Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Picky 7mm08?

BSA, yes I specifically did not say the rifle builder out of respect for them and their reputation. I have not addressed the issue with them and believe if I cannot get it to shoot to my liking the builder would rectify the situation. I posted this for help on reloading. The gun I believe is picky but am starting to get better results with the change of powder and coal. H414 is working the best thus far and H4350 is not far behind it using 140 grain AB. Im getting sub .5 groups with these powders. I need verify these last results. Thankyou again for your help as well as the others who posted.

https://postimg.cc/nj85PYbn

https://postimg.cc/SYkPySx5

Here were my last groups using H4350 and H414 with 140 AB at 2.830 COAL. Big improvement over Big Game.

That one ragged hole group looks great. Ive been messing with my new to me 7mm08 and wasnt getting the velocities i wanted with one powder. I saw H414 listed in the manual and lucked out finding 4 pounds at a LGS. Accuracy is not quite there, but velocities are much better. Glad to see you are getting yours rung out. Keep us posted on that H414 powder. Ive heard it can be slightly temperamental. Ill be learning myself.

Thanks BSA,

Im hoping to hit range on Wednesday, weather dependent. I will do a 5 shot group to verify accuracy. I have a long history with H414 and never a problem with it in my 30.06. I shot it from a humid 90 degrees to freezing temps and have done quite well with it. Meters awesome which is another plus.

I tried a few powders in my model 7, 7-08 trying to find velocity and accuracy with 120's, 130's and 139's, at the same time. Surprisingly, I found acceptable velocity and decent accuracy with H4895. It performed better for me than H4359, IMR 4064, Varget, AA2230C (I had it on hand already, so gave it a whirl), and H414. One other powder did give great velocities, but accuracy was not there. That powder was MR 2000.

It got even better when I tried Big Game. I hot my target velocity with a grain less than maximum with a 120BT and accuracy runs around ¾" for 3 at 100. Accuracy improved when I seated a bit deeper, (due to magazine length restrictions). I believe that I'm seating about .030" off the lands.

I have more load development to do for sure. But it beats 1 3/4 to 2 inch groups that I had got initially.

Sounds good and looks like you're on the right track... Man I've had some great groups go to chitt once you stretch them out.... so play around at 300 yards also and see how it's grouping... before settling.

Thanks Remington. I will test it thoroughly.

There are a lot of factors involved but here is what I found. First my TIKKA was under a inch with almost everthing I tryed except PP4000MR

Still trying to get that to work. Anyway, my TIKKA likes 130gr Speer better than any other bullet but not by much. 140gr Accubonds shoot great, 120gr Ballistic Tips, 145gr Speer,

120gr Barnes TTSX I make them jump .070 thousands or so at over 3000 FPS. I use Starline cases and Winchester cases. I use the Winchester cases for powder that take up a lot of

space. For primers I use WLR and WLRM primers. For powder I use several, RL16, RL17, PP2000mr, Big Game, and W760. For bullets heavier than 140gr I use Hunter, RL17, Above 145gr

I use RL17, MRP, and RL26. One caution MRP is very compressed, and RL26 is almost as compressed. So I recommend RL26, it works with 145gr also but I use Flat based bullets

with anything over 145gr. One more thing I have been very surprised at how good W760 is, that old power produces some of the tightest groups and velocity is as fast as any of the others.

I like it a lot.

Usually the 7-08 like it's big brother 308 are not Picky. I my experience both will shoot anything you put through them quite well.

140 Sierras (Pro Hunters but I'm sure GameKings would work as well) over book max Varget solved my accuracy problems.

If a 7-08 is difficult, I would also swap scopes, check the mounts for tightness and binding of the scope, and then check the bedding for debris or other irregularities. Everyone likes to focus on loads, but sometimes it is a mechanical issue.

Thanks. Looking at another scope to put on. Making up some more loads with 140 NBT. Getting typical 2 touching 1 flier which seems like a bedding issue. Checked action screws. Also going to change cci primers out.

Pulled scope put on different scope. Changed to fed 210 primer from CCI and used 120 NBT

https://i.postimg.cc/8kyzB4F2/20210129-145742.jpg

That's more like it. I have had a bunch of 7mm08's none were hard to find a good load for.

I was started to wonder what the hay?

Now you’re cooking with gas.


P

Wow, that should make you happy. A good rifle, and you certainly did your part too.

Thanks Pharm and Teebone! I'm going back out on monday to hopefully duplicate results. I also adjusted my trigger weight down. Fingers crossed.

Nice. What scope came off, and what took its place?