Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 7mm-08 powder recommendations

Getting ready to work up some new loads using 145 grain Speer grand slams and was looking for some advice on powder recommendations. Rifle is a Rem. model 7 stainless.

RL15 for light stuff. H4350 for heavier stuff.

Varget and H4350

thanks guys I'll take a look at H4350. Would IMR 4350 give me around the same performance? I have some taking up space and this might be a good use for it.

I use RL 15, WW760 and IMR-4064 in several 7/08s.Rick.

Yup. IMR4350 and RL15 have both worked for me. With anything above 120grs I like 4350. Even with the 120's 4350 has worked real well although I have had limited experience. Next range session I will have the chrono.
Dave

thanks everybody really appreciate the input.

Add Varget to the list, excellent velocities and accurate too. Very close to RL15 in performance - a good powder to fall back on.

I prefer H4350 over the IMR flavor, meters better and is temp insensitive.

MtnHtr

I used to use 760 a lot for the 145 GS's, but plan to switch to H-4350 this summer. I seemed to get a wide velocity variance with the 760 at colder temps.

The 145 GS is a great bullet in the 7mm-08.

What are you guys getting for velocities with H-4350?

Second the Varget.

Steve

How heavy of bullets do you guys go up to when using Varget and RL-15? Are these suitable for 145's?

Thanks,

I've only loaded up to 140gr in the 7-08, but feel the powders listed so far would work great under 145s also.

Another powder which should be a winner with 140-145s is Ramshot's Hunter powder which has a burn rate similiar to 4350 but takes up less volume and is temp insensitive. I'm going to try this powder in my 7-08AI under 140s this summer.

MtnHtr

WW760 has been my go-to powder for 140 bullets, and get 2850 fps from 22" bbl. YMMV

I`m another believer in Varget or IMR4350, with the nod going to Varget. I`ve used some R19 with the 145 speer SP and heavier bullets. The problem I`ve had with it is getting it all in the case, accuracy and velocity have been good with the limited useage I`ve given it though.

By far the most consistently accurate powder in my 7mm-08 has been IMR 4064. I also get good accuracy with Imr 4350, Hodgden Varget and H4895. Wow! Pretty much every powder I try shoots well enough in my rifle, one exception would be H414. I couldn't get that stuff to shoot at all. But IMR 4064 is the most consistently accurate.

Have fun! FH

H4350 shoots well in my 7 behind 120's. One thing I've found with the IMR4350 is you'll run out of case capacity before you get to the capable velocities. Although it is accurate.

Best luck I had in my buddies was H414 (WW 760).

Holy Mackeral.............looks like I need to do some experimenting. I've used IMR4350 and experienced the same problem Supertrucker had. WW760 was a better but had problems at max load (49 grs.) on 140's with the bolt being a little hard to open in warmer weather. Think I'll start with H4350. Looks like I can get the FPS I need and should be able to work up a load that would be pretty accurate.

H4350 fills the case just right and gets about as much speed capable from the 7/08.

In Mule Deer's article "Handloads that Work" he recommends 47 to 50 grains of H4350 for 140 grain bullets in the 7mm-08. He also recommends to be careful as some rifles will not handle 50 grains with some bullets with longer bearing surfaces.

FWIW, my 7mm-08 with short throat handles 50 grains of H4350 under a 140 Nosler Ballistic Tip just fine, but the powder is slightly compressed.