Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 7-08 Powder

18" barrel and 120's

Pick a powder

I'm going with 4064 for now

If you have access to anything you want, I've had great luck with Varget and Big Game.

RL-15

MM

Im thinking in an 18" tube Varget and Big game are too slow

Shane knows of what he speaks. Having JUST gone through this with my son's 22" tuned 7-08, R-15 was the clear winner for accuracy, and second only to Varget in speed.

44 grains of R-15 gave me 3,000 with stupid accuracy and no pressure signs.

Looking for 18" data

It's the same as 24" data, there won't be any significant shuffling of what powders perform best.

Exactly. Which powder "works" best will depend more on the individual rifle than anything else. It's a pretty tolerant round.

The shortest-barreled 7mm-08 I've fooled around with had a 20", and Big Game got the highest velocities along with excellent accuracy of the half-dozen powders tried with various 120-160 grain bullets. But another rifle might do better with something else.

I think I will break out the dusty laptop and run quick load

The powder is converted to gas WAY before 18".

And there is nothing wrong with 4064 (because its essentially the original VARGET and also similar to R15) in the 7=08, if the metering doesn't drive you crazy....

Varget's The Go To For Me.But MR-2000 Also Did Very Well In 18 1/2" Barrel..

My youngest son picked up a Ruger American compact this summer, that I think is an 18" barrel , and I tried several powders and loads before settling on RL17 , but didnt try 120's . I noticed with book max loads around 2700 fps was about tops with that gun and 140 btips and sierra's .Varget and RL15 have always worked well for me with 120's .

Rl-15 44.5gr under a 120gr NBT or TTSX.

what legth barrel was that load worked up for?

Talcum powder works good. It help dress your animal after your 7MM-08 Rem has converted it to butcher paper wrapped freezer packages.

I use Real Guns for a lot of loads. In fact, I've just loaded my .270 Win & 7MM Rem Mag for an elk hunt with loads I've taken off of this site.

I love .284 caliber cartridges. Had I been smart I'd of owned a .280 Rem & never needed another rifle. The 7MM-08 Rem is the .280 Rem's short-action almost twin. Truth is either is good for everything in the lower 48.

My vote would be Varget, RL15, and IMR4064 in that order. I never tried Big Game in this caliber is why not mentioned, but when Mule Deer speaks, I listen.

I'd love to try Big Game in mine...I think Mule Deer is on a stockpiling crusade (i.e. using his connections) and needs to share the love. That or, Big Game has reached "pixy dust" status. I've not seen it in a LOOONG time!

Just start with the 4064 you have on hand. I'm sure a good load won't be hard to find.

I should mention Varget did great for me (22" barrel). I've got some 2000mr that I'm going to play with more. The initial loads were just ok. I've also got some RL 15 and 17 I'm planning to play with.

18.5" Model Seven