7MM08

[AAAJohn]

Picked up a model 7 Remington in 7mm08 a while ago. I tried it with factory loads at 100 yds. and was totally ready to get rid of it with the 4 inch groups.
I thought I would try some reloads so yesterday I started with some IMR4895 and at 100 yds. it shot a 3 inch group. Now I had been wanting one of these rifles for about 3 years and I was let down by its performance.
I put the rounds with the 4895 power aside and loaded up with the IMR4064 and on the second shot I couldn't see where I hit until I looked real close and it was almost a one hole and the next shot connected with the other two. That was with 43 gr. IMR4064 and 130 gr. Speer.
I tried some 45 gr. IMR 4064 and it open up maybe another half inch, still not bad.
Are any of u guys using this load or one close to it?

[Varmint Hunter]

In my Tikka 7-08 I could not get either IMR4064 or Varget to shoot good groups, regarless of the fact that these are prefered powders for this cartridge.

Both faster and slower powders have worked well. H4895 and H4350 produced good groups with 140gr bullets.

Currently getting good groups with RE19 and the 160gr Accubond bullet. My rifle shoots tighter groups with the bullets loaded out so that they tough the rifling when chambered (not jambed into the rifling, just touching). This is not a problem with the Tikka, as the ammo can still easily fit into the magazine. You would have to check your Rem if you wanted to try this.  

The 7-08 is fast becoming one of my favorite cartridges to shoot.

VH

[Iowegan]

The 7mm-08 is a very accurate cartridge. The problems with accuracy are chamber depths. If you trim your brass to SAAMI standards (2.025") they will probably be too short in many rifles. Bullet seating depth is fairly critical. If the bullet is seated out .010 short of the rifling, then sub-MOA groups can be expected with Varget or 4064.  The '08 optimizes with 139-145 grain bullets. I have loaded some Speer 115g JHP's that grouped decent but bullets heavier than 145 grains started to spread. This web site has some neat tools for measuring bullet and chamber depth.  http://www.cactustactical.com/reloading/reloading.html Scroll down below the graphics for some good tips.

[longwinters]

Both myself and one of my sons shoot 7m-08 and have been quite pleased with the moa grouping.  He shoots Nosler BT 120 gns with 43gns of IMR 4350 and I shoot 140 gn Nosler BT and Partitions with 46gns of IMR 4350.  These loads are out of the Nosler book.

Var.Hnter, how do you determine what powders are "prefered" for this caliber?  I am new to reloading and understand that , say for Nosler, there is a list of powders they recommend for their bullets.  But it does not seem that this is what you are talking about.  Are you talking about the powder companies recommendations? Just curious because I want to learn all I can about this.

long

[Joel W.]

A couple of years ago I used the 130 grain Speer Flat base to take my limit of deer here in Kentucky.  I don't have my notes in front of me but it seems like I used H335 for those loads.  I also have very good luck using BL-C2 and the 140 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips In my rifle.  I remember those 130 grain speers grouping very well in my rifle also.  By the way, they performed very well on game, I expected to find that they did not exit, but was suprised to find exit wounds on the buck and the doe that I took with them.

[Varmint Hunter]

Longwinter,

By "preferred" I am refering to the powders, within those that are recommended for a cartridge, that have been listed as the most consistent or accurate by the ballistic folks who provide the information for the loading manuals. Several books will list the most consistent or uniform powders in a given cartridge. Hornady is one that comes to mind, and Nosler & Sierra always list the most accurate powder (and charge weight) for a given weight bullet, in their testing.

Many cartridges have been around so long that  the powders that are considered good starting choices are wel known.

I would add, however, that I have done extensive load developement for many different cartridges and have found that a powder that may not even be listed will provide the best accuracy @ safe working pressures in a given rifle.

It is VERY helpful to have more than one loading manual. I have at least 6 new books and will typically have 3-4 books open when deciding which direction I want to go with a new cartridge and bullet combination.

VH

[jhalcott]

i HAVE AN OLD REM 788 IN 7-08, 18.5" barrel. I found 760 and 4320 to be more accurate than other powders. I use this gun for ground hogs mostly.
I have taken a few deer with 139 to 154 grain bullets using these powders.
  I have NEVER gotten a group larger than 2" no matter the load tried!
  hope this helps,  jh

[MrYeats]

I am shooting a new gun that I sort of built. It is a 280 remington
on a M98 action. I like to call it the 7mm/06.
It shoots very well. I load 57gr H4831 and Hornady 139gr
Spire Points....

[PA-Joe]

I use a 139gr point over 39 grains of 4064. Works fine.

[Arizona Jake]

I own a Remington M-700 silhouette rifle that uses a Schneider barrel with a 1 in 9' twist and a Tikka White Tail Synthetic with a 1 in 9.5 inch twist factory barrel. Both are chambered in 7-08.

Both rifles, in addition to my Winchester M-70 rifles in 30-06 and .375 H&H, as well as my other silhouette barrel chambered in .260 Rem. perform very well with Varget.

I use Winchester or Lapua brass, Winchester standard or Federal 210 Match primers. Bullets range from Sierra match Kings to Barnes X
I seat all bullets to within 0.001" from contact with the rifling.

My approach to developing precise handloads is to look up what the Sierra, Hornady or other manuals recommend, then load 3 rounds using that specific powder charge. I then load three rounds using 0.2 (two-tenths) of a grain less, 3 rounds using 0.2 grain more, and 3 rounds using 0.4 grain more. I shoot three-shot groups at 100 meters with each load , and record the load that produced the smallest groups. I then load another 5 rounds and shoot a group a 200 meters. If the group measures 1 inch or less at 200 meters, I stick with the load. If not, I switch from Winchester to Federal 210 M primers. This always works for me. You might want to consider the same approach. Best of luck, Jake.

[AAAJohn]

Guys
   Thanks for all the replies, I'll probably experiment with the rifle next spring if I can find a not too windy day. I'm going to see how much I like hunting with this rifle first. I loaded three boxes ammo to get me thru this season. I probably won't shoot many of those, a box usually does me two years even with the once a year sight-in check. I can always use the extras for coyote.