Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles H414 in the 7mm-08.

Has anyone settled on H414 as THE "go-to" powder in their 7mm-08?

I've used IMR4350, Varget and RL19 so far. But, according to the latest Barnes manual - H414 seemed to really outpace the others. But, of course, that doesn't mean it's accurate.

I have a stock Remington Ti, and would like to hear of everyone else's favorite loads in 7mm-08.

I'm a confirmed Barnes fanatic, and have pretty much settled on the 140 grain as my do-all bullet, but I still have a big supply of 120's, and 160's too, and even some 175's.

Any loads you'd like to share?

no loads with H414 ... but I will reiterate the 'campfire load' for the 7mm-08 ...

RE-15 (about 44g naked, about 45.5g moly coated) ... RP fireformed brass, WLR primers, 120g TSX's seated for minimal to no jump at the lands ...

expect about +/-3000fps and good to great accuracy ...

Layne Simpson's data for the 7mm-08 and 7mmSGLC was developed with H414/W760. Impressive velocities too.

July 1990 issue of Shooting Times:

Rem 700 Mtn Rifle 22"bbl, 7mm-08, Rem case, CCI 250
139 Hornady 48.0gr H414 2919fps
130 Speer 50.0gr W760 2972fps

Jarrett M7 20" bbl, 7mmSGLC (40degree improved), Rem case, WLRM
140 Ballistic Tip 50.0 gr W760 2922fps

Sound like fairly warm loads, as a 139 at over 2900fps ain't no slouch.

H414 has worked well in my friend's Browning Micro Medallion 7-08.

H414 is THE powder in a 7x57, can't think of a reason it wouldn't be in the 7-08.

If you have not tried H414 you should. I found a load for one of my vintage military guns with it and thought I would try it out on some others. 338-06, 22-250, 30-06, 300 SAUM, 270. It meters very well. Some books recommend a mag primer which I have noticed to make a difference. Same load with and without mag primer went from great to "hunting rifle" acceptable. Another you might look at for performance and versatility is H4895. Works great in lever guns and .223, youth loads, still experimenting. Also listed as an "extreme" powder

H-414 is the only powder that I use for the several 7mm-08s that I load for. I use reduced loads for starting the grandkids and full power loads for the kids and grandkids that are now much bigger than me. I haven't tried any Barnes bullets, though--we shoot Ballistic Tips and AccuBonds in this cartridge...

I just tried some IMR4007 in my 708 this week with the 139 gr SST. The jury is still out but..............:)

My Ti and LVSF just didn't like it with the 140gr Barnes TSX. Varget was another story:)

The LVSF shot sub .75" groups with the Barnes 160gr TSX and 43gr of H414 though.

Robert

H414 is my favorite for the 7-08. I like it so well that I am working up loads for different calibers that I have in the hopes of trimming my powder selection. 49 grains and a 120 Nosler BT give me 3043fps and cloverleafs out of my son's Savage. I may bump that load a little now that he is bigger.

I've burned quite a few pounds of H414 (and W760) in one of my -08s, mostly with jacketed bullets. It is a very good way to go fast accurately. The one thing I think I've seen with it compared to other accurate powders is that it wants things just so for the repeatable accuracy. Where some powders may not be quite so fussy about the primer, seating length, etc, it seems both of the similar ball powders like it "just so" for fine accuracy. Of course that may also be rifle dependent and, for hunting, it isn't all that critical for so many applications, especially where all the speed you can muster matters.

Ken Waters wrote that W760/H414 was the powder Remington used to develop loads for the 7/08 and was the original factory loading. He also found it was the best all around load for the 7/08. I believe it was 47g W760 behind a 140g bullet. I have the original article somewhere.

I agree with Klik. I used to shoot a max load of H414 with 139-grain Hornady Interlocks, but it was a finicky combination. I switched to 150 and 160 grain bullets and slower powders. I still have accuracy but not as much recoil.