Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 7-08 pet load?

Seconds because of the red tip? They look like BTs.




P

Yeah.
Red tipped Accubonds as what they were advertised as.
If really bt's? No matter, they kill.

I bought a bunch of blue-tipped 120 BT seconds a few years ago, half off first run price. Supposed to be red. I call them Blue Meanies.





P

Mine's the same as many others here:
120 Nosler Ballistic Tip
45 gr. Varget
Lapua brass
Rem. 9 1/2 (I think)
3035 fps from a Dakota Model 97 with a 21" barrel. It's 1-for-1 on 150 lb. whitetails. Shot was quartering toward me at 175 yards and the deer went straight down.

140gr Sierra Pro Hunter #1910
43.25gr Varget
Lapua Brass
Tikka T3 Lite 9 1/2" Twist

Not a barrel burner fast load (2800fps??) but great accuracy and performance on deer, but after using Barnes 150gr TTSX in .308 this season I'm thinking about trying them in 7mm-08 too.

44gr varget and 120nbt for me

120 NBT over Varget seems about the most popular 7-08 load.

Last year, I had just put my 7-08 together, didn't have time to work up loads, so shot my buck with 120 NBT factory ammo.

Factory load shot 1", no problem doing what needed doing. Chest shot deer ran 50 yds and piled up still in sight. Good internal damage and exit.

DF

Has anyone tried Accurate 2460 in 7mm-08? It looks like it gives pretty good velocity for the 120-140 grain weights. Maybe 2460 is too temperature sensitive compared to the tried-and-true powders. I have a couple pounds of the Belgian-made stuff.

Looking at the burn rate chart, I'd think 2460 may be a bit fast for the 7-08.

Varget is great with 120's, and it's a good bit slower than 2460.

Big Game, RL-16, RL-17, 4350. etc. and now StaBALL are all slower than Varget and they seem to be in the preferred range for 7-08.

So, temp sensitivity may not be the main issue, or even an issue at all, with 2460.

DF

Yep made my ignore list

Anyone have experience with the 160s... Sierra, Speer, Hornady?

I've read several comments by John Barsness about fine results on deer size game with the 160 Sierra Game King and the 7x57. Couldn't be much different in the 7-08.

Pretty much a wash.

SGK’s are generally very accurate.

DF

Yes, think I`ve read his comments. Was just asking, cause all most all the "pet" loads for the 7-08 seem to revolve around the lighter bullet weights. I don`t own one.. do have the 7x57 tho, and use the 160s in it with very good results.
Both cartridges being of similar ballistics, thought it interesting not many heavy bullets were listed for the 7-08.
Thanks

Nosler 140 Accubond
43.0 Varget
CCI-200

I once had a 7mm/08 that I killed alot of stuff with. I loaded 140 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips over 42 grains of BL-C2. Later started using Varget at 43 grains when the BL-C2 ran out. Straight arsenic.

I have topped out so far in the 7-08 with the 150 gr. Ballistic Tip. The load I worked out got more velocity by a little than I got from the same bullet out of my 7x57 and Brass is far easier to get.

I like 140s and 160s over varget. I can always make them shoot well enough

My 7-08 doesn’t like 140 NPT but shoots 150 NPT sub MOA.

It shoots the 140 SGK HPBT half MOA.

I’m sitting on a tripod stand in open woods. Still, cool, foggy morning. 7-08 loaded with those SGK’s over Varget.

All I need is a fat doe or a cull buck.

DF

Sounds like the 7-08 guys are learning what the 7x57 guys already knew, that the "Pet Load" does not have to be the hottest nor fastest load.
There is already enough caliber, bullet weight and bullet construction to handle most intended purposes.
John