Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Powder replacement options for 7mm-08 and Big Game

I can't find Big Game to save my life. I use it in 4 7mm-08 rifles with 120 NBT and 140 NP and NAB.

I have Varget but I get much better velocity with Big Game (over 100 ft/sec) and accuracy is stellar.

I can't shoot it if I can't find it, so what are my available options?



P

CFE-223 and H-4350 kick some serious ass in the 7mm-08.

Don't forget the Vihtavuori and Norma options when powder gets hard to find. Basic Win 760 too.

I am getting good results with varget and 120 not so good with 140.

I had some good results w/ RL17 in my 22" barrel 7mm-08. 139SST's to nearly 2900, 120 TTSX's to 3000ish. These are not max pressure loads, have fired them in 90 deg temps w/ no pressure signs. Chrony readings were ~70F.

David

43.0 grains Varget got me 2825 ft/sec with 140 NAB and excellent accuracy. Safe in my rifle etc.

I haven't tried Varget with 120 NBT but 50 and 51 gains Big Game gave me bugholes. I didn't chrono the 50, but 51 gave me 3100 even.

I have a bunch of Varget, too.


P

46-47g of Varget and that 120NBT should work well. I also had good luck with I4350 and 140's.

I like H414 and IMR 4064. The go to powders didn't work in my 7mm-08?

No pressure worries? 45 is listed as max. I know, safe in my gun, YMMV, etc. Varget seems to recoil less than Big Game.


P

I had good luck with IMR 4320 shooting both 100 gr HP and 140 gr NBT. The charge for the 140's was over current listed max but less than the max listed in my Sierra manual from the 80's. 2898 fps with the NBT and 3 shot groups of about 0.9 inches from my Tikka T3. I don't remember the charge for the lighter bullet and I'm not even sure it's available any more but it came in at 0.6 inch groups.

Dale

I'm sorry Pharm. You made me look and check....45g it is. Thanks for bringing that to my attention.

Don't forget about RL 15. It works for a lot of guys on here. It's my favorite in my 7mm-08. Good velocity, burns clean, not sensitive to temperature change, and accurate.

RL-15. If you wanna drive to Renton, I can point you to some....

2000-MR works pretty good with 140s if you can find any.

Same here, I'd rather use firecracker powder than Varget

Pretty odd to me that this particular rifle was so finicky but got two solid loads figured out with the above mentioned powders so all is good now.

RL 17 with the 140 btip or partition runs around 2850 fps in my 22" Abolt . I stopped at 47 grains , which is 1 grain less than H4350 loads . Can switch back and forth with which ever powder I can find without changing my scope settings . Varget ran around 2800 fps with 42 grains , and shot fine but didnt shoot into same group . The way things are now it is nice to have options .

I've got a bunch and just picked up a 7-08. What kind of loads were you running?

45.5 gr with a 140 gr E-Tip. It's pretty hot though so work up.

I've found 49.0gr. Rl-19 to work well with 140gr NBT's. Very accurate, but a bit on the slow side.