7mm-08 powder choice

piratecountry · January 1, 2011, 06:50 PM

Fixing to start loading for my son's Rem 700 7-08. I'll be using Rem cases, CCI primers and 140gr Ballistic Tips and Accubonds. I have IMR-4350, 4064 and Reloader 15 and would like to stick with it since I have it. The Nosler manual lists a load for the 4350 and 15 but leaves the 4064 out. I'd like to use the 4064 if suitable. Loads???? Thank you in advance.

**Unclenick** · January 1, 2011, 07:10 PM

Hodgdon's online load data has what you want.

PA-Joe · January 2, 2011, 08:24 AM

I use 39 grains IMR 4064 under a 139 grain bullet. This is a light load for hunting less than 200 yards.

billnourse · January 2, 2011, 09:12 AM

Hodgson's manual has a starting load of 38.0 of 4064 and a 140 grain bullet.

According to most of my manuals, you are going to get the better velocity from H4350 I-4350 or RL-15 than you are with the 4064.

Bill

Osageshooter · January 2, 2011, 09:40 AM

The 7-08 is my favorite deer rifle right now. I use H 380, 46.5 grains. I use a Barnes TSX 140 grain bullet and a COL of 2.73. I routinely shoot a five shot group with all touching at 100 yards. An honest 5/8" five shot group. It is a custom Montana Rifle Company rig.

Be careful extrapolating powder charge between TSX bullets and others. You might start a grain lower with the bullets you mention.

I shot a 246 lb whitetail buck this year with it. Dropped in its tracks. I shot two other deer as well with it. One shot kills with them dropping within a few yards of where they were shot. Ranges 80 to 120 yards. Very good performance with this load.

steve4102 · January 2, 2011, 09:49 AM

I have tested the three powders you have listed. My son's Savage 7mm-08 performed best with R-15/140gr Partitions with IMR 4350 coming in a distant second. R-15 was good, but Ramshot BigGame was even better.

jsflagstad · January 2, 2011, 10:18 AM

I have had real good luck with Varget in my 7mm-08. Trying out Ram Shot "Big Game" now as well to have a good backup as Varget is hard to get around here sometimes...

Varget under a 140gr Sierra Game King shoots clover leafs in my Tikka T3 at 200 yards.

TXJohn · January 2, 2011, 06:58 PM

Lyman's 49th edition recommends H380 first and IMR 4350 second but this will mean the inconvenience of compressed powder loads. Starting load with 139 gr Hornady with imr 4064 is 38.0 grs with max at 43.2 this is also out of the Lyman 49th edition.

BIGR · January 2, 2011, 07:11 PM

IMR 4064 is all I ever tried in the Model 7 7MM-08 that I have. I never tried any other powders because I never hunt with that rifle and never did try to develop anymore loads. The manuals these days must be pretty conservative with the loads. The rounds I loaded years ago for my 7MM-08 exceeded 40 grains of IMR 4064 (140 Grain Bullet) According to the older manuals I was not over the max load. I must say the little Model 7 had a fast recoil to it, but that load I was shooting grouped well.

Saltydog235 · January 3, 2011, 01:11 PM

I shoot H4350 in mine with a 150grn Nosler BT. Noslers data, Hornady's and Speers are all different for that weight bullet. I worked up the load and used Lock N Load case guage to seat the bullet about .035 off the lands. Working the powder charge up to 45.5grns. This might be a little hotter than the Nosler Manual gives but I've seen no indications that pressures were too high or that the round was too hot. The rifle is a Sako 75 with a 22 3/8" barrel with a Ziess Conquest 3.5X10. Groups around .5 or so at 100.

I did try the RL powders and the Barnes bullets and got really erradict groups and opened up groups no matter seating or charge or powder bullet combo. Those Barnes are devastating on game but none of my rifles like them as much as the Ballistic Tips.

January 1, 2011, 06:50 PM	#1
piratecountry Member Join Date: December 26, 2005 Location: NC Posts: 27	7mm-08 powder choice Fixing to start loading for my son's Rem 700 7-08. I'll be using Rem cases, CCI primers and 140gr Ballistic Tips and Accubonds. I have IMR-4350, 4064 and Reloader 15 and would like to stick with it since I have it. The Nosler manual lists a load for the 4350 and 15 but leaves the 4064 out. I'd like to use the 4064 if suitable. Loads???? Thank you in advance.

January 2, 2011, 08:24 AM	#3
PA-Joe Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2010 Location: NEPA Posts: 909	I use 39 grains IMR 4064 under a 139 grain bullet. This is a light load for hunting less than 200 yards. Last edited by PA-Joe; January 3, 2011 at 07:27 AM.

January 2, 2011, 09:12 AM	#4
billnourse Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2010 Location: Bloomfield, NM Posts: 366	Hodgson's manual has a starting load of 38.0 of 4064 and a 140 grain bullet. According to most of my manuals, you are going to get the better velocity from H4350 I-4350 or RL-15 than you are with the 4064. Bill __________________ Cooper 52 25/06, Cooper 52 30/06, Cooper 52 338/06Cooper 57 .17HMR, Remington VS .22/250 all left handed. Rock River Predator Persuit AR-15, 1952 Marlin 336 in 30/30. 2 Kimber 1911, Colt 1911, S&W .357 Mag, Kahr .40 and .380

January 2, 2011, 10:18 AM	#7
jsflagstad Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2005 Location: Up Nort Posts: 419	I have had real good luck with Varget in my 7mm-08. Trying out Ram Shot "Big Game" now as well to have a good backup as Varget is hard to get around here sometimes... Varget under a 140gr Sierra Game King shoots clover leafs in my Tikka T3 at 200 yards. __________________ JSF "Is your rifle interesting? -Larry Potterfield

January 2, 2011, 06:58 PM	#8
TXJohn Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Location: Ft Worth TX Posts: 163	Lyman's 49th edition recommends H380 first and IMR 4350 second but this will mean the inconvenience of compressed powder loads. Starting load with 139 gr Hornady with imr 4064 is 38.0 grs with max at 43.2 this is also out of the Lyman 49th edition. Last edited by TXJohn; January 2, 2011 at 07:05 PM.

January 2, 2011, 09:40 AM	#5
Osageshooter Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2009 Location: Overland Park, Kansas Posts: 179	The 7-08 is my favorite deer rifle right now. I use H 380, 46.5 grains. I use a Barnes TSX 140 grain bullet and a COL of 2.73. I routinely shoot a five shot group with all touching at 100 yards. An honest 5/8" five shot group. It is a custom Montana Rifle Company rig. Be careful extrapolating powder charge between TSX bullets and others. You might start a grain lower with the bullets you mention. I shot a 246 lb whitetail buck this year with it. Dropped in its tracks. I shot two other deer as well with it. One shot kills with them dropping within a few yards of where they were shot. Ranges 80 to 120 yards. Very good performance with this load.

January 2, 2011, 09:49 AM	#6
steve4102 Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,952	I have tested the three powders you have listed. My son's Savage 7mm-08 performed best with R-15/140gr Partitions with IMR 4350 coming in a distant second. R-15 was good, but Ramshot BigGame was even better.

January 2, 2011, 07:11 PM	#9
BIGR Senior Member Join Date: June 13, 2000 Location: Mountains Posts: 1,385	IMR 4064 is all I ever tried in the Model 7 7MM-08 that I have. I never tried any other powders because I never hunt with that rifle and never did try to develop anymore loads. The manuals these days must be pretty conservative with the loads. The rounds I loaded years ago for my 7MM-08 exceeded 40 grains of IMR 4064 (140 Grain Bullet) According to the older manuals I was not over the max load. I must say the little Model 7 had a fast recoil to it, but that load I was shooting grouped well.

January 3, 2011, 01:11 PM	#10
Saltydog235 Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2010 Location: Pawleys Island Posts: 1,563	I shoot H4350 in mine with a 150grn Nosler BT. Noslers data, Hornady's and Speers are all different for that weight bullet. I worked up the load and used Lock N Load case guage to seat the bullet about .035 off the lands. Working the powder charge up to 45.5grns. This might be a little hotter than the Nosler Manual gives but I've seen no indications that pressures were too high or that the round was too hot. The rifle is a Sako 75 with a 22 3/8" barrel with a Ziess Conquest 3.5X10. Groups around .5 or so at 100. I did try the RL powders and the Barnes bullets and got really erradict groups and opened up groups no matter seating or charge or powder bullet combo. Those Barnes are devastating on game but none of my rifles like them as much as the Ballistic Tips.

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