Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Long range performance of the 7mm08

I worked up some pretty mild loads of RL17 in my 22" Kimber, COAL 2.800, 2675fps with primer pockets staying tight through 5 firings. 2700 wouldn't be difficult.

David

Big Game will get you there too -

41'ish of R-15 will get a 162 to 2,700, IIRC

Thanks fellas.

Run the numbers on 162's @ 2,700 and you'll be hard pressed to find much of anything that has the same foot pounds of ass at 500 or less drift for so little effort.

Hornady lists 46gr of RL17 getting 2700 fps with a 24".

43gr of BG gets me 2600 fps in a 22".

Probably true, but I'll likely not hunt big game with them, just bust some rocks, hogs, and/or 'yotes. I stick with AB's/Partitions for serious stuff......

The only powder I've tried that would hit 2,700 fps within SAAMI limits with a 160 in a 22" bbl'd 7-08 was Big Game.

RL17, H4350, RL17, Varget, and 2000MR would absolutely not get there.

2,650 or a bit less is the general "normal" for 160's in 22" barrels.

But I've always said the 7-08 is one of the most hot-rodded cartridges out there.

Mine were moly'ed out of a 24" tube.

Undoubtedly, which is why I qualified 22" barrel with my comments.

A 24" tube generally seems to get the speeds guys with 22" barrels are seemingly always trying to achieve.

I will say I hate referring to that rig in the past tense, it was a good one. Bought a 243, then sold them both and split the different with a 260.


Kinda along the idea of your tag line

LOL, I recognize the disease!

Which 160's Brad? Lots of difference's between bearing surface amongst the various varieties...

David

Undoubtedly David. 160 Sierra BT's.

I've never tried the 160 Sierra's, may have to add them to the "to do" list. Did you try those in your Montana? Did they shoot accurately?

David

David, they shot very well... my MT seems to have a decided preference for 150's and heavier, especially boat-tails. It really liked the 150 NLRAB, but that bullet is kinda goofy. It seems to want to deform when seating the inevitably full case... frankly, what I pulled from the dirt behind my targets didn't look any different than the easier to use 150 NBT's, and that's obviously a proven bullet. I have some 160 NAB's on hand and when I have some time will give them a spin.

The 160 Sierra boattail normally shoots very well, and also performs well on game when started at 2700 or a little less. I've killed a bunch of animals with it, both in Montana and Africa, usually from the 7x57 but also from the 7mm-08.

Nice.... guess I need to look for some 162s

No arguing an accurate expanding 160-162 that penetrates is tough to beat at 2700 in a 708. Yet I feel a good spitzer in 150-154 might be in a sweet spot in this round. That said I dumped a buck w a 140 BT from a TCU at a fire forming load of 2000 - at 30 yds. Figure a 140 cup core at say 1950-2000 impact for good effect

Anyone have some loads they like with the 150s & H4350 in 7-08 or 7x57?