Handi rifle 7mm-08

[Deerhunter#1]

Just purchase a handi rifle 7mm-08. Looking at getting what is needed for reloading. currently have h4350, imr 4064 and w760 powder that I would like to use. In regards to bullet weight 120 to 140 what would be better for deer and what has worked for you. Been thinking of the nosler ballistic tip of sierra pro hunter in either of these two weights. Is there a diffence in recoil for thye two weights are will the extra powder in the lighter bullet weight make up for the difference. Any suggestions would be great.

[dpe.ahoy]

Any of those 3 powders are a good choice, have to see what your rifle likes behind which bullet.  I have used mostly 139-140 gr bullets and had great luck with them.  Heard alot of good things about Nosler 120 BT's so will try some of them this year.  Also gonna try some new powders, IMR 4007 looks like it would be a good match as well as those you listed, I have been using IMR 4350.  I don't think the 7-08 has much recoil, but if it does bother you, WalMart sells the small Limbsaver slip-on recoil pads under the Winchester lable now.  They are $20.00 and well worth it.  DP

[wsjones]

Get it figured out?  I just looked at my notes for mine from 2006 (Handi SB2, 7mm-08, 22" barrel).  I got very good results using both Ballistic Tips and Accubonds (both 140 gr), fire formed Remington brass, RL-15, Rem 9 1/2 primers, and RL-15.  -WSJ

[Freezer]

  I like varget because it's not temprature sensitive.  Handi are cool rifles but usually need some work.  Look in the N :)EF Forums for the info.  The trigger can be touched up, the stocks adjusted and other fine adjustments made. My experence is it take a while to break in the barrels.  My .223 took 100 rounds nd some polishing to get it to shoot sub MOA.  It was worth the effort so take your time and break the barrel in slowly.

[wsjones]

  Handi are cool rifles but usually need some work.  Look in the N :)EF Forums for the info.  The trigger can be touched up, the stocks adjusted and other fine adjustments made. My experence is it take a while to break in the barrels. 

That's a lot of what makes them cool for a kitchen table hobbyist.  Spend a grand on a Ruger No. 1 and you're PO'd to have to tinker with such things.  Buy a Handi for $225 and have a ball reading up on and tinkering with with all that.

Mine had a tolerable trigger to begin with and I bought an aftermarket stock and two different forend types to whittle on and finish.  I mated everything up all nice with shims and Brownels steel bed and everything per the Handi-guys on the NEF threads.  Super winter project on a rifle that really does well.

This winter I'm having a 243 and 22-inch 20 ga. shotgun barrel mated to it and am cutting the original stock down to youth length for my nephew to use next year.  I'll put the 7-mm08 barrel, stock and forends up until he outgrows the youth stock and then  probably just give them the whole set up.

Cost?  Well the original Handi plus aftermarket stock and 2 forend set-up stuff was less than $400, tops, and I figure the additional 243 and shotgun barrels will be another $175 with shipping, etc.   So for <$600 I  will have bought a single shot 7mm-08 for my late dad to use his last year of hunting (2006), had a great time tinkering and "gunsmithing" a Handi at the kitchen table, ended up with a really nice looking product, gave a nephew a first deer rifle and shotgun combo in youth size, plus a use-it-forever-shoot-any-NA-deer rifle/caliber, all for a good bit less than the Ruger No. 1 that I bought last year (which fortunately didn't need a thing!).

_WSJ

[Fred McIntire]

Go with the Nosler Ballistic Tips !   

[wsjones]

Go with the Nosler Ballistic Tips !   

Or, what he said!  I personally have not had a rife tthat wouldn't shoot BT's!  Only tried accubond's on 2 (7mm-08 & 35 Whelen) but they shot good and to same POI.  And BT's are still almost reasonable.

[Freezer]

For deer and bear I use nothing but Sierra Game Kings.  Cheap. accurate and perform every time. 308 165gr and 7mm 140gr