Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 7-08 and 140 Game Kings

That's crazy talk. Only a true gun nut wound say "it always works so I'm trying something new"

Not exactly: A true rifle loony often says "It always works so it bores me, so I'm trying something new, hoping the new whatever will transform my life, unlike the reliable bullet/cartridge/scope/rifle I've used long enough to be bored."

So funny and so true. Always doing load development for next year even if last years load killed them dead. I think it's because I have too may bullets and calibers and I need to see if they all work.

I have a free range Axis hunt in June and I'm screwing around with three different rifles in three different caliber trying to figure out which rifle and load will kill the deer the deadest. One of the rifles is a 7mm-08 and I'm getting good results with 145 Hot Cors.

If you use that rifle and load, the axis will no doubt die of sheer boredom.

You simply MUST AI the 7-08 and use either the latest monometal super-premium or the target bullet with the highest BC.

I'm loading 140 GameKings under IMR 4064 in my Model 700 XHR.
I used Sierra 50th anniversary manual (all I had at the time). My load was 44.0 grains in Winchester brass and WLR primers. Chronographed speed was 2940 fps.
The 5th Edition Sierra manual has reduced the max load to 42.2 grains.
I experience absolutely no pressure signs with the 44.0 grain load. I'm on the 5th reload of the brass with nice tight primer pockets and easy extraction of brass.

This load has never given a 3-shot group over 1"

Nice! Killed anything with em sniper58?

I'm curious how the 140 TTSX will perform at 7mm-08 velocities on deer?

Good idea......

Well, there is that...

shot a spiker mule deer last fall. He went about 30 ft and went to sleep permanently. Quartering away at about 80 yds. did not recover the bullet.

I just re-checked my data for this rifle. The only powder I've ever used is IMR 4064.........................Why change if it's working so well?

The two bullets I've used most from my 7mm-08 for caribou are the 139 SP Interlock and the 140 XFB. The XFB always worked very well in putting those 'deer down quickly. Shooting for bone is never a mistake with that combo.

My 7/08 Sako dotes on 140gr GK over H4350. Have never chronographed the load which is 1/2 grain under Sierra manual max, but it shoots the lights out for me.
The two whitetails I have taken, one at 125yd and 270yd, never complained about performance, and no bullets were recovered.

That said, I use 120gr TTSX in my other 7/08. They never performed that well in the Sako.

Thanks Klik,

I plan on using them for hogs, but if I happen on a deer I didn't want it to act like a FMJ so good to hear.

I shot a muley this past year at a very slight quartering (almost head-on) with the 140 Sierra Pro-Hunter, not the GK. I use that flat based bullet out of my 7-08 since I don't expect to shoot at any distances where the boattail would help me. Anyhow, hit him at about 30-35 yards in the right shoulder. It went all the way through him diagonally, and I assumed was in the hind since there was no exit wound. (I kick myself for not digging around and finding it, but I was on borrowed time skinning and butchering the buck in my friend's garage while his wife waited to go to bed.)

Used Varget, MV = 2,775

Deer made it about 40 yards before piling up. Not sure how it made it that far, since its boiler room had exploded.

Long story short, if you're shooting < 400 yards, the Pro-Hunter configuration is one to consider.

I have loaded my son the Sierra pro hunters with 46.5gr IMR 4340 for 2 years. He has taken several whitetail with it and all have been pass throughs. I have shot the 140gr game kings in my 280 and 7mm mag around 3000fps and had pass throughs on all but one.

Good to know JP, wondered if they could take 3k.