Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Best overall powder for 7mm 08?

I'm new to reloading so my component selection isn't the largest. Basically I only have IMR 4350 on hand and haven't had the best of luck with it in my Marlin XS7 shooting 120gr TTSXs. I really want to make these bullets work for hunting, best group has been 1.6" with 47 gr. It seems that most have good luck with Varget in the 140gr pills but i havent seen much about it with 120s. Is there a better powder to try than Varget?

I also reload for 257 Roberts and 30-06 so any powder that would work in the as well would be an added bonus.

H or IMR 4350 works perfectly in the 30-06, 257 and 7-08. Have owned and loaded for all three.

In the 7-08, I only used 139/140 bullets and loaded 48.0 H4350 for around 2,850 in a 22" bbl.

Seems to me that's what the 7-08 is all about...

Varget has worked well with 150NBTs and 139 Hornadys, but not with 150MKs for some reason, If I had to pick between Varget and RE15, Id take RE15 as the best all around powder, and thats from someone whos tried a few different powders for the 708 to include 760, IMR4350, H4895, which works well for 150NBTs, H4350, Varget, RE15, H380, RE17 and PP2000MR, which works well for the 162 pills. H4350 should work well for heavier projectiles in the 708, too. For 120s I use 40.3grs H4895, pretty decent accuracy with it. RE15 works great in the 30-06, too.

With the 120 TTSX try up to max book load of RL 15. Works in mine.

I like and always used Varget! I did well with H4350 too, but love Varget 140gr and lighter.

My older 595 Tikka likes 160s & H414

I like the middle burners like IMR4895, Varget, and Rl-15.

Lots of guys are using Big Game with good results but mine prefers Varget.

If you are looking for max velocity, give 2000MR a try. Just started trying it with 139/140 gr bullets in my wife's 7-08ai, but the one load I clocked was 2940 fps with Hornady's max load for 139 gr bullets - which they list as 2900 fps. I used the Horn max load with this powder for her gun with 120 gr TTSX and was getting 3180 fps or so. She used that to take a very nice 9 pointer yesterday (wall hanger - will try to get pic posted later today). This powder is showing lots of promise both in her gun and in my 308 win.

Mine likes RL15 and the 140TSX. I just picked up some 150gr Scirocco II's -- plan to experiment with H4350 I have on-hand. Hopefully 47-48gr will get me good groups and around 2850fps from my 24" barrel.

Thanks for the input guys. I may have to try Varget or RL-15.

Does anyone have a max book load for the 120 TTSX and IMR-4350? Ive tried up to 47gr IIRC(notes are at home) and accuracy was improving each time I added a gr. No signs of pressure but when I stopped the best I got was 1.6" 3 shot @ 100.

Yeah, this is RE15 on the left, Varget on the right. 150NBTs on right also.

4350 is a fine powder for the 7mm-08. However, since there are many that work well, picking one that is clearly the best is not a simple thing. Besides, what works well with bullets on the heavier end may not be ideal with bullets on the lighter end. Obviously 4350 will works just fine for hunting loads at the 120 weight. However, there are better powders as have been mentioned. My old three-screw Model Seven has never shot consistently small groups as well with anything as it has with RL 15 and 120 TSX/TTSX and BTs.

Varget for me

+1