Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Sako A7 load

Hello Everyone,

I recently bought a sako a7, in .300 wsm, and am hoping someone can help with a load for it.

I haven't tried any yet, was thinking a partition, or TSX, 180 range maybe? The twist is 1:11" if that makes a difference.

Thanks for the help,

FMP

I'm just now getting into my Sako A7 as well
and just arrived home from shooting my A7 this morning at the range.

I can tell what doesn't work and what worked for me today.

My powder of choice was RL-17, it's all I use the the 300 WSM.

Nosler E-tips totally suck! Horrible accuracy with 168's and 180's.
Hornaday 168 A maxs' terrible.

Nosler 150 Ballitic Tips, superb. Shot a .480, 5 shots, so it does live up to its 5 shot moa accuracy guarantee.
Load was 69.0 grains for 3,300 mv. I like that.

I'm going to hunt them on deer in two weeks.

I'm also interested in what others load development is.

Bob, thought you had the ET's shooting okay?


I've got a bunch of 180 Partitions(2.840" COL) loaded up with 64 grains of R17. They shoot as good the 175 SMK's and Nosler CC practice loads(MOA give or take).
Same POI out past 400 yards.
I know of at least five or six 300WSM's that shoot the Partition load(members and myself) very well.

And yeah I know, the old Partitions don't have a BC of .507 or whatever but inside of 500 yards it doesn't matter one bit.

I picked up an A7 in .300 WSM a couple of weeks ago myself, and I'm happy to pass along what I discovered.

Mine does not like 165 ABs with either R17 or H4350. Changing the seating depths and powder charges didn't help anything either, which was weird since ABs have shot well in everything else I've tried.

I switched to 168 TTSXs the other night, and every subsequent group has been under an inch. I didn't even try R17 as my .243 likes H4350 so much.

65,66, and 67 grains of H4350 all shot at or well below an inch. 66 grains is consistently between 1/2-3/4 inch with speeds between 3050-3100. I'm going to make one more range trip to confirm speeds for my CDS, then I'm going to load up about a 100 of those bad boys and just go practice for the next month. This rifle only has 50 down the tube at this point, so I'm hoping it will "settle" in and possibly get more accurate. I'll gladly take what I've got though.

Dave

p.s. Brass was Norma and primers were Federal 215 match.

I thought I had em' dialed in but they went south on me big time.

After my range time with the 150 BT's I bought another box.
Wish I had some Scenars to check out. I still may order some.
At 3,300 they would mimic a 264 win mag, maybe even best it a bit?

I'm really liking the A7 a whole lot! The way it feeds and feels and now shoots.

This 30 cal. is pretty versatile, I'm going to load up some 220 NP and hit the range this afternoon again.

Interesting,

Thank you, everyone!

Keep us posted on what your rifle tells you Parka.

Both this rifle and this cartridge are so new to me that I'm looking to gather all the data I can. I've about worn poor Sam out with questions, so seeing some other A7 owners post information is great.

Dave

I am going to run the 180 partitions to start, and ill keep everyone posted!

FMP

FMP, I bet you'll be happy with your A7, like Bob pointed out they feed and handle great. Maybe start at around 63 grains of R17 and work up to 65 grains. You should find an accurate load in there somewhere. FWIW, I use CCI250's but Fed215's ahould work fine also.

Bob, that's kinda weird about the ET's but we've all had good initial loads wonk out later on. One thing about the Partitions/CC's they are consistently accurate, fliers are all my fault. Pat gave me a nice stash of Scenars, I'll let you know how they work out.

Dave, no problem. Glad to hear your's is liking the TTSX's, like I mentioned in the PM they shot great but didn't match my target loads worth a damn.


Have any of you guys noticed stiff bolt lift on say the first 30 rounds through your A7's? Mine was initially pretty bad/stiff with mild loads but smoothed right up and is fine now.

Yep, mine too, smooth working now though.

x3.

10-4 Bob, you get out and shoot some 220NP's or were you just joking around?

I think it's a very well handling rifle. I need a re-scope job. Threw a 4-12 vx2 on it initially, but want something more compact.

I got talleys on the way.

Thinking it'll slay a white tail this year in good shape!

FWIW, I had a 2.5-8x36 VX3 on mine for a couple months last Spring. Didn't like the B&C reticle for that particular rifles use but that's purely subjective.

Here's a pic, Talley Lows.



First scope was a 2-7x33LR which is about the same size.

Shot them this a.m.

I called the third shot on the left, I pulled it. As far as I'm concerned 220 NP is a sub moa kick anything's butt in NA.
From my understanding this bullet is Phil Shoemakers stopper bullet in his 06.
The bullet has a .331 SD, greater than the .338/225/281sd and the 338/250/313sd.
I still have an article from Handloader that describes how the bullet out penetrated both a 338 250 grain Barnes X and a Nosler 250 Partition.

7828 SCC 69.0 grains. 2,730 mv average.


With a 250 yard zero shooting 150 BT's at 3,300 I shot the above group at 100.
Talk about a heck of an elk in the timber round for sending one up his six or a great bear in the bush load.
MV is just right and would not hurt it to be even a bit slower for great penetration.

Below target shows Berger 190 VLD's at 2,900 mv 64.5 grains of RL17
For a 1/11 twist the rifle likes heavy bullets just fine.

That 220 looks like it could kill something!

Too bad your Sako is such an inaccurate rifle, I bet the action is nice and smooth though....(grin)

Really nice shooting there Bob, I may have to try some of those in my 300 shorty mag (but don't tell anyone I'm shooting a short mag let alone a 30... ;))

Dober

Dober, you're slumming a 300WSM, what the hell!?


What make rifle?

put the fact tube on Fat Bastards action, it's really rocking with 155 Palma's, if I can't get the McMillan stock sold I'm gonna restock it and rock on.

presently running a 3-9 Burris BP but have a 3-10 Leo Silver with a M1 that could really make this rig a rock star, if I could find someone that has the ability to shoot it...grin

Dober

Dober,

What you shooting those wsm's out of?