7mm-08 Recipe...

coolspringoutfitters · Mar 11, 2014

Just picked up a 7mm-08. Looking for a good low recoil recipe for my son to shoot... I'm thinking 120g Accubonds or something similar...
Thanks in advance.

CSO

It's all about the good times...

sageadvice · Mar 11, 2014

" I'm thinking 120g Accubonds or something similar..."

I would be too! Good luck to you, sounds like a winner! You might also look to see what Barnes offers in lighter bullets.

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

MaineFlatlander · Mar 11, 2014

It will take me a couple days to find my notes. I had a Barnes 120 TTSX load that works great in my Montana and M70. I know it was just under max and a tad SHORTER than the listed COAL. Pretty sure it was either W748 of RE15. Give me a couple days if you aren't in a hurry.

coolspringoutfitters · Mar 11, 2014

Sounds good, I want all the info I can get...

CSO

It's all about the good times...

RELH · Mar 11, 2014

LAST EDITED ON Mar-11-14 AT 09:55PM (MST)[p]Here is a load that I worked up for my Grandson's Marlin X-7 youth rifle. I glass bedded the action to the sny.stock and free floated the barrel.

Sierra Pro Hunter 140 gr. sp.
Rem. 7mm-08 cases
41 gr. H-4895 powder
Winchester LR primer
COL-2.800 velocity-2815 fps. Group size on target 0.435 at 100 yards. RELH

I loaded that Sierra bullet where the ogive was setting 15 thousands off the barrel lands. You will find this hard to believe that was the very first load I tested in his rifle. I went no further in trying to find his deer load.
For his hog load I switched to a 140 gr. Nosler Partition using the same load given above and set that bullet also 15 thousand from the lands and it grouped at 7/8 inch at 100 yards. The recoil does not bother him and he is on the small size for his 13 years of age.

REDDOG · Mar 11, 2014

LAST EDITED ON Mar-12-14 AT 00:18AM (MST)[p]The 120 barnes is a favorite of lots of 7/08 shooters..Lots of kill pics on the 24hr with that combo, from deer to brown bear.The 140 accubond would also be a hammer in that cart..I lean to the heavier bullets where lead is concerned.

Silentstalker · Mar 11, 2014

Jeff,

We are shooting the 120 gr. ballistic tip out of my wifes 7-08. They shoot really well with varget. It shoots well under 1/2" groups using 43.5 grs. It shoots the 139 gr. Interbond really well too.

That 120 gr BT is lethal on deer and antelope. We switch to the Interbond or 140 gr. Accubond for elk. Great gun!

Silentstalker · Mar 11, 2014

Found one of my old pics... 3shot group. Shoots this all day long.
Let me know if you want help or have any questions.

RELH · Mar 11, 2014

Varget is a good replacement for H-4895 and IMR-4895. Almost same burning rate. I may give it a try when I use up the last 4 pounds of 4895 as Varget is easier to find.

RELH

MaineFlatlander · Mar 12, 2014

My load was Remington cases, CCI primers,Barnes 120 TTSX, and 43.5 grs of RE 15. Don't know why but almost always my Barnes loads are at their best when loaded a tad shorter than listed COAL

ELKOHOLIC · Mar 12, 2014

I don't think they make a 120 gr accubond. They do make a 120 btip though. I would have to look up my data, but I also use Varget and shoot 140 gr Accubonds.

beech18 · Mar 12, 2014

7 08 nice round. Ive done some playing around with various loads for my mothers gun. Heres a few that are inch or less that I found in her Winchester Featherweight.
Barnes TSX 140 Grain
RL-15 41.5 Grains
CCI 200

Berger 168 Grain VLD
Big Game 42.5 Grains
W-760 43.5 Grains
CCI 200

Hornady SST 139 Grain
RL-15 42 Grains
CCI 200

sageadvice · Mar 12, 2014

"They do make a 120 btip though"

I tried them in my 280AI, once. Was the only buck that i have lost in modern history...the last 20-30 years or so.

250-300 yd shot, i was bagged in and took a quartering away shot where my cross-hairs were in the front-middle of his ribcage when the gun went off. Stoned the deer but by the time i got over there, he was gone. Several trips back and forth, a lotta hair, little meat, bone, and a mist of blood at the site but no blood trail and eventually, no buck.

Yeah, i might be nuts but i never again shot a 120 btip thru my rifle at game.

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

coolspringoutfitters · Mar 13, 2014

Interesting... So, what 120 gr. bullet would you recommend? I'm use to shooting a 300RUM and all I shoot are Accubonds... I have no idea what to go with in the 7mm-08...

CSO

It's all about the good times...

sageadvice · Mar 13, 2014

Barnes.

I believe if the same shot, the same placement, the Barnes would have punched thru that ribcage, jelled the vitals, and took out the far shoulder. No need for a blood trail.

As it was, i don't know that i got any penetration at all. The deer was not recovered so no way to tell for certain.

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

Silentstalker · Mar 14, 2014

Modern day ballistic tips have a thicker jacket. Not sure how long ago you lost that deer Sage?? I have had and have seen incredible performance out of that 120 BT. I would not hesitate to use it at all on deer or antelope. Especially for a youth. Just keep it under the recommended velocities.

That said, when we jump up to elk We shoot the 139 gr. Interbond or 140 Accubond.

lve2143 · Mar 16, 2014

RL-19 is the best powder for
7-08. Bar none.

Califelkslayer · Mar 18, 2014

2 years ago I spent considerable time working up loads for both my .280 rem and the wife's 7mm/08.

I shot 100's of rounds through both working up a deer/antelope load and an elk/moose load for each.

For the 7mm'08 I settled on RL-19 behind a 140 grain Barnes TSX for elk/moose and IMR-4350 behind a Hornady SST 139 grain bullet for deer/antelope. I would have to go down stairs to get the actual loads.

The Barnes worked great for elk. One bull dropped in his tracks. Second bull staggered about 12 yards and piled up. Shot placement did have something to do with it. After she shot a couple of antelope, and my son killed an antelope, I'm no longer a fan of the Hornady SST. This year I plan on working up an Accubond load for deer/antelope with both guns.

But to the question, both RL-19 nd IMR-4350 shot very well in the 7mm/08 with 139-140 grain bullets. I love the way her gun shoots. Mild recoil, great trigger (Savage, stainless steel, left hand model, accutrigger). I shoot better groups with her gun than any of mine.

But some of the targets pictured on this post are pretty impressive too.