** UPDATE II** My New Project: 7mm-08 Ackley for F-Open

[Quickoz]

Ben,

Before you chop the barrel, maybe try get some Norma or Lapua LRP brass for it and try it out? or try a 160gr class bullet and Varget? I wish I was there so I could have a go for ya. Its just worked so well for me!!!!

 

[AckleymanII]

We have been playing with R#26 in the 6.5x47L, 6.5 Creed, and the 6.5x55, seems that a hotter primer goes hand in had with R#26. We are getting ungodly velocities with great accuracy for hunting. I formed 22/250 Lapua brass for the 6.5x47L using hot primers.

 

[ShootDots]

We have been playing with R#26 in the 6.5x47L, 6.5 Creed, and the 6.5x55, seems that a hotter primer goes hand in had with R#26. We are getting ungodly velocities with great accuracy for hunting. I formed 22/250 Lapua brass for the 6.5x47L using hot primers.

I tried it in my 7-08A.I. I got incredible velocity, no accuracy and even at 50+grs. it gunked up the barrel. W-A-Y to slow for a 7-08A.I.>>> I have tried it in my .260A.I. with good results>>>>but not as good as with either 16 or 23..

 

[Longrange57]

I tried it in my 7-08A.I. I got incredible velocity, no accuracy and even at 50+grs. it gunked up the barrel. W-A-Y to slow for a 7-08A.I.>>> I have tried it in my .260A.I. with good results>>>>but not as good as with either 16 or 23..

Not to beat an old dog to death....I believe the 7-08 is a great cartridge! I like the idea of the 7-08 A.I. even better but never built one. I normally shoot 6's and 6.5's (600 and 1,000) F-OPEN. I decided a couple of years ago to play with a 7-08. 16.5 lb gun, Bartlein 8.7 twist...started at 30 inch and ended up at 27 inch with really good 300 yard accuracy. I played with several powders with Varget and H4350 doing the best. My reason for this reply is to let folks know about a few things I discovered. Tried several bullets and finally narrowed it down to 150 eld-x, 162 eld-m, and berger 180 vld. 150's were decent but nothing close to 6.5 x 47 or 6br. 180 ran at 2670 (3.029 oal jam 0.010), 43.9 H4350. Fair groups about .75 moa at 300 yd. 162 ran at 2750 (3.015 oal jam 0.010), 44.5 H4350 with fantastic groups, .4-.5 moa over course of 15 five shot groups. This was with Palma brass and 450 primer. Interestingly this primer gave 20 fps over all large primers. I had both large and small primer brass and decided to try some primers I used a few years ago (Sellier and Bellot). It shot within 5 fps of the 450's, same accuracy and very small spread. With my testing on non-improved 7-08 it makes me wonder what could be accomplished with the A.I. and extra velocity with 162 eld-m with other powders already mentioned. I think decent speeds could be achieved. I now have a great appreciation for this bullet and would probably be a toss up with 450 primer, which I really like and the Sellier and Bellot primer. This primer worked really well in 308 as well! Currently I shoot the S&B, or CCI200 in just about everything that requires large primer. 7-08 is a favorite of mine and you guys got me pumped up with advantages of the A.I. I realize that you could simply run this bullet in a 284 and be done with it, but from what I've seen the Palma brass with small primer could be more efficient. The 6.5 may still have the advantage at 600-1,000 yards and I have a few that shoot really well...but the 162 really got my attention! Hope this helps those working with 7-08....I had lots of fun with this little project!

 

[centerlineseal]

Longrange57,

Thanks for the rebirth of this thread. Time for me to get back to the reloading bench.

 

[blaster50]

I just ordered a reamer for this yesterday Palma brass will take about 70k it seems

Alex, have you had a chance to do any testing? Curious on your thoughts for benchrest viability? Not as a primary cartridge as I'm enjoying the bra immensely... but more of a conditions type gun. Something you could run quickly on a crummy day, maybe even with a muzzle break. Curious if it would tune well enough for this application?

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Alex, have you had a chance to do any testing? Curious on your thoughts for benchrest viability? Not as a primary cartridge as I'm enjoying the bra immensely... but more of a conditions type gun. Something you could run quickly on a crummy day, maybe even with a muzzle break. Curious if it would tune well enough for this application?

That was the idea. However mr. Tom was not able to produce benchrest quality brass to his standards at least. So the project was scrapped before tuning even started. Have some breaks being made that will be legal and more effective than the standard Harrells and we are going to try some 300 WSM light guns

 

[blaster50]

That was the idea. However mr. Tom was not able to produce benchrest quality brass to his standards at least. So the project was scrapped before tuning even started. Have some breaks being made that will be legal and more effective than the standard Harrells and we are going to try some 300 WSM light guns

That was the idea. However mr. Tom was not able to produce benchrest quality brass to his standards at least. So the project was scrapped before tuning even started. Have some breaks being made that will be legal and more effective than the standard Harrells and we are going to try some 300 WSM light guns

A 7saum might be interesting to try as well. What appeared to be the brass issue? Inconsistent length or issues with the necking down process? I think your definitely on to something with the light gun windy day 300 wsm... especially with a break. I wonder if defiance would supply an action with two different bolts ???

 

[Mulligan]

Yeah hope that’s the problem as I’m still really excited about this project ! I was like nooooo....... I sent Ben a couple PMs hoping this was real deal . My rifle is still months away ... componets have all been sent to smith , just long wait , hoping for feb completion ! My reamer is speced very close to quicks 314 nk and 220 fb . Thanks to all who have participated in this thread . Best wishes Ben and hope you get it singing ! Sometimes you don’t succeed on the first go , lord knows why ? I will be shooting an 1-8.5 twist . Will send pms to y’all or start a new thread on completion if it pans out !

@Ackley Kid any update on your project?
CW

 

[308 5R]

I'm glad someone else is on this trail. I'm currently gearing up for essentially the same project albeit with a different objective. I'm having a NULA rifle built in a straight 7-08. FB will run a 140 NAB at 2.950 .020" off the lands and a 162 ELD-x at 2.990-3+" single loaded. Obviously this is for hunting application but I have a jug of RL-16, and 17 waiting for January. 140s at 2900+ and 162s at 2750 is the goal. If it will print from .5-.75 moa it will be adequate as limit my shots on game to 400 yds.

 

[Kurz]

A 7saum might be interesting to try as well. What appeared to be the brass issue? Inconsistent length or issues with the necking down process?

Atlas/ADG has 7mm Saum brass for sale on their website:



I have had this brass for the last few months and it shows great consistency. It's very sturdy.

I think your definitely on to something with the light gun windy day 300 wsm... especially with a break.

The 300 WSM has proven it's abilities in F-Class for quite some time, as has the 7mm WSM. And it's Brake.

I wonder if defiance would supply an action with two different bolts ???

Yes they will. I've ordered two bolts on several occasions as long as they (bolts) match the action length and diameter.

 

[Buzz_Man]

@ShootDots I know this is an old thread but just wondering what neck tensions you tired at the higher 2700+ velocities where your groups fell apart? Just wondering if you tried a lot of neck tension (4 to 5 thou) or did you stay in the 1 to 2.5 thou range?

I am wondering if a barrel tuner like the EZELL PDT tuner could have helped the groups in the higher velocity range?

I like the thought of a 7-08AI for F Open, if it will work at the higher velocities, because I would use the same 308 Palma brass for my FTR and F Open rifle.

 

[ShootDots]

I was at 1thou ans never changed.. I don't know if a tuner would have helped or not>>>>BUT one thing for certain, it could not have hurt! I still think the 7mm-08A.I. is a viable option for F-Open, maybe with 168's at 600 and under... Or as you say, with 180s and a tuner?