Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 7-08 + 120 TTSX: What other powders to try?

I've got a 700 that shoots very well with 120 NBT's over RL-15. Wanting to try the 120 TTSX's, I went through a few loads with the same powder, but wasn't thrilled with the accuracy results. I picked the least bad load, then started backing them off .02 at a time. I got to around 2" groups, but no better.

I've got some W760 and H4895 on hand, it it worth giving those a whirl? I've heard TAC and Big Game mentioned, as well. Are there any others to consider?

Thanks,

FC

That's a little strange.......I use the same charge or '15 with 120 TSX's & 120 NBT's with equal accuracy under an inch.

Might give Varget, H4350 or RL-19 a try as all work well for me with both 120's & 140's.

FWIW, I load TSX's in several guns, all with a light kiss to maybe .010" off at the most & all shoot extremely well there........I pay absolutely no attention to people saying they need to jump .050" or so..............JME.

MM

Varget.

In .308 cases it's always been good to me.

I'd go with the W760/ H414 out of the 2 you listed. I can not tell you haw fast I was pushing the 120's but accuracy was there. Do t quote me and check your books but I think I was around 49.5grs. at 2.8" oa.

I would try Big Game, the middle weights like the 140 shined with H414 in my particular 7-08.

Cfe223 works great in my finnlite , I get top velocity with 120ttsx and 1" groups @200 m at 3220fps.

Varget. Sub MOA groups witb the TTSX in my 7-08.

Big Game.......

RL 15 works for me, but Big Game with magnum primers is right on it's heels. A hint.......Big Game likes to be pushed hard.

Maybe your gun just isn't into the TTSX. It wouldn't be the first time a rifle showed a clear preference for Bullet A, while disdaining Bullet B.

That said, make sure you're seating the TTSX way back off the lands. My 7m-08s prefer a kissing intimacy with NBTs, but a definitely platonic relationship with TTXSs.

Big Game
2000MR

Mine really likes the H4895 with the TTSX. ''

The NBT's are right up at the lands, but that didn't work for the TTSX's in that rifle. .02 off shrank the group, and .04 off was smaller still. When I got to .06 off, though, things opened WAY up.

I think I'll try some with 4895 and W760, and see what they do. Might as well start them at .04 off, too.

FC

cfe 223 is magic with copper bullets

RL17 has worked very well for me.

David

My 7-08 likes RL-15 at 44 grains and seated at 2.8" COAL, which is around 0.5" groups.

I never looked at another powder with the 120 TTSX, but when I was shooting 140 partitions, I was using Big Game.

Good luck!

Varget or Big Game would be a good place to start.

FC, I have owned four different 7mm-08 rifles. All liked the 120 gr. TTSX, but the sweet spot was found at least .070 of the lands. In my experience, starting at .010" OTL and shortening OAL by .010" at a time I found two sweet spots, one a lot better than the other. I started getting better at about .040" OTL, then got worse before it got really good. One of my Coopers shot great at .100" off. My current one is consistently a good grouper at .070 off. The point is, you may not have gone short enough for best accuracy with this bullet.

How far is too far off the lands, safety wise?

With any bullet as long as the bearing surface is in the neck, I don't see a problem. You just don't want the ogive to be in the neck. With my load that was .100" off the lands, the mouth of the case was about at the middle of the top relief groove. This is just what worked for me, as has been said, your results may vary.