Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles RL26 in 7mm08?

If you can get 2800 out of a 160 with a 22” barrel let me know.




P

I have had great success with H-380 and 140's in both my 7-08's. Been told that H-380 is temp sensitive but have not seen it affect accuracy or speed in my hunting situations- Canada to Texas.

I like BigGame for the 7-08

Use the 26 in cartridges it shines in first and save it for that 26 is to hard to replace, I use it in known loads because of that.

I thought I’d report back on this boondoggle. In my T3X, I easily reached 2800 with 160 SGKs…with no signs of pressure whatsoever. Unfortunately, I could never get the the rifle to shoot <1”. Interestingly, groups all strung horizontally….

This gun has been a bit picky. It won’t shoot flat base bullets (partitions or 139g SP) into less than 3”, but it has shot several 1 hole groups with 140g BTs with AB close behind using Big Game.

I’m not giving up on the RL26….and 160s….but I’m out of time for further experimentation this year. RL26 has proven very interesting to me. Across several rifles (270wsm, 30-06, 340wby and 7mm-08), it produces excellent velocity with adequate to good accuracy but not top notch accuracy. It does appear to burn dirtier than many powders.

Next spring, I’ll finish testing the 160SGKs. It may be I simply haven’t hit the right combination of COAL and powder charge yet. I may also give some 160 ABs a try now that they are finally available again.

I did a lot of experimenting with various powders and 160-grain GameKings in my last 7mm-08, a tang-safety Ruger 77 with a 22" Douglas barrel. The best powder charge was 47.0 grains of Ramshot Hunter for 2674 fps, and three shots around .8", using either a Federal 215 or CCI 250.

I heard the 215 was made for the Weatherby loads ?

It's just a magnum primer. Usually preferred with ball powders regardless of magnum or non magnum cases.

This is true when they first came out.

Given what everyone has already said about it not being a suitable powder, I'm interested to see how long this goes on before realizing they're right

Keep using anything but Big Game, leaves more for me.





P

Shhhhh!

I tried some Hunter as well with the 162 ELD's and CCI250's.

Worked decently across the board, even in the restricted Montana magazine.

What kind of velocity did Hunter give you?

I am just a tick under 2700. I need to get out and verify it for sure, but the single shot was 2680'ish if I remember correct. I'll post up when I get back out to check em.

I’d give 6.5 Staball a try under any 160ish bullet in the 7-08. It works well with the 162 ELDM in mine.

my best groups and velocities was with H414 shot very consistent for me.