7mm-08 M48 Speer 145gr Hungting load

[bullet]

My M48 in 7mm-08 just shoots whatever I put in it. Nothing over an inch so far and I am going to move to a new hunting load for the rest of the season. I witnessed how the AccuBond did but getting it over 2800fps with my level of accepted accuracy has not happened although you all saw how accurate the AccuBond was in the mid 2700fps range.

So I decided to see how fast and accurate I could push a 145gr Speer SBT, keeping it under max. I used Nosler brass, RL-17, 145gr Speer SBT and 210 Fed primers and got and average velocity of 2834fps, extreme spread of 6 and a deviation of 3.74. Not shabby to get 2834fps with no pressure signs pushing a 145gr bullet out of a 7mm-08. I will use this load for the rest of the year and hope I get something to see just how this bullet does it's stuff and how it compares to the AccuBond I used to take the three deer I have so far.

Here is the three shot group

 

[Elkman]

what can I say? beautiful as always !

 

[bullet]

Elkman, this Nosler M48 is everything Nosler said it was and more. It is almost boring to know that it has shot 120gr BT, 150gr BT, 160 HPBT, 162 SBT Interlock, 130gr Speer, 140gr AccuBond and these 145gr Speers all under and inch most around half an inch and under. Really cool is all I can say.

 

[russ808]

Mike,
I agree. They make good stuff.
Russ

 

[bullet]

Mike,
I agree. They make good stuff.
Russ

Yes they do, they really do and on top of having good equipment, it will be fun comparing the different bullets on the same type of game.

 

[SJB358]

Very nice shooting Mike. Great to see that rifle shooting little bitty groups like that. Gets me excited to do a little load with my sons 7x57. Scotty

 

[BK]

I'm not familiar with that bullet. Is it a HotCor, a Deepcurl, or a standard C&C?

 

[Mountain Goat]

My go to load in the 280 Rem was the 145gr Speer BTSP. It shot better than any other bullet in that particuar rifle. The Hot-Core version shot really good too, but not as good as the boat tail did. The few deer that fell to that bullet didn't care much for it either. :wink: The one recovered bullet I did get was from a quartering away shot, and found the jacket in the off-side hide. I don't see much difference in the Speer BTSP and the Gameking as far as consruction.

 

[bullet]

I'm not familiar with that bullet. Is it a HotCor, a Deepcurl, or a standard C&C?

Yes like mountain goat said, it is a cup core bullet. Jerry used it on deer out of his 7mm mag and had dramatic kills with exits. It will act just like a Game King for the most part. Gives me great ballistics 2.7" high at 100yds and -5" at 305yds

 

[SJB358]

I'm not familiar with that bullet. Is it a HotCor, a Deepcurl, or a standard C&C?

Yes like mountain goat said, it is a cup core bullet. Jerry used it on deer out of his 7mm mag and had dramatic kills with exits. It will act just like a Game King for the most part. Gives me great ballistics 2.7" high at 100yds and -5" at 305yds

That is some excellent ballistics Mike! Scotty

 

[bullet]

I'm not familiar with that bullet. Is it a HotCor, a Deepcurl, or a standard C&C?

Yes like mountain goat said, it is a cup core bullet. Jerry used it on deer out of his 7mm mag and had dramatic kills with exits. It will act just like a Game King for the most part. Gives me great ballistics 2.7" high at 100yds and -5" at 305yds

That is some excellent ballistics Mike! Scotty

Yeah Scotty, for a 7mm-08 this is very good, sure allows long shots on deer, coyote, hog and even black bear.

 

[SJB358]

Yeah Scotty, for a 7mm-08 this is very good, sure allows long shots on deer, coyote, hog and even black bear.

I just so happen to have a few of them as well. Right now I am loaded with 140gr BT's... I will see how that works out before I try the Speers though. Your making me jittery to try this little 7x57 out though. Scotty

 

[Powerstroke]

Darn nice - good ole 7-08 getting it done!

 

[bullet]

This M48 7mm-08 is a pussy cat compared to the rifles I have been shooting over the last 10 years.
Identifying Info:

Date/Time (24 hr clock): 2011/12/14 07:08:36
Cartridge: .7mm-08
Firearm: Nosler M48
Load and Firearm Info:
Bullet Dia (in): 0.284
Case Length (in): 2.035
Case Volume (gr H2O): 55.2
Muzzle velocity (ft/sec): 2834
Bullet Wt (gr): 145
Charge Weight (gr): 47.1
Barrel Length (in): 24
Firearm Weight (lb): 7.60
Free recoil energy is 15.7 ft-lb. (21.3 Joule)

To put things in context. When I use my hand load in my 30/06 which gives me 2910fps the free recoil in a 30-06 is as follows which is interesting when considering the 358Win using a 225gr bullet which is my hunting load produces 23ft pounds, the same as my 30-06 pushing a 165 grain bullet at 2910fps.

Identifying Info:
Date/Time (24 hr clock): 2011/12/14 07:28:55
Cartridge: .30/06
Firearm: Winchester Featherweight
Load and Firearm Info:
Bullet Dia (in): 0.308
Case Length (in): 2.494
Case Volume (gr H2O): 67.1
Muzzle velocity (ft/sec): 2910
Bullet Wt (gr): 165
Charge Weight (gr): 59
Barrel Length (in): 22
Firearm Weight (lb): 7.50
Free recoil energy is 23.3 ft-lb. (31.5 Joule)

 

[bullet]

The only problem with this Nosler is the high expectations I have every time I go to the range and if it does not perform with some load in the future, it might get depressing. All kidding aside, this has got to be the easiest cartridge and rifle combo I have ever had to work loads up for. I really have not found a bullet once I found the load that will not shoot in this rifle. To say the least it has been fun.

With a 2.5" high at 100yds sight-in, I am only -5" at 300 yds and if you consider from the top of the shoulder on a deer and 14" down from the top of the shoulder you still will hit the heart on a full grown doe or buck, that means I am good to 400yds.

The 7mm-08 is one of my favorite rounds. I value a gun that will get the job done without beating me to death. I find that the older I get, the I like the feel of low recoil. The 7mm-08 might be the perfect round for combining ample smack for taking big game with easy recoil.

I am getting 2800fps out of a 160gr bullet and it kicks nothing like my 300Win or for that matter my 30-06. For what I will be hunting the rest of the year, the 145gr Speer should be perfect. I sure put down those deer last week and one shot kills and deer went down.

I know I had the same results years ago, but got on that magnum band wagon along with getting on the big bore wagon and the rest is history. I still like my big guns, but this 7mm-08 is really a lot of fun to carry around on spot and stalk or in a climbing stand at 7.6 pounds total weight, and is so much fun to shoot.

 

[SJB358]

I know what you mean Mike. Those lighter rifles sure are handy. I have come to give up a little bit of speed to have a rifle that is handier to pack and carry..... Scotty

 

[bullet]

I know what you mean Mike. Those lighter rifles sure are handy. I have come to give up a little bit of speed to have a rifle that is handier to pack and carry..... Scotty

It actually makes better since especially if you are through the mountains.

 

[SJB358]

You aren't kidding about that. That's why I'm so excited about this M70 Featherweight. Should make an excellent mountain rifle. Scotty

 

[bullet]

You aren't kidding about that. That's why I'm so excited about this M70 Featherweight. Should make an excellent mountain rifle. Scotty

Yes, I handle a new featherweight and the light weight and the balance was very good.

 

[bullet]

Here is some field results from my friend concerning the 145gr Speer SBT which is interesting. (by the way, work up to his load, it is a max load in his rifle).

Mike, the 145 Speer BT is a perfect match for the 7mm08. I have been using it for many years and have taken ELK, Moose, and Deer at ranges that defy logic. My brother used it to take this sheep at 319 yards with a complete pass through. Also, a friend of mind used the 145gr SBT to take a moose at about 250 yards with a complete pass through about 30" of moose that yeilded 875# of meat.