Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Impressive Velocity & Accuracy - Ramshot Big Game: 7-08/120 NBT...

Although the Montana is shooting a little over .75 with 42.5 grains of RL15, (and I have a few stiffer R15 loads I need to try), I tried Big Game in my M84 7-08 based on JB and others' recommendations, and she shows lots of promise.

I'm running WLR primers at 2.770, which is about .010 off the lands, and Federal once fired brass (I know - but the Fusions have shot so good in this rifle).

Ran a ladder test between 48 and 51.5 grains with 120 NBT's. In a high wind, the ladder essentially showed what I interpret as a pretty wide and forgiving accuracy node.

Essentially, the ladder just had one rung strung a bit by a 15mph wind which was behind me quartering to my left, and gusting to 25+. It was blowing hard pretty steady, with gusts that would make me wait to shoot because they literally were rocking the pickup where I had my redneck shooting bench set up on the tailgate. I let it gust and shot through it except when it was rocking the truck so much I couldn't squeeze off steady.

I shot my ladder at 300 yards.



Instead of the usual steps up the ladder, I got 7 out of 8 shots strung horizontally by gusty wind in a 1.5 inch vertical group at 300. The 8th shot is a little over an inch above the rest.



Even with the wind blowing so hard, 7 of 8 grouped just over 4 inches at 300 - with one left of the group which may be explained by a gust or a hot barrel or operator error (although that shot felt good as far as I could tell.)

From 48 to 50 grains shot a group just over 2 inches.



Basically, I'm thinking that Big Game looks like it has a very forgiving accuracy node, and excellent accuracy potential.

I know shooting in this kind of wind is less precise, but it's either shoot in it or don't shoot around here right now.

A couple of questions:

1. What kind of velocity are y'all seeing with Big Game?

(My best group was kind of mild, but I'm going to load a few a little stiffer. I'm not in the lands, but not far off.

Started to see a little flatter primer at 51.5, but it was a half inch from the 51 load and I'm shooting once fired Federal brass right now, so I can probably push it up with less soft brass.

Don't have a chronograph, but can figure it with some 100 yard groups - but really wondering what folks are seeing around 50 to 51 if I want to settle in around there on a load.)

2. It was probably 85 when I shot, and I didn't piddle around too long letting the barrel cool, although I tried to give it a couple of minutes and walked down to record what I was seeing through my spotter in the middle of the group. Is Big Game temperature sensitive enough that I need to worry about pressure when we get into the upper 90's to low 100's that we'll see in August?

3. Any insights from these results much appreciated!

Headed out to shoot a few more this evening if I can (still blowing like a hurricane, but that's Spring in Texas HC), and will update if I learn some stuff.

Thanks,

DJ

50.5 Big Game in my 22" Ruger LH Hawkeye RP cases I see 3110 FPS
with Nosler BT around .75 - 1". Best powder for velocity and accuracy in my rifle. 120 - 140 gr bullets.

Thanks, KK.

I think I'm in that same ballpark, and if so, I'm more than tickled to get it in a 7-08.

I had a few minutes before dark, and decided to try to answer my own question, and check to see if my accuracy suspicions are well founded.

So, I loaded 3 with 50 right quick and ran out to the hay field.

I shot 3 at 100 and got about an inch group - still in lots of wind, and it was getting so dark I could hardly see the little dot I was shooting at - it's just a little 3/4 inch dot, and the crosshair was pretty well covering it, especially as dark as it was getting.

I shot anyway, and think I slipped up a little high on the 2nd shot, but the group was still an inch or a little under. Equally interesting, it looks like it is between 2 and 3 inches high at 100 - not as high as I expected based on where I was at 300 on the target...

I reckon a picture is worth a thousand words...Top one is almost 3" high, but I got in a little hurry fighting daylight and edged it a little high, I think...



Bottom two felt pretty perfect...and they're just about 2.25 high....



And here's where I was hitting at 300 the day before - not just with the 50 grain shot, but with just about all of them.



Now the 120 NBT is pretty slippery at .417 BC, but it still needs to be zipping along pretty good to shoot that flat...

Even taking the highest 100 yard shot and allowing for a little wind/operator error, I think I've got to be between 3100 and 3200 - maybe closer to 3200, and that's humming for that load...

I'm not jammed in the lands creating any pressure spikes, either.

I need to shoot it some more to verify, but if I'm even close to this velocity with what looks like it's going to be plenty of accuracy for hunting, I'm going to have even more affection for a rifle that I didn't think I could like any better.

I haven't been able to find any velocity information for 120 7mm-08 Big Game loads, so I'm really curious if some guys or maybe even JB will chime in with their experience.

Hunter is shooting crazy good in my 243 Montana, and I'm fixing to buy stock in Ramshot...grin.

DJ

Got an email with some reloading data from Ramshot this evening.

Just requested it today - they're mailing me a loading guide, but emailed some specific info same day.

Great customer service.

No NBT info, but they do have a 120 Barnes listed, which will be next on my list to work up...

7mm-08 Remington
Barrel: 24" ■ Twist: 1-9" ■ Primer: FED 210 ■ Bullet Diameter .284"
Big Game 100 HDY HP 45.7 2,875 50.9 3,194 50,320 2.710
Big Game 120 BAR XBT 44.2 2,756 49.1 3,062 57,850 2.835
Big Game 139 HDY SP 43.2 2,558 48.0 2,842 56,560 2.800
Big Game 140 BAR XBT 41.9 2,528 46.5 2,809 56,550 2.800
Big Game 150 NOS PART 40.1 2,409 44.5 2,677 57,600 2.740
Big Game 160 BAR X 37.3 2,219 41.4 2,465 56,830 2.800
Big Game 160 SIE HPBT 39.2 2,321 43.5 2,579 57,860 2.780
Big Game 175 HDY SP 38.3 2,185 42.5 2,428 57,790 2.750
Hunter 160 SIE HPBT 44.0 2,550 48.0 2,750 58,500 2.800
Hunter 175 SIE SBT 42.0 2,450 46.0 2,650 58,500 2.800

Believe it's time to back up past a quarter mile and refine things a little on the upper end.

DJ

DJ: Looks like its doing good,and I'd be interested to see what the vels are.

Are you running medium rings on that rifle?

No, Bob - I'm running lows, although they are Talley LW's whose lows are closer to some mediums.

There's plenty of clearance for the Leupy 2.5-8, but I put it on before Talley made an extra low.

This rifle hasn't been fast on the average, nor really slow. Just about what I've expected, until now.

I think it's clipping along pretty good with Big Game.

Thanks,

DJ

Further update...

Nosler doesn't list it online, but I got my hands on their manual and they do list a Big Game load with their 120 NBT.

It lines up with exactly what I'm finding:

They list:

48g at 3090
*50g at 3190 (*most accurate, and looks real close to what I'm seeing)
52g at 3262 (max)

I can generally push 120 TTSX's a little harder than 120 NBT's...

Anyone other than me a little me a little distracted at the prospect of an accurate 120 grain pill at 3200ish (maybe crowding 3300!) out of a 7--08 Montana/Faux Ti/Ti and the other great packages that can house it???!!!!!

I'd build a rifle around that.

I'm pretty fired up...grin.

DJ

that'll work! might have to go out and get some to give it a shot...

If this keeps up, I'm going looking for it by the keg!

I've not been safely in this ballpark with the ole Montana.

DJ

Yep, that's a good combo. I'm shooting 120 nbt's at 3140 with Big Game out of my 22" barrel.

That's just great out of a 7-08.

What kind of accuracy are you seeing, and what load are you running to get there?

Thanks,

DJ

M 7-08 is running 3169 with 51.5 of Big Game and shooting in the high.5 low.6 at 100 and right at 1.4 at 200. I found an old FS ( Pre KS ) with an 18" barrel that was EXTREMELY slow with 140's so I took the 18" off and put a 22" take off on it just to try. It shoots 140's almost always under .5 at 2898 fps with H 414. I hunt with the 120. They shoot good perform excellent on light game and I like the velocity.

I got similar results running the 120TTSX(moly) in my 7-08Ti. 52.0gr of BG in a case.

My load is 52 grains and it shoots way under an inch, probably averaging around .6-.7 out of a factory Remington barrel.

I'm pretty sure the Nosler data was generated in a 26" barrel.........Sounds like you've found a stout load none the less!



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Thanks for all the info, guys!

I shot another group of 50g loads at 2.770 COAL and got the same 2 in/1 out group at around an inch, so I seated 3 a quarter turn deeper at right at 2.760 and got a nice little triangle at a little over .6. 2.750 opened up a good bit.

Think I'll try a few at 2.765, but if the 2.760 load is consistent, that will be good enough for me.

May try a few at 51 & 52 grains at 2.760 and see if the extra distance eases pressure since primers were getting a little flatter at 51.5-52, but I honestly don't feel compelled to wring a lot more velocity out of it unless it just offers to perk better there.

Looks like a little playing with seating depth, and I'm going to have a dandy 120 NBT load.

DJ

DJ,

Very good info. I've always stuck with the campfire special of 44.0 R15 and the 120 (NBT or TSX). Gets 2,970 out of my 22" Mtn Guide. I'm very interested in seeing what your loads run through a chronograph, as I am now working up loads for a 84M in 7mm08 also.
Thanks!

I tried 1 each at 48-52 today looking for pressure signs and never saw anything suspicious. Like you 49-51 all showed about the same elevation. Curious to see some chrono results, I think mine has finally bit the dust.

I run 45gr of '15 under 120's but wouldn't mind tryin another powder if I could pick up 150fps?

That extra 150 or so seems to be there.

Load data reflects it, and experience so far seems to bear it out, although I need to play with seating depth with RL15 to see if pressures change enough to run a little more powder. I haven't been able to get up to 45g of RL15 without pressure signs so far, - but with admittedly softer Federal brass.

Still, I'm using the same brass with Big Game.

I know RL15 has been the 'Fire's proven standby for 7-08, so I may find I haven't played with it enough to let it show its stuff, but Big Game sure shows lots to like, as well.

DJ