Thread: 7-08 & R17

My powder stock is getting a bit depleted so Im using stuff up that I have on hand but haven't tried.

I was out of CFE223 that I use in my 18" 7-08 so had a fiddle with R17 today.

First I tried 120 Nosler and the velocity was 2926fps and the primer was looking a bit edgy but no stamp mark (50 grns). Accuracy about .75" (I get .5" and 3K with CFE223).

Then I tried 139 grn SST and was pretty impressed:

47.5 grn: 2776 fps
48.0 grn: 2796 fps (3 shots .5")
48.5 grn: 2840 fps (flattening primer-near max-holding accuracy)

Not bad for 18" barrel.

The 48 grn load was spot on for elevation and windage so I left it at that and came home and loaded some more to try hunting.

NOTE: This particular Sako A7 has quite a loose chamber and takes a bit more powder to get it going. Cut back on these loads if you are trying them.

Then I tried R17 with my 20" 300 saum, 168 NBT.
Usually use N550 (2980 fps)
3040 fps with R17 and bullets touching. one click right and 2 up and it was on the money.

So now Ive got 3 pots of R17 in front of me and plenty of projectiles, and am set to get through the shortage with those 2 rifles.

worked up a load using RL17 a few years back for 7-08 running the 150gn LRAB's. Nice tight groups around 0.5 - 0.6moa in the sweet spot at ~ 2750fps. Cant recall the exact load but a few grains lower than your 139 SST loads for sure.
Goes good in most WSM's too

Originally Posted by chainsaw

worked up a load using RL17 a few years back for 7-08 running the 150gn LRAB's. Nice tight groups around 0.5 - 0.6moa in the sweet spot at ~ 2750fps. Cant recall the exact load but a few grains lower than your 139 SST loads for sure.
Goes good in most WSM's too

Sorry, there was a typo that Ive corrected. The high 139grn load was 48.5gr, not 48.

Its a rather impressive powder. Very versatile and gets good velocity. I used to run it in 300wsm and now use it in my 6 creed with 108 bergers.

Originally Posted by Tahr

My powder stock is getting a bit depleted so Im using stuff up that I have on hand but haven't tried.

I was out of CFE223 that I use in my 18" 7-08 so had a fiddle with R17 today.

First I tried 120 Nosler and the velocity was 2926fps and the primer was looking a bit edgy but no stamp mark (50 grns). Accuracy about .75" (I get .5" and 3K with CFE223).

Then I tried 139 grn SST and was pretty impressed:

47.5 grn: 2776 fps
48.0 grn: 2796 fps (3 shots .5")
48.5 grn: 2840 fps (flattening primer-near max-holding accuracy)

Not bad for 18" barrel.

The 48 grn load was spot on for elevation and windage so I left it at that and came home and loaded some more to try hunting.

NOTE: This particular Sako A7 has quite a loose chamber and takes a bit more powder to get it going. Cut back on these loads if you are trying them.

Then I tried R17 with my 20" 300 saum, 168 NBT.
Usually use N550 (2980 fps)
3040 fps with R17 and bullets touching. one click right and 2 up and it was on the money.

So now Ive got 3 pots of R17 in front of me and plenty of projectiles, and am set to get through the shortage with those 2 rifles.

Lets hope this shortage doesn't drag on for to long, 3 pots may not cut it

Thats some impressive performance, produced good numbers in my 19" 284 as well, I'm a fan of double based powders, they give me opportunities to re-barrel ��