I have a mauser 98 in 7x57 that I built in a scout configuration. Among the handloads that I have tried in it were some 120 gr Hornady V-Max loads at somewhere north of 2800 fps. Though the 120 gr v-Max's were of the shortest OAL among my handloads (thus having the largest "jump" to the rifling), they were the most accurate, flattest shooting, and lightest recoiling of the loads that I tested. At 200 yards, they grouped under 1.5 inches for 5 shots. I intend to use these for eastern coyote hunting. A friend of mine has also loaded the same bullets in his .280 Remington with good results. If you decide to try some of these, I would expect that you will be pleased with their performance. If you decide to go with 7mm 120 gr bullets for varminting purposes, pay close attention to the manufacturer's intended application for the specific bullet you are considering. The 120 gr weight in 7mm is kind of an overlap weight between varminting and deer hunting. Some 120 grainers are made with thicker jackets for deer hunting (the Nosler 120gr Ballistic Tip, for example, which is made using the jacket from the 140 gr Ballistic Tip) and some are made specifically for varminting (such as the Hornady V-Max). I would really be interested in knowing how your 7mm-08 varmint loads work out for you.
