7-08 mild loads

[fwt1712]

My new Sako75 Stainless Hunter in 7-08 is due next week and I'm interested in any advice you have on favorite mild loads. At this stage I'm looking at Sierra 130Mk for CPT and 175GK for Rams (going slow). Although some people say just use 168MK all through - with a mild load they'll take rams. Thoughts/advice please.

Nigel.

ps I know a 260 may have been more 'enjoyable' but for our strict rules in Oz limit us to basically off the shelf rifles i.e. no mix and match of factory options to get the best 'brew' and the Sako fits me best (costs the same as Remington 700 here) and by reputation should be a 'shooter'.

[Arizona Jake]

Nigel:

Congratulations on acquiring a Sako 75. You will never regret it.
While I have never used 130 grain bullets, I have used moly-coated Sierra 140 gr. SBT's for a while. The mild load that have given me the accuracy in my Tikka is ~36 grains of Varget in properly prepped Winchester cases, using Federal 210M or Winchester LR std. primers. I seat the bullets ~0.002" from the contact with the rifling. You may be limited on overall bullet length due to your rifle's magazine's dimensions. Velocity is about 2,400 fps, good all the way to the turkeys.

For Rams, I use moly-coated Sierra 168 HPBT's with 41.8 grains of Varget in Winchester brass with Federal 210M primers. Velocity is ~2,640 fps. I have yet to leave a ram standing with this load. Hitting them is a little more difficult... :wink:

[cslcAl]

Nigel, If you really want to have some fun with extremely low recoil try this. 23.0 grs. of IMR SR 4759 with a 150 Sierra  MK. It clocks at only around 2000fps, and is super accurate. It is good out to the turkeys but you have to watch the wind.     Al

[drags]

Hi Jake
In your post you said you used the 140gr sbt with 36gr of varget for a while in your 7-08, out of curiousity what load are you using for the c,p,t now?
Drags

[Arizona Jake]

Drags,

I've been using 140 r. Remington PSP Cor-Lokt bullets because I got a good deal on 2000 of them a while back, and since they have very little exposed lead at the tip, I can dump a lot of them in a rotary tumbler for moly-coating and not have them come out with damaged tips. The load is the same, with the same level of precision. I do have to add one more minute of elevation at the turkeys, as opposed with the boat tailed Sierras.
 :cb2:

[CB]

Might take a look at the 130 FLat Base Speer+ any available suitable powder

[haroldclark]

Nigel,
I only shoot a 7mm TCU in a 26" barrel Remington at the 500 meter silhouette range.  I started with a 7X57 Mauser and a 308.  What I shoot is not the point of my post.

I shoot at the Sacramento Valley Shooting Center in California.  Many times, we suspect that the rams are C-Clamped to the rail.  

Out to Turkeys, I use the Remington 140 gr. PSP moving out at chronographed velocity of 2057 fps and from a bench I can head shoot turkeys depending on the severity of the ever present wind.

For the Rams, I use the 168 grains Sierra Match King moving out at 2209 fps.  This load will take the rams from bank 1 through bank 5 no matter what the cross court angle, wind or otherwise.

Consider this:  I have seen rams left standing from most every rifle load including a 560 grain cast bullet from a 45/70 at the black powder matches.  The 560 grain bullet is similar to a scrunched up Volkswagen and it will ring one occasionally.  However, most of the time the cast bullet will literally knock a ram into the bank.

The slower moving heavy bullet will retain that millisecond of "Hang time" momentum on the steel and provides that extra moment of push to knock the target off the rail.

I have recently tried the Hornady 162 grain btsp Interlock in my rifle moving out at 2233 fps and it takes the rams consistently in slow motion.  That is unlike the Sierra Match King that smacks them.  I don't understand why the 6 grains of bullet weight makes such a dramatic difference.  Therefore, I go back to the thought of "Hang Time" of the bullet.  I always thought the Sierra Match kings were fragile since Sierra does not recommend them for hunting bullets.
Who knows anything for certain?

Harold Clark

[iceman99]

If you're gonna fire a 150SMK at 2000fps why wouldn't you look at using a 7BR?

[PA-Joe]

I started my kids with 35 grains of 4064 and a 139 grain hornady point. Equals the 30-30.

[haroldclark]

Iceman,
I'm not sure where you were going with the 150 grainer and the 7 BR, but I like the 7mm BR and one will be in my save one of these days.  I have a 7mm BR in a 15 inch Encore and it is wonderful.  The 7mm BR will provide about another 100 fps faster than the 7mm TCU, which is substantial. As I stand at this time, I already have a 7TCU rifle that drives tacks, a 14" 7TCU, a 10" 7TCU with a 26" Encore in 7TCU coming and another 14" 7TCU enroute too.  

The 7mm TCU rifle does all that I need with minimal recoil and superb accuracy.  I used the 140 grain RP bullets for economy, but I certainly have considered the longer 150 grainer.

I'm shooting what I have and invested in for the moment.  If a 7BR rifle should pop on my horizon, I would jump on it in a heart beat.

Harold

[drags]

Ouestion for csclAL, Arizona Jake, Haroldclark and others? I shoot 130gr smk in my 7br at 2400fps for my c,p,t load, the load is accurate but I was thinking of upping the velocity to around 2500fps for no reason other than to have more velocity. After reading you posts would I be better off to stay at 2400fps? Any opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks Drags

[haroldclark]

If you are happy with the accuracy of the current SMK load, why mess with success?  If it is working, ride that horse.  With summer coming on, here anyway, you should watch for a pressure increase due to rising temperatures.  I haven't looked at your load and I don't know what the pressures would be approximately.  

I am considering dropping my 7mm BR load down a bit instead of increasing the powder.  Of course, it all depends on what you are using the gun and load for.  I shoot at steel silhouettes out to 500 meters (547 yards approximately) with hopes of knocking down a 55 pound steel ram target.  I load my 7mm BR according to what I need it to do for me and I also try to keep the recoil at a minimum.

Recoil is cumulative.  It is like taking body punches in a Boxing Ring.  Enough punches and the body begins to weaken.  With a firearm, the same is true.  You can continue to shoot but 100 rounds later, your concentration either diminishes or leaves you entirely if you are being gently punished.  If you only shoot 20 rounds a trip, then you can be macho man and shoot heavy recoiling devices.  I'm  old and have a lot of shooting behind me.  I'm hoping to have a lot in front of me.

You should balance the recoil with the need and use of the firearm at hand.  No more or no less than what you need.  Of course, there is always that "I want factor".  If taking two aspirin, laying down and taking a nap doesn't cause that to go away, go for it.

[iceman99]

Iceman,
I'm not sure where you were going with the 150 grainer and the 7 BR, but I like the 7mm BR and one will be in my save one of these days.  Harold

This was more of a general comment on the cartridges than anything. I've got a 7-08 and have been frustrated at how poor the quality of brass is for purchase.

I just had a 6BR built and have been really happy with Lapua brass etc - and was thinking when reading this thread "if that slow of a bullet can take the rams reliably you could do exaclty the same thing (or a little faster) in a 7BR. The post was as much to find out if I was wrong in my thinking as anyting...

[haroldclark]

I have a theory on brass.  If it works and is accurate, that is good brass.  I don't weigh brass or turn necks and sort out by weight.  Lapua brass is supposed to be top quality.  I have used Military left overs in 30-06, 308 and 223/7mm TCU and 30-06 necked down to 25-05 back when 25-06 first became a factory cartridge.  My guns didn't know that my brass wasn't first class stuff.  I have made 256 Winchester mag brass from military 223 cases and it doesn't know the difference.

The reason that I mention the above info is that some people like to putter around and fiddle with brass, weighing bullets and weighing each powder charge and etc..  That is a nice hobby and I have friends that truly enjoy doing it.  It might make a difference.

I am 68 years old and pushing the hell out of 69.  I don't want to spend my time puttering, so I Dillon load like a wild man and report to the range for a snorting burned gun powder at least two days a week.

Keep up your loading how every you do it and it will be a life long good time.

Harold

[ajj]

I love the 7BR. The batch of Remington brass I bought when the rifle was delivered is still going strong. I've got to think Remington took extra care with this stuff. It's annealed, very uniform in length and weight. I realize that another lot might be different. I'm like Harold...fiddling with brass is fun from time to time but I'm not going to do it for silhouette unless I have to. As long as the gun will average .4 MOA with my mediocre bench technique I'm not even thinking about necking up Lapua 6BR.