I’m having a 7mm08 built ( hopefully done in a few weeks) and it is being throated to fit 168 Berger Hunting VLDS in AI no binder plate mags. Most of the information I’m finding is dated from 2009-2014 which leaves out quite a few powders available now. Has anyone used 6.5 Staball, N550 or CFE 223 and had decent results? I currently have a 6.5 PRC and am doing this to have something with longer barrel life and more energy on target then a 6 or 6.5 Creedmoor and better ballistics than a 308.
- Thread starter whtiv
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What kind of velocity do you expect?
My 7mm-08 shoots 150 Eldx very well with Big Game, 2790 fps. I experimented with 162 eldx but the velocity loss wasn’t worth the weight.
Take a hard look at Hunter for the 168.
P
My 7mm-08 shoots 150 Eldx very well with Big Game, 2790 fps. I experimented with 162 eldx but the velocity loss wasn’t worth the weight.
Take a hard look at Hunter for the 168.
P
Per Hodgdon 2022 annual reloading manual : for a 168 vld the only powders listed are Hunter,Gig Game,A 4064,A2495. However, 168 sierra bullet ,rem case,rem 9.5 primer, StaBall 6.5 powder 42.1 start- 47.4 grains max, no data for other powders you mentioned. May I suggest picking up the 2023 annual manual if can be found.........always worth the price......to me
If you're going that heavy, why not have it throated for a better bullet? The new 175 Elite Hunters.
I'm a huge VLD fan, and been using them for over 10 years, but honestly, the concentricity consistency is kind of hit-or-miss with the VLD's from my experience...Even right out of the same box. The Elite Hunters have been extremely consistent, and the hybrid ogive makes them less sensitive to jump.
Just a thought from another long-time 7mm-08 shooter. I just bought a new one last week and have already started my load development with the 175 Elites. The only downfall in mine, is that mag length is so short, I'm having to jump them 0.130"...Which I'm not a fan of, but if I can find a good load around 1/2 MOA, I'll be happy. Despite what a lot of folks might think, velocity is not everything. I'll be working with Varget, Nosler brass, and CCI 200 primers.
I’m hoping to get at least 2800
Barnes shows cfe223 for their 171 Match Burner, I was wondering if anyone had tried it with the Bergers
I’m hoping to keep velocity higher
The data that I posted above ,they used a 24" barrel, max load of SB 6.5 was 2776fps @ 59,300 psi.......if I wanted to run 168s at 2800 ,I'd have no less than a 28" barrel........should be doable without over pressure
Edit: whether they group good at that speed is the question yet to be answered
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You to give reloader 17 a good long hard look. Changed the game for me 162 amax at a comfortable 2810 fps in a older factory tikka with a 9.5 twist barrel
Have you had any issues with temperature sensitivity?
No I haven't but I have not shot that gun as much as some others and don't have the largest data set of conditions to go off of but rarely do I have to change my dope from trasol for it
H4831SC, Shooters World Match, Win 6.5 StaBall, Varget, CFE-223, LeverEvolution, Reloader 17 or 19, and even 7828 SSC if you're running really heavies.
I've had great luck with Varget and heavies in my .308 Win, so that's why I went with Varget in my 175 Elite Hunter load. It allows enough capacity to load the long bullets deeper into the case without compressing the load, but still fast enough to produce a good velocity.
I have a 7828 SSC load that shoot ragged-hole groups with Berger 156 EOL's in my .260 Remington with a 22" 1:8 twist barrel. You have to single-shot feed them because they're way to long to fit in a magazine, but the accuracy is worth it.
I've had great luck with Varget and heavies in my .308 Win, so that's why I went with Varget in my 175 Elite Hunter load. It allows enough capacity to load the long bullets deeper into the case without compressing the load, but still fast enough to produce a good velocity.
I have a 7828 SSC load that shoot ragged-hole groups with Berger 156 EOL's in my .260 Remington with a 22" 1:8 twist barrel. You have to single-shot feed them because they're way to long to fit in a magazine, but the accuracy is worth it.
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Vanilla 7mm-08 or AI version? You mention AI in your original post but I wasn’t sure.
How far are you planning to shoot at game, and what is your quarry?
P
Vanilla, I’m using Accuracy International magazines. The farthest I have to shoot at white tail is about 500 yards but plan on shooting steel out to at least 1300
Hornady has data going up to 2800, Vihtavuori, Barnes list loads at mid 2700.
With a 168, he shouldn't have an issue hitting 2700, maybe 2750, depending on barrel length and powder selection.
I'm hoping for 2,600-2,650 with my 175 Elites from my 20" carbon fiber barrel...
Velocity is pointless if you are not sub .5 MOA. Accuracy is the determining factor of your speed.
you might check out the 7mm SAW results from Clayton at West Texas Ordnance. He uses a modified 7mm08 SRP case. His website includes different powders, 162 and 166? Hornady bullets with significant increase in velocity likely due to thicker brass, small rifle primer and chamber mods.
westtexordnance.com
westtexordnance.com
I’d love to see that data if you have a link. If I could get 2800 safely with a 22 1/2” barrel with a 162 I’d give up the 150.
P
It is in their 11th edition manual.
. H4831 worked well for me with 168 Amax. Better than Varget. Never tried H4350.
What kind of velocity did you get and how long of a barrel?
For what I’m intending sub minute is all that matters. Better is great but not necessary. Thanks for the input.
I don’t recall. Ran a factory Remington varmint for a bit. Had a well known gunsmith keep it for two years and deliver it with an egg shaped chamber. Was fun as a prospect but that got ruined. Went to 243 and never looked back.
I don’t have that edition. Would you mind taking a pic of the appropriate page and posting?
Thanks,
P
i like H4350 and H4831SC in my 280, but with my 21" barrel, 2800 is about tops with the 162 with 7977, 4000MR, 4831SC, or H4350.
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Outstanding, thanks!
I need to find some Superformance.
Did the data mention barrel length? My Tikka is 22 7/16”, 1-9.5”.
I need to find some Superformance.
Did the data mention barrel length? My Tikka is 22 7/16”, 1-9.5”.
The mag length on my Tikka was too limiting so I swapped the bolt stop for a long action and I’m using 30-06 mags. I can load really long.
P
The Ridgeline is a 700 clone, so it uses 700 SA mag boxes. I wish they would install Wyatt’s extended mag boxes as standard equipment on them…Especially the short actions, being that bolt cartridges could use the extra room for seating depth. Especially anything with a .264 or larger bore, that uses longer & heavier bullets.
Looking at my notes from a few years ago, I asked for a Quickload for 7mm-08 and 162 Eldx over on the Nosler forum. This might help.
They say 24” Encore. It may be luck but I’ve been able to get both my 300 wm and 6.5 PRC to a higher velocity than advertised for the given barrel length without exceeding max charge or having pressure signs. The screen shots are from Hornady's app, its only 20 bucks a year and is regularly updated with new powders, bullets and cartridges.
Thanks. SO Customs in Knox Pa is building the rifle and I asked the owner to run things through QL for me but he has been busy between hunting and the holidays.
I'd look up WTO's 7 SAW load data to glean some ideas from. It might help you with seating out your bullets. Also Hodgdon's load data got up to 2820 with the 162 AMAX. They used Staball 6.5 and seated out to 2.875" COL. I'll be watching since I'm considering making my 98 Mauser 270 Win a 7-08.
I’ve talked with a lot of guys who tried StaBALL in 7mm-08 and were disappointed by velocity claims. They got nowhere near what the manufacturer claimed.
I have quite a bit of Reloder 26 so I think I’ll see what 49.7 grains looks like. Maybe 50 if I can load long. Realistically, if I can hit 2790 fps and comparable accuracy it’s a no brainer.
I’ll be experimenting with my spare -08, a Tikka Superlite with a LA bolt stop.
P
Look at the 7MM08/168SMK data in this link:
Reloading Data Center
www.hodgdonreloading.com 
.The 7MM-08 would out shoot the 308 any day in any condition (at least that old GAP rifle would).Picked the rifle up on Friday and spent Saturday getting load work up started. Decided to go with a 24” barrel, and here is the load I think I’m sticking with. 45 grains of N550, 168 VLD hunting, 2.950 coal, 2.238 ogive, .015 off the lands, Alpha Muntions brass, Remington primers. I pulled the 2 low rounds.
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