Where to start on 7mm bullet selection?

[Colter81]

Hi everyone.
Ok, I just bought a 7mm-08 remington 700 mountain rifle last year and a reloaded kit last fall. I've done tons of reading and have been picking up bits and pieces to start reloading.
Powders: H4895 and Varget
Primer: CCI200
Laupa cases
7mm 150 partition bullets(for elk, wanted 140 grain but got a closeout deal)

Primarily I want to start recreational shooting long range. I'm leaning towards 162 A-max bullets, but with so many selections in 7mm I want your guy's opinions.
I'd like opinions on where to start with bullets, from 300-500 yards and later out to 1000 yards.

Thx!

 

[shoot4fun]

Your Mountain Rifle likely has a 1 in 9 1/4 or so twist. That will make shooting the 162 or 168 grain bullets iffy at 1000 yards. That said, I would try some 168SMK or Berger 168 VLDs in there.
That H9850 some kind of new powder I don't know about?

 

[Colter81]

Lol
Conjured that powder I guess. Fixed
H4895

Yes, you are right on the barrel. 9 1/4 twist 22"

 

[barefooter56]

Your Mountain Rifle likely has a 1 in 9 1/4 or so twist. That will make shooting the 162 or 168 grain bullets iffy at 1000 yards. That said, I would try some 168SMK or Berger 168 VLDs in there.
That H9850 some kind of new powder I don't know about?

Let me add our 7mm 168 grain CLASSIC HUNTER bullets to shootforfuns list. These are our hybrid bullet that incorporates both the secant (VLD) and tangent (standard) ogives into a SAMMI length nose design the allows this bullet to be used at standard magazine length and makes them very tolerant of jump. You loose nothing in accuracy, range or performance on game from our VLD Hunting bullets.

 

[shoot4fun]

Let me add our 7mm 168 grain CLASSIC HUNTER bullets to shootforfuns list. These are our hybrid bullet that incorporates both the secant (VLD) and tangent (standard) ogives into a SAMMI length nose design the allows this bullet to be used at standard magazine length and makes them very tolerant of jump. You loose nothing in accuracy, range or performance on game from our VLD Hunting bullets.

Thanks for reminding me that I have a box of them I bought to try in my two 7MM08 rifles.

 

[AckleymanII]

Rem 9 1/4 twist works perfect for the 162g SST, for sure.

 

[Colter81]

Let me add our 7mm 168 grain CLASSIC HUNTER bullets to shootforfuns list. These are our hybrid bullet that incorporates both the secant (VLD) and tangent (standard) ogives into a SAMMI length nose design the allows this bullet to be used at standard magazine length and makes them very tolerant of jump. You loose nothing in accuracy, range or performance on game from our VLD Hunting bullets.

I think once I get some of my hand loads down range I'll consider trying these, but price is a bit high for me to practice with these without any practical knowledge of reloading.

I'd considered before and am going to get a box of the 162g sst.

I'm going to get some 120g partions also for deer.

How about for bullets for zeroing my new scope and more or less fun 1-300 yrd cheap shooting?

 

[shoot4fun]

The two I'd look to for "cheap shooting" would be Speer and Privi Partizan.
The best thing you can do to get started on the right foot with reloading is to network at the local gun shop or shooting range to find a reliable, reputable and experienced reloader to help you. Oh, and read everythig you can about the process. Lots of good info in the front end of most reloading manuals. Buy one!

 

[sbhooper]

139 Hornady Interlocks for cheap, accurate shooting at all reasonable ranges and great deer getters..

 

[wapiti25]

+1 on Hornady for cheap and they shoot good

 

[barefooter56]

I think once I get some of my hand loads down range I'll consider trying these, but price is a bit high for me to practice with these without any practical knowledge of reloading.

I'd considered before and am going to get a box of the 162g sst.

I'm going to get some 120g partions also for deer.

How about for bullets for zeroing my new scope and more or less fun 1-300 yrd cheap shooting?

Colter81,
Load development consists of seating the CLASSIC HUNTER to published magazine length and working the load up to find your highest velocity accuracy node in most cases. They are not seating depth sensitive like our VLDs are.

 

[Shaggy357]

I have a Weatherby in 7mm-08. I started with Nosler 140s and have never tried anything else. Ballistic tips are cheap and group very well in mine.

Good luck.

Steve

 

[Terry_M]

+1 for the Hornady 139's to practice with, or 120gr Sierra.

I hesitate to make recommendations for loading because my 7-08 is built on a long action and all my rounds are nearly 3" long. If your rifle will stabilize the 162gr A-Max they make great hunting bullets.

 

[nastynatesfish]

I shoot the 140 Nosler bt also. Look at the 160 line. The amax are discontinued so your gonna have to get the eld bullets. I'm not a fan of them so far. A great hunting bullet for it is the 140 Berger. If I didn't use it in my 7mag id use it in the 7-08 for sure

 

[Colter81]

I've seen a lot of good info on 162 a-max. It'd be nice to see whether my gun likes them.. I'm curious on the vld's that replaced them but I haven't heard them regarded with the amount of praise as the A-max.

I bought the rsbc chucker supreme kit and it did come with a reloading manual. I've read the basics several times and have bought what I have because of what I've read online. I'm still reading and learning..

The 120 Sierras are cheap and seem to be a good way to start loading. Same with the nosler 140 ballistic tips.
I'm just trying to avoid having X amount of boxes of bullets and finding out there were better brands/weights to start with.

Thanks guys for your input.

 

[Homerange]

When I got a cheap 7.08 I grabbed the cheapest 120's I could find.....Hornady flat base soft points.
Had it shooting 1/2" in no time, in fact before I'd finished load development got a call from a mate 15 minutes away with a mob of deer in his paddock. Well it would have been rude not to respond.
180 & 250 yds shots and 2 deer down, good terminal performance with a bullet that I would have considered too light for 200 lb red deer.
They'll be too light for Elk but in good conditions fine for the smaller deer.

 

[fourpower]

Hi everyone.
Ok, I just bought a 7mm-08 remington 700 mountain rifle last year and a reloaded kit last fall. I've done tons of reading and have been picking up bits and pieces to start reloading.
Powders: H4895 and Varget
Primer: CCI200
Laupa cases
7mm 150 partition bullets(for elk, wanted 140 grain but got a closeout deal)

Primarily I want to start recreational shooting long range. I'm leaning towards 162 A-max bullets, but with so many selections in 7mm I want your guy's opinions.
I'd like opinions on where to start with bullets, from 300-500 yards and later out to 1000 yards.

Thx!

out to 500 to 600yds any old bullet will work but if you really want to see if rifle will shine you need to shoot some bergers.