Anybody tried reloder 16 in a 7/08 with 140grain bullet's?

Kimber Montana 22", 7mm08, 140 Sierra PH, fed210m, nosler brass, 55F, 2.800" OAL

46.0 grains, 2757fps, 1-1/8" 3 shot group
46.5 grains, 2787fps, 1/2"
47.0 grains, 2814fps, 1-7/8"
47.5 grains, 2848fps, 1-1/4"
48.0 grains, 2859fps, 7/8"
48.5 grains, 2894fps, 7/8"
49.0 grains, 2906fps, 1-1/2"

The Sierra 140PH is a short bullet, so reduce charge weights for longer bullets or if seating bullets deeper in the case (less case capacity).

48 to 48.5 of RL16 and the Sierra 140PH will do everything the 7mm08 was designed to do.

As a follow up to the RL16 and Sierra 140PH load data posted above, you will be overpressure with different bullets and this load data.

I used case head expansion to decide when enough was enough.

Using software to estimate pressure among different bullets provides relative guidance.

48.5 grains RL16

140 Sierra PH 58.5kpsi
140 Sierra BTSP 58.6kpsi
140 Nosler Partition 60.3kpsi
140 Nosler AccuBond 66.4kpsi
140 Nosler BT 64.5kpsi
139 Hornady SST 62.2kpsi
139 Hornady SP 59.8kpsi

Very good information. Thanks

My Tikka would only go up to 47.5 gr using RL16 before I got pressure signs, but I was using Starline case
and CCI 250 Primers Velocity was 2877fps ad SD was 8.3. Same load with RL17 gave 2901fps
but I used a 140gr Nosler Partition Starline case and CCI250 primer.

Our results show max loads with similar velocity: ~2,880fps. The difference in charge weights could easily be components or barrels.
GunTruck, how was accuracy in your rifle?

As I recall accuracy was good, but not as good as Big Game. RL16 did have one of the lowest SD of all the loads I
tried. Still working on loads for this rifle. Trying to find a good load for the 120gr Barnes TTSX Big Game ahead in accuracy
there also, RL17 and PP2000mr tied for speed about 3080 fps. My tikka has a slow barrel I think.

I have two 7-08's and while I have not tried RL16, I have tried RL17, Varget, H4350, and Big Game. My Kimber likes Big Game and my M70 is about even between Big Game and H4350. I use 140 Partitions in both with Lapua cases and CCI BR2 primers.

Funny how different guns react. I have been using WW760 for 30 yrs in a Rem 700 in 7-08 w/Nos Partitions and Ballistic tips interchangeably with the same powder charge 2850-2860 on a 140gr, that gun always achieves book velocities with whatever I feed it. Picked up a #1 this year, hair smaller chamber, 760 and H4350 won't attain velocity. Try some RL17 next I guess, but this thread did remind me to see if RL16 has showed yet at a vendor that was going to have somewhere about now.

I use R16 in the 6.5CM with 143gr ELD-X's.

Yesterday at the range 47.5 gr. of RL16 was my most accurate load using 140gr Accubonds. WLR primer and Starline cases. Got 2877 fps again SD was 10.6 48.0gr using Winchester cases went a little slower 2866 fps. But SD was 7.1 46.0 gr of PP2000mr 140gr NBT WLR Win cases at 2.800 OAL went 2865 FPS SD 12.7 all loads used 2.800 OAL
In my Tikka the RL16 was most accurate.

Dang thats stuffing some powder behind there. I'm only at 45.7 grains with 130s out of my 6.5 with RL-16. Granted never found pressure up to 46.5. It was just seemed like a good flat velocity node on ladder work up and good accuracy so stuck there.

That said I did try up to 44 grains of RL-16 with 143s and got 2830 fps with a 24" barrel. Didn't even think you could squeeze another 3 grains of RL-16 in that case even with my drop tube.

Good to know.

They are pretty compressed charges. Use at your own risk. Going to load more RL16 with 120gr Barnes TTSX, and 120gr Nosler BT. Going to load Winchester cases
next time they hold more powder.

PM Pharmseller for his Big Game 7-08 loads.

He swears by BG, has groups and critters to show.

DF

I loaded up some RL-16 and 140 Sierra GK's and went to the range today.. 46.5 grs of RL-16, WLR, 2.760 oal. Pick is 5 shots. I shoulda hee'd instead of haw'in on that last shot...LOL Ive gotta get a chronograph!! Accuracy seems to be there tho!!

Yours is better than mine. I shot 5 shot 4 almost touching I flyer off 3/8 " but best group of the day. RL17 was second best. I shot 5 group of 5,
with those and PP2000mr was other powder. Going to load RL16 using 120gr Barnes and NBT. I,m almost out of 140gr bullets. I,ll load some more Big Game
at same time.

Seems I've read that Pw Pro 2000 MR and CFE223 are the same powder under different labels...

Any truth to that? You know, if it's on the innanet, gotta be true...

Well, sometimes it is true.

DF

Don,t know someone else will have to answer.

Any good 7-08 deserves a couple 8 lb jugs of Big Game....

BG would have to be on the short list of best 7-08 powders with 140's and such.

DF

Unless someone is just into constantly trying something different and wasting money, they need look no further than BG and/or H4350 for 7-08's. And there's a metric ton of loading data available from multiple sources.

H-4350 is great, BG is great and faster.

Both work. BG is my choice and I have both.

DF

Yep! Big Game is my Huckleberry in 7mm-08 for both 120’s and 140’s. Sorry, I don’t shoot anything any heavier than 140’s in this chambering.

Me too.

Over 140, I go to my 7RM.

DF