Whats wrong with the 7mm08?

[Fordnutter]

Jimbires...interesting results there! Accuracy doesn't look very shabby at all. Have you found Reloader17 to be overly temperature sensitive in your testing? I've only got half way through testing the 180gr Berger VLD's so hopefully some data for those interested soon

 

[jimbires]

ford , my chrony is goofy . when the sun is bright it reads different than on a cloudy day . I've got to figure this out , maybe try to BOX (corrected ) it in some ? . so I try to be at the range before , or at , daylight and shoot ASAP before the sun makes it over the roof , when I'm collecting chrony data . so far I'm very happy with the RL17 powder , it seems to be very temp stable . I've shot this load in temps from say around 50*F to low 90's*F without pressure signs . I was a little concerned using RL17 , because I was reading how the pressures would unexpectedly show up . so far I have had no problems using it . I think RL17 is a good powder to work with . in fact I'm going to try it in my other 7-08 after hunting season to see if I can improve that rifle . I'm using IMR4064 in it right now . it shoots well with a velocity of 2840 . RL17 might be an improvement , time will tell . this is the rifle / load I shot the bigger center spot on the 200 yard target pictured in my last post . it's about 1.75" @ 200 yards .

I'm real interested to see how your making out with the big 180's , so keep us posted . Jim



9/16/11 I had wrote " BOW " my chrony in . I meant" BOX "my chrony in . Jim

 

[mattri]

Very interesting thread- good posts by all.

Have been thinking about a 7mm-08 for my next build.

If mag length weren't an issue, a single shot or LA build, and using a +/- 30" barrel, where would the 7mm-08 sit as a med-long range (600-1k) round?

 

[flatlander]

mattri,
I'm kinda curious about using the 7-08 in longer bbls. also. I've got a couple of LR prone rifles in straight 284, and love the accuracy at 600-1000yds with 175-180gr bullets. Recoil's a little stout for shooting off the bench, but fine for prone with a coat & sling.

I've got a reamer for a 7mm-08 AR30, which blows the body forward about .065" & changes shoulder angle to 30*. Have used it in a 25" Krieger 1-10tw on a DPMS-style AR10, but am very curious as to how well it'd work in a bolt rifle, compared to the 284s.

Also have another reamer in 6.5mm that follows the same path of improving the -08-based case - maybe a switch-bbl. rifle with bbls. in both 6.5mm & 7mm versions of this case would be a good project. Would prefer to build on an action with integral recoil lug like the M70, Sako, or Howa.

 

[Byrnsey]

Just trying to work out how RE17 would go behing Nosler 140Grn BTs.

So can someone measure the length of the bearing surface on a Berger 7mm 140gn Hunting pill please and post answer.

 

[Fordnutter]

I've really enjoyed experimenting with the 7mm08. Based on my experiences I think it will perform well certainly out to the medium F class range. My mates have gone the 284 route - they are superbly accurate but recoil starts to get a little stout with 180grainers. I'll happily trade some wind bucking ability for less component cost & reduced recoil. Still a 162 or 168gr at around 2,850 which yourl get in a 32" barrel is nothing to sneeze at. I'm planning my own f class rifle in 7mm08 & hope to have the components for Christmas.

 

[Nik]

Welcome to group! If we could standardize our rig...... Hey you might want to ask Scott is you can have Serial No 21. We got 19 and 20. I could standised it by using NF. Any idea about barrel weight/profile? I am staying with 32", profile would be lightish. Bro is going all the way. For goodness sack, don't go for skinny barrel anymore.

 

[jimbires]

So can someone measure the length of the bearing surface on a Berger 7mm 140gn Hunting pill please and post answer.

as close as I can eyeball this it is 0.370 . Jim

 

[bheadboy]

Absolutely nothing, unless you try the 7-08AI then the std case is a nice but not as much of a good thing!!
bob

 

[Byrnsey]

Thanks Jim

 

[Fordnutter]

Jimbires,
Have you tried the Berger 140gr hunting VLD's on game? Been doing some load developement with my hunting rifle with these are boy are they accurate! Did the bottle test (2.25lt Coke bottle fill with water) at 100yards to check for splat factor expecting total devastation & got a neat hole inside & out with no apparent expansion & a slow dribble of water. Weird maybe a one off & not representative of the experience ive can with the VLD's in other calibres.

 

[jimbires]

Jimbires,
Have you tried the Berger 140gr hunting VLD's on game? Been doing some load developement with my hunting rifle with these are boy are they accurate! Did the bottle test (2.25lt Coke bottle fill with water) at 100yards to check for splat factor expecting total devastation & got a neat hole inside & out with no apparent expansion & a slow dribble of water. Weird maybe a one off & not representative of the experience ive can with the VLD's in other calibres.

ford , no I have not hunted with these yet . I'm going to give them a try this season . I'm hoping to get a shot under 100 yards and also a shot over 400 yards . I'll be hunting whitetails . I shot one into water jugs at 20 yards , not much left . I shot another one into jugs at 100 yards , it looked better . these bullets are designed to penetrate 2 - 3 inches then violently expand . from what I've read usually you don't get an exit hole . I sure like the accuracy too . Jim

20 yards

100 yards

 

[mattri]

Excellent thread!

If I'm understanding this correctly the 7mm-08 is a very capable med-long range round, very accurate with enough energy for hunting.

At what point does the 7mm-08 overshadow a 260? For example, if only shooting paper at 300-600 yards which would be preferable?

 

[Fordnutter]

Excellent thread!

If I'm understanding this correctly the 7mm-08 is a very capable med-long range round, very accurate with enough energy for hunting.

At what point does the 7mm-08 overshadow a 260? For example, if only shooting paper at 300-600 yards which would be preferable?

The 260 Remington & 7mm08 are virtually ballistic twins. Where the 7mm08 will shine would be a hunting application where you can shoot projectiles as heavy as 180gr if required. Out of interest in my long throated 7mm08 the 162gr Amax can be launched in excess of 2,800 fps - that's some serious clout at the business end.

 

[mattri]

Wow- those are some awesome numbers. Where we live there are no long range hunting applications but there is a 600 yard range not too far away. Have been looking at both the .260 and the 7mm-08 as candidates for the next build. Will be soley a bench gun for shooting paper- they both look great.

 

[Fordnutter]

If it's paper only I'd probably sway more towards the 260 Rem - less recoil & off the shelf Lapua brass available I find my 7mm08 great but then it's used as a multipurpose rig for informal target, varmint & large game rig. Furtherest kill to date 700+ yards on a goat with the 162gr Amax

 

[Fordnutter]

Well finally managed to get out to the range on Sunday & do some testing with the 180gr Berger Hunting VLD's in my 7mm08. I'm running a 24" Trueflite 1-9" SG ultramatch barrel with a particularly long throat, Neckturned 308 Palma brass, CCIBR4 primers & Reloader 17. Firstly the accuraccy was pretty darn good & the velocity was up to a suprising 2,620 fps Average. I'm pretty excited about the accuraccy so I'm also going to try H4350 & maybe even some H4381 but suspect this may be too slow burning even though the Hodgon manual suggest's this gives the highest velocity for a 175gr projectile.

 

[Fordnutter]

Tested H4381 with the Berger 180gr & ran up to 2,646fps (no pressure) before running out of case capacity. I thought this may have been a bit slow burning and have at least confirmed that. The lower charge weights had sooty case necks & shoulders. Will hopefully get out next weekend to try H4350 to compare accuracy & velocity, oh well its sure fun experimenting with all these combinations

 

[trailrider121]

Tested H4381 with the Berger 180gr & ran up to 2,646fps (no pressure) before running out of case capacity. I thought this may have been a bit slow burning and have at least confirmed that. The lower charge weights had sooty case necks & shoulders. Will hopefully get out next weekend to try H4350 to compare accuracy & velocity, oh well its sure fun experimenting with all these combinations

Thats pretty good speed for 180gr in 7mm-08. Thanks for the update..

 

[XTR]

Has anyone tried working up with Varget? I use it in my F-TR rifle. For a lot of 308 shooters it's the cats meow and I gotta figure that the 7-08 should look very similar. The MVs that are getting posted here are definitely quite a bit higher than anything I've ever been able to to get from a 24" 308 pushing 165+ sized bullets.

I'm in the process of building a new F-TR gun and when that gets finished one of my other two 308s is going to get re-barreled as a 7-08 so I'm watching this with interest.