experiencing slow kills with heavy 7mm08

Nosler's data shows a max load (39gr) of Varget gets you 2595fps in their 26" barrel. It is the 2nd slowest powder they list, and they only list 3 (out of 10) powders giving over 2700fps, and again, thats with a 26" barrel.

Frankly I think you need to look at a different powder if you want to keep chucking 160gr pills in the 7mm08, but for me the real answer is a lighter bullet. Case capacity is a real problem with heavier bullets in the 7mm08 especially if your magazine limits you to 2.800" OAL, which is exactly why I stick to lighter stuff that is not a super-VLD shape - 140gr Nosler Partition is my hunting bullet, and 130gr Speer BTSP is my cheap practice bullet. I can push that Partition over 3000fps with a hot load of RL17 (from a 20" barrel no less), but I backed it off a bit to be easier on the brass.
 
I’ve yet to recover a bullet on whitetail yet with mine and they all expired within 25 yards from where I hit em.
140gr win B- Silvertips 100-125 yards
 
Necessary speed will depend on the mono. They're made to work at different thresholds.

The 140gr LRX or 150gr ECX may do well, as both are made to expand better at modest velocities.


That said, I'm not a fan of "big and heavy and slow" as unless it results in very great expansion/fragmentation, it really just isn't more lethal than "Light and fast, but structually sound enough to reach vitals".
 
Joel said:
Necessary speed will depend on the mono. They're made to work at different thresholds.

The 140gr LRX or 150gr ECX may do well, as both are made to expand better at modest velocities.


That said, I'm not a fan of "big and heavy and slow" as unless it results in very great expansion/fragmentation, it really just isn't more lethal than "Light and fast, but structually sound enough to reach vitals".
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Both of those are probably on the long side for getting good velocity from a 7mm08 - A quick google search says the 160gr hot cor is 1.240", while the 139LRX is 1.384". For comparison, the 140 Partition is 1.16".

That said I was able to get over 2800fps with the 139GMX (1.405" long apparently), but it was a spicy load to get there. I settled on 47gr RL17 for 2790fps with that bullet, but never used it on game. Just didn't have enough velocity for shots beyond 300 for my liking with a monometal (personally I like to keep those above 2200 on impact, and lead bullets above 2000).
 
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Suther said:
Both of those are probably on the long side for getting good velocity from a 7mm08 - A quick google search says the 160gr hot cor is 1.240", while the 139LRX is 1.384". For comparison, the 140 Partition is 1.16".

That said I was able to get over 2800fps with the 139GMX (1.405" long apparently), but it was a spicy load to get there. I settled on 47gr RL17 for 2790fps with that bullet, but never used it on game. Just didn't have enough velocity for shots beyond 300 for my liking with a monometal (personally I like to keep those above 2200 on impact, and lead bullets above 2000).
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Gotcha!

Could very well be. I was taking Barnes' load data at face value for 2930-ish FPS max with the 139gr LRX, and thinking even if its 100 fps less at 2830 that would still be preferable as is a soft bullet (softer than gilding metal or regular Barnes?) with a fairly (for a mono in that weight class) high BC.

It hits that 2200 fps cutoff limit at 325 yards though, like you said, so I get it.
 
good discussion an tips.

i hear the change of powder to up the velocity!
ditched the 160 as a all rounder, may be ok for bush hunting thick brush an aim for the shoulder region... also tried 145gr grand slams to no accuracy gains what so ever- really dissapointing.

what ive done was shelve all the heavies, an loaded back up the 140gr core lokt ultras , groups are great , performance yet to be determined on game.

will read up the comments on here when i get a minute!

i appreciate all the responses
 
I’ve shot dozens and dozens of big game with ballistic tips and I’ve shot dozens and dozens of big game with Barnes bullets. There have been shots and shot angles I’ve taken with the Barnes bullets that I never would have with the Noslers. The opposite has never been true. With does, ewes, and small meat bucks who cares. If you are looking for a big buck or bull with better antlers and more meat, it’s nice to be prepared for whatever is offered shot placement wise.
 
WhelanLad said:
good discussion an tips.

i hear the change of powder to up the velocity!
ditched the 160 as a all rounder, may be ok for bush hunting thick brush an aim for the shoulder region... also tried 145gr grand slams to no accuracy gains what so ever- really dissapointing.

what ive done was shelve all the heavies, an loaded back up the 140gr core lokt ultras , groups are great , performance yet to be determined on game.

will read up the comments on here when i get a minute!

i appreciate all the responses
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You probably said so already in the thread and I missed it but...what do you think your maximum shot distance will be, bro?
 
7mm-08 is a medium velocity cartridge, it's what cup and core bullets are perfect for. Light weight premium bullets will work well, but heavier premium bullets are ment to be launched like 500 faster. They fix the varmint bullet effect of a normal old school bullet going way too fast.
 
Speed kills, get those velocities up to faster levels. Handload with a lighter bullet to increase hydrostatic shock transfer to the animal. I'm a speed-demon, high velocities accompanied with a premium bullet (excluding Barnes) has never failed me.
 
Slow kills with mono's and bonded bullets has been my experience as well. both of these types of bullets (IMO) work better at "Higher" velocities.
Regular cup and core bullets with the 7-08 work great for quick kills, try some SST 139 or 154 gr bullets and put them in the lungs.
The results may surprise you.
 
Depending on construction. Barnes bullets for stuff like 30-30, 7.62x39, 300 BLK are made to perform very well at their velocities. The LRX, they say, performs better than others.

Really not seeing any killing problems here.
 
I can get those 160gr Speers working beautifully... at 3000 FPS out of a 7-mag. I think you need to push them a lot harder than 2500fps.

I would try something that opens up reliably at lower velocity out of a 7mm-08.
 
You seem to have access to Speer bullets. Try the 145 BTSP, #1628. I use them with good success in 284 Win at only slightly higher velocity.
 
i havent hunted with my 7-08 because its a heavy prs rifle. so most moose are taking with the 7rem mag shooting the same bullet 162 ELD-X. and it really performs at distance 500-600m. i wouldn’t hesitate to try it on moose from the 7-08 to those same velocities. Maybe the 150 may get you a little more speed. Mine is running 162s 2750fps from a 26” pipe with 40.5grains of varget. Out to 1900-2000 fps this bullet really has no issues opening up and doing some damage.
 
core lokt ultra 140gr at 250 meters.
found a gooden for now. (discontinued) but have enough for a while.

will look at soemthing else, speer 145 may be on the cards but hotcor or btsp model, not GS
 

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