Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Load receipes for 120 and 140 grain bullets in 7mm-08......

Hey guys. I just last week traded for a like new Remington 700 Mountain Rifle in 7mm-08. I'm wanting to try both 120 Sierra and Nosler bullets, along with some 140 Sierra Gamekings. I have H4350, H414, and Ramshot Big Game on hand. I have a good supply of both WLR and CCI 250 primers to choose from. I'm leaning towards the 120's more because my 11 year old daughter will be shooting this one, wanting to reduce the recoil for her. At any rate, if you have any loads you would recommend, please feel free to share them. I'm also considering using the 139 Hornady's, SP, BTSP or SST. Thanks for all of your help.

120 sierras in my encore pistol liked 41 grains of h-4895 it worked for me

I forgot to mention I spoke with a ballistic tech at Sierra yesterday. He recommended 44 grains of IMR4064 with the 120 Sierra Pro Hunter for NC whitetails. Ramshot Big Game is close in burn rate to 4064 according to the charts, so I may try that first since I already have some on hand, and have load data.

45.0 Gr of Varget, Nosler 120 Gr BT, CCI 200 primer. The .284 120 Gr BT has a heavy jacket designed for knocking down steel targets, and are supposed to work well on game. That load is giving my son'e rifle <1" @ 100 yards.

A load in which he has killed a couple of deer with is a 120 Gr TSX with 46.0 Gr of IMR 4350, CCI 200 primer. He is shooting a Browning Micro-Medallion with a 20" barrel. He started to shoot the TSX load when he was 9, and he just turned 11.

The 7-08 is a great caliber to start with..............and end with.

Varget with either the 120 or 140 gr bullet is great in the 7-08, with 140s IMR4350 also does a fine job since you have it on hand.
Lately I`ve switched over to IMR4007 with both bullet wgts and been very impressed.

*** DISCLAIMER *** this is my load, for my rifle ... if you wanna try it, work up to it at your own risk ... I assume no responsibility for YOUR actions and use of this info ...


120g TSX, moly coated ... R-P Brass ... WLR primers ... 45.0g Reloader 15 ...

in my LVSF with a 22" barrel, I get 3/4 MOA accuracy and over 3000 fps ...

Did you get the 200 fps bonus, Joe? How's the accuracy? Would you like to share some loads?

I'll second the load of 45 gr Varget with 120 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. Accurate & worked well on 3 deer that I drilled through both shoulders last year. It held together considerably better than I expected. I intend to test drive that load some more this season.

Varget and 120 BT's sure shoots great from MY 7-08 Mountain Rifle!

Those little suckers do suprisingly well at long range, too. Neat bullet.

I have been shooting 120 tsx with moly and 46 grains of Reloader 15 which was worked up to very carefully with no pressure signs, showing average speed of 3075.

i run h-380 and 120 sierras in my 7-08. a touch over 3050 f/s.

Nope, no extra velocity. IMR doesn`t show any though with this powder.

The velocities on their (Hodgdon) web site mirrors Varget or IMR/H4350 with the same bullet in the 7-08.
IMR claims 3118 fps with a 120gr BT and I got 3041 fps for 10 rounds.
IMR data has a 140gr at 2847 fps and I clocked 2786 fps at book max and a SD of 14 again for 10 rounds.
I`m thinking of upping the powder charge in the future, as my pressure trace shows it to be a little below factory pressures. For now though it shoots very well, and will do anything I need a 7mm bullet to do, so I`m in no hurry.
I feel these velocities are pretty close to the IMR labs, considering they used a min-SAAMI spec chamber & barrel and mine isn`t.

Accuracy? I`ll let you decide on. These are all book max loads with various bullets, 5 shots @ 100 M

120 BT 44 to 45gr R15...work up and yada yada yada

My LVSF shoots 140's over 47 gr of H3450 into tiny little groups, so much so its boaring........

120's like RL15 REAL well.

I can get any closer to the lands than .040 off due to long throat and shot mag box but it does not seem to matter.

I agree with all those that have recommended RL-15, H4895, or Varget with the 120 gr bullets. But if for some reason they don't shoot in your gun and since you already have H-414, I'll go against the grain a little here and recommend you try that. I've had great success with that powder and W-760 (supposedly the same powder) with 140 gr bullets in my 7-08s. I'd use the 250 primers. Great caliber - best of luck.

mmm....these results are interesting with the 120's.Might be time for a Kimber Montana in 7/08 and some 120 TTSX. I have a box downstairs;might have to get a rifle to go with them...

Ramshot Big Game showed alot of promise with the 120 Sierra ProHunters. >.75 groups and good velocity @ 3000 fps outa my Rem m7's 20 inch tube. Cant wait to try the 120 NBT's with the same powder,or maybe the 120 TTSX

Couldn't get H414 to work in my rifle. Then, I put my Sierra 140 Pro-Hunters atop Varget. **voila**

In general, I like H414 with 140-150 weights in the '08. However, I have also found Varget to be stellar with lighter weights through the 140 range and would rate that at the top in a powder purchase for 120-140. If you have H335 on hand, that also works well with 130s and may burn true behind 10 grains less bullet.

I have two 7-08s and they like two different things. My factory rem 700 7-08 likes 45 gr. of RL-15 and it shoots little bitty groups. I havent had one run yet that i hit a shoulder on. Now my other rem 700 with a kreiger on it wont shoot varget, imr 4350, or RL-15, but it loves 47.4 gr. of Win 760 with 140gr sierra BTSP. Both are book max loads so work up, but i have no pressure signs. The 7-08 has turned into my favorite deer rifle.