Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 150 ELDX 7mm08 loads

Looking for a little help. I've been playing with these bullets on and off for a year and haven't yet found the accuracy that I want. I've been using RL15 because I had a bunch. Ran a couple of ladder tests and settled at 2740+/- fps and 2.840 OAL which is about 0.005 off the lands in my rifle.

The best groups I have shot with these bullets are around 1.25", but I had no trouble getting down to 3/4" with 120 TTSX and 140 Accubonds so I know the rifle is capable.

The rifle is a Nosler m48 with a 22in 1:9 twist barrel.

I've played with seating depth and 2.84 seems to be the best but not by much. Should I change powders? I have several on hand. Varget, Big Game, IMR 4350, 4451, 4064. Which one?

Suggestions? I'm still fairly new to reloading, but I've managed to get sub moa loads for several rifles.

Thanks in advance.

That’s my combo, but in a 1-9.5” Tikka. Actually four Tikkas.

I use 46.2 grain Big Game, WLRM, Remington brass. 2790 FPS, groups small enough you’d call me a liar. It’s a max load so work up.

If I were you I’d start out just kissing the lands, then shorten the oal by .04” three times, for a total of four lengths. Load five each. You should find accuracy with one of those lengths. Try .02” up or down from the accurate load to fine tune.

My T3 Lite stainless shoots this load into .25”, sometimes less, for 5 shots.

I’ve kilt deer and elk dead right now with that combo, no issues other than packing meat.




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The DA got one and i loaded some IMR 4064 with 150 grain Nosler Hunting BT's.

Went out to sight it in and just for fun tried some factory ammo as well.

The ammo i loaded was with new brass and was better than the factory stuff in his rifle.

He was happy.

It was fun WIN-WIN.

Thanks both of you for the feedback.

Pharm, do you use a basic ladder test to find a velocity node, or just work up to max velocity without pressure signs? And then adjust OAL to fine tune?

Nope, no ladder test. Truth be told (don’t do this, start low and work up) I tend to start at max and use the oal method I outlined above. It has worked really well for multiple loads across multiple rifles.




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Got my load from Pharmseller, I use Lapua brass so my load is slightly less. Big game and the 150 eld x is a killer.

The 150 ELD-X is a good bullet for distance shooting on targets and is as good as any cup/core for game animals.

I'm using 44.00 gn of H-4350, Lapua brass with necks cleaned up and volume sorted, Federal match primer. Handloads are as good as I can get them. 2606 ft/s from a 20" bbl.

An IPSC pistol target ~17x29" at 1160 yards is not much of a problem to get multiple hits. Groups well too.

Where’s my ten bucks?




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Fixed it to reflect my on-game experience.

Accubond/Partition 7mm-08: three bulls, eight or ten bucks, fast kills with reasonable bloodshot

ELDX: two bulls, four bucks (fewer hunting seasons), fast kills with reasonable bloodshot.

Mind you I’m not saying better, but I am saying just as good.




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ive had decent success with h380 with 150 grain bullets. You might give that powder a try if you have some. I've seen high velocities listed with stayball 6.5 but I haven't tried it for myself.

Sent you a PM

I'm shooting a large format AR; I am limited in COAL and it seems to show pressure signs under book max (and Pharmseller's proven loads). My most accurate load with 150ELD-X and BigGame is at 44.2gr with a WLRM primer @ 2.806" OAL. It averages just over 2600fps in my 19in barrel. Another accuracy load for 150ELD-X in my gun is 44.5gr Re17 with Rem 9 1/2 primers @ 2.805" OAL. This load is a little faster at 2660fps.

Ain’t nothin’ gonna survive a poke in the ribs with that load.



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Pharm,
Did you mean 0.04" or 0.004"? If I start out at 2.845 (kissing lands) and shorten by 0.04, I'll end up at 2.725, which is really short. Hornady book says 2.800" is spec.

I'm beginning to think my gun just won't shoot these bullets. I shot 5 groups this morning with 4 different powders and the best I got was about 1.3".... with most being 2"+/-. All were loaded to max length.

The best load today was a near max load of varget. I shot the first 3 bullets into a 1/2" group then apparently pulled the next shot over 2" away, then the final shot felt good, but it opened my group to about 1.3" if I ignored the flyer. May try some more with that load and vary the OAL..... I've almost shot up a box of 100, so I may as well finish them off before I give up.

Nope, I mean .04”. Try it.




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I tried a couple of loads with that bullet and none would shoot in my very accurate tikka, didn’t think it was worth wasting time on them

Did you try my recipe?



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No, no big game available here
I am sticking wit the 120 Ballistic Tip, shoots great, kills very well and to be quite honest I prefer the lighter recoil

I'm beginning to think they just won't shoot in mine either, which is disappointing. I've tried way more than a couple of loads......

Really want to get something working with a high BC to play around at long range. Any other bullet suggestions that may work better? Or any other suggestions to make these ELDX shoot before I give up completely. I have about 20-25 left in the box....may as well shoot them up.

Did you try my method? Start by kissing the lands, etc. In my Tikka the 150 eldx kisses the lands at 2.987.”


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