7mm08 loads

[N5ATK]

Evening all , I started reloading 7mm08 for a savage axis2 22-inch barrel , using 150 grain nossler BT starline brass and federal #210 large rifle primers ,IMR 4350 powder I am running into an issue and thinking I have to start over load out 1-3 total of 12 rounds with barrel cooling between , (first run) #1 40.5 grains dropped a .81 group of 3 shot 4 was a flyer for a total grouping of 3.38#2 42.5 grains gave me a 1.24 grouping #3 44.5 (MAX) grains grouping was 2.48.Todays shots proved terrible - #1 42.7 grains grouping of 3.39 #2 43 grains grouping of 3 shots 1.81 shot 4 a flyer total grouping of 2.68 #3 43.5 grains grouping of 2.10.

I did try bl-c 2 powder at 39.5 grains grouping of 1.99+/- #2 41.5 grains (MAX) 1.77 grouping with a 2 in 1 (2 shots through the relatively the same hole.

My question is do I start over with IMR4350 and go .5 grain at a time as well as work with or bl-c2?

Again N00B here
Thanks
Kevin

 

[kyotekiller25]

Start over with 4350 in .5g increments. Fine tune from there. Then do a seating depth test in 3 or 5 thou increments.

 

[bozo699]

Kevin,
I don’t know much about your Axis rifle but I have several 7-08’s , there hunting rifles and there all accurate for what they are. My Tikka T3’s will hold a 1/2 moa they seem to prefer 4350 and Varget but all suitable powders shoot well in them same with Bullets but mine seem to prefer 140’s but 168’s shoot almost as well.
Wayne

 

[SeabeeKen]

Kevin, have you cleaned the rifle?

 

[Fuj]

Timely thread......Just helped out a bud with his 22" Axis in 7/08.
i gave him a small lot of Berger 140 VLD Hunters, and a half pound
of Varget. Shot a couple of 3/4" groups at 200 yards the other day
using my rest and bags. Put his bipod back on and a rear squeeze
bag, he was staying around 1.25" at 200. It will put venison in the
freezer.

 

[dryhumor]

IMR4064 worked well for me with 140s. H4350 worked well with 150s. Both loads are seated at or just off the lands. SAAMI chamber and 22” barrel.

I normally drop down approximately 1 to 1 1/4 grain off max and work up in .2-.3 grain steps.

 

[charlie b]

I've always had bad luck with 0.5gn jumps. Seemed to miss the nodes when I do that. Most times I do 10 groups at 0.1gn, starting at least 1gn below max. That way it is usually clear where one of the upper node is at.

FWIW, I've always like the Sierra manual info since it has seemed to be on the conservative side. Hodgdon max loads are frequently too hot for my guns.

PS my first deer rifle was a Rem 788 in 7mm-08.

 

[N5ATK]

picture 1 is the original load out picture 2 is yesterday's load out obviously she dont like yesterdays load out

 

[Liven The Dream]

IMR4064 worked well for me with 140s. H4350 worked well with 150s. Both loads are seated at or just off the lands. SAAMI chamber and 22” barrel.

I normally drop down approximately 1 to 1 1/4 grain off max and work up in .2-.3 grain steps.

IMR 4064 in my 7-08 Target Rifle with 162 gr. back many years made me a master at 1000 yards ?

 

[Wild Bill IV]

Evening all , I started reloading 7mm08 for a savage axis2 22-inch barrel , using 150 grain nossler BT starline brass and federal #210 large rifle primers ,IMR 4350 powder I am running into an issue and thinking I have to start over load out 1-3 total of 12 rounds with barrel cooling between , (first run) #1 40.5 grains dropped a .81 group of 3 shot 4 was a flyer for a total grouping of 3.38#2 42.5 grains gave me a 1.24 grouping #3 44.5 (MAX) grains grouping was 2.48.Todays shots proved terrible - #1 42.7 grains grouping of 3.39 #2 43 grains grouping of 3 shots 1.81 shot 4 a flyer total grouping of 2.68 #3 43.5 grains grouping of 2.10.

I did try bl-c 2 powder at 39.5 grains grouping of 1.99+/- #2 41.5 grains (MAX) 1.77 grouping with a 2 in 1 (2 shots through the relatively the same hole.

My question is do I start over with IMR4350 and go .5 grain at a time as well as work with or bl-c2?

Again N00B here
Thanks
Kevin

Good choice on a hunting rifle cartridge!!!!
I had a 1st year production, Remington 700 BDL Varmint Special in 7-08 (the freezer filler)!!!. Remington adopted 7-08 in 1980, thus the name "7mm-08 Remington", which was chambered in some of the Remington rifles lines!!!

My most accurate and deadly reload was 160gr SBT SGK , 41.3grains IMR 4064, BR-2 primers, ~ 2675ft/s, < 3/8" MOA!!!! The 700 VS had a 1:9 twist!!! 12 one shot kills (heart/double lung) on Antelope (out to 450yd) and Deer (375 yd max kill range)!!!

I believe your Axis 2 has a 1:9-1/2 twist. 150s would be perfect!!!
I looked at my Sierra manual and it shows 47.2 grains IMR 4350 MAX LOAD!!!
In all my reloading for hunting loads, the most accurate were MAX-1.0 to MAX+0.5 grains from the Sierra Manuals!!!

KEVIN, YOU WERE TAKING 2 GRAIN INCREMENTS AND POSSIBLY WENT PAST A GOOD TUNING LOAD!!!
My recommendation is:
45.0, 45.5, 46.0, 46.5, 47.0 IMR 4350 test loads!!! Watch for the pressure signs!!! While waiting for the barrel to cool, examine the cases between shots!!!
THEN, fine tune with 0.2 grain increments!!! I believe, your tuned load will be between 46.6- 47.2, but approach with CAUTION!!!
However, IMR 4064 was my go to powder for the 7-08!!! But, BE CAREFUL AT MAX LOADS WITH THIS POWDER!!! IT IS TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE!!!!!

I'm attaching a pic from the Sierra manual for the 150s in 7-08!!! The test rifle was a 24" Rem 700 w 1:9 twist!!! Test primer was Rem 9-1/2, trim to 2.025"!!! Your velocities will be and estimated 50f/s slower with the 22" barrel!!!!!

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

You have a lot of crazy going on those targets for 50 yards. Are you resting the barrel on something hard? One box of decent factory ammo(a 3 shot group or two from cold barrel) will tell you if your loading is the problem.

 

[64Rambler]

I recently pulled out my Rem 700 BDL 7mm08 hunting rifle after 30+ years of sitting. It started as a Varmint Special barrel profile, but I had is shortened down to 20.5" and skinnied up a bit. This is with Sierra 150 SpBT bullets. These are all Mag length at 2.810".

 

[N5ATK]

resting in a lead sled hornady ammo she HATES but nosler 140 at 100 yards= 3/4-1.25 moa I should add target 4(bottom right was a series of warm up shots on both pictures)

 

[64Rambler]

Good choice on a hunting rifle cartridge!!!!
I had a 1st year production, Remington 700 BDL Varmint Special in 7-08 (the freezer filler)!!!. Remington adopted 7-08 in 1980, thus the name "7mm-08 Remington", which was chambered in some of the Remington rifles lines!!!

My most accurate and deadly reload was 160gr SBT SGK , 41.3grains IMR 4064, BR-2 primers, ~ 2675ft/s, < 3/8" MOA!!!! The 700 VS had a 1:9 twist!!! 12 one shot kills (heart/double lung) on Antelope (out to 450yd) and Deer (375 yd max kill range)!!!

I believe your Axis 2 has a 1:9-1/2 twist. 150s would be perfect!!!
I looked at my Sierra manual and I shows 47.2 grains IMR 4350 MAX LOAD!!!
In all my reloading for hunting loads, the most accurate were MAX-1.0 to MAX+0.5 grains from the Sierra Manuals!!!

KEVIN, YOU WERE TAKING 2 GRAIN INCREMENTS AND POSSIBLY WENT PAST A GOOD TUNING LOAD!!!
My recommendation is:
45.0, 45.5, 46.0, 46.5, 47.0 IMR 4350 test loads!!! Watch for the pressure signs!!! While waiting for the barrel to cool, examine the cases between shots!!!
THEN, fine tune with 0.2 grain increments!!! I believe, your tuned load will be between 46.6- 47.2, but approach with CAUTION!!!
However, IMR 4064 was my go to powder for the 7-08!!! But, BE CAREFUL AT MAX LOADS WITH THIS POWDER!!! IT IS TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE!!!!!

I'm attaching a pic from the Sierra manual for the 150s in 7-08!!! The test rifle was a 24" Rem 700 w 1:9 twist!!! Test primer was Rem 9-1/2, trim to 2.025"!!! Your velocities will be and estimated 50f/s slower with the 22" barrel!!!!!

Mine is also 1st year production!

 

[dhagerty40]

I have to ask, How old is this rifle?
asking as my Savage axis shot about the same. mine is in 308. Mine is an older model as it did not have the accutrigger.
The first problem i had was with the stock. It used a cheap plastic stock and they used a pressure point about an inch from the end of the forearm. With this stock, it would throw flyers or vertically string. Also, since the gun only weighed 5 lbs with a scope, it would beat me to death when shooting it. I ended up replacing the stock with a Boyds pro-varmint stock. it added 2 lbs to the gun but flyers went away and much easier to shoot.
The other problem was the cheap bushnell 3x9 scope that it came with. after 10-15 rounds, the scope would go out of focus!

The reason I asked about the age of the rifle as Savage redesigned the stock and a friend of mine has one and he does not show any of the problems I had.

As for 7-08's I owned an XP100 Handgun with 15" barrel and a Ruger hawkeye in 7-08 (22" barrel). Both of them like VHT N140. BUT, 4350 is right in the same area and it should work.

 

[N5ATK]

I bought it about 5 or so years ago new and only maybe a box of shells fired through it till now ( total of 3 boxes of shells fired through) scope is a weaver 3x9x40 no accutrigger

 

[Wild Bill IV]

resting in a lead sled hornady ammo she HATES but nosler 140 at 100 yards= 3/4-1.25 moa I should add target 4(bottom right was a series of warm up shots on both pictures)

From your targets, you are getting vertical strings!!!
I think your synthetic stock is touching the barrel!!!!
Side loading will make a synthetic stock touch!!!
Check to see if this is true!!!

Another word of advice!!!
DO YOUR TESTING THE WAY IT WILL BE IN THE FIELD!!!
ARE YOU TAKING THE LEAD SLED TO THE FIELD???
WILL YOU HAVE A BIPOD AND SLING ATTACHED????
ADDING OR TAKING THINGS OFF THE RIFLE WILL AFFECT THE TUNE!!!
TEST THE WAY YOU WILL BE IN THE FIELD!!!
ADVICE FROM A +50 YEAR BIG GAME HUNTER AND RELOADER!!!!!!!!!

aim small
HIT BIG!!!!!!!!!!!
BILL

 

[N5ATK]

From your targets, you are getting vertical strings!!!
I think your synthetic stock is touching the barrel!!!!
Side loading will make a synthetic stock touch!!!
Check to see if this is true!!!

Another word of advice!!!
DO YOUR TESTING THE WAY IT WILL BE IN THE FIELD!!!
ARE YOU TAKING THE LEAD SLED TO THE FIELD???
WILL YOU HAVE A BIPOD AND SLING ATTACHED????
ADDING OR TAKING THINGS OFF THE RIFLE WILL AFFECT THE TUNE!!!
TEST THE WAY YOU WILL BE IN THE FIELD!!!
ADVICE FROM A +50 YEAR BIG GAME HUNTER AND RELOADER!!!!!!!!!

aim small
HIT BIG!!!!!!!!!!!
BILL

ok and how would I tell if the stock is touching the barrel>?

 

[dhagerty40]

I bought it about 5 or so years ago new and only maybe a box of shells fired through it till now ( total of 3 boxes of shells fired through) scope is a weaver 3x9x40 no accutrigger

ok, I should have posted this picture. Does the stock look like this or is it more tapered at the grip. This Picture is on the new stock they sell now.

As for seeing if the stock is touching, this is an easy way to check. Just take a piece of card stock and run it down between the barrel and the stock. if it does not go down all the way, you are touching. if you are like my stock, it will stop in the first 2 inches.

 

[Wild Bill IV]

ok and how would I tell if the stock is touching the barrel>?

Firmly hold the stock at the forearm with one hand and hold the barrel in the other hand!! Giggle the barrel gently back and forth from left to right!!! Also, take a dollar bill and try to run it down the barrel between the barrel and stock!!! A true free floating barrel will allow the dollar bill to slid up to the barrel/chamber taper!!!
Had the same thing happen on two factor bedded Browning rifles with synthetic stock!!! Noticed it using the bipod and intentionally side loaded the bipod after having vertical swings on the target like you have!! The forearm/barrel gap increased and decreased!!!

The fast fix, was placing cut brass shims (from brass shim stock) in the lug well, and shiming left and right of the well to center the barrel in the stock and not allowing rocking of the action in the stock!!! This raised the barrel away from the stock and allowed for some forgiveness in side loading and the vertical swings disappeared!!!

EDITTED PS
Aluminum shims cut from aluminum cans will also work!!!
However, aluminum will oxidize easier than brass!!!!