Which powder for more velocity?

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cbh560

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I've been loading for a 7-08AI with a 22" barrel for with 139 and 140 gr bullets.

With Varget I've been achieving good results in accuracy at 44.8 gr of Varget at 2950 fps. I was starting to see some pressure signs around 3000 fps.

I've also tried H4350, but velocities were hovering around 2800 fps with fairly compressed loads.

Can anyone provide suggestions for alternative powders to try that may produce better velocities than the Varget, while maintaining safe pressures, but also being fairly temperature stable? This is a hunting rifle and will be used from +10 to -30 C.
 
For more velocity, depending on case capacity, your going to need faster or slower powder. Check your burn rate chart.

H4350 is considered the 6.5 creedmore powder. So your in the ballpark for optimal for capacity. Rl7 is considered wildly temperature insensitive. R16 is their answer, being a ever so little bit faster R17, but temp sensitive.
 
Sell it and buy a 7mm Rem mag if you need more speed.
You are not going to get much more then you are hitting now with a new powder, and 50fps difference means very little for hunting rounds.
 
Hitzy said:
Sell it and buy a 7mm Rem mag if you need more speed.
You are not going to get much more then you are hitting now with a new powder, and 50fps difference means very little for hunting rounds.
Click to expand...

Nah I have no interest in the 7mm rem mag. I've built this rifle for a specific purpose. You're right, I really don't "need" more velocity. I'm not unhappy with what I'm getting. I'm just wondering if there is a powder out there that would provide it.
 
I would try a MAX load of Ramshot BigGame with 140gr Accubond and Fed 210 Match primer and Nosler brass.

I had fantastic accuracy in Browning Micro hunter in 20 inch barrel.... unfortunately I sold rifle. It was a little too light....but a dream rifle to carry.

Big Game is fairly temp stable as well as far as Ball powders are concerned.

https://load-data.nosler.com/load-data/7mm-08-remington/
 
cbh560 said:
I've been loading for a 7-08AI with a 22" barrel for with 139 and 140 gr bullets.

With Varget I've been achieving good results in accuracy at 44.8 gr of Varget at 2950 fps. I was starting to see some pressure signs around 3000 fps.

I've also tried H4350, but velocities were hovering around 2800 fps with fairly compressed loads.

Can anyone provide suggestions for alternative powders to try that may produce better velocities than the Varget, while maintaining safe pressures, but also being fairly temperature stable? This is a hunting rifle and will be used from +10 to -30 C.
Click to expand...

Your running way north of 75,000 psi, a 140 in a 7mm-08 should run in the 2650-2700 on the fast side.
 
Does reloaded 19 work for ai. I used this in 7mm08 and 140 nosler ballistic tips and was at the 2750 mark with it 181/2”brl
 
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For myself, 3 other powders that have worked in 2 7mm-08's is W760 and VV 540 and IMR 4166. (besides Varget)

W760, lapua cases, F210 primers, Sierra MK 150gr at below max book powder grain values, exceeded book values velocities which really surprised me. Incredible ladder test accuracy with minimal dispersion. Got the suggestion from Kelly T. My rifle just seemed to take off like a turbocharger in a car. I don't have the chrony results in front of me but IIRC SD was below 10. 22 inch barrel Savage off the shelf and wanted to have a go at this accuracy thing.

Never tried 140gr hunting bullets with this combination but I would not hesitate to develop a load with W760 and magnum primers. I would trust that in the field no problem, with cold Sask white tail hunting temps that you and I would both know about.

VV N540 is the hunting powder "now" with 140gr for both myself and son. Very repeatable on paper with Nosler BST 140 and Federal Trophy bonded 140gr. SD and ES not as good as W760 but the paper don't lie and the deer don't notice. The consistency from lot to lot was the attractant here.

Varget was before that with 140 Nosler Accubonds in two 7mm-08 rifles we have. There was no need to change other than my curiosity to try something different and to compare how a better rated cup and core bullet performs that's tuned to a rifle. Still have some loaded hunting rounds AB with Varget that are the fail safe return to home option if something ever gets away.

4166 performed like Varget with 140gr bullets. Price and availability chased me off the trail for this powder. If I had supply and reasonable pricing I never would have pursued N540. Cleaner than Varget and similar cleanliness of 540.

Word on the street was "Varget and H4350" for 7/08, but I needed to experiment and this was comparable.

FWIW.

I am interested in the A.I. stuff in this cartridge, especially the velocities you are experiencing. Please post developments as they occur.

Regards
Ronr
 
The " Modern Reloading " manual, second edition by Richard Lee; as in " Lee Precision ".

The manual lists powders in descending order of velocity for each cartridge.
 
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