Loading the 7/08

[Harry Snippe]

Hi folks
Just ordered a XS7C in 7/08  from Marlin . The rifle will be for my wife as a second rifle to use , and for me to use this year because of a shoulder injury .The 338 F and or the 300 Wm will need to stay home for this reason .Ha!! Well the wife might steal the 300 WM since she is at home with this rifle too. She might just do that wearing a big grin across her face , just to show she can handle the 300 Wm just like a Man , and do well.

Being new to the 7/08 I will need to pick up dies , bullets , brass Etc and form up some loads suitable for bear , moose , and deer , so some thought will be given to what to load . I was thinking probably Barnes 140's and maybe Nolsner partitions.Shots will probably be kept with in 100 Yards with possable farm field shots going to the 2 to 300 yard shots on deer alone ..Years past we have used the 6.5x55 with moose shot so the 7/08 should be able to do the job likewise
So thinking some one must also be hunting with this round here on everything from varmits to six hundred pound animals with placed shots , who might share some expertise.
What would you load?
Thanking you all in advance

[Dave in WV]

I load 46gr of H4350, a 140gr Rem CoreLokt bullet, and a Fed. BR primer for my 7600. I does a good job on deer. Can't say how it would do on larger game. That said, it's hard to go wrong with a partition.

[Harry Snippe]

Dave
I agree with you there . And the partition  & Barnes should work well on the vitals on medium game given proper shots .

Your load should get things started and I will grab a box of partitions for the bush.

[Coalminer7]

My model 7 loves H380.  Favorite load is 42.0 to 46.0 of H380 and 139 Hornady SP depending on how much push you want.

[Harry Snippe]

Thanks for the feed back from All. I probably will not be going much hunting any more due to heath , but in some way , be it hand loading , or and managing yet for a few hours a day , just watching others enjoy the sport- makes the day.
I load her odd 6  which has always done it's part on moose , but the rifle is a bit heavy .
The 7/08 easy sheds another pound.
The real joy is always the big smile  and her yelling "I got it "

So to all - Be happy and keep you powder dry. Tomorrow again an other bright and beauiful Day
Happy Huntin'
Happy

[Harry Snippe]

Well being in the gun shop I managed some Hornady 139 and a box of Nosler Partitions , brass , but no H4350 , the powder I was going to start with . The rifle will not be in til' the first week of next month , so lots of time to put together a load to try.
Probably start with the Hornady to get it sighted and a feel for the gun , and then into the partitions for the hunt .Ther will hardly time to biuld a load as the moose hunt goes for almost a month here ( North Bay district ).
So until then there will not be much to report

[cleveland48]

You should like those 139gr. hornady's.  I have loaded some with 7mm-08 and they shot great.  Havn't had used on deer, but i've had a ton of luck with 130 & 140 gr. hornady's in 270, and 140's in the 260.  They have always performed great, and I've only recovered one in an animal the rest have passed through regardless of shot angle.

[charles p]

I love my 7mm-08.  What is the nature of your illness? 

I've had rotator cuff surgery on both shoulders.  The first surgery was open surgery to reconnect the seperated tendon.  Recovery was long and painful.  Doc told me no shooting so I got a Contender in 7-30W and learned to shoot it left handed.  I still do to this day when I have a rock solid rest.  Then came the left shoulder two years later.  It too was a full thickness tear but was reconnected with othroscopic survery.  Recovery was much quicker and I never missed a beat.  You never get back to 100% though.

I have put away my heavy recoiling rifles and shotguns, probably for good.  Don't like the weight or recoil.  The 7mm-08 will take any deer I've ever met.

[TLARbb]

For powders with heavy bullets you might try Winchester 760 or H414 or Vihtaviori 160 or 550/560.

Look for IMR 4350 Accurate A4350 as substitutes.  You might look into some IMR 4831 or H4831SC, but these might be too slow for the 7mm-08.

We handloaders have lots to choose from, maybe that's part of the reason why we can't get any of it.

EJ

[kynardsj]

I loaded for a 7mm08 years ago and the 139gr Hornady and the 130gr Nosler BT worked great for me on whitetail. I knew the 139 Hornady was good as a friend of mine always shot it in his 7mm Mag with great results. I loaded my 7mm08's with 3031. It wasn't the fastest powder but it was very accurate in my Model 7 and my Browning lever rifle.

[Harry Snippe]

I am thinking the 7/08 should be able to handle moose and elk  as with the 6.5x55 oversea's

Has any one have experiance ? I am thinking the barnes or nosler parition should be up to task .

[Coyote Hunter]

I am thinking the 7/08 should be able to handle moose and elk  as with the 6.5x55 oversea's

Has any one have experiance ? I am thinking the barnes or nosler parition should be up to task .

Harry -

For many years I loded my 7mm RM at just above 7mm-08 velocities.   Every elk I shot died quickly, most DRT or just a few steps...

[Harry Snippe]

I love my 7mm-08.  What is the nature of your illness? 

I've had rotator cuff surgery on both shoulders.  The first surgery was open surgery to reconnect the seperated tendon.  Recovery was long and painful.  Doc told me no shooting so I got a Contender in 7-30W and learned to shoot it left handed.  I still do to this day when I have a rock solid rest.  Then came the left shoulder two years later.  It too was a full thickness tear but was reconnected with othroscopic survery.  Recovery was much quicker and I never missed a beat.  You never get back to 100% though.

I have put away my heavy recoiling rifles and shotguns, probably for good.  Don't like the weight or recoil.  The 7mm-08 will take any deer I've ever met.

I have rotator tears on both shoulders, and now arthritis in both shoulders ,hand and elbows,  along with hips knees and feet . Don't know if they ( doctors) are willing to operate
Then Had prostrate  Cancer last year , and now bladder and colon. So I will not bother ordering any custom guns for me.
So putting limbsaver pads on my rifles,and hears hopin' to hunt a bit yet!! My wife who is younger will need to do the leg work.
 

[Harry Snippe]

Coyote Hunter

I am sure the 7/08 should do the job . My wife carries her scoped 06 Ruger mark 2  well and the 7/08 would save her some weight if she is gonna do the leg work . I will be limited to the truck and ATV. For the times I will still hunt .