140 gr Fail Safe 7mm-08
- Thread starter Beaumont
- Start date
you are hoping the whole box will last you the rest of your life? you think this bullet is some what superior to many other 7mm bullets? There is no magic load with this bullet or any other bullet. Let us know what you have in the way of powders to use on your loading bench and then you will get some much more useful information. FS
The box will certainly not last me a lifetime, and all was looking for was a possible jump start with tried and true loads. I do think that this particular bullet does have a particular terminal X Factor to it that makes it one of the best bullets available..or used to be available.
As far as powder does I have the usual cast of characters for the 7-08_Varget, IMR4350, 4831, W760,4064,H380 so building different loads is not the concern.
I think I will start with Varget and the best load I have for the 140G Partitions and go from there.
As far as powder does I have the usual cast of characters for the 7-08_Varget, IMR4350, 4831, W760,4064,H380 so building different loads is not the concern.
I think I will start with Varget and the best load I have for the 140G Partitions and go from there.
In my experience, the Failsafe is a very "tough" bullet, that needs speed to expand well, perfectly suited for one of the 7mm Magnums.
Not convinced that it is the best for a 7mm-08, but will probably work OK within 200M or so.
I would be using a slower powder than Varget to get the best velocities, however [W760 is a good candidate, or, possibly, IMR4350]
Regards, Dave.
Not convinced that it is the best for a 7mm-08, but will probably work OK within 200M or so.
I would be using a slower powder than Varget to get the best velocities, however [W760 is a good candidate, or, possibly, IMR4350]
Regards, Dave.
What powder are you using with 140s now?
Start at the minimum load with new brass and load one cartridge at that level, one with one more grain, another up one more grain and so on up to the top. You may as well start at the lands. Write the charge on every cartridge with a Sharpie.
Shoot them all at the same target, watching the pressure signs as you go and watching the individual hits. In a perfect world you will do this over a chronograph. With a bit of luck the last three will hit together at about the rated speed, but if you are less lucky go until you see pressure signs. Adjust your scope to where the hottest charges hit, but don't shoot again.
Now, if you quit because of pressure signs back off two grains and load 6 of those. If you quit because you hit the book max and you're happy with the speed, load six of those. If you aren't happy with the speeds you may as well just quit with that powder or consider loading over max if there are no pressure signs. Who wants it if you can swim faster?
Shoot the six in two groups, unless the first one is truly pathetic. With a bit of luck you will have the fastest load that combination can produce, that shoots good enough, with a rifle already sighted in. If you don't like how the first group worked out you could pull the last three down, and then decide if you want to work down from max but since you only have 25 to start with this #### got to work the first time.
We use this technique a lot with the big guns; with African level stuff its to save on hard to find and expensive bullets or to see if you can get the speed out of that powder. With the Chey-Tac type stuff its to determine a maximum load when data can vary 10 grains from source to source. With real barrel burners you don't to waste a precious shot shooting groups with slow ammo.
Start at the minimum load with new brass and load one cartridge at that level, one with one more grain, another up one more grain and so on up to the top. You may as well start at the lands. Write the charge on every cartridge with a Sharpie.
Shoot them all at the same target, watching the pressure signs as you go and watching the individual hits. In a perfect world you will do this over a chronograph. With a bit of luck the last three will hit together at about the rated speed, but if you are less lucky go until you see pressure signs. Adjust your scope to where the hottest charges hit, but don't shoot again.
Now, if you quit because of pressure signs back off two grains and load 6 of those. If you quit because you hit the book max and you're happy with the speed, load six of those. If you aren't happy with the speeds you may as well just quit with that powder or consider loading over max if there are no pressure signs. Who wants it if you can swim faster?
Shoot the six in two groups, unless the first one is truly pathetic. With a bit of luck you will have the fastest load that combination can produce, that shoots good enough, with a rifle already sighted in. If you don't like how the first group worked out you could pull the last three down, and then decide if you want to work down from max but since you only have 25 to start with this #### got to work the first time.
We use this technique a lot with the big guns; with African level stuff its to save on hard to find and expensive bullets or to see if you can get the speed out of that powder. With the Chey-Tac type stuff its to determine a maximum load when data can vary 10 grains from source to source. With real barrel burners you don't to waste a precious shot shooting groups with slow ammo.
I have had some really bad experiences with those " FEEL-SAFES"!
I have shot a fair number of big game animals with them, and have had a variety of issues.
I used them in my 7mm Ultra Mag, 7-08, and 7-30 waters.
I have had this bullet cause premature pressure problems. The solid construction of this bullet may be to blame.
All of my loads for these bullets reached max pressures far before the typical velocities associated with the cartridge was reached.
I have had bullets appear to fail to expand. Very little radial tissue damage on the wound channels.
Those animals required additional rounds to effectively kill the animals.
Other than that, they have an abismal B.C.
They will work for hunting, but dont rely on them for a torphy of a lifetime! Too much risk of performance failure.
Thats my experience with them, YMMV.
I have shot a fair number of big game animals with them, and have had a variety of issues.
I used them in my 7mm Ultra Mag, 7-08, and 7-30 waters.
I have had this bullet cause premature pressure problems. The solid construction of this bullet may be to blame.
All of my loads for these bullets reached max pressures far before the typical velocities associated with the cartridge was reached.
I have had bullets appear to fail to expand. Very little radial tissue damage on the wound channels.
Those animals required additional rounds to effectively kill the animals.
Other than that, they have an abismal B.C.
They will work for hunting, but dont rely on them for a torphy of a lifetime! Too much risk of performance failure.
Thats my experience with them, YMMV.
I have had some really bad experiences with those " FEEL-SAFES"!
I have shot a fair number of big game animals with them, and have had a variety of issues.
I used them in my 7mm Ultra Mag, 7-08, and 7-30 waters.
I have had this bullet cause premature pressure problems. The solid construction of this bullet may be to blame.
All of my loads for these bullets reached max pressures far before the typical velocities associated with the cartridge was reached.
I have had bullets appear to fail to expand. Very little radial tissue damage on the wound channels.
Those animals required additional rounds to effectively kill the animals.
Other than that, they have an abismal B.C.
They will work for hunting, but dont rely on them for a torphy of a lifetime! Too much risk of performance failure.
Thats my experience with them, YMMV.
I have shot a fair number of big game animals with them, and have had a variety of issues.
I used them in my 7mm Ultra Mag, 7-08, and 7-30 waters.
I have had this bullet cause premature pressure problems. The solid construction of this bullet may be to blame.
All of my loads for these bullets reached max pressures far before the typical velocities associated with the cartridge was reached.
I have had bullets appear to fail to expand. Very little radial tissue damage on the wound channels.
Those animals required additional rounds to effectively kill the animals.
Other than that, they have an abismal B.C.
They will work for hunting, but dont rely on them for a torphy of a lifetime! Too much risk of performance failure.
Thats my experience with them, YMMV.
This bullet like any other does not work in every situation( ie. Lung shot on deer) but when you need a bullet that is going to hold against a solid shoulder hit and good penetration this is the pill. Used it for years in my 7RM with animals dropping or very short runs before expiring.
No pressure issues either but I do not normally load for max velocity either.
Funny that I had the same experience as you with the XP3 that Winchester replaced the Fail Safe with. Poor performance with animals running extended yardage on solid chest shots. Saved them for paper now.
I used 48 grs H414 with a 140 gr in my 7 mm-08 Rem M7 and it shot well - start with 45 grs and work up - i also use a mag primer with this powder too .
RJ
