7mm08 ammo recommendations

[sa doc]

     I just bought a 16FLSS (lefty Weather Warrior w/o accustock) in 7mm08. Topped it with a Sightron SII 3-9x42.  This is my first Savage, my first 7mm08, and my first Sightron scope. I hunt in South Texas and typically shoot 8-10 deer a year. ranges are usually 75-300 yards. bucks generally dress 140-185 pounds, does dress 75-100 lbs.
   I don't reload, and am looking for factory ammo recommendations for my gun and applications. Pickings are pretty slim for 7mm08 ammo around here right now. I have found some corelok 140's and winchester pp 140's and bought a box of each to try. I was hoping to find some Federal ballistic tips or Hornady SST's . I prefer standard bullets for deer (in my experience  I get faster kills with them than bonded core bullets on our sized deer). What has given you guys good accuracy and performance? I few people have mentioned that the Savage 7mm08's can be picky due to the barrel twist they chose.
    I typically use a 270 Ruger with 130gr powerpoints, which gives some pretty impressive kills, but also use a 25-06 Encoe with hornady SSTs and a Remington 7mag with 139gr hornady BTSP's. How does the 7mm08 compare to those rounds? I was looking for an all weather rifle with a little less recoil than the 270 that would still give quick kills and reasonable range.
Thanks
Scott
   
   

[1marty]

I have a Remington 700 SPS and find the Federal NBT in 7-08 are the most accurate in my rifle. Next would be the Win silver bt. However, the bottom line is experimentation to find which bullet your rifle likes. A bullet accurate in one rifle may be less accurate in another.

[mountainview]

I generally use reloads with the 139 gr Hornady but have used the Rem CoreLokt in 140 gr in the past and it was all 1 shot affairs on WT deer with nice pass throughs on broadsides. Accuracy with corelokts was 1 1/8 - 1 1/4" in my rifle if I recollect, was more than adequate for hunting and has the same POI as my handloads. Like 1M said, different rifles have different preferences though my 7-08 is easy to get along with, it likes most loads and keeps pretty much everything under 1 1/2". This is my favorite rig for WT though it is actually my boys rifle, reckon I have to get one of my own when he gets out of the service.

Recoil ain't bad w/ the corelokts assuming proper fit and shooting from the bench. Try it this season and you'll probably find the 7-08 to be an ideal WT round and find it to become your go-to for deer.

[Aught Six]

I have a Stevens 200 in 7-08.  Mine likes Core Lokts 140s and Federal Fusion 140s.  Groups very, very well with both of them.

[sa doc]

Tried 140 Gr corelockt and 140 Winchester powerpoints today as those were the only ammo I could find locally. Corelokts group about 1 1/2 inches, the Winchesters were over 2 inches. I'm not impressed so far. Has anyone found any ballistic tips or Hornady loads online in stock? They are sold out everywhere I've tried.

[Graybeard]

Hornady Light Mags are all I use in 7-08. They've shot under an inch in all 7-08 rifles I've ever owned including one that has never shot anything else much better than an inch and a half and most not even that well.

[sa doc]

Graybeard-  
Are those  the light mag with the SST or the other one they offer?    I've had great luck with Hornady ammo in my other guns as well (except my 270 doesn't like the light mags, but shoots their other loads great) .   It seems like pretty much every online and local seller is out of most 7mm08 ammo at the moment.  Hopefully I can find some of the Hornadys before season is over.  The corelockts would be accurate enough to try at close range, but 200-300 yard shots are fairly commen here.

[Graybeard]

The standard BTSP has proven most accurate for me personally but I've had some reports from others that the SST was more accurate for them.

[sa doc]

I finally made it back to the hunting lease this weekend. I could not find any Hornady 7mm08 ammo anywhere online or locally, but did find some Federal 140gr Ballistic tips online at Natchez shooter supply.   Sighted in Friday.  Shot from the hood of my jeep in light mist at 100yrds. Only shot 2  three shot groups-   1st was 5/8 inch,   2nd was 7/8.   Guess I'll have to keep it . I was beginning to wonder if that Savage reputation for accuracy was overrated. I'm curious to see what it will do from a bench in better weather.  Took one doe, 1 javelina,  and 1 raccoon this weekend with the Savage. Man, those ballistic tips sure do a lot of damage.
SA

[rickt300]

Yeah ballistic tips also kill pretty quick and are accurate. I had a choice of a Stevens 270 or 7-08 and chose the former as the shelves at Academy had an assortment of ammo for it and only had the remington 140 gr. load for the 7-08. Plus I have a 7x57. I haven't shot my 200 yet but will soon, I hope it shoots like most people say they do.