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

Thanks Pharm. I can get to the lands with just the 6.5cm mag. No need to change the bolt stop on mine. Lucky I guess..

I use Big Game in my 7-08 with 150 gr NBT's. Those first two shots were from a clean barrel!! I also use RL-16 from time to time!!

Try StaBALL 6.5. In my 22" barrel, 48.5 grains with a 140 grain Sierra gave me 2,952 fps.

How was the clean up after shooting StaBALL? I haven't tried it in my 7mm08 but in the 243 it produced a lot of black soot. I was not at a max load though. What case and primer?

How was the accuracy?

I had a finicky M70 7-08 too (in Fwt model) and landed on book max charge of Varget under 140 Sierra PH. 2.780". MV = 2776. Sub-MOA performance now. I started out with H414 and 139 Hornadys with not good success.

Here's some chronographed loads from a few years ago (5 shot average) The rifle is a Rem 700 7mm/08 with 23" bbl.

140 Nosler Accubond

47gns RL17....................2865fps
48gns H4350..................2818fps

139gn Hornady BTSP

48.5gns W760.........................2906fps
47gns PowerPro 2000-MR........2917fps
47gns RL17.............................2874fps

There are several powders that with 140gr bullets will get you 2900 FPS. First is RL17, Next PP2000MR, W760 probably a little under 2900 FPS.

For the OP, have you looked at what, if any, bedding came from the factory? The factory on my Fwt was acceptable but not on a Super Grade of similar vintage. It was the horrible hot glue treatment, not bedding.

It's a SC gun..no hot glue.

50gr H4350 140gr Nosler Accubond 2955fps in 24" Remington 700

That one may be a little warm, 'ya think?

I'd say it's pretty compressed also.

I've used Big Game for 150 grain and larger bullets and accuracy is +/- 2 moa at 100 yards which is just OK for hunting purposes. My most accurate load is exactly the same as what JGRaider is using. 41.5 gr. of Varget under a 140 grs. Nosler AB. I don't have a chronograph but according to load data, it should be around 2,800 fps at muzzle.

Thanks for the RL17 data, I tried it in my Tikka SL and did very well. H4350 also did well but not as good as RL17. Very good accuracy.

My go-to load is still 43 grains of WW-748 under a 139 grain Hornady Spire point.

Went to range this morning . I used 47gr RL17 with 145gr Speer BT Win case, WLR primer 2.780 OAL and Got 2870 FPS. Same load with RL16 gave 2802FPS

Hunter did well at 49.5 gr 140grN Partition Starline case and WLRM Primer. speed was 2904 FPS SD 5.6. Best I ever got out of Hunter.

Still working on RL26 51.5 gr with 160gr Nolser Partition 215M primer win case 2.762 FPS That was last Nov. Speed was less than last time but was over my Mag Speed. Lab Radar had quit

When Temp got to 90 Degrees. I got a flashing Blue light and that is all it would do. Had added .5 gr and speed went down. Got 2691FPS today and SD was 7.3

But good news was accuracy was best so far.

A load with 139gr Hornadys was very accurate today using RL16 WLR primer and Starline cases load was 47.5gr at about 2845 FPS. That was max in my

TIKKA.. One other load I tryed was PP4000Mr used 145gr Speer BT at 50Gr 215 M primer Win Case. Got 2838 FPS SD 6.4 it was accurate load.

Sounds like RL 16 is your powder. I have 8 lbs of it and Ill give it a try for sure.

Your R17 load is nearly the exact same load my M7 loves. Only diff being I use a 2.80 OAL.

Going to load some more loads Using 145gr Speer BT with RL26 Quickload shows about 2919 FPS probably get less. MRP shows 2904 FPS.

Going to load some more hunter Also.

Quickload shows you can get 2985FPS using RL26 and 140gr Nosler Partitions.

Might try a few more 160gr loads with RL26. just to try it.

What charge with 145, 140