powder of choice for 7mm-08 Please!

[bozo699]

Hey fella's
I bought a tika t3 in 7mm-08, I just got the barrel broke in, fire formed 50 pieces of win brass all prep work done. I used IMR-4350 for break in. I would like to use 140 gr hunting bullets. My question to you all, is what would be the powder of choice for my needs,any advice as always would be greatly apreciated.
Wayne.

 

[camac]

4350 is a good powder for the 7mm-08 I also got good results from Varget (ADI 2208). Got it up to 2920 fps in a T3 Tikka and a nice accuracy node. Think the charge was around 43-44 grains (batch dependent) but start lower (say 40 or 41) and work towards it.

 

[bozo699]

Thanks camac what bullets,primers,and cases were you using?
Wayne

 

[ChrisNZ]

Same experience as Camac. 43.5 of 2208 (Varget) behind a 140 Accubond out to max magazine length (still off the throat) gives 2942 av vel in my T3. Warm enough in Win brass, 44grs was definitely too warm.. Same load shot well with 139 SSTs.

Chris-NZ

 

[camac]

I use necked down Lapua 308, BR2's (or straight 200's) and Nosler Accubonds (have run a box or two of partitions as well and good too - but more than happy with the accubonds). As Chris pointed out the only real issue is the short mag length in the Tikkas but doesn't seem to worry the accuracy.

 

[bozo699]

Thanks fella's for the info. I have a long throat as well, I think I will have my smith rechamber it and shorten up the throat so I can reach the lands with magazine length loads.Blue print and bed the action.
Thanks.
Wayne.

 

[camac]

Wayne, Before going to this expense, give it a bit of a run. A lot of these bullets don't mind a jump and shoot just as well. Some argue with the Tikka there is also little to be gained by bedding in the plastick stock as well. The actions are generally quite true and smooth. If it shoots under 0.5moa (and my bet it will) then it might be hard to improve on. A friend of mine who is a decent gunsmith made an F class laminated stock for his .308 and bedded it, crowned it, rechambered it and it shot exactly the same.

 

[bozo699]

camac,
Thanks I do plan on giving it a try. I have 50 fireformed cases it is too windy today will try again tomorrow.Wayne.

 

[1000yardstare]

My past experience with a couple of 7mm-08s suggests W760 is an excellent powder.

47.0 gr of W760 put three 140 gr Sierra spbt into one inch at 200 metres (220 yds) out of a lowly Stevens 200. Chronos at 2840 fps.

One of the most experienced and successful Ontario moose hunters that I know swears by the 7mm-08, 150 Nosler partition and 46.0 gr W760. He has never chronod the load but says after he hears the WHOP! of the bullet strike he has a dead moose on his hands.

The problem is that north of the border Win powders seem to have gone extinct - rifle, pistol, shotgun. So now use H414. Same results....same stuff?

Has Hodgdon taking over Win powders anything to do with this situation? Not wishing to sidetrack this thread but perhaps my brethern south of the border could enlighten me on this.

 

[Elkbane]

Both of my 7mm08's shoot well with Varget or H4895 and 140 gr Nosler BT's. And they just dribble deer.......42.5-43.5 gr of Varget and the NBT's just about duplicates the old Federal Premium 140 grain load....Have not recovered a bullet yet, and I get nice open wound channel, but I mainly poke them through both sets of ribs. The best brass I've found for 7mm-08 is Norma, but it's expensive. Winchester second, Federal third, Remington last (OK if you're willing to clean up necks and weight sort). The last batch of Norm brass I got was exceptional. I use Fed 210M primers.
Elkbane

 

[bozo699]

I am cleaning my brass as I speak wind is only blowing 5-7 mph this morning going to head down to my loading room and send a few down range. I have all powders and bullets listed so I should be able to find somthing that will work, will let you know this evening. Thanks
Wayne.

 

[bheadboy]

my first 7-08 was a 7 -243 in 1972 , with 5 other 7-08 in the family our most consistant powder has been imr 4064 in the lower 40gr area giving 2875-2920 depending on the gun, all have shot 1/2" all are 700 rem withSierra 140sbt and nosler bt all great deer one shotters
R/P cases, 9 1/2 primers

Bob

 

[bozo699]

Re: powder of choice for 7mm-08 Please! Updated!!

Hey Fella's,
I made it down to my range today with 50 fire formed shiney preped,and primed cases with fed 210 match. I started off with nosler 140 accubonds and the Imr-4350 I fireformed with, 1"groups @ about 2750 fps-2850 fps. I am limited to magazine length as to what I can set my seating depth to,I am @ work now and can't remember what that was. So without being able to get even close to the lands I tried powder # 2 that was suguested by camac and a couple of others (Varget)
I have used quite a bit of varget in the past and like it quite well, 42 gr as suguested 1-1.250", backed off to 40 grains 1/2" ;D Three,Three shot groups avg 1/2" ;D. I for the first time in 20 years bought less than a leupold for this new Tikka T3 7mm-08, it is a 3-12x44 Nikon with the bdc retical. 1 cross hair and 4 circles,didn't expect to like it (WRONG) I loaded up 20 rounds,dead on @ 100 yds,
bypassed 200yds to 300yds 3" low using 300yd circle,400yds 4"low,and 500 yds 4.5" low. Ran out of time before I had to head to work to make it to 600yds but I am confident with a little playing I am going to be able to make rifle/load/scope combo work for me quite well.I am sure I could play around and get it to shoot even better with more velocity.I don't plan on trying to kill past 400yds on deer size animals anyway, although I know it would out to probably 600yds. I was only able to get the 140 accubonds to fly @ 2671fps out of my 21" barrel but that is still 1765 fps @ 600 yds with 968 lb of energy! thats plenty for coyotes out in my cow pasture's. I just bought over the phone a few min ago a 7mm-08 in TC encore pistol 15" barrel with brake and rifle butt stock ;D Anyway guy's thanks for all your help, after deer season I may try some of the other suguested powders and see if I can even get it better, but for now I will install my bypod and millitary sling and really give the steal hell Thats all for now, THANKS>
Wayne.

 

[wapiti25]

I used Norma 204 with a hornady 139 fb with good results in a 18.5 barrel (2800 ft/sc)

 

[Kenny474]

I think you are about spot on with the Varget, though H4350 will probably work well also and give better load density. (I love H4350, it stems from my love of the 30-06 and heavy bullets ;D)

I'm glad the new rig is shooting so well already, should be a heck of a deer rig. Those 140gr Accu-Bonds are a really nice bullet with a good BC, and should by all means have no issue on deer size game to at least 400yds. And with only 4.5" of drop at 500, hitting them shouldn't be too hard either! Should the game get larger, the Partition's should handle about anything you need to put down.

 

[bozo699]

Kenny,
Just to clarify I am 4.5" low @ 500 yards using my bdc retical I don't know without looking it up but it probably dropes 40+ " @ that range. But with it only dropping 4.5" from point of aim in multiple retical I call that minute of deer
Wayne.
P.s
Kenny I sent you a pm a couple of days ago.

 

[camac]

Hey Wayne, Great to hear it is working for you. I found it a great combo and a good shot always worked and worked well. Only used out to 300yards though.

 

[Kenny474]

Yeah, I worded my response poorly. But I still think you will have no issue with hitting what you aim at.

I will get back to your PM, just been busy and it slipped my mind, sorry!

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

I'd take a real strong look at H414 and W760.

 

[bozo699]

JohnnyJohnson,
I have some h414 and some w760. I think I read somewhere they were one in the same? do you know anything about that? as I remember h414 was a little dirty in burning but I will give it a try.
Thanks.
Wayne.