7mm-08 Lite, 260 Rem and 405 Win Range Report

[quickdtoo]

Spent the morning and early afternoon on the 100yd range today, shot two different bullets in the 7mm08 Lite, 140gr TTSX and 140gr Nosler Partition, both on top of Ramshot Big Game, best accuracy was a two shot group with the TTSX measuring just .271", didn't take the chrony, but Quickload estimates velocity at 2722fps, I'll chrony these new loads next time when I load up some more of the good load and zero the rifle 1½" high at 100yds with the TTSX. The NP wasn't quite as accurate at .724" for the two shots, est velocity of 2790fps.

Also shot the 260 Rem using the Berger 130gr VLD over Varget, best load went .501", next best at .553", both would work for me for deer!! 

Shot two bullets in the 405 Win, the 300gr Hornady SP and the 300gr Hawk .416" resized to .411" in a Lee .410" push thru die, both over Benchmark, the best Hawk group was .715" and the Hornady was .869".

I'm gonna hunt this year with the 7mm-08, both deer and elk, main reason is it's lighter than the 405 Win, also has a synthetic stock which will likely be appreciated in the November elk hunt, that usually includes wet weather and/or snow, the 405 Win will be my back up. 

Tim

[tacklebury]

Very nice. 

[jeepmann1948]

The bad thing about groups that size is you can't blame the gun for missing 
Nice shooting Tim

[gomerdog]

Good luck with your deer and elk hunts. Hope they are safe and gratifying. When my brother lived in your area, he hunted elk near Mt. Adams IIRC and deer near the Klikitat River. He still has a small piece of property there.

[cjrjck]

How was the muzzle jump on your 708 light off the sand bags? I only say that because mine required that I not take it for granted or the scope would remind me. Not sure why, but that super light rifle with the 20 inch barrel liked to jump off the bags. Heck of a lot of fun to shoot though. Yours grouped better.

[quickdtoo]

I decided to quit shooting 3-shot groups in the lite barrels, third shot is almost always a high flyer and a waste of powder and premium bullets, so they don't tell me much except the barrel is too warm, not something I expect to ever happen shooting big game, if it takes more than 1 or 2 shots, I'd better not be out there any more!! 

I've been using a LeadSled DFT to take the edge off of the recoil of the 405 Win, 300gr at 2350fps isn't fun, but I didn't notice any unusual muzzle jump, at least no more than the other Superlights, not nearly as much as hot 45 Colt loads in the 20" BC Carbine and stock.

Thanks,

Tim

[bikerbeans]

Tim,
 
Nice shootin' and good luck with your fall hunts.  FWIW, I think a .40 cal pass thur hole in an Elk would be way cool.
 
BB

[quickdtoo]

That would be cool, but there's another reason why I'm wantin to use the 7mm-08, the area we hunt elk and deer has a lot of big clear cuts, I'd sure hate to run on to a herd of elk in one of em and be packin the 405, specially not being able to shoot at that range first to know where it's hitting at that range. It may be possible to get closer, but there's no need with the 7mm-08, lots can happen when you're trying to stalk an animal, two of my biggest worries are changing wind and other hunters spooking them. Lots of stumps in a clear cut to set up on and make a good shot, made the longest shot I've ever made on a deer at 330yds from atop stump once, nature's shooting bench, if you will! 

Thanks,

Tim

[Spanky]

That's some nice shooting Tim... it sounds like you found a pet load for each of them.
Good luck with the elk.
 
On another note with the 45LC... I loaded up some stiff loads for mine and I was really surprised at how much recoil it had off the bench too. It had alot more muzzle jump than I expected.
 
 
 
Spanky

[dpe.ahoy]

Good luck on the hunt Tim.  7mm-08 is a great cartridge to use on your hunt.  Rifles for that cartridge keep appearing around this house, just picked up another one 2 weeks ago .  Haven't tried any Big Game in the 7-08 yet, looks like I better.  Try to drop one close to the road, don't want to work the young un's too hard.    I assume the kids and grand kids are draggin for grandad.    DP

[Deerhunter#1]

One day I will hopefully be able to get out of PA and enjoy a nice Elk hunt. Tim what barrel did you use as a donor to get a .260 if it is a handi. I have all my current handis shooting well and need another project and the 260 would fit the bill. Good shooting and good luck on the hunt.

[quickdtoo]

Thanks DP, my son will be huntin with us, lots of gated roads in the area we hunt, we have meat carts that my Dad made that work excellent. 

The 260 was a 243 Superlight without sights, thanks. 

Tim

[carbineman]

Holy Moly Tim, that was some good shootin'. I have had good accuracy with the CVA Scout 22" stainless with 139 grain Hornady and Big Game. I have a surplus of 145 grain Speer Hot Cor's that had the best accuracy with W760, so I'm using that loading right now. I have some Hunter-Big Game-and W760 that I'll use for both the -06 and 7mm-08 and then just stick with one after the others run out after seeing which one works the best.
 
I do like the Ramshot line though and think Big Game could be the ticket. Good Luck with your hunting trips this fall. My Manysodas trip is getting closer and three of my Toppers are ready and the CVA Scout is lonely as well. Decisions Decisions.

[quickdtoo]

I used Ramshot data for the 140gr XBT plus a little since Barnes recommended up to 1½gr over their #3 manual data for the TSX before the #4 manual was published, Ramshot starts at 41½gr at a COL of 2.8, I'm loading the TTSX at 2.830" which is ~.030" off the lands, I ran it thru QuickLoad using my chamber specs and the velocity was considerably more that any other powder at the SAAMI max, so it looked very promising for use in the short barrel. 

Thanks,

Tim

http://www.ramshot.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/ramshot_handgun_rifle.pdf