Author Topic: 7mm-08 handi what bullet weight?  (Read 691 times)

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Offline Deerhunter#1

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7mm-08 handi what bullet weight?
« on: February 19, 2013, 09:21:49 AM »
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.

Offline hoytcanon

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Re: 7mm-08 handi what bullet weight?
« Reply #1 on: February 19, 2013, 10:50:40 AM »
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.
Hoyt Handi's; Ultra Black .22 K-Hornet Shorty, Black Synthetic K-Hornet Shorty & Nickel .410 Combo (sons), Ultra Granite Grey .22 BR Rem, Ultra Nutmeg .223 & .30/30 Shorty Combo (sons), Ultra Forest .223/7mm-08 Shorty Combo, Ultra Forest .243/.308 Combo, Ultra Nutmeg .243/.308 Combo (sons),  Jacaranda/Cocobolo .30/30 & 7.62X39 Shorty Combo, Ultra Black/Stainless .260 Rem Stub, Ultra Black/Stainless .338 Federal Stub,  Ultra Grey .358 Win, Ultra Grey .35 Whelen, Walnut/Cocobolo Mannlicher .357 MAX, Buffalo Classic Mannlicher .44 Mag Shorties w/NDS-38 peeps (X2; Sons & mine), Ultra Grey Stainless .45/70 & .243 & 20 Gauge Combo, Buffalo Classic 26" .45/70, 9.3X74R Mannlicher, Synthetic Nickel .410 & .30/30 & Versa Pak .22 LR Shorty Combo, Ultra Forest/Cocobolo 12 Gauge 3.5" Turkey; Most scoped with DNZ or Dura Sight one-piece bases and Mueller, Hawke or Nikon scopes... several with Skinner Peeps and Williams Fire Sight ramps.

Offline quickdtoo

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Re: 7mm-08 handi what bullet weight?
« Reply #2 on: February 19, 2013, 11:26:52 AM »
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. 8)

Tim
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Offline scratchmark

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Re: 7mm-08 handi what bullet weight?
« Reply #3 on: February 19, 2013, 02:24:46 PM »
ive shot the 154gr sst's with great results out of my 7-08.
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Offline 44 Man

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Re: 7mm-08 handi what bullet weight?
« Reply #4 on: February 19, 2013, 02:25:24 PM »
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
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Offline Deerhunter#1

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Re: 7mm-08 handi what bullet weight?
« Reply #5 on: February 19, 2013, 03:08:53 PM »
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 :)

Offline thejanitor

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Re: 7mm-08 handi what bullet weight?
« Reply #6 on: February 20, 2013, 06:44:01 AM »
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

Offline OldSchoolRanger

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Re: 7mm-08 handi what bullet weight?
« Reply #7 on: February 20, 2013, 08:49:12 AM »
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!
"You are entitled to your own opinions, but you are not entitled to your own facts." - Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan

When you allow a lie to go unchallenged, it becomes the truth.

My quandary, I personally, don't think I have enough Handi's but, I know I have more Handi's than I really need or should have.

Offline BBF

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Re: 7mm-08 handi what bullet weight?
« Reply #8 on: February 21, 2013, 06:02:08 PM »
I've got a 284 Win that was a 7mm-08 originally. No problem stabilizing the 160 gr Speer.
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Offline thejanitor

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Re: 7mm-08 handi what bullet weight?
« Reply #9 on: February 22, 2013, 09:06:35 AM »
Old school Ranger- Those came from 44man before me... Works for us   :)    Thanks  thejanitor

Offline OldSchoolRanger

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Re: 7mm-08 handi what bullet weight?
« Reply #10 on: February 22, 2013, 03:06:50 PM »
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!
"You are entitled to your own opinions, but you are not entitled to your own facts." - Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan

When you allow a lie to go unchallenged, it becomes the truth.

My quandary, I personally, don't think I have enough Handi's but, I know I have more Handi's than I really need or should have.