experiencing slow kills with heavy 7mm08

WhelanLad

WhelanLad

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I think i know the answer here but this is the conundrum im in.

never have i experienced So many, slow kills or lost animals as i have since trying the 160gr Spper hot cor in the 7mm08- Yeah, im using Varget an velocity is not crazy high, assuming 2500fps or so at the muzzle. maybe a bit less.

im shooting a few deer lately, some in a population control situation, an some in bush stalking / cross gulley scenerios.. some may have seen the footage from here or there.

none of these shots are past 200 meters, ive had two animals out of about 7 die within seconds / short dash , the rest would go an sit down as if gut shot, or slowly walk off after dropping and getting back up seconds later...some even closer to a minute later.

so 22 inch barrel, varget and 160gr in 7mm08 isnt the cup of Tea i am after.

ive previously used Woodleigh exclusively and never, had a problem on fawn or massive mature Stags.... never.

here i am.

i am awating a SPEER 145gr grand slam to reload and test but wanted to hear your opinions on projectile options.

VARGET is staying.

with a 140gr i am around 2650fps chornographed.

Ive wanted insurance on bone hitting shots / front leg, PPSN always does the goods, worried a SP in 140gr may bve too soft, i know the 139gr hornady was an didnt excell on the Sambar but made a fine small deer round.

someone mentioned maybe going something still cup an core but maybe more match style ? as velocity is down, should do the deer up close an still have the exp at say 300 to 400max ?

up in that 150-160 gr region

or stay down in that 140-145 gr region with a regular Cup an Core?

tried corelokt bonded but too tough for the 708 also...more a 7 mag trick.

cant get my woodleigh load to work so goin to maybe change up brass, primers and go again on a new load--- projectiles are scarce, i have about 120 left....

i'll hopefully dig a few 160 hot cor out of the deer tomorow , if i find them, an report back on what i find once under the skin.....

hmmmmmmm this is doing me in.

i advocate lighter rounds liek 708 , 270 etc, if using a good projectile "woodleigh" or AB etc.......... for the big sambar but here i am fkn around slow kills on Hinds, mature hinds but still...... WTF

thanks
 
Have you recovered any of the bullets?
I wonder if the jacket thickness of bullets designed around 7mag velocities would suffer at slower speeds?
I didn't have a 7mm-08 very long but I loaded barnes x bullets for it and they expanded pretty good.
 
Sleeper said:
Have you recovered any of the bullets?
I wonder if the jacket thickness of bullets designed around 7mag velocities would suffer at slower speeds?
I didn't have a 7mm-08 very long but I loaded barnes x bullets for it and they expanded pretty good.
Click to expand...

yeah i did from a 150m just below spine shot of all, was on other side just below backstrap, its on a video i psoted in the hunting thread , i cant put photos up anymore photobucket is dead.

there was alot of shank an only opened up a bit.

i believe they are for 7 mags aswell.

7mm08 with 140gr barnes isnt ideal, 120s are better, but i will not be paying for barnes, rediculous price. many barnes 140 i seen from 708 even into dirt showed minimal nose expansion.

im hoping one or two got caught in these animals tonight, will recover tomorow hopefully.
 
I always had good performance with Nosler 140 gr. Partitions using 4831... That was out of 7mm magnum, but my load velocity was right around 2700 FPS.
 
WhelanLad said:
I think i know the answer here but this is the conundrum im in.



ive previously used Woodleigh exclusively and never, had a problem on fawn or massive mature Stags.... never.
Click to expand...

Yes, you do know the answer, hint, hint look up. I think you are trying to fix something that isn't broke?
 
A&Shuntr said:
Yes, you do know the answer, hint, hint look up. I think you are trying to fix something that isn't broke?
Click to expand...
woodleigh had a factory fire an havnt produced to public just yet, been 2 or 3 years now, i have 100 projectiles left an i havnt bee able to get a load to play ball , $130 a kg of power, $200 for 1000 primers and projectiles from $1 to $3 a pop , i cant be fked shooting dirt an want something i can buy an reload again next week if i need too etc.

im an avid woodleigh fan, looking for alternative that isnt barnes or nosler :)
 
I load and shoot 7x57 which is pretty similar and my bullet of choice is the Nosler 150 gr. Combined Technology ballistic silvertip. Great expansion and penetration at the lower velocities.
 
I would try and stay with 140g(150 max) and highest velocity can get out what ever bullet. Since partition and barnes are hard to come and pricey for you and can’t remember if you have tried the Speer grand slams as that would be a option or maybe Hornady bonded
 
I think what you need is a slower powder so you can get better speeds. You should be getting 2800-2850 with a 140 gr, and 2,650 or so with 160's. $130/kg or 2.2 lbs would be a bargain around here. Varget would be selling for the equivalent of $210/kg.

If you can find some W760, StaBal6.5, or 4350 IMR or H, I think that would be the ticket.
 
With 140g I got my best results with rl19 and close second was imr 4350. If I recall correctly 140 was at 2750 rl19 and 2700 with 4350 in a 18.5” rem 788. Accuracy was great
 
I see you tried 139gr hornady, I used those a lot in my 284 win for deer, they usually kill fast however they do break apart. Have you tried 154gr sp flat base bullets. They hold up better than 139 gr. I don't think you need premium bullets at 7-08 velocities.
 
Been shooting 7-08 for a lot of years and all BS aside lots of deer taken and a few moose . I don’t reload anymore but I never go above 120 gr. For deer . Hunt in Grey County Ontario . A lot of open fields etc . I use the federal w Nosler Partition bullets also Nosler brand 120’s . They are smoked each time . No accounting for a poor shot placement but that aside . Used to be a .243 fan in my pre 64 70 but it seemed the deer always took a stumble into the bush . Why I switched to 7-08 . My opinion ONLY you undo the performance stepping up to the 140’s for deer . The occasional moose , I think 4 , walking and stalking w my 7-08 ( lighter rifle than my mag. ) I used the federal premium 140’s , couple of stumbles and down they went . Anyways …. I don’t use anything above 120’s on deer .
 
WhelanLad said:
woodleigh had a factory fire an havnt produced to public just yet, been 2 or 3 years now, i have 100 projectiles left an i havnt bee able to get a load to play ball , $130 a kg of power, $200 for 1000 primers and projectiles from $1 to $3 a pop , i cant be fked shooting dirt an want something i can buy an reload again next week if i need too etc.

im an avid woodleigh fan, looking for alternative that isnt barnes or nosler :)
Click to expand...
Our Canadian importer/distributer reports that Woodleigh will be able to fill their orders in January. I am waiting for the 160gr. 7mm for my Winchester 100 in .284 as well. Haven't found a decent replacement for it yet.
 
In 6 seasons and 20 animals over 7 species in Alberta from 10-420 yards and 3 shooters we have average shot distance 160-165 yrds and average recovery distance in the 11 yard range...with this formula.

6.5 Grendel, factory ammo, 123gr Hornady black eld-m. We’ve launched it from fast custom 24” barrel at 2605 fps but only one kill(drt 192 yards), majority have been killed launched slow from 16.1” barrel at 2386 fps, and a few launched from factory 18.5”-24” barrels 2400-2550 fps.

I would say you’re on right track, you need squishier bullets. I get shorter recoveries and more drt’s with my Grendel than I was getting with .270 and .270 wsm running 140 accubonds way faster so there are magic formulas out there(for game intended). Less tough bullets at moderate velocities with approx. .25 sd is a good goal range imo.
 
You’re not running enough velocity for mono’s imo. Mono’s are the two holes are better than one bullets...you will walk further to your dead animals, like you are now with the apparently tougher 160’s doing same thing. Ballistic tips or eldx or eldm types at 120-140gr will shorten your walks.
 
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