Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles R17 and the Runt 7 (7/08)

Wondering if any of you've given R17 a go in your 7/08's as of yet?

Long and the short, I just picked up a 788 Carbine in 7/08 for my Grandson and others to use as well as myself I guess..grin

Only had one range trip with it so far but the results look good.

The rifles an old one that's seen honest use but not abuse. I added an old 3-9 Burris Bp in some Weavers I had around as well as a "Montana Sling" that's rapidly becomming a fav to me.

Keep in the mind the barrels fairly short 18.5" I think. I tried 3 bullets in it last night all with R17. And keep in mind that this was a sample of one group each.

*150 NBT with 46/R17=2635 fps, it shot well under an inch @ 100 yds

*160 Noz (Screw Turns) with 45/R17=2600 fps and a group just a tish over an inch

*168 Boogers with 45/R17=2534 fps and a group I'm not quite sure how to measure it's basically one hole...the good old lucky flinch at the right time thingy showed up I guess.

Mucho more load developement to come but so far the lil rig looks like it'll shoot R17 ok.

So, anyone else been burning R17 in their runty 7's?

Thx
Dober

try a 140 the 160 is alot of bullet for that round

Yeah I'll get around to trying the 139 Horn, today I'm also giving the 175 Nozler semi a go.

What is it about the extra 20 grains of bullet weight is it that makes you say that a 160 is a lot of bullet for the round anyway.

From what experiences and on what game have you learned that to be true..?

Dober

Mark, got your email and pic... I'm thinking that little rifle is a keeper (grin).

I used to run a 140 B-tip over 48.0 H4350 in my 7-08. Were I in possession of a 7-08 I'd start at 46.5 gr's RL17 under a 139/140 and work up to 47.0 and 47.5. I'd be willing to bet you'll be nipping the heels or a bit over 2,700.

Since the little 7/08 is a modern rendition of the 7x57....and since the 7x57 established its' game killing reputation with a 175 gr bullet,I can't see how a 160 at 2600-2700 is a "bad" thing, or overtaxes the cartridge that much,(except maybe trajectory,which, I am told on here is no longer important cause there are dots and clicks).

I like the 140 myself, but see no issues with a 160.....JO'C's wife rolled everything with that bullet from a 7x57 at 2660...it's really a slightly scaled down 30/06-180 with most factory stuff,and does many of the same things.....just sayin'

Mark,

I haven't run it in my -08s yet, but have burned up several dozen rounds of Mausers with it and 150s and 160s - and it seems to be first-rate.

(And I like what you're seeing with the 160 weight combo. My M7 20" was not getting as much juice with 4350 and they still hammered a nice moose out yonder quite a ways...)



I punched his ticket with the first 160 Fail-Safe (which sailed through the lungs and out). The second, second from right, was poked toward his neck and was stopped by his spine. It was far enough that "overpenetration" was obviously not an issue where Jurassic-mass bone was involved.

for one thing you dont have much room in a 788 to play with case length due to the magazine

I have seen this cartridge discussed several times and have always seen it steered clear of the 160+ bullets

Not saying it wont work but why not flatten it out a little? Couldnt hurt

Brad I found a pic on my phone this morning, forgot to ask Dober what made the 'one' big hole on the target. Assuming now it was three 7mm holes.....(grin)

Discussed? Discussions don't mean diddly. Dead animals do, and I'm pretty darned certain that if a 160 gr. shoots that well out of that rifle (and I'll give you the magazine length issue), it won't matter, whatever the bullets hit in the vitals will die. Field results, not internet consensus by a bunch of BSers (myself included) is worthless in the face of delicious venison steaks!

My guess (based on some experience) is that a 168 Berger in the ribs wouldn't do any Montana big game animal any good at all.

I did a quick run to Logan this afternoon, had a bit of a tailwind...grin so keep that in mind with the speeds. It was one of those winds that about blows your sandbags off the bench if you follow.

*150 NBT/47/R17---shot very well about .75", and the speed was 2704 fps.

*175 Noz semi/45/R17---shot just under an 1", and the speed was 2520 fps

Not bad for a short runty bastard that doesn't have enough case capacity for the heavies eh...grin

Need to redo the 168 Booger load and I picked up some 139 Horns today so need to see how they'll perk.

Dober

That 150 BT won't kill anything at that speed..

U should of been at Logan tonight, I killed the crapola out of the gongs....that runty lil 7 is a shooting sob

Dober

That 150 NBT load does look like a good one. I have been shooting the little brother to that bullet, the 120 NBT, in my 7-08. With that bullet and RL15 or Ramshot Big Game, my factory SPS has never gone over an inch for 5 shots at 100 (and that in the factory SPS stock without bedding).

Need to get some 150s and maybe some RL17 and try that too.

Shot tonight, absolutely a wonderful night at range and a super sunset.

Tonight I tried one of my all time fav bullets for any 7 and that's the 139 Horn, usually I use the flat base but this time I had the BT:

*139 Horn/47 of R17, went near as I can tell .31" @ 2795 fps

*168 Booger/45/R17 went into .34" near as I can tell @ 2534 fps


I also shot 139 Horn/42/Varget, it went into 3/4" but in a verticle pattern and ran @ 2640 fps

Thinking I'm closing in on load developement done. And remember this is with a old 788 Carbine with a 18.5" barrel that's been around the world a time or three

I still want to try some of the 120 NBT's in it and then I'll call it done.

Dober

Those results are great! Thanks for posting Mark.

Are the RL17 loads compressed much?

Nope, not even the load with the 168 Berger or 175 noz

Dober

One day I'll play with the bergers. Maybe. But IMO a 140 grain NAB out of anything 7mm is the cats meow. Well unless we talking elk or bear then i want HEAVY. Got a 7-08 dialed up for 120s but my fav is the 140. Flat shooting(well flat enuf) and hard hitting in the 7-08. But to each his own. Without variety and differences in opinions the fire would be one boring place. Shoot on. Not to hijack your thread Dober..but IF you ever build a 7-08AI with a LONG barrel(26" min...although thats doubtful given your liking for the lighter weight guns) let me know what those bergers do.

That would be kind of interesting, I could do a 7/08 Ack but I wouldn't go any longer than 23" and it would be .6" to .62" at the mzl.

Funny thing about the Bergers, this is the first time I've ever gotten them to shoot. I've had terrible luck with them till now and this one gun.

Dober

Actually, no..........I've been pretty happy with RL15 (& Varget) & have seen no huge upsides to make me want to test '17.

But I'm really wondering, with all the other Big 7's that you've got, is why you are fooling with the heavier bullets in the 7-08 at all, when 120 TSX's will do everything any 140 will do, & the performance of 160's & up in the 7-08, just doesn't fit well? Especially with an 18 1/2" barrel?

MM