Anyone still shooting 7mm 08?
- Thread starter 806guns
- Start date
I thought so, just contemplating the benefits of which one to run with. The problem comes in with having 5 different 7-08’s to load for. Even with good labeling, it gets messy when Memsahib, Jr or Mom just grabs ammo.
StaBall Match is supposed to be the same burn rate as Varget, but in a spherical ball powder compared to an extruded (Varget) powder. But if you can get Varget locally, I'd stick with Varget since we all know it's been proven to be temp stable over the years. I just ordered another 10 lbs. case of it because most of my target rifles use Varget (.308 Win, .260 Rem, etc...) and I have some great loads for 7mm-08 and others with it. But if you can find StaBall 6.5 locally, grab a pound and see how well it works. Or, grab an 8 lbs. jug just incase it does work great, then you're covered for a while. But with only a 120gr bullet, Varget would be about the best option. Pushing something in the 150+ grain category, I'd say step up to StaBall 6.5 for the added velocity and slower burn.
Lots of places have it in stock right now online... Midway USA, Powder Valley, etc...
Well, Varget will be fine from 120-180gr bullets if you wanted to. Hell, I've got a few loads for .308's with 210gr bullets and Varget, and they shoot amazing...But they're SLOW (2,300-2,400 FPS range). But you will get max performance with 150gr+ bullets using StaBall 6.5 in the 7mm-08.
Well, I have a pound each of Match and 6.5 to work with. Will just have to see which works best with mono-metal bullets. The joys!
I get the point you’re making, but I wouldn’t call it hot rodding if we’re just taking advantage of modern components/propellants. That’s like saying this modern small block and that old big block make the same power, why not just use the old big block?
7-08 let’s me easily run a 180 eldm at 2500-2600 fps. I don’t need to push that bullet any faster for my specific uses, so there’s no need to make the jump to the next class of case capacity.
All set up to build another 7mm08 since my gun rack doesn’t have one.
18” Bartlein 8.5 twist barrel
Gunsmith will do it for free if I buy him the reamer.
What reamer is best? Custom freebore suggestions outside of SAAMI?
18” Bartlein 8.5 twist barrel
Gunsmith will do it for free if I buy him the reamer.
What reamer is best? Custom freebore suggestions outside of SAAMI?
I just had my smith push out my freebore to about .150 iirc. Let’s me run 180eldms at 2.96 and be 30-50 thou off the lands (personal preference). I can also run the PVA 151 Cayugas and just barely be in the “optimal” range for seating. But it’s nice to run a .310 g7 bullet at 2700ish from an 18” barrel
Thanks,
Gunsmith said if I buy the reamer he’d do the chambering and muzzle threading for beer. Hard to pass that up. Manson had them in stock, looks like it’s .120 freebore. Should be fine for a treestand whitetail rifle. I sent my stock back to Manners to change from BDL to their M5 micro-chassis system. Things will be coming together soon…
Really heavy for a 7-08. I shoot 162s and never considered going heavier. Why the 180s, and what MV are you getting?
It pretty heavy. I think it was more worth it with a longer barrel, I was getting around 2630 with Staball out of a 22” barrel. Around 2500 out of the 18”. 150-160 class is definitely where it’s at though.
The 180’s were supersonic to about 16-1700yds depending on DA.
