I'm interested to see how heavy reloaders will go in this cartridge. Any favorite loads for the 150-175 gr bullets?

I've got some 150 gr Nosler/Combined Technology BT's, some 162 gr Hornady SPBT's, and some 175 gr Sierra GameKings I'm currently working up.

Personally, I'm a fan of heavy-for-cartridge bullets, and I'm interested in the input from y'all.

I've had great results with 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips and would not hesitate to use 160 gr. Partitions. 175 grain bullets are getting pretty long but why not?

I’ve used 150 Eldx on deer and elk with good success. Big Game powder and Winchester Large Rifle Magnum primers.

You could go heavier, but why?



P

40.5grs H4895 shoots fantastic with 150 Ballistic Tips in mine.

I shoot Hornady 162 AMAX and ELD bullets in mine for distances beyond 400 yards. With a 26inch barrel I get decent velocity.

Mine likes 168 GR Custom Comps over RL17; thinking I should substitute hunting VLDs some time and take game at LR.

Problem from my perspective is that there are a lot of bullets in heavier range built for 7RM speeds that won’t perform well at 7-08 speeds... on game at least.

Generally speaking I’m with Pharmseller even tho I like experimenting...

150 NBTs are pretty awesome.

The heaviest I used in my 7mm-08's is the 156 grain Norma Oryx. I bought a couple of boxes of factory ammo and found them to be really accurate, so much so, that I grabbed a box of Norma Oryx bullets to reload in my Tikka. I've hesitated to work up a load with them because I have never found another box in stock anywhere. I'm certain they are decent bullets as they are widely used around the world, just can't find them here.

I've also found the Norma Oryx .286 gr to be accurate in my 9.3x62 but again, can't find them in stock so I went with 250 grain Accubonds. No on-game performance review with either bullet.

I would propose if still hunting, and engaging animals at point blank range. The heavy bullets would preform as well as they would out of a magnum cartridge at 250 to 400 yards?

Please correct me if I am wrong thanks
John

I bought a chidt load of 162 eldx for my 7WSM and 7mm rem mags that I don't have anymore, so I was hoping more guys would have some results for the OP on what loads you are using with that bullet in your 7mm08's.. Hell, maybe I'll go out and load some up and go shooting tomorrow and share my experience, since no one else is adding any insight. 7 posters and only Heath is willing to spit out a hint of load data... We also all know Pharm's magic load with his 150 ELDX pills of destruction. You are living under a rock, if you don't know he runs 45gr of big game in his 7mm08's.. To the OP, I also like heavy for caliber pills when you are loading cup and core bullets. It makes a lot of sense in the whole scheme of things...

You are absolutely correct.

Both RL17 and W760 will sling 160 partitions 2700 from a 22”, while keeping the OAL at 2.800”.

45.4 W760, ~2,710fps, 3/4” group
45.6 RL17, ~2,740fps, 3/8” group
Fed210M in both

Rl17 and Big Game have worked well with hornady 150ELDX and 154SST. Accuracy node is around 2,770fps for both in my 22” rifle.

I’ve found really good loads using the 162 AM and IMR4166, H4350, and Varget. Check Hodgdon’s site for load data.

52.0 gr RL26, 162 hornady, Remington 9 1/2 LR, I seat Base to ogive 2.255. Avg velocity 2740 fps. Shot out of model 70 featherweight in 7-08 22 inch barrel. Good luck finding RL26

Yeah, at this point, its more about what powder is more available. I chose IMR4350, since i have a bunch of it and it's still fairly easy to find. I don't expect to get close to your velocities, but I'm thinking I'll find something pretty accurate... I loaded up 50 of the 162 ELDX and 40 of the 162 BTSP interlocks. I don't seat base to ogive bs, but seat to .020" off the lands (2.920" for the ELDX and 2.835" for the BTSP). As long as they fit in the magazine, and they do. Running a 6.5 CM mag in the Tikka, works like a champ..

I’m happy for you.. hey wait thought you were headed winnemucca to party???

46.2 grains.




P

I did the math on my load at 2790 vs the 162 at 2740. There’s really not much of a difference at the ranges I’m likely to shoot something, 500 yards and in. I think I’ll just dance with the girl who brung me.



P

For me I'm running the 162 ELD-M for wind drift at 500+.

There's that. Also if you compare the ELDX version, that pharm likes to use, the heavier one (162) is going to hold together better at the modest speeds the 7mm08 delivers. Give me the heavy for cartridge pill if we are talking about the eldx. Drops are very comparable, but I'm using a more realistic velocity. 2700 for the 162 and 2750 for the 150. Sorry guys, I'm going by the book. There's no RL26 listed in the Hornady manual and I'm not willing to blow my gun up trying to make it a 280 remington, so lets be realistic with our expectations here. The new guy gte901m is throwing out some pretty reasonable numbers and what I'd expect from my 22" barreled Tikka or win model 70 with the same length barrel. Wind drift is damn near identical, according to the Hornady ballistic calculator. Maybe an inch and a half difference at 500 yards. No one here is going to be able to hold an inch one way or the other and likely would not even notice the difference on the target downrange. We are also talking 15+ inches of wind drift (10 mph cross wind) for either bullet. So for me, I'd pick the heavier pill just because I know its going to retain more weight and likely penetrate more. Its also going to hold together better at the shorter distances I generally shoot elk at...

I’ve got a little Tikka Compact 7-08 I’m about to grab some M+ magazines and try the 162 ELD X myself. After seeing how well the 212 did in the 06 I’m kinda intrigued to try it out with the Tikka as well. I love the little 7-08 and with the right set up I can see that rifle being a dandy.

I used QL to get my RL26 data.. none of us want to blow up a rifle.. As the saying goes you can’t get enough RL26 into the 7-08 case to get into trouble. But 6.5stabal is another powder to try and I can find that no issue. The hodgon data has looks good. While you guys are running data through ballistic calculators word of advice use Brian Litz B.C data for that bullet. He has tested a bunch and has the info available.

I plan on trying some Staball in mine as well. It’s been super in my 30-06 and 6 Creed so far.

Man I need to proof read my chit. Damn iPhone spell checks chit I don’t catch it until I post it.

I knew what you meant!

Good luck with the 162s in the 20"........tested some 160/162s in a 20" M70 long ago......trajectory suffered.

For me, the 140 AB is near perfect in the round, the 150 NBT for a tad more bullet weight if you so desire.

Some folks run a 7/08 hard with heavies, and in a long tube. Sure seems simpler to just step up to more displacement like a 270 or 280, if not a 7RM to keep things simple and not redline pressures. Just me. Shot a good bit of loads from 100s to 162s in a several 7/08s. Either extreme can work, but when you factor BC/SD, MV and trajectory.......I think the 139-150 class wrings out most of the potential for field use on big game. If you are in to serious LR work, there are better rounds.

FWIW I have shot 140s at 2960 in 21" barrels........all I wanted. I'd be very content with a 150 at 2700-2800. I ran a 7RM long ago with 162s under 2900 for shootability and accuracy. Killed great and did not punish me as bad.

In the end, that saying use enough gun..........is met with a mid-weight in the 7/08. I too like heavy for cal, but within reason. I like reasonable trajectory........Some get it, some maybe not using heavies in the modest 308 case..........but once you get enough, more is more....but not necessarily better......and certainly not needed. For North America and even other countries, a good 140-150 is about all you will need.

Last note, I recall Layne Simpson who worked with this round since inception in 1981, as I recall, he was quoted perhaps in the Nosler manual, that a 150 Partition was perhaps a better choice if going more than 140......and more usable than anything heavier. Personally I still agree.

Many ways to accomplish a job..........

Oh, what did I take hunting today? Compact T3x, loaded with 150 BTs

Best comment in this thread.

If I want a rifle to shoot > 500 yards, it ain't gonna be a 7-08 if'n it ain't the only long gun that I own.

MM

Great post. I could go the other direction and get the 132 BBCs running pretty well with Staball too. It really just depends on the day on what I wanna shoot.

Of course there are better long range rifles for the rare guy who only owns one rifle. I doubt that dude is posting in the reloading section here though.

The reason I run one of my many 7-08s long is it's just fun to do. I have a 26 inch, 12lb 7-08 with a can that is just a joy to shoot at 600 yards. Long barrel life. Less than 50grs powder per shot. Fun.

Plus, I'm a reloader, so I experiment. Also fun.

Nothing wrong with having fun while doing the things you enjoy.

My daughter has fun running it long too. Fun. Something some people seem to lose along the way.



By the way, she also has kills with a .338 lapua, but if I ask her which one she wants to go out and put several rounds through, I know which one she's asking for.



The 162gr ELD-M hold up just fine at 7-08 velocities and offer a very slight advantage over the X version.

Yep, not too surprising............cool that she can shoot the 338 though.

And yes, 7-08's are pretty pleasant to shoot, even in a lightweight.

MM

My 150 eldx load is so sub-MOA that I’m loathe to post pics. The best I’ve done is .163” but who’s counting.

I’ve killed bucks almost at 550 with the Mighty -08 but I won’t shoot at game past 600. I practice to 800.




P

Oh, and my hunting group went 5 for 5 on mulie bucks this year, all with the Mighty -08.



P

Morning wood here!!

Fine looking rig!

2.5-8x on the sights?

Yes.

MM