I just purchased a stainless Tikka T3 in 7mm-08 for my son, and will be looking to get some reloads going by this weekend so we can go out and shoot.

I would like to use the Hornady 139gr SST bullet, I have Remington brass, Winchester brass, CCI, & Winchester larger primers.

Here are some of the powders that I have on hand that I could use for this caliber, IMR 4895, W760, W748, H380, & H414, I know there are other powders that are usable for this caliber, it's just that these are what I have on hand.

Any and all opinions and experience are welcomed, especially if they are coming from other Tikka owners.

My Savage didnt like 140's that much, but was very happy with Sierra 150's.

414/760 and 4895 are both supposed to generate good velocities in the 7mm-08, but I've not tried either.

I'll say this.... you or your son caliber-selected well. I love my 7mm-08 and feel like I could hit danged near anything with it. the mild recoil and excellent bullet selection available in 7mm makes it hard to improve on.

Unfortunately, I dont have a great recipe for you, but I'm confident you'll find a load that your boy and his rifle will both like.

I have one that has been improved and another that has been improved twice. One just had the Ackley improved type treatment and the other was first improved to a 30-06 case and then the RCBS improvement. Have killed lots of deer with the first one and have 100 cases ready to load on the second. This rifle is new to me so can't say what I like but the 7mm08 improved and before it was improved, I had good luck with Varget using several projectiles. I am currently using 120 gr Ballistic tips and they have worked well on the deer here in Arkansas. miles

My best combination of velocity and accuracy with a 139 Hornady sp has been with H4350 and Ramshot Big Game with Big Game having a slight edge. Others here swear by Varget and RL15.

139gr hornady, 46.0gr imr 4350, fed 210, 2.833 oal or 2.805 at ogive
These shoot very well out of my wife's tikka in a 7-08

IMR 4064, Varget, and Big Game are great powders to start with. My rifle was a tad picky and ended up with a max load of H414 and 140 Barnes TTSX.

Also a 130 Speer BTSP with IMR 4064 shoots very mild and accurate.

With the powders you have currently I would start with H414.

My daughter's 7-08 I use h4895 with 120gr tsx

Of the powders you mention, I would be looking at IMR4895.

I'll be anther to actually answer the question you asked instead of giving you 3 or 4 powders that you don't have.

Of those you listed, I have used H414 with very good results. I burn a lot of H4895 (should be close to IMR4895), but prefer to used it for bullets lighter than the 139gr you have.

W760 has been a great powder for me in the 7-08 with 140 gr bullets. H414 is the same powder; just different label.

Les760,

Your load is similar to what I've found to work in my 7-08. What velocity are you getting and what barrel length? Varget works well in the 7-08. I'm just now playing with RL17 and 2000MR. RL17 is showing more promise, but it's early on in the playing/testing.

44.5-45g H414 has worked well for me @ 2.800 COAL.

4895. The 7-08 is pretty easy to load for with several powders but I've always gotten my best accuracy with 4895. And that's been with several rifles. It's kinda like 4350 and a 30-06. You may find a powder that works best in a single rifle but acrost the board, 4895 has been the best one I've found.

We have 2 7-08's
One shoots hunting good with just about every powder ive tried in it and one only likes 140 or heavy with 4064 or varget. try what you have on hand if they dont shoot well try other 2. I load for 4- 7-08's now and they all shoot well with varget except the picky one it like 4064 better.

What he said. H414/W760 work great with the 139 SST. I'd work up to Hornady's max of 49.0 or so grains and use WLR primers in the WW brass. Good load, should get you close to 2900 fps and be accurate.

I have been loading 50.0 grains of H414 and 120 BTs for almost 20 years for my daughter's and grandkids' 7-08s. Accurate in all three rifles (a custom Mexican Mauser, a Model 7 and a Model 70). Never had a reason to try anything else--it just works.

Thanks guys for all the info

I have not ran that load over the chrono but by my drops I'm guessing it's just over 2800. 22" barrel MR contour.

This is what my rifle likes.

For 139 to 150 grain bullets, H414 is my go-to powder.

Les--looks like you are ready to go!

I know I'm bias but I feel the 7-08 goes with the 120gr bullet like the 270 does the 130 and the Barnes [email protected] with 45gr of varget has shot at least m.o.a in the dozen or so rifles I've loaded it for the 120gr prohunter under the same recipe has shot very well too but I feel for whitetails there is no finer bullet than the 120gr tsx in a 7-08 period

I would totally agree with you . I am using the 120ttsx in mine at 3220fps and it is an awesome combo.