Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game 7mm-08, 139 LRX

I am getting 3165 + or - in a 308 with Barnes 130TTSX in a 22" barrel using TAC. Got some 150's loaded up for an elk hunt next fall.

Your goal is definitely achievable but I wouldn't sell the 270 short. It holds 10-11 more grains of powder...it's going to outperform a 7-08 loaded to the same pressure, but as you said, with more blast and recoil. A 24" 7-08 should be pretty pleasant to shoot.

That said, I built a 26" 270 (Kreiger bbl, tight chamber) that gets 3178 fps from factory Hornady 140 SST ammo (superformance). Even mild Federal blue box 130's go 3195 fps from that barrel. 145 factory ELD-x loads run at 3002 fps.

I have a feeling I can get close to 3300 fps with a 129 LRX, but who knows, I might be wrong. Should have a load worked up in the next month or so and I'll report back.

Bumping this up.

I was shooting my 7-08 with 139 LRX's yesterday. H-4350 grouped best at about 2775fps. Big Game got to 2875, but the groups weren't that great.

22" Montana was used.

Anyone else experimenting with these?

Magnum powder with BG?




P

WLR

Working on the 139 LRX with BG. Had 7 shots under an inch for a velocity test, going up in .2gr increments, but have only tried one load for accuracy so far and wasn't impressed. Max book produced 2817 with a 22" barrel.

I use Fed 215's with BG. I was shooting 120 NBT's over BG, MOA, then I ran into this load as the most accurate in my Hart barreled 700.

This gun was built by Bobby Hart. I traded for it, sold the stock that came with it, ordered a Hunter's Edge unpainted. I glassed it, free floated it, filled in the bolt handle slot, sculpted for a custom fit, then sent it back to McM for paint. To me, McM cuts too big a bolt handle slot. I like them tighter, fitting the handle without much slop. It has a Timney trigger.

I know, I know, just a three shot group. But, I've shot a number of them, half MOA and better. And, that bullet (140 gr. Sierra SGK HPBT) is a bit more expansive IME than the NBT, quick kills with good exits on WT's.

And you know I'm a BG fan. Just that this load caught my eye and I like it. Sometimes ya just gotta let the gun tell you what it likes. This one likes that load and it performs consistently.

The Conquest was sent back for an elevation turret a few years ago, before the price went up. It was then fitted with Ballistic Tape for this load. Conquest do twist bass ackwards, but adjustments are repeatable. To keep from getting confused, just read the numbers. Works out pretty well.

DF

I use WLRM






P

Tagged.

I would say no difference at all. That would be my bullet of choice if I was shooting a 7-08. But too entrenched in the 270WCF to change now.

I am working up a load for my 22" 270 right now with the 129gr LRX and H4831ssc. Fully expect to end up right around 3000fps. Do not think I will have it sorted out before deer season. It would be OK if Barnes came out with a 135 or 140gr LRX for the 270, but honestly do not think they would do much more than than the 129gr. That is my opinion after we have shot truckloads of deer/antelope and even elk with various 130gr mono metals.

I am getting 3000fps with my 1:8 twist 270 and the 155gr LRX with Rel 26. Bullet performed great on the spike elk and antelope I have put in the freezer so far this fall. Hoping to get a couple deer with that load come November.

This summer I picked up a left hand 700 7-08 built on a stainless short action, 21 inch Bartlein barrel, Mickey stock, Timney trigger. I had Win 760 and Hornady 139 Interbond bullets on hand. 46.0 grains is giving me right @ 2800 fps over the Pact chronograph. Groups 1 inch but I scoped it with a 1.5x5 VX3HD Leupold Twilight Hunter scope. With the firedot crosshair and low power not sure how much better my 66 year old eyes can do. Used Fed 215 primers, bullets seated @ 2.800.

Shot a meat doe last week @ 90 yards and was very happy with the performance. Have enough of theses components to last me as long as I will likely be hunting. I will work up another load for plinking.

That light magnum round was hot. I wish I knew their forumula for it as it shot great.

I tried Winchester StaBall 6.5 with 139 gr Hornady. The MAX is 3054 fps. I was getting 2990 fps with a less-than-MAX load.

My late business partner got 130 bullets moving out of his 270W at 3325 out of his 22” barrel. Sadly the case was only good for a single firing because the primers fell out and occasionally jammed the action of his pre64 M70. His formula was to use H4831 data but substitute IMR4831.

He learned loading from an old WW2 veteran who determined maximum loads by adding powder until a primer was blown and then backing off by one-half grain! The same veteran counseled against M70’s because of the gas leakage. He said only a good 98 Mauser was safe.

Redlining your homemade ammo is always a great idea.

Depends on how much you like your hands and eyes.

Sorta like mine. If I need that .270 speed will get a .270 Wby.

I reload for good bud who has one. It’ll do with 130’s what the 26 Nosler will do with 140’s. And our WT’s can’t tell the difference.

Otherwise the old .270 does what it does well within its design parameters.

DF

Right on DF.

That light magnum round was hot.

This was quite awhile back but I shot the Light Magnum 139 SST in my little Kimber 84M Classic I had. They shot bughole groups. And yes, they were hot! I always had a sticky bolt and they clocked a tad over 3100fps! My Kimber might have had a tight bore, but they shot so well! I shot a nice Texas Dall Exotic at 200yds from prone over a gulch bank, pure set shot. He ran downhill 50yds and rolled. the SST fragmented, blew fragments that stopped against far ribs. Lungs/heart were shredded. I knew I would not use them on elk, but great deer loads.

A friend of mine, lives in Montana, he reloads for himself and for his family. One of his son's shoots a 7-08, with that rifle his son took a really nice Spring bear. His bullet of choice, for his 7-08 is the Barnes LRX 145 grains. He used the same rifle and load to take a nice bull elk, the opening week of rifle season in Montana. (2023)
His first shot on the bull, hit the bull, in the shoulder. Then he shot the bull again as the bull was still standing, the bull went down. He was hunting by himself; he gutted the bull then went for some help from his father and brothers.
They cut up the bull to get it off the mountain. They found one of his bullets that he fired at the bull. It was found in the offside shoulder. They cleaned up the bullet and weighed it, it weighed, 144.1 grains.

This young Montana hunter is 16 years old.

I think, he's doing okay for 16 years of age. He has graduated high school and has been accepted into college.

This world needs more younger people like this young man.

Take care.

[quote=shaman]

How was your accuracy?