7mm-08, Happy Birthday!

[Joshua]

It’s my Birthday! I just ordered a Savage 110 in 7mm-08. I’m seeing that a whole lot of people think that the 140 grain bullet is the ideal for this cartridge. I wonder if that is because that is the most loaded factory ammo bullet weight, or is it really the “best” bullet weight.

I’m beginning to gather components, so I’m curious what you guys like. What are your favorite hunting loads(deer, black bear, elk) for the 7mm-08.

I have the Lee mold already, I’m thinking about drilling out the gas check shank and making it a plain base mold, opinions?

I’m not seeing a whole lot a brass for sale at a reasonable price. I’ve got 500 pieces of military .308 that I could convert and then turn the necks on my lathe. Probably more work than I want to do and should just try to trade them off for a few hundred pieces of 7mm-08.

 

[Jeff H]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOSHUA!

I've always found necking up a very little bit easier than necking down. Keep an eye out for some 260 brass too.

 

[Brad]

Now that is a birthday gift!

 

[JustJim]

Happy birthday!

Day in/day out, I think the 140 grain bullet is close to optimum for the way most shooters use the 7-08. Kinda like the 150 gr in .308s: there are times when a heavier or lighter bullet may work better, but for all-around use it just works.

 

[Ole_270]

Lots of guys like the 120 BT and TTSX, both have been used on deer and elk. Personally, I prefer the 139 Hornady for deer and load the 140 Partition when I take it elk hunting. Wayne Van Zwoll and his family have quite a track record with that combo on elk.

 

[Ian]

Happy Birthday! Great cartridge that 7mm08. Yes, 130-140 is about ideal for it. You will not have to turn necks if sizing brass from .308, they will draw in length more than thicken, and the '08 has a VERY generous chamber neck. My Savage 111 barrel will accommodate. 020" thick necks custom made from .308 military blank brass and still have a thousandth loaded clearance with a .285" cast bullet. My advise with the Lee bullet is don't mess with the gas check shank, just powder coat them and use any medium-fast pistol/shotgun powder.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

IMO, the 140gr bullet is the best bullet and not simply because it's popular.
The 140 gr bullet in the 7mm-08 provides the best compromise of speed/weight/ballistic coefficient. It will get you into the 2800fps territory, and has enough mass to get the job done when it gets where it needs to be.

And FWIW, with a factory jacketed bullet like the Sierra Game King (I know, it's not a cast bullet...forgive me) I have had excellent results with IMR-4064 powder in the 7mm-08.

 

[Joshua]

You will not have to turn necks if sizing brass from .308, they will draw in length more than thicken, and the '08 has a VERY generous chamber neck. My Savage 111 barrel will accommodate. 020" thick necks custom made from .308 military blank brass and still have a thousandth loaded clearance with a .285" cast bullet.

Good info. Thank you. When I get going I will do a pound cast and load up some dummies in the converted .308 brass. I’ll measure and verify that there is enough clearance to allow for bullet release. I’ve read that some folks have had pressure events. This most likely happened in tighter “target” 7mm-08 chambers.

 

[fiver]

hold a 140gr, 7mm bullet up next to a 165gr 30 caliber bullet.
that's what the X57 should have had the entire time.

 

[Joshua]

Well I’m now on the hunt for some 140’s. Thanks for the input Gentleman.

I had a little freak out when I got back from the grocery store. On the drive home I was thinking, “OH NO! Did I buy the .277 Lee mold last year, or was it the .285” mold.”

It’s the .285. Everything is ok!

 

[Ian]

Lee doesn't make a .277 as far as I know.

 

[Brad]

They used to, I own it.

 

[Joshua]

Lee still makes the .277. You’ve got a .270 in the closet that needs a little exercise don’t you.

 

[Spindrift]

Happy birthday, Joshua!
I’ve never owned a 7-08 myself. But it seems like a very versatile, capable cartridge. Especially when used in a handy, portable, accurate bolt gun.
I would guess bullets heavier than 140grs will reduce the powder capacity.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Happy Birthday Josh!! (Day late)

I bought a Ruger 77 about 1986/7 in 7/08. I really liked the caliber & took about a dozen deer and my first Hogs with it. I shot allot of Nos 140 Solid Base bullets before switching to the Hornady 154 RN. That was my fav bullet. I bought the remainder of a case of ammo all 120g bullets one time. I wanted the brass knowing the bullets where light for deer. I think I shot one deer with them. Lightning bolt DRT!!! But when I opened her up that bullet was a grenade & I was lucky. It pulverized all organs in her chest& never exited!

I picked up a Savage Axis in 7/08 couple years ago for my wife. ( Thread here mommas dear rifle) It is a Awesome rifle esp for cost! I restocked it couple months back & just pillar bedded it. Wow what a shooter!! Im back to some 120 g bullets for her. But loaded slower they should preform more as a proper hunting bullet @ 2500 fps. My intent is lighter recoil.

Best of luck with yours!!

CW

A couple targets here. This first was a sight in with last three @ 3" high.

 

[Ole_270]

The 120 Ballistic Tip has a very good reputation on deer. It's one of the BT's with the heavier jacket, designed to hold together better for use by silhouette shooters years ago. My Son in Law used it at reduced velocities for the Grandkids early in their hunting career. Thinking he used 4895 for those reduced loads. I've used it at full velocity with good luck, just lucked onto a good deal on a bunch of 139 Interlocks and have been using them instead.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I did as well!! Small shop had four boxes "used" 10$ a box. (Obviously just previously owned but opened.) I also bought 145's and 160's in 7mm. Going thru them I found one box of the 139's was mixed. Some combined tech bullets and 145's where mixed in.
I like the 160's in my 7Mag and havent used the 145's but at 10$ a box I couldnt walk away.
Some of The 139's are loaded in ladders to test.
I like Speers alot they have been solid bullets for me. But I dont buy them as they have more then once discontinued a bullet that was my favorite and I spent much time working up loads for. BUT I now have two boxes so maybe Ill try in the 7Mag.

CW

 

[fiver]

the Hornady 139 is the only bullet i'll even consider for a medium size 7mm, as long as you keep them under 2900 fps MV they do what a bullet is supposed to do. [enter,open, and exit]
sometimes they do it too well.
the wife once shot through 2 deer, one of them nearly from end to end on a diagonal, and the second was from behind the shoulder and out the neck.

 

[Ole_270]

the Hornady 139 is the only bullet i'll even consider for a medium size 7mm, as long as you keep them under 2900 fps MV they do what a bullet is supposed to do. [enter,open, and exit]
sometimes they do it too well.
the wife once shot through 2 deer, one of them nearly from end to end on a diagonal, and the second was from behind the shoulder and out the neck.

Yep, they work very well. Read a post elsewhere a few years ago where a guy said they were his favorite elk bullet out of a 7 mag. Guy lived in elk country(wish I did) and had a lot of experience. Just as a precaution, I'm talking the Interlock, not the SST, flat base preferred.

 

[BudHyett]

I flew back to Illinois from California, borrowed a 7mm-08 700BDL Varmint and won the match in crazy wind conditions. The bullet was the RCBS 7mm-165-SP. The action was glass-bedded with free-floated barrel and leade was cut to a I 1/2 degree included angle, otherwise a stock factory rifle. Not knowing the wind conditions, I shot on the rise of the wind coming from the left. I was surprised at the end, did not realize how bad the wind was for others.

This bullet shot through very challenging wind conditions.

I now have a 700BDL Varmint in 7mm-08, waiting to see the primer supply open up enough to be able to experiment. I am currently rationing primers to assure we can shoot through this year and next.