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

Plan on trying a little distance shooting with my 7mm08 and would like to hear some of your experiences. Most shots would be in the 300 yard range but may stretch out to 500 max.
Won't be doing any hunting at that distance simply because there ain't many places in North Bama to do it.
Bullets will be 140gr NBTs

7-08 doesn't get much attention, but it'll launch 162 Amax or similar at 2700+ fps. That's serious LR medicine. Waaaay past 500 yards.

I've been reading about how well the 7 Mags do in long range and most people think that the 308win is best so how bad can a 7mm bullet in a 308win case be?

Rifle is a Remington 700 BDL with 24" barrel with a Vortex Viper HS 4x16x44 in leupold rings and mount.

I'd see if you can get some 150gr Lapua Scenars and launch those little suckers. .530 BCs at 2800fps would be very nice.

Tanner

From where? Are they out yet?

Heard the 140 Bergers work purty good but don't know if I'd try em at 500...

I was ringing steel regular with the 150 scenar at 600 last weekend. 2810 fps w/ H4350.

The first 500+ shot I took on an animal dropped a mule deer with a 162 a-max from a partners 7-08.

I've used the 7MM-08 as a competition rifle for metallic silhouette matches and as my primary deer rifle for 15 years now. To me, it seems very similar to my old .270 Winchester in effectiveness on deer and wild pigs with a tad less recoil. With the 140 grain bullet you mention I have had best luck in my rifle using RL-19, H-4350 and, recently, Ramshot Hunter. My best hunting loads are right at 2900 FPS from the 24" barrel of my NULA rifle. However, in competition, I shoot the 175 Sierra Matchking for the 500 meter rams. If you plan on shooting a lot of long range targets, try a heavier bullet. Speaking strictly for me, they perform with greater consistency than the lighter stuff in my rifles at ranges beyond 400 yards. Sorry for the long reply. I hope this helps.

Graf and son, in stock now.

Nor would I... Running out of energy at that range.

Tanner

150 scenar at 2800 , 1325 fp of energy, as compared to a 140 berger at 2900 1202 fp of energy at 500 yds.
I believe out to 600 yds it will matter more what the gun shoots consistently. But any of the slippery 140 - 175 gr. bullets should have no difficulty out to 5-600 yds.
JMHO and worth what it costs!!!!

My post was in jest, but I agree. No critters on the CONUS that I wouldn't shoot at 500 with either the 140 VLD or 150 Skinner...

Tanner

Or a 140 AB @ 2850. I'm wondering how a guy gets 2700+with a 162 AMAX out of a 7-08.....safely, that is?

I know you were , I was trying to point out that any bullet loaded to similar pressure will still be viable.
I am a small bit curious about getting 162s over 2700 myself. Not saying it can not be done , but just wondering what barrel length and powder.
I am the last one to be critical of others loads.

I think that in a 24" barreled gun it wouldn't be too much of a stretch. You've gotta' think about how short of a bearing surface those 162s have compared to bullets like NBTs and Accubonds... You're dealing with quite a bit less pressure, even though the weights may be similar...

Nosler themselves list 3 powders (N160, RL-19, and RS Hunter) propelling 160 Accubonds over 2700fps...

Tanner

That Nosler data is from a 26" match grade barrel. I don't think you could seat a 162 at 2.800 and get enough powder in there to reach 2700 personally, especially in a 24" barreled hunting gun.

Stunt Shooter...

In a factory Rem LSS 22" tube, with a full case of 2000 MR I get right at 2795 with 162's... With '17 I was able to get 2815 with a full case and no pressure...

With the 140s and the same powders, both are a CH over 3k...

This is with necked down LC brass and 200's... ETA: COAL 2.815"...

It can be done...

Hmm, how much R 17 are you lighting the 140s with?

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?

7x57 MAX loads in MY rifles, Please drop a few grains and work up.

154gn Hornady SST Bullet
50gn H 414 Fed 210 80 F 2808 2697
44gn VARGET Fed 210 80 F 2711 2514
51gn H 4350 Fed 210 80 F 2799 2680

I got a even 2800fps with the 150gn Parition using the H 414 load.

John

45.8 grains of H4350 gives me 2700fps with a 168 Classic Berger. Hits like a mack truck at 300.

i just got my 7-08AI built by Jim Kobe, has a 26" tube on it, im fully expecting 2750+ with 168bergers with it. Its a long range steel gun, and maybe varmint. Something about pounding steel at 1400+ yards with something using less than 50gr of powder is just fuggin cool :-D

Thanks Aussie, for those loads. Grabbed several boxes of 150LRABs when Nosler was still making bullets. Ran them thru a mag for plains hunt last year and this year the 7x57 gets the nod.

I'm curious....do some folks think that's "good" bullet performance?

Nope.... Can't find 162 amaxs though

I think it's good performance but poor placement

Aahhh....jsth are they tougher? Never shot an animal with an Amax.

Don't know, can't really get much softer than a Berger though. I've shot deer with 178 amax and 208 and both did fine.