New 7-08 AI project rifle now finished

[bheadboy]

Well here we go, I have been given OK from Dr following open heart surgery and now need to minimize weight and gear for hunting in WY at 4000ft.

So- setting aside my custom 280 AI rem 700 Hart which i love and has been great- weight 8.7 pounds, smaller day pack less "stuff" smaller lighter spotting scope,etc.

The project is now THE GUN! i have taken a 700bdl 24" fluted number 3 taper rem short action 7-08 and restocked it in a light weight HiTech stock, and sent it to R. W. Hart in Penn. for a truing, crown, 7-08 Ackley chamber, bolt lap etc.

I looked at Leupold and the 4.5x14 50mm I have been using is 2 oz heavier than the 3.5x10 50mm so that is another saving.

I took two fired cases from the 7-08 chamber and the water vol. is 56.3 gr. It will be interesting to see what the AI version is and then see what happens with the velocity and accurcy. I expect the gun back soon and will keep you up to date.

Bob

 

[Nodak7mm]

Re: New 7-08 AI project starting - to be continued

Keep us posted, I am thinking about a very similar build for the same reasons..

Rod

 

[nwkman]

Re: New 7-08 AI project starting - to be continued

+1 on this!

 

[bheadboy]

Re: New 7-08 AI project starting - to be continued

I am told the finish rifle will be shipped to me late next week, that gives me time after Christmas, to fire form, crono, group and see what it does, i will let you know

Bob

 

[Nodak7mm]

Re: New 7-08 AI project starting - to be continued

Pix Bob, Pix..... ;D

Rod

 

[Kenny474]

Re: New 7-08 AI project starting - to be continued

Great on the rifle and everything else, but I'm just glad to hear your doing better after the surgery! That's what's really awesome.

And yes, pics would be awesome! ;D

 

[bheadboy]

Re: New 7-08 AI project starting - to be continued

thanks for the good thoughts Kenny, God is good, the whole process is an amazing experience, two bypass and an aoritic valve, Feb 28 and today i work out 3 days a week for an hour and feel better than for years. -i work 40 hours at my dry cleaning business

I have been weighing brass R/P and have 40 cases +/-.2 gr, all primed and ready to fire form, after which i will inside clean primer hole, trim to length, turn necks re throat measurment, they now are running 12.5-13/1000' so not much to take off

I have saved the two cases i fired prior to the AI chamber so will fire them first to get the % increase in water volume.

When it returns i will take pic of the rifle and fired case vs AI and let you know the % water increase.

Bob

 

[flatlander]

Re: New 7-08 AI project starting - to be continued

Bob - Good to hear that the surgery resulted in such positive recovery. Wish you well & continued health.

My approach is pretty different, albeit with a similar cartridge. I'm building an AR10 on a set of J-D Machine receivers, using a 27" Krieger 1:10 blank that I'll finish at 24" and chamber with a PTG reamer ground to leave body taper the same as original, but changes the shoulder angle to 30*. It'd be interesting to compare notes on case capacity to see how the 30* shoulder case compares to a full-on AI case.

I've long wanted to build a 7-08, especially after building a couple of straight 284s. Love the selection of 7mm bullets, and am looking forward to work with the lighter end of the 7mm bullet spectrum.

 

[bheadboy]

Re: New 7-08 AI project starting - to be continued

Dennis, that sounds interesting, some what like a 7mm 300savage with a longer neck, i love the savaage case and it was my first deer gun in 99sav..

I am thinking of starting out with h414, the 4350's and RL17 as i think the burn rate and bbl length will match well with a 140gr. I have used the Sierra sbt and the Nosler bt with great results out of my and my sons 280Ai's so i want to stay with the same bullet andhopefully get sub .5" at 3000 fps plus.

If so, then i have saved 1.5 lbs and kept a 500-600 yard gun. i have taken mulies from 100yd to 625yd in wy so would like to still have that reach, Elk taken out at 485.

Merry Christmas to all
Bob

 

[bheadboy]

Re: New 7-08 AI project starting - to be continued

Merry Christmas, things are changed on my project, my Christmas and birthday present--

My two sons and my daughter have secretly conspired to have a Hart 1x9 twist #3 fluted 24" bbl installed in the 7 08AI on my 700 which i was going to leave the Rem bbl. -Wally and Bobby Hart, long time friends have responded in keeping this secret from me on my frequent calls

Thus a slight delay in my getting the gun back, so i will keep you posted and even more looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Bob

 

[Kenny474]

Re: New 7-08 AI project starting - to be continued

Congrats on the present from the family and getting a barrel upgrade. Hart, as you likely know, make a very good barrel. I'm sure you will have one heck of a shooter on your hands, definitely worth the wait!

Good luck and have fun with the new rifle when it arrives.

Kenny

 

[bheadboy]

Re: New 7-08 AI project starting - to be continued

Ok fellows, I got the rifle today, unfortunately it is snowing, I will take pictures and try to fireform 2 cases tomorrow to see the % increase in water volume.

I will post the results and pictures. it seems the crono and target punching will have to wait. I will also relate the weight with scope so we see how much weight i have cut vs my 280AI

Bob

 

[HillbillySniper]

Re: New 7-08 AI project rifle came in today

Bob sounds great I cant wait to hear more info on this round ive been kicking around the 7-08AI or the 6.5x55AI but after more research im really leaning towards the 7-08AI but Im thinking of necking down 308 Palma brass to make my 7-08 brass not sure how itll work but gonna be worth a try.

Hillbilly

 

[bheadboy]

Re: New 7-08 AI project rifle came in today

Hillbilly,

I it tried the 6.5-08AI and with 26" bbl it was a failure, they take 28-32 " tubs to get the velocity uo with slow powders, forget the 6.5 -08That is why the 7-08 AI project.!!!!
Bob

 

[twoodard]

Re: New 7-08 AI project rifle came in today

looking forward to this one also, cant wait

 

[bheadboy]

Re: New 7-08 AI project rifle came in today

Lousy weather, I did get to fire out the basement door 2 rounds,

fired case
neck .314
shoulder .459
head just before web .469
head to shoulder junction 1.640

Sized case (redding dies 40 degree
neck .307
shoulder .457
head just before web .4685
head to shoulder junction 1.638

neck thickness truned .013

So we wait for weather to fire form the rest, and start load development
The case water capacity is up 4.6% so i will start at max loads and work up from there in a ladder test using my Oehler 33.
this is a 700sa trued, Hart 9 twist 24" fluted #3 taper weighs 7.4# scoped

Bob

 

[HillbillySniper]

Re: New 7-08 AI project rifle came in today

Bob,
What powders and slugs are you gonna be trying out?


Hillbilly

 

[bheadboy]

Re: New 7-08 AI project rifle came in today

Hillbilly, my first thoughts are for H414, H4350, and rl17, as the 24"bbl should burn them with no problem and them should offer good velocity and load density,

On my 280AI i found h4350 and h4831 did the trick in the 26"bbl with only .0007" case head expanison and low pressure signs - 140's at 3140fps shoot .340"

I will try to get the velocity up and keep the pressure ring below .001" - I am looking for 3000+ and sub .500" with 140sbt and 140bt

Bob

 

[HillbillySniper]

Re: New 7-08 AI project rifle came in today

Bob, sounds good I'm thinking H4350 or even varget shooting the 162gr Amaxs. A buddy that I hunt with has a 7mag shooting the 162 Amax and it was a gernade I've always had good luck with the Amax line as a hunting slug. Keep the updates coming watching the thread closely. Thanks


Hillbilly

 

[Chuckw]

Re: New 7-08 AI project rifle came in today

i have been considering building a 7mm-08AI for some time to shoot the 162 a-max. i dont think with the 140's there would be enough difference in performance to justify the cost of fireforming brass. to me the BEST reason to AI is horsepower but it doesnt seem show up near as much with the lighter weight bullets. i am very interested to see how the project turns out. i hope you end up trying some 162 or 168gr bullets as well.

chuck