Author Topic: Input for rolling my first 7mm-08's (Read 729 times)

tacshooter · « **on:** November 02, 2004, 10:44:49 AM »

Gentlemen, I finally have everything to load for the 7-08, but do not have time to work up a load. I'm going to try and velocity match the Hornady Light Mag load for the 139gr SST bullet. Is anyone shooting this bullet? If so, do you have an accurate load. I also would like to know if others are seating this bullet out farther than normal or are they seating the cannelure flush with the case mouth. (You know the old H&R long throat saga). If I dont get something cooked up soon, I have several boxes of Remington 140gr Core-Lokt's as a standby. Thanks!

Tac.............. :sniper:

Greybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** November 02, 2004, 11:10:22 AM »

Quote

I'm going to try and velocity match the Hornady Light Mag load for the 139gr SST bullet.

I would caution against trying that. You're not going to do it at safe pressures. At least NOT within SAAMI max pressure limits. Unless you have pressure testing equipment on hand which I'm betting you don't then do not even think about trying to match Hornady Light Mag velocities.

I've been reloading for well over 35 years and shooting the 7-08 for over nearly 25 of those years. I've yet to find a reload that makes me use it over the Hornady Light Mag ammo. In my rifles I can't match it for accuracy or velocity with any of dozens of reload recipes I've tried.

My best velocities have come with W760 but you sure better work it up in summer because it is very temperature sensitive. I once worked up some loads with it in the cool of fall and later used them in summer and the bolt almost wouldn't open. That was the last of those I fired. Yeah it was a book load as I NEVER EVER go over book loads.

Longcruise · « **Reply #2 on:** November 02, 2004, 03:13:30 PM »

Heed GB on the recipes! I had a .270 that could not come within a grain of "max" load manual loads with any powder without showing pressure signs.

Most other guys think I'm nuts, but I like to shoot my 7-08 with 160 grain Nosler Partitions, even for antelope.

handirifle · « **Reply #3 on:** November 02, 2004, 04:30:48 PM »

No experience with the 7-08 but the 243 I had for 25 years and my 30-06 would neither one take max book loads, at least with the powders I used.

They have some scientists working up burn rate formulae for these loads and this powder is not available to us for loading. Be careful.

Fred M · « **Reply #4 on:** November 02, 2004, 05:33:41 PM »

tacshooter.
I found H414 and and H4350 with 139gr Hornady interlocks to give good velocity and accuracy. Loads are on Hodgdon web site. If you shooting in below zero weather use magnum primers.

The Rem factory 140gr is a good standby but may not shoot in the same place as the handloads. In the Handi you can seat the bullet so it is flush with the neck/shoulder junction. That position holds the bullet nice and straight.

Fred M.

Graybeard · « **Reply #5 on:** November 02, 2004, 05:43:38 PM »

I have tried every powder listed in the major loading manuals except the VV powders and the newer powders from Western Powder. This has been in several 7-08 rifles (all Remingtons naturally) with bullets from 120 to 160 grains and so far have not found a single load I consider equal to either the Remington factory 140 grain load or either of the two Hornady Light Mag loads.

I really wish I could. I'd love to shoot loads of my own making but this is one of those elusive chamberings that so far I cannot match the factory stuff and I'm talking with several dozen different combinations of bullets and powders and many variations in load levels for each powder. I still play around some but still shoot Hornady Light Mags when it counts.

Fred M · « **Reply #6 on:** November 03, 2004, 05:44:02 AM »

Graybeard.
How much less velocity do you get with your hand load, compared to factory loads? But not the light Hornady Magnums. You will never equal them. They use a proprietary powder that is not available, and I think it is extruded into the case since it is nearly solid.

I have found with several rifles with max SAMMI + chambers required much more powder than the loading manuals prescribed. One 243Rem 700 was .459" at the shoulder instead of .454". This rifle required a full 4.0gr more powder to get reasonable velocities.

This sort of load development requires a Chrono and close measurements of case expansion in the extractor groove or at the pressure ring.

Unfortunately I can't help you with much advise since my 7MMSSAI is a custom 7-08 imp chamber and has a slightly bigger volume. It is a handloaders dream. It has a longer .285" neck with a .311 chamber neck.

I make the brass from Lapua 30-06 and I think the 50 cases will outlast the barrel. I get 3010 ft with a 139/140 gr bullet. The rifle will consistantly fire 3shots into a .30 group off the bench with my final selected load. I call this a 270 in Bermuda shorts.

You can see it on my web page.

Fred M