Opinions on 7-08 and win760

juliansk

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I have a Savage lightweight hunter in 7mm-08, stainless with a 20" barrel, 1:9.25 twist.
Looking at load development for it.
It's going to be for my kids to use when they are resdy to hunt big game.

I was thinking 139gr SSTs over win 760 powder (was given a can of it. Hard to beat free). I have tons of 1F brass, and federal 210m primers.
I'm trying to keep recoil down so was using lower end powder charges. Also the SSTs will perform better at slower velocities.

Later on will move them up to 140 TTSX and crank the velocity to make that bullet work well.

Anyone used Win760 in 7-08? How was it for you?
 
Just use 120 TTSX ers with 49.5 grs under them and that Fed210m It will give you over 3000 fps - group good -low recoil and it KILL's Well ! RJ

Yes, but trying to keep recoil to a minimum for a young shooter.
I agree TTSX do well at 3k, but I'm looking at 2400 or less so have to pick a bullet that will still expand, which SSTs will apparently do down in the 1600-1800fps range
 
recoil comes from both bullet speed and bullet weight, you can't get enough speed on the 120 grain bullets to get any kind of recoil, they shoot fast, they shoot flat, and they kill deader then dead, 120 grain sierra pro-hunters over minimum charge of 41 grains of H4895, 1/4 moa out of the wifes factory Tikka stainless
 
I find W760 to be a bit slow for short barrels. It should still yield good results with bullets that are in the 140+ grain range. Just as Ganderite suggests.

I load the 7-08 cartridge for my grandson's Model 7. He is long and lanky, with a long neck. (unlike me) This seems to make for the perfect condition of really feeling recoil.

I load the cartridges with Barne's 120 grain TTSX BT bullets with the following recipe. Recoil is there but not painful.

Bullet - Barnes TTSX BT

Powder - 46.0gr W748

Primer - CCI250 magnum (great for ball powder)

Cases - Hornady

Velocities out of a 20 inch bbl are just over 2900fps and accuracy is around 1 moa out to 300 yards.

It's a great load for Deer/Bears out to that distance and I wouldn't be shy about using it on Moose under 200 yards.
 
Hello JulianSK.

Yes, but trying to keep recoil to a minimum for a young shooter.
I agree TTSX do well at 3k, but I'm looking at 2400 or less so have to pick a bullet that will still expand, which SSTs will apparently do down in the 1600-1800fps range

Would agree with the expansion part. From my experience SST expansion is an understatement. Velocities were nearing 2400fps in our case. I went away from those for hunting. SST's for punching paper is terrific on the other hand.

760 is a good powder for full power, but does not work so well at lower pressures. May lose some accuracy. 4895 or 4350 would be better choices to play with, if you have them.

I load for two 7-08s. W760 is the bomb at 150 grain. Spectacular ladder test and modified OCW load development after that. 140 grain bullets for myself, W760 still good but starting to loose consistency on paper.

recoil comes from both bullet speed and bullet weight, you can't get enough speed on the 120 grain bullets to get any kind of recoil, they shoot fast, they shoot flat, and they kill deader then dead, 120 grain sierra pro-hunters over minimum charge of 41 grains of H4895, 1/4 moa out of the wifes factory Tikka stainless

Perhaps the Nosler BT at 120 gr if the mono's don't appeal to you. Ganderite and Yodave provide sage comments. My youngest daughter is showing interest in hunting. This will be the bullet I choose for the same reasons as you have outlined.

I find W760 to be a bit slow for short barrels. It should still yield good results with bullets that are in the 140+ grain range. Just as Ganderite suggests.

^^^ Agreed. Succinctly stated.

I haven't tried 120gr offerings yet so I cannot speak to a powder that has worked well for me. For myself, the first powder I will try with 120gr bullets with is Varget.

For what its worth OP.

Regards
Ronr
 
Thanks for the replies.
I stopped using SSTs and NBTs in 7RM because of the grenade effect and went to monos myself. Love them, but slowing down to reduce recoil means selecting a bullet with a different performance envelope than monos.
I'll look at the 120s and Varget. Have 1/3 a can of it, guess I'll be shopping for more.
Once i load up I'll break out the win760 for 140 or 150 TSX
 
Yes, but trying to keep recoil to a minimum for a young shooter.
I agree TTSX do well at 3k, but I'm looking at 2400 or less so have to pick a bullet that will still expand, which SSTs will apparently do down in the 1600-1800fps range

Barnes says a TTSX will open - expand at 1800 fps and there LRX at 1600 fps ! I would use the LRX 139 gr before the 140 TTSX in my 7-08 . jmo RJ
 
My grandson is very recoil shy. The synthetic stock Model 7 I built for him is light. Right around 7 pounds, with scope. It also has a Sorbothane recoil pad.

I'm not going to try to talk you out of mild loads for your daughter's rifle. You know her needs best.

I do however suggest you try out a couple of hotter loads yourself and check it out. PAST make really nice shoulder pads to absorb recoil for under $30. I bought one for my grandson and he used it for three years.

All sorts of ways to get around recoil and you're certainly on the right path.

Reduced loads mean reduced effective ranges. My grandson shot a Whitetail three years ago with the 120gr TTSX at just over 200 yds. He's a good shot but held point of aim dead on where he wanted to hit. Not a big deal, his rifle was sighted in for 150 yds and the bullet hit a bit low. The TTSX wasn't recovered but left an exit hole close to an inch across.
 
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