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

As in a comparison load to Dirtfarmers rldr 26 recipe.
As for the 7-08, just fill a case, scrape it look level, and crush it in there til it fits.
It may go boom, instead of bang !

Yep, it might even be as good as a Glock.

Ouch...

Wow ! WTF !!!

My observation of the 7-08 on the Campfire over the last 20 years is it’s likely the top “hotrodded” cartridge. Some seem incapable of accepting its limitations and are constantly on the prowl for the next wunder-powder to turn it into a 280 (or more).

What the 7-08 does is launch a 140 grain bullet at 2,820 +/- from a 22” barrel. A couple powders will make it faster, but often with less accuracy.

If you want more, get a bigger engine. The 7mm SAUM or WSM come to mind.

In this day of BDC reticles and turrets, I struggle to understand how the 7-08 isn’t an ideal NA BG round within its limitations.

+ What Brad said.

Just another Glock KaBoom.


I pretty much agree with Brad. I don't hotrod anything. If I need more speed or power I'll go to a bigger engine. I don't really need it from any of my rifles or handguns. The 7/08 seems like it will make me happy, for a while at least. Just want to do a few more tweaks to the rifle itself.

Wait, you’re saying it’s not?

Brad,

Exactly.

The load most frequently used in my 7mm-08s for the past 15 years or more gets somewhere in the low 2800s in the rifle purchased 4-5 years ago, a tang-safety Ruger 77 Ultralight, which was rebarreled with a #1 contour Douglas by somebody who knew what they were doing, 47.0 grains of Big Game with a 139-140 grain bullet. Depending on the bullet, it gets 2800-2850 at the muzzle, and like the 7x57/.275 Rigby kills all sorts of big game if pointed right. (Have also used 50.0 grains of H4350, but on average BG has been more accurate, and a lot less crunchy and hence likely to push longer bullets forward sometime after seating.)

Hooooly Cow!! That looks like a case full of Bullseye, some C-4 starter, and a couple of bullets already in the barrel. Having a couple of Glocks myself can you give any more data about the circumstance of this experiment??

It's not just hand loaders.

I had some Hornady 139 grain Light Magnum factory ammo that listed 3000 fps on the box and made it with a 24' barrel. I also had some Winchester 140 grain ammo that was hot.

That was just a random pick off the net. Google Glock Kaboom, there are lots of stories and pics.

Campfire loads?



DF

I don't have a 7-08 ....YET! But I have a 7x57 that I'm about to work up a load for a 140 grain bullet of some flavor. It's in a 98 action so it's strong enough for modern pressure level loads. Does a 7x57 use the same powders as the 7-08? I know the case holds a couple more grains water than the 7-08 so it should hold a bit more powder. But is it enough to make a practical difference (like a couple hundred FPS more than the 7-08 )?

Hello Brother, Lavaca, 36 Port Lavaca Texas. Love Sierra bullets.

My pet load, safe in MY former 7/08s were:

RP fireformed brass, partial sized

139 Hornady SP and 140 Nosler BT.

45.0 Varget or IMR 4064 (yes a grain or 3 over some manuals 'max' from memory)

I ran 2960 in 21" 700s (Stainless and a CM Varmint). and 2850 in a 20" Win M70 carbine.

Again, Safe in MY RIFLES..........so folks may want to look at 40 gr to start, and may top at 42-43 but every handloader must decide from experience and pressure signs that their rifle is telling them, what is safe......I do realize my loads were warm, but they were accurate and safe in MY rifles.

That said WW brass holds about 1.5 grains MORE than RP brass......and is worth considering, FC brass on the other hand IIRC holds LESS capacity than RP.

As always start low, and work up safely, in YOUR Rifle........

If I load the round again, I would look at some of the latest powder recommendations, but don't believe there is any more to be had velocity wise. 4064 DID edge out Varget in my rifles for accuracy. Speed was same same IME.

I would shoot for 2800-2850 in 22-24" barrels as a good safe performance level. Again, I was over book max with my loads.

This has been a helpful thread thanks; I agree w/ Brad & JB’s assessment of this cartridge.

I just traded into a lovely Model 70 Classic Featherweight in 7-08 that is shooting 168 GR Nosler Custom Comps with WLRMs, LC90 brass, and 44 GR of RL17 or IMR4451 into little bug holes.

I have to admit the look of the loaded cartridges with COAL JUST able to run through the mag is a thing of beauty. Gonna have to try the 168 GR Berger Classic?