Looking for Suggestions on a 7mm-08 Load

[bill c68]

Just picked up a 7mm-08, got some brass coming and a box of factory to start. It's a Ruger MKII stainless with 1:9.5" rate of twist.

Looking for reccomendations for bullet and load.

My primary game will be deer and bear within 100yds but I would like a load suitable for 300 yds. I would also like to do some long range plinking with this thing.


Accuracy is important, I would like, if my gun will allow to be in the half inch range.

 

[mpwolf]

Go get a can of R15 and the 140 grain bullet of your choice. Should work out just about right. I can't remeber my powder charge, so check the Alliant website for that. I'm rumming 139 hornadays right now, but 120 and 140 TSX are the next thing I'm going to try. If you decide to run a 120 premium bullet for critters, you can use 120 vmax for practice...

 

[todbartell]

why even bother working up a load for it if you're just going to sell it

 

[bill c68]

why even bother working up a load for it if you're just going to sell it

I MIGHT sell it and if I do, I am buying a Tikka T3 lite in the same caliber and my father just bought a 7mm-08 as well.

 

[prosper]

140 grain bullet over Varget. Actual charge will vary from rifle to rifle and you'll have to do your own legwork

 

[todbartell]

for a do it all load that is cheap enough to do some range shooting with and effective on deer/bear, Id take a look at the Hornady 139 grain Interbond or Nosler 140 grain Accubond. Varget or RL15 would be the first two powders Id try, but H4350 & RL19 should work too. 2800 fps is about the velocity you'll be looking for at a max load if you got a chrony to help guide you in load devel.

 

[Killzone]

120 gr Ballistic Tip for play

120 gr TSX for killin

45 gr RL15 2.80 OAL in my T3 laminated SS.......1/2" - 3/4" MOA, ~3100 fps

DEADLY!

 

[oaktree]

Excellent cartridge!!! Try Varget, or maybe one of the Hodgdon ball powders, or IMR4064...

Medium burn rate powders that work well in the .308 also tend to work well in the 7mm-08;

150 grain matchkings are highly accurate for messing up the little black x-ring, and 150grain XBT are highly recommended for messing up the clockwork of table fare.

 

[prosper]

For ringing long distance gongs at the range, I'm working on a load for the 162 moly AMAX with its manly .625 BC. Hopefully, it'll end up in the 2600-2700fps range which should be good for 1k easily

 

[jed]

I use the Speer 145 grand slam with 47.5 gr of IMR 4350. I don't know about 300 but it works fine at 227 yards. I have also had good luck with the 139 gr Hornadys