Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 7-08 velocity with 139s and RL-15?

In my 7-08 MR, I shot 139 Interlocks with RL-15. Accuracy was quite good, but the velocity was considerably lower than I anticipated. 40 grains went 2543 and 41 grains went 2568. My books show about 41 as being max, so I'm reluctant to go higher.

I'm wondering what everyone else is getting for velocity with these loads and if I should slowly increase the powder charge.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

I'm using 40.5 gns RL15 behind 140 Gn Accubonds, in Norma brass, Fed GM210 Primer. Barrel is a LW 1:9 twist 22" from bolt face to crown, which gives me 2835 fps with 9fps ES. Groups less than .5MOA on paper, kills deer and pigs on the spot.

No reason to change that recipe for my rifle.

A you sure your chronograph is working properly....you should be able to do better!

I wondered the same thing so I had a buddy shoot a 165 with 58 grains of H4350 in his .30-06 and it chronied a touch over 2900. Based on this, I'm assuming the chrony is ok.

I used 43g RL15,2840fps.

Lyman lists 43.0 gr as max, you should be ok up to that charge. If you want more velocity, you might consider another Alliant powder, 2000MR. Hornady's max for that powder is 47.0 gr and it should get you up into the 2800's even with your 20" barrel. It gives me 2940 fps with a 24" barrel using the 139 gr SP with very good accuracy (this is an AI version but it really doesn't matter).

The Hornady #8 book shows that bullet at 2800 with 41.9 RL-15. It shows 2900 fps with a max of 48.9 of W760 or (oddly) 49.9 of the identical H414. I don't see a reference as to gun type or barrel length tested, and that may be a factor.

I wouldn't use max charge data for any other bullet, even of the same weight. It can matter a lot.

I found 41grs worked well right at 2800fps out of my 24" barrel.

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