Tikka 7-08 starting point

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JPrawn

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Have a new Tikka T3 in 7mm 08 to start load development for. Looking for any input from others with the same or similar rifle to start with. 140 grain or heavier. I currently have some 140 grain ttsx, 140 grain accubonds, 4064, 4831 and RL22 on the bench, but open to other options. Once fired brass from Federal factory ammo. This is a hunting rifle, hoping to dial in to 400, maybe 500 yards with confidence for deer/sheep etc. Thanks.
JP
 
max load of H4895 and a 139 grain hornday inter-loc has been working just fine for me, 2 moose and 19 deer have had no complaints. this spring i will give the 4064 a try with 130 grain speer boat tail bullets and 120 grain sierra pro hunters
 
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todbartell said:
RL15, RL17, Ramshot BigGame, Win760 or H414, IMR 4166, IMR 4064, H4895, Varget, CFE223
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To build on what Tod posted. For myself...

W760 worked exceptionally well with 150gn bullets. Accuracy and velocity were amazing.

IMR 4166, Varget, and VV540 do well with 140gn.

I am perhaps the oddball but IMR 4064 and Rl 15 didnt work as well for me.

Reusing Federal brass wasnt a good experience.

Regards
Ronr
 
RonR said:
To build on what Tod posted. For myself...

W760 worked exceptionally well with 150gn bullets. Accuracy and velocity were amazing.

IMR 4166, Varget, and VV540 do well with 140gn.

I am perhaps the oddball but IMR 4064 and Rl 15 didnt work as well for me.

Reusing Federal brass wasnt a good experience.

Regards
Ronr
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was that in a Tikka? remington brass has been good to me, also sitting on some winchester
 
Thanks for all the input. And thanks for narrowing it down TB lol. Fairly new at this so its all good education. Win760 is something I've never heard of- so nice to learn that right out of the gate. And in hind sight I do have some H414 as well that performed out of the kids micro 708, so I guess that will be my starting point. 162 grain is heavier than I was thinking but if I could get that to shoot well would be awesome. Give me a bit more confidence for some knock down power for bigger game. If I ever see any....
JP
 
Also good to note the poor experience with reused Federal brass. I have experienced this with my WSM, but was hoping the lighter charge calibers wouldn't be an issue. Really fond of this caliber so probably wise to invest in some quality brass - Norma the best way to go?
JP
 
yodave said:
was that in a Tikka? remington brass has been good to me, also sitting on some winchester
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2 different Savage bolts. Factory fired about 10 percent had primers that just kind of slid in. Second fire it went up to 25 percent by estimate and i aint pushin it either.

I am starting to work with Remington and resizing 308s to see how these fair over time. 1x fired Remy can be purchased for a resonable dollar.

Even neck turning the Federal stuff. Had failures at the neck to shoulder junction...

Lapua and PPU made above disappear. Some evidence of loosening pockets after 6x on Lapua, but it could have been my inexperience working with inferior tools at the time.

2 different headstamps for two different rifles.

JPrawn said:
Also good to note the poor experience with reused Federal brass. I have experienced this with my WSM, but was hoping the lighter charge calibers wouldn't be an issue. Really fond of this caliber so probably wise to invest in some quality brass - Norma the best way to go?
JP
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There are more experienced here that will be offering advice, for myself, Lapua and PPU holding up really well. I would work with once fired Remington or Winchester no problem.

Others have noted that certain eras of Winchester factory brass with qc problems. Myself, i cant speak to that.

I spend a bit of time on brass and to have it fail or not useable after a few firings is something i wont tolerate anymore. Your time, my time, or anyone elses time is worth something. I dont mind admitting to being frugal when I started out but theres more than a few hours of time now in a recycling bin. I learned.

Lots of vendors here and you can watch the EE for cases.

Regards
Ronr

Ps...i love the cartridge. Enjoy!
 
H414 and Win 760 are supposed to be the same powder use mag primers.I use it in my .250 Savage Rem 700 Classic with 100gr Sierras.
 
JPrawn said:
Thanks for all the input. And thanks for narrowing it down TB lol. Fairly new at this so its all good education. Win760 is something I've never heard of- so nice to learn that right out of the gate. And in hind sight I do have some H414 as well that performed out of the kids micro 708, so I guess that will be my starting point
Click to expand...

H414 and W760 are the same powder

JPrawn said:
Also good to note the poor experience with reused Federal brass. I have experienced this with my WSM, but was hoping the lighter charge calibers wouldn't be an issue. Really fond of this caliber so probably wise to invest in some quality brass - Norma the best way to go?
JP
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If you decide to change brass, Lapua is probably the way to go in the 7-08. I would try the Federal brass first though
 
todbartell said:
If you decide to change brass, Lapua is probably the way to go in the 7-08. I would try the Federal brass first though
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Lapua lasts forever with my silhouette load of 35 grains of leverevelution powder and 130 grain sierras, using the same data as CFE 223 I get a bonus 70 FPS over loads listed in the book, ES ans SD are single digits as well
 
The Tikka T3, just like every other 7-08 I've loaded for, LIKES HOT LOADS.

If all is well with the rifle, I've found they shoot very well with mid range loads and just keep getting better as pressures/velocities build up.

TURF THE LIBERALS IN 2019

LIBERALS REALLY LIKE POOR PEOPLE, they're making more of them every day

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JPrawn said:
Have a new Tikka T3 in 7mm 08 to start load development for. Looking for any input from others with the same or similar rifle to start with. 140 grain or heavier. I currently have some 140 grain ttsx, 140 grain accubonds, 4064, 4831 and RL22 on the bench, but open to other options. Once fired brass from Federal factory ammo. This is a hunting rifle, hoping to dial in to 400, maybe 500 yards with confidence for deer/sheep etc. Thanks.
JP
Click to expand...

I have your rifle and have been loading Win 748 powder and getting excellent groups 3/4 of an inch with 140 TTSX bullets last time out.....FS
 
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