Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles What primer for the 7mm-08

Whether it be H414, Varget, or RL-16, I run WLR in all my 7-08 loads and get really good performance and mid-sub moa accuracy. However, just for kicks and giggles I did try a few loads with WLRM and found nothing to warrant buying magnum primers. Good luck...

Been following this post as I'm developing loads for a custom 7mm-08 I acquired last year. Was going to try WLRM's per recommendations, but this (80) yr. old fart can't do any better than this!

Is anyone using RL-16? Alliant shows some good velocities with that stuff.

As with most things, some think its great, some think, not so great. Some are getting really good speed, others, not that good. My 7-08 likes it, but it also likes H414, Varget, but so do a lot of other 7-08's

I'm using RL 16 and it has been the most consistent, not by much tho, in my 7-08. 45 grs with a 150 gr NBT. Excellent accuracy, sub MOA. Don't know about speed, don't have a chrono. But to be honest, I'm not too concerned with velocity because I don't have any shots past 150 yds and that's stretching it.

Getcha some and try it for yourself. You might find it to be the cats meow...Good luck

I use 210M with Varget and 120 NBT. 215M with CFE223 and 120 NBT. CCI250 LRM with Big Game and 140 NBT and 140 AB. Accuracy is good to very good with all.

Resistance is futile.




P

I will have to try magnum primers with ball powders. I never bothered to use magnum primers in 308 size cartridges before. My go-to load in the 7mm-08 since acquiring my first (a Remington Model Seven) back in 1991 has been 43.0 grains of WW-748 and a 139 grain Hornady Spire Point. That is a Ken Waters load, and has shot well in every 7mm-08 rifle I have owned. I don't think Ken used a magnum primer in that load. I never have, but maybe I should try them.

I'm going to try RL-16 next.

Which standard primer have you been using?

I have 25 pieces of brass with CCI250 and 25 with WLRM ready to load up. I will only be testing 2 bullets, ( 120gr NBT and 140gr NBT), and two powders, (Varget and Big Game), with everything going over the chronograph. As soon as I get a chance to shoot I will post the results.

Federal match and IMR 4350

Standard Large Rifle Primers will work in the 7mm-08 with almost any powder you use.

I use WLR and CCI-200 and have used Remington and others. Not much difference. I tend to be on the cheap side and buy what I can get the cheapest.

Did you ever post these results? Curious to your findings!

In my M70 Classic Fwt 7-08, magnum primers have made good improvements in accuracy over the WLR I had been using with Big Game and 140s. The one that surprised me is the accuracy improvement with Big Game in my Ruger M77 250-3000 with 100 gr bullets. Both combos were 1 1/4" at best with WLR, Wolf or CCI magnum primers brought both into MOA and under territory.

I generally use Federal 210s, 210 Match if I can find them. I used CCI standard primers back in 1991 when I first tried that load in my Model Seven. I still have it, and it still shoots five shot MOA groups with its skinny 18-1/2" barrel. I tried RL-16 last week and it wasn't accurate in my Nosler M48 7mm-08. Tried Big Game and had better results. 48 grains with a 140 grain TSX was too hot - 2,950 fps! That was with Federal brass and 210M primers.

Max per Nosler for the 140 Accubond/Partition is 47.5 (my load). I get 2880 or so.

Max per Ramshot for the 140 TSX is 46.5.

48 is aggressive.




P

I have had the same experience with Big Game and CCI 250 primers in the kids' 7mm-08s.

Well, I just did a comparison of WLR vs WLRM primers in my go to load of 47 gr. of Big Game & 140 gr. Accubond. Average speed was 2919 fps with WLR and 2926 fps with WRLM, not enough difference to warrant any change! Accuracy was quite a bit better with the standard WLR primer, but no conclusions to be made as this 80 yr. old shooter's eyes are a major factor!!!