QL Request for 7mm-08

[Dougfir]

Well, my quest to find the perfect load for the 140 AccuBond in my 7mm-08 continues. Having gotten no success with Big Game, or RL 17, I'm going to try Varget and H 4895. The Varget data is listed, but if someone were willing to run a QL for me on the H 4895, I'd really appreciate it.

7mm-08
22" barrel
Hornady case
WLR
2.84"
H 4895
140 Nosler AccuBond

Thank you!

 

[TackDriver284]

Cartridge          : 7 mm-08 Rem.
Bullet             : .284, 140, Nosler AccuBond 59992
Useable Case Capaci: 47.445 grain H2O = 3.081 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.840 inch = 72.14 mm
Barrel Length      : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm
Powder             : Hodgdon H4895

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-10.0   84    36.90   2548    2019   43146   8483     97.7    1.252
-09.0   85    37.31   2574    2060   44441   8567     98.0    1.235
-08.0   86    37.72   2600    2101   45773   8649     98.2    1.218
-07.0   87    38.13   2625    2142   47143   8728     98.5    1.201
-06.0   88    38.54   2650    2184   48551   8805     98.7    1.185
-05.0   89    38.95   2676    2226   49999   8878     98.9    1.169
-04.0   90    39.36   2701    2268   51489   8949     99.1    1.154  ! Near Maximum !
-03.0   91    39.77   2726    2310   53021   9017     99.3    1.138  ! Near Maximum !
-02.0   92    40.18   2751    2353   54597   9082     99.4    1.123  ! Near Maximum !
-01.0   93    40.59   2776    2396   56218   9144     99.6    1.108  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0   94    41.00   2801    2439   57886   9203     99.7    1.094  ! Near Maximum !
+01.0   95    41.41   2826    2482   59602   9259     99.8    1.080  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0   96    41.82   2850    2525   61369   9312     99.9    1.066  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.0   97    42.23   2875    2569   63187   9361     99.9    1.052  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0   97    42.64   2899    2613   65058   9407    100.0    1.038  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0   98    43.05   2923    2657   66985   9450    100.0    1.025  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     94    41.00   2903    2619   68044   8875    100.0    1.022  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     94    41.00   2654    2190   47879   9184     96.0    1.189

Cartridge          : 7 mm-08 Rem.
Bullet             : .284, 140, Nosler AccuBond 59992
Useable Case Capaci: 47.445 grain H2O = 3.081 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.840 inch = 72.14 mm
Barrel Length      : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm
Powder             : Hodgdon VARGET

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-10.0   87    36.90   2453    1871   39800   8026     95.2    1.289
-09.0   88    37.31   2479    1910   40980   8120     95.6    1.272
-08.0   89    37.72   2504    1949   42194   8212     96.0    1.254
-07.0   90    38.13   2529    1988   43442   8301     96.4    1.237
-06.0   91    38.54   2554    2028   44727   8389     96.7    1.221
-05.0   92    38.95   2579    2068   46049   8475     97.0    1.204
-04.0   93    39.36   2604    2108   47410   8558     97.3    1.188
-03.0   94    39.77   2629    2149   48810   8639     97.6    1.173
-02.0   95    40.18   2654    2190   50252   8718     97.9    1.157
-01.0   96    40.59   2679    2231   51736   8795     98.2    1.142  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0   97    41.00   2704    2273   53264   8869     98.4    1.127  ! Near Maximum !
+01.0   98    41.41   2729    2315   54837   8940     98.6    1.112  ! Near Maximum !
+02.0   99    41.82   2753    2357   56457   9009     98.9    1.098  ! Near Maximum !
+03.0  100    42.23   2778    2399   58126   9075     99.0    1.084  ! Near Maximum !
+04.0  101    42.64   2803    2442   59845   9139     99.2    1.070  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0  102    43.05   2827    2485   61616   9200     99.4    1.056  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     97    41.00   2815    2463   62288   8712    100.0    1.054  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     97    41.00   2555    2030   44408   8631     93.1    1.221

 

[Dougfir]

Thank you!

 

[Songdog]

I’d give H414/W760 a look too. In my short barreled 7/08 it out runs everything by 100fps.... including RE17, I3450, H4350, and RE23.

 

[RL338]

I’m surprised that RL-17 didn’t work out. It’s golden in my 7mm-08s. W760 is another one had tried also but couldn’t match RL-17. Maybe a different bullet might do the trick.

 

[hunter24605]

Another one to look at is IMR-4064..It provided excellent accuracy in my daughters 7-08 with 139 IB's & 140 AB's, but I settled on RL-17 for hers.
I swear, I must be the only person on the planet that can't get good results with Varget.

 

[AFG270]

I’m surprised that RL-17 didn’t work out. It’s golden in my 7mm-08s. W760 is another one had tried also but couldn’t match RL-17. Maybe a different bullet might do the trick.

+1

My 20" barrel Ruger shot very well with RL17, both 120gr BT's and 140gr PT. Better accuracy and velocity than Varget. It did take a while to find the right seating depth with the BT's.

 

[Dougfir]

I'm hoping I'm wrong about this, but I have a developing theory that my rifle just doesn't like anything too fast. It seems that with 140 grain bullets, I often find best accuracy around 2700fps. With 145's it's around 2650 and with 160's it's around 2500.
RL 17 and Big Game were both awful for me, with 140 accubonds, 140 ttsx's and 145 Lrx's, but they got things moving fast!

My gut tells me I'm going to do well with Varget, but I'll be left wanting just a bit more velocity. We'll see... If the 140's are just a bit too slow, I may start tinkering with my 160 grain load again. I have a load using the 160 AccuBond and IMR 4350 that is quite accurate at 2500fps. I wonder if I could play with seating depth and/or H 4350 to squeeze a little more speed out of that.

I keep hearing all sorts of great things about W 760, but I also seem to hear about how erratic it is with temp differences. In any given hunting season, I'll probably see a temp range of 50 or 60 degrees, which makes me nervous.

 

[Tjay]

? for you. Once you got to max with AB, TTSX and LRX did you try seating them deeper to try to fine tune your groups? I have used all three of those type bullets and found shortening the coal to cause groups to shrink in size. Note loads started at magazine length.

H4350 has worked very well for me with the 140 TSX. I would also not be afraid if 120 gr. TTSX bullets for anything short of big bears.

 

[Dougfir]

? for you. Once you got to max with AB, TTSX and LRX did you try seating them deeper to try to fine tune your groups? I have used all three of those type bullets and found shortening the coal to cause groups to shrink in size. Note loads started at magazine length.

H4350 has worked very well for me with the 140 TSX. I would also not be afraid if 120 gr. TTSX bullets for anything short of big bears.

I would have if groups had held any promise at those levels. However, my max, or near max groups were in the 3" range. I have a fussy rifle. When it likes something, it will shoot it well under an inch, and I have a few loads like that. When it doesn't like something, it lets you know by spewing them all over the paper.

 

[tecumseh]

I tried a few different 140 & 120 gr bullets with various powder and primer combinations and so far it shoots a 160 gr AccuBond with RL-17 best. I may switch over to a Hornady Interlock is Gameking instead, at 08 Velocities the AccuBond might be a little too stout of a bullet. I’m shooting em .030 off the lands.

 

[DrMike]

It does appear that you have the accuracy anyone could want.

 

[Dougfir]

It seems like mine likes 160's better as well. I've now tested 4 different powders with the 140s and haven't seen one group better than about 1.5 inches. I have one last group to shoot this afternoon that I suspect might be accurate enough, but without enough velocity to satisfy me. If this one doesn't do it, I'm giving up on the 140 and I'll stick to the 160. I have a decent load for it, I'd just hoped find a load that was as good, but with flatter trajectory. Oh well...
By the way, my (limited) experience is that the AccuBond performs pretty well even at slower velocities. I shot a small, doe antelope this fall with a 160 AccuBond. Velocity on impact was about 2200fps. I hit her low in the chest and the bullet passed completely through, but it was clear that expansion was good. Rather than a small hole, the bottom of her chest had a big softball-sized chunk blown out of it. She made it about 20 yards.

 

[tecumseh]

It seems like mine likes 160's better as well. I've now tested 4 different powders with the 140s and haven't seen one group better than about 1.5 inches. I have one last group to shoot this afternoon that I suspect might be accurate enough, but without enough velocity to satisfy me. If this one doesn't do it, I'm giving up on the 140 and I'll stick to the 160. I have a decent load for it, I'd just hoped find a load that was as good, but with flatter trajectory. Oh well...
By the way, my (limited) experience is that the AccuBond performs pretty well even at slower velocities. I shot a small, doe antelope this fall with a 160 AccuBond. Velocity on impact was about 2200fps. I hit her low in the chest and the bullet passed completely through, but it was clear that expansion was good. Rather than a small hole, the bottom of her chest had a big softball-sized chunk blown out of it. She made it about 20 yards.

That’s good to know! I’ll have to give em a go. I’m guessing they’d be good out to 250 yards.

 

[Dougfir]

It seems like mine likes 160's better as well. I've now tested 4 different powders with the 140s and haven't seen one group better than about 1.5 inches. I have one last group to shoot this afternoon that I suspect might be accurate enough, but without enough velocity to satisfy me. If this one doesn't do it, I'm giving up on the 140 and I'll stick to the 160. I have a decent load for it, I'd just hoped find a load that was as good, but with flatter trajectory. Oh well...
By the way, my (limited) experience is that the AccuBond performs pretty well even at slower velocities. I shot a small, doe antelope this fall with a 160 AccuBond. Velocity on impact was about 2200fps. I hit her low in the chest and the bullet passed completely through, but it was clear that expansion was good. Rather than a small hole, the bottom of her chest had a big softball-sized chunk blown out of it. She made it about 20 yards.

That’s good to know! I’ll have to give em a go. I’m guessing they’d be good out to 250 yards.

Altitude can make a big impact, but I think it's good at least that far. I shot that antelope at 250 and running the numbers, I'd was confident out to 300+ in Wyoming.

Interestingly, I just got back from the range, where I fired that last-hope group and... it was a 3/4" group just a hair below 2700fps! The 140's may have redeemed themselves!

The load is 40 grains of H4895, Hornady case, WLR at 2.75"

Shortening the OAL made a huge difference in both accuracy and velocity. Avg. velocity at 2.8" was 2585, at 2.75" it was 2694. It seems this bullet likes a big old jump. I may tinker with this one just a bit more, but it also makes me want to re-try one or two other powders at this much shorter OAL...

Dr. Mike (or someone else), would you be willing to run this load through QL again with the shorter OAL to see where they put the max charge weight? It's a 22" barrel.
7mm-08
140 Nosler AccuBond
H 4895
2.75"

 

[DrMike]

Cartridge          : 7 mm-08 Rem.
Bullet             : .284, 140, Nosler AccuBond 59992
Useable Case Capaci: 45.987 grain H2O = 2.986 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.750 inch = 69.85 mm
Barrel Length      : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm
Powder             : Hodgdon H4895

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-10.0   86    36.45   2554    2027   44024   8324     97.7    1.242
-09.0   87    36.86   2579    2068   45366   8406     98.0    1.225
-08.0   88    37.26   2605    2110   46747   8486     98.2    1.208
-07.0   89    37.67   2631    2152   48167   8562     98.5    1.191
-06.0   90    38.07   2656    2194   49630   8636     98.7    1.175
-05.0   91    38.48   2682    2236   51135   8707     98.9    1.159
-04.0   92    38.88   2707    2278   52684   8776     99.1    1.143  ! Near Maximum !
-03.0   93    39.29   2733    2321   54278   8841     99.3    1.128  ! Near Maximum !
-02.0   94    39.69   2758    2364   55920   8904     99.4    1.113  ! Near Maximum !
-01.0   95    40.10   2783    2407   57610   8963     99.6    1.098  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0   96    40.50   2808    2451   59351   9020     99.7    1.084  ! Near Maximum !
+01.0   96    40.91   2833    2495   61143   9073     99.8    1.069  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0   97    41.31   2858    2539   62990   9123     99.9    1.055  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.0   98    41.72   2882    2583   64892   9170     99.9    1.042  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0   99    42.12   2907    2627   66853   9214    100.0    1.028  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0  100    42.53   2932    2672   68873   9254    100.0    1.015  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     96    40.50   2910    2632   69865   8690    100.0    1.012  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     96    40.50   2661    2202   49009   9010     96.0    1.178

 

[Dougfir]

Thanks so much! My actual velocities are about 80 fps slower than shown on here. I think I just have a slow barrel.