7mm-08 handi what bullet weight?

[Deerhunter#1]

been looking at this caliber and contemplating one day getting one. that said the handi has a 10 twist. I see savage rifles are 9.5. I have seen that 1/2 twist difference really make the difference in my 243 rifles with what weight bullets will shhot good. Looking at the high BC of say the 154 grain hornady bullet for example(.550) even pushes at say 2400 ft second this would be pretty flat shooting and still hold 1800 ft second for great expansion. I would think recoil would be that of a 30-30 but have much more energy and much flatter shooting at greater distances. Has anyone tried loading these bullets this slow in the handi.

[hoytcanon]

First 1:10 is not particularly slow, and it has no problem stabilizing the 154's... That said, I don't shoot anything heavier than 139 SST and 140 BT's in ours and our go to bullets are the 120 BT's in most situations for deer sized game... They are flat shooting with great terminal ballistics and are pretty close to as accurate as the 139/140 class bullets... Some of the 154's shot very well out of our guns, but we also have .30/30 and .308 with 150's and 168's respectively and .243 and 7.62 on the bottom end... So there really is no point in pushing the load limit... The 120's can potentially out shoot the 154's because the lowest common denominator is this shooter. For the record we are getting very exciting results with CFE-223 powder in .223, .243, 7mm-08, and .308... Better velocity, lower dispersion and better accuracy... What's not to love! We shoot our 7 mils below max... But not too far below... Where as we max our .30 cals.

[quickdtoo]

I've shot 140gr TTSX in my Superlight 7mm-08, they shoot just fine and are a lot longer than the Hornady 154gr, 1.360" for the TTSX compared to 1.200" for the Hornady. I've also shot 160gr Accubonds in my 22" 7mm-08 Handi, they shot just fine too, but not as accurate as the 140gr TTSX.

Tim

[scratchmark]

ive shot the 154gr sst's with great results out of my 7-08.

[44 Man]

Deerhunter, we have mostly talked about the 30-30 in the past and that is my favorite caliber.  But the 7-08 is my 'second favorite' caliber!  My Superlite shoots 120 BT's, 130 Speer, and 140 (139?) Hornadys equally well.  And those three are under an inch.  I did have a lot of trouble sighting my 7-08 in at first but found that to be a bad scope.  It is a wonderful caliber and I think the rifling twist would handle clear up to 165's but what would be the point?  If you want to get up into the heavywt's (for caliber) then you should have a .280.  The 7-08 is a wonderful caliber for deer and larger game so I hope you are able to get one and enjoy it.  44 Man

[Deerhunter#1]

Thanks everyone for the responces. hope to get one soon. I think the 154 grain bullet will be my bullet to try in it. As mentioned if loaded rite and of course it likes the slower speeds you would basically have the recoil of a 30-30 but with an extra 100 or more yards of killing power added on. I have to stop looking at ballistic tables

[thejanitor]

Hi Tom- We like the 120 gr bonded that Our friend in TX makes for us.  They shoot well for us and have less kick because the bullet is light but hold together due to being bonded.  Good luck,  Brent

[OldSchoolRanger]

I've been using the 139 grain Hornady SST's, but thejanitor recommended a load for me using 120grain heads.  Going to give it a try as soon as I verify some information.  BTW, Thanks Brent!

[BBF]

I've got a 284 Win that was a 7mm-08 originally. No problem stabilizing the 160 gr Speer.

[thejanitor]

Old school Ranger- Those came from 44man before me... Works for us       Thanks  thejanitor

[OldSchoolRanger]

Old school Ranger- Those came from 44man before me... Works for us       Thanks  thejanitor

I spoke to 44Man and I also thanked him.
Thanks again to both the janitor & 44Man for sharing some great loading info!