to 7-08) but my 243AI in a savage feeds just fine as a reapter.

 

[mattlewis]

no feeding issues in my hunting rig. rem 700 ADL. 140's@2900.

i bought it already built, not a 40* koolaid drinker, but it works just fine. i doubt i'd go to the trouble to build one over a plain 7-08, but if i had a good 7-08 that was shot out, i might punch it just to save money on a barrel.

it's not a bad plan.

 

[280Ackleyrized]

Built a 7-08AI about 12 yrs ago on a 700 DBM action and 26" Douglass #6 tube. Ran 140 XLC aka Blue Meanies @3175. Ran 140 NBT @ 3130. Like a dang fool I sold it to fund a WSM when they hit the market. It was heavy but worked great for sniping whitetails out of green fields and down power line ROWs. I had feeding issues with mine but attribute those to the DBM more than the round itself.

 

[Seeking_Coyotes]

I using Hornady 154 Accubonds for deer and long range varmints when my gun arrives. nice bc and speed imho

 

[mattri]

Kind of a side point but the 7mm-08 I have now just doesn't like Hornady bullets. I tried them first because I've had great success with the V-max, A-max, SSTs and Interlocks in other rifles but this one just wouldn't shhot them. Likes Sierras though.

 

[wyoming .260]

matti, i have shot pd as far down and over as Arlington but never to Green River, it is a beautiful area, i do pd in the Buffalo and Sheridan area,

long drive from GA but once out there nothing like it. - have a good shoot.


Bob

Hey , y'all gotta stop telling people how nice it is here........ it gets crowded enough here in October!!!!!!!!!

 

[WyoWindage]

Shot my 7-08 Shilen DGA this am at 400 yds. Five groups (3 shots) averaged about 2.4". With 162 AMax, 41 to 43 gr W760, 3.080"OAL. Wind was about 10mph R to L. Velocity was about 2450fps. Loaded single shot. This is a fairly light barrel, MS wood stocked rifle, and a Simmons Whitetail Hunter scope at 20X. Bullet is about one half way into shoulder.

Not that great, but I like what I am seeing. The best group (42.0gr) appears to be the second bull from bottom, on left side. About 2.75" with no elevation. The next bull up, 42.6gr wasn't bad. Now if I can just remember my comeups for the next 200-400-100 yd match. Ron.

 

[mattri]

Whats your barrel length? 2450 seems pretty low. I'm getting 2775 shooting 175 SMKs out of a 30" Criterion.