Favorite 7mm08 deer load.

wvbuckbuster

Handloader
Nov 5, 2015
2,340
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What is your favorite go to 7mm08 deer load only? Case, primer, powder and bullet. Also list the gun you use it in. Thanks, Dan.
 
My wife's Steyr Mountain Classic:
Factory ammo: Nosler 140gr AccuBond Sub-MOA
Handload: Nosler brass, Fed 210, IMR 4350 47.2 gr, Sierra 140 gr Pro Hunter COAL 2.276" 1/2 MOA

My rifle is a newly rebarrelled Winchester Model 88 w/ 20" Benchmark barrel:
Factory ammo: hope to use Nosler 140gr AccuBond
Handload: Have to test loads with Nosler brass, Fed 210, 140gr AccuBond and up to 49 gr of Re-19 and ??gr of Re-26
 
I use Hornady 139gr BTSP bullet , 43.2 gr IMR4064 , CCI 200 primer , I use mixed brass .odds and ends whatever I have . I only use this rifle for deer hunting and it shoots under an inch at 100 yards .


the rifle is a Tikka 595 whitetail hunter . stainless / synthetic , Leupold VX6 2 -12
 
140gr Ballistic tip, 42.5gr Varget, R-P case, Win std primer. It get me 2765fps out of a 22" barreled Ruger 77. 3/4" groups, when I do my part.
 
in another 7-08 I use a 140 gr Berger VLD hunting bullet , 49.0 gr RL17 , Norma brass with the necks turned to 0.0132 " , CCI 200 primer , 3080 FPS . I used this rifle watching clear cuts , I've never shot a deer with it . I have shot groundhogs way out there . I've shot under 6" with 5 shots at 1000 yards .


it's a trued up remington short action , 24" broughton bbl , McMillan A5 stock , nightforce 5.5-22 NXS scope .
 
My deer load is with the 140gr VLD Berger. Winchester brass (the old blue bag) , Federal 210M , RL-17 (48grs) 2950’s on velocity , seated 0.010” off , sized with Redding full length bushing die with 310 bushing no expanding ball. Rifle is a Weatherby S2 with a B&C Medalist stock.
 
120 Nosler Ballistic tip, Rem brass, CCI BR2, 45 grains of Varget. Used in my wife’s Ruger American Rifle


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My favorite combo is 150 gr BT over 44.0 gr of H414, CCI 200, Remington case, seated to 2.80" OAL. I get an average of 2700 fps from my 26" barrel 700 VLS and easy sub-MOA groups.
 
Take your pick, 4 different Tikkas:

120 Ballistic Tip
51.5 gr Big Game
WLRM
Rem brass
3126 FPS

140 Partition or AccuBond, whichever shoots better
47.5 gr Big Game
WLRM
Rem brass
2880 FPS

150 Eldx
46.2 gr Big Game
WLRM
Rem brass
2790 FPS

All three loads have killed deer right now. The 140 Partition has killed deer out to 541 yards. You didn’t include elk but the 150 eldx did the trick on a 5x6 bull at 409 yards.




P
 
here is one that matches the recoil of a 100 gr bullet from a 243 .

I use rem brass , 39.0gr H4895 , 120 Ballistic tip , CCI200 primer , shoots under an inch , has taken a couple whitetails


Browning X- bolt , Zeiss 3-9 conquest
 
I did forget about my Savage 516 Striker loads for 7mm08 of 140gr Berger VLD and Hornady 139gr BTSP.
Berger- COAL 2.820” Hornady- 2.775” The load data is the same for both:
Remington 308 Win. brass
Fed 210
RCBS Competition die set
19.5grs of Blue Dot
Both run in the mid 1900’s on velocity for a nice handgun load.
 
Lots of good info. Thanks for sharing. Seems this cartridge has lot of different powders that work well in it. Was leaning to a 260 Rem but since I have a 6.5x55 the 7mm08 would be a better choice.
Got anymore load data please list it. Dan.
 
M788 w/ Clymer barrel.
49 grs W760
140 PT
cci200
mixed brass
I think the BT is good as well
have some 140 sierra pro-hunters that shoot great w/ IMR 4350 but not killed with them.
 
120 bt
Lapua brass
RL15 43 gr

140 bt
Lapua brass
RL16 46 gr.

150 eld x
Lapua brass
Big game 46 gr


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Thanks everyone for your info. Got a 7mm08 on the way. Will be working up some loads. Hopefully might get in a late doe hunt with it, Dan.
 
I might have missed it but what did you end up buying? The 7mm-08 is one of the best deer cartridges out there though.....
 
FOTIS":1r2w00r5 said:
140 BT 45 varget

That seems like a very hot load? Is that correct or did you mean 120gr BT, 45gr Varget?

The most accurate load I've found yet for my M70 featherweight is 140gr E-tip, 50gr RL16, BR2 primer, Win brass. 2850fps avg.

I'm still going to be playing around with it though. I'd like to try StaBall 6.5 across the board with 120gr, 140gr and 162gr. Also want to try 162gr Eld-M with RL16.
 
gerry":otjhsd81 said:
I might have missed it but what did you end up buying? The 7mm-08 is one of the best deer cartridges out there though.....
Gerry I got a Bergara B14 Ridge Rifle matte gray coming next week. Wanted a 24in barrel and it's threaded if I would want to but something on it. Little heavier than some other rifles but it should serve my purpose for stand hunting. Dan.
 
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