Anyone out there have a favorite load/bullet combination they like for their 7mm-08 AI?
Thanks
Elk

id go 120NBT and varget. start a lil below 45 grains which is book max for the std 708 and work up.

160gr Speer Deep-Curl or Nosler Partition with 48gr R-17. Max load, pushing the envelope.

120 gr TTSX behind 45.5-46.0 gr RL-15 or 49.5 gr of Alliant's 2000MR will get you between 3150-3180 fps (24" barrel) and in my wife's both are consistently under an inch. Her 7-08ai has a Wyatt's box extender and I am running at 2.85" COL, in WW brass and F210 primers. She is consistently inside or just off a 3" round orange adhesive target sticker at 200 yds with either of the above loads. I think the 7-08ai is just enough beyond a standard 7-08 to take it into the awesome cartridge category. With today's bullets and powders, it is pretty impressive. Deer or elk, a handy little lightweight flat shooting hammer.

Would you say that a 7-08AI is essentially a 280 Rem "short"? I've been tempted to punch mine.

the 7-08AI will go 3100+ with 140s from a 26" tube. But most here want short, pencil thin barrels. If you gonna run it to its full potential with 140s go with the longer tube. If not run 120s. Cause IMO the conversion in a short barreled rifle with the intention of running 140s and heavier projectiles is a waste save the "no more trimming" factor. More barrel length = velocity. And I aint building a hot rod to putt around town if you get my drift. As for the weight argument, either get in better shape or get a larger caliber in a lightweight for packing long distances. JMO

I own a 284 win Model 70 S/A which is a ballistic twin to the 280 rem, and there is a slight edge to those cartridges over the wife's 7-08ai. I run the wife's at the high end of the std 7-08 plus maybe 50 fps and get no pressure signs, great brass life, just a little more "oomph" over the standard 7-08 which isn't a shabby round at all - especially with 120-140 gr bullets.

Not sure I would go through all the fire forming work again if I had to do it all over, but the overall outcome is a very nice rifle. A 120 gr bullet at 3150-3200 fps and a 140 gr at 2950 fps are safe loads in this gun. If one really wanted to push it you could maybe get another 50 fps over these velocities - I am comfortable with where this one is operating and am confident no limits are being approached.

Through a convoluted series of deals (mostly from the 'fire) over several years, the wife's 7-08ai ended up being essentially an Alaskan Ti stock and barrel (24") with the standard Rem 700 (non-Ti) action. It tips the scales at 7-3 scoped. As far as the barrel question, I don't like the pencil barrels either, but personally, 22-24" would be my preferred, with of course 23" being perfect. But trust me, nothing is getting changed on this gun. The wife loves it and it is staying just the way it is.