Thread: 7mm08 loads and a short barrel

OK - I have a Remington Mountain rifle with a 19 inch barrel in 7mm08. I want a load to shoot bull tahr and big stags.

So far I have with good accuracy:

139 grain Interlock at 2728 fps.

130 Speer at 2850 fps


I also have a 140 grain Ballistic tip going 2850fps with 2209, but it really shouldnt be going that fast in this short barrel and it kicks significantly more. The cases look fine, primers look fine, bolt lifts fine...might have to tone it down though...

What else can I try...

Stick with the 140 BT load

I would like to. I am studying this load and brass to see if I think it's too hot for me...

What range do you intend to shoot ? I run 120 Nosler BTs in my 18in bbl 708 for bush hunting- up close to 300m. And a 150 ELDX for longer ranges out to 500 or so. Why these pills ? My rifle shoots well with them. I’m also developing a load with 120gn Hammers. These are shooting sub moa at 3000fps. Yet to try them on game but based on other posts on here the terminal performance is emphatic. You could also consider 162 ELDMS or X

From here to 300m realistically. I will try the 120g BTs if I can find some, have heard good things about them

If your using between 43 and 44.5 gns of 2208 with a 140 your pressure should be fine. This charge range generally gives 2800 to 2850 fps in a 22 inch barrel. Boattail projs are often a bit quicker due to less bearing surface. You might be seeing a bit of this compensating for your short er barrel. Is the 139 a flatbase or a boat tail, they come in both options. The 140 sierra also is available in both styles.

I have a 19 inch barrel.
Im using 2209. (although I have 2208, just havnt tried it yet.) I am two grains over ADI book max on the 140 BT load.

The 139 grain Interlock is the flat base

Any love for the 130 grain Speer?

Which 130gn Speer is it ? SPBT ? Or HotCore? Nothing wrong with Speer pills, but for Tahr & big stags I’d be using HotCore & probably the 145gn. Took the biggest red stag of my life with 145gn HC at ~200yds.

I also understand that the Federal blue box ammo 150gn 708 ammo is a Speer HC. They’ve taken heaps of game very successfully at normal hunting tanges

Its the 130 grain flat base Hot Cor, I figure if I can get it going as fast as I shoot the 139 grain Interlock in my 7x57, it might do the same job for my 7mm08


I am in the middle of choosing of something for general duties.

2700fps sounds slow to me, I am used to a 139 grain interlock at 2950 fps, which is a brilliant performer out of the 7mm Mauser


I am not used to such a short barrel. I have always been against them, but this rifle is so neat. My head has been turned. Just trying to make a load but my normal criteria was always as fast as possible as long as it will shoot into an inch and a half or less. Cant seem to do this with a 19 inch barrel. Everyhing seems slow. Going to have to change how I think maybe.

I’m loading 42grains of 2208 and 150 LRAB a humble 2640 out of a 16” barrel so far so good absolutely hammering animals and very accurate speed was a none issue with this rifle probably has more in the tank but I’m happy

Originally Posted by Kelton

I’m loading 42grains of 2208 and 150 LRAB a humble 2640 out of a 16” barrel so far so good absolutely hammering animals and very accurate speed was a none issue with this rifle probably has more in the tank but I’m happy

That would be a good mountain hunting bullet.

Originally Posted by John Duxbury

That would be a good mountain hunting bullet.

It’s on the expensive side but the amount of times in the past iv shot slips a 3-400 yards while bush hunting I wanted to cover all bases so far it has preformed flawlessly but it’s new to me (6ish months) and I’m yet to test it out on a good bodied Red up close I can’t see it being an issue as it’s done the job very well on fallow up close to 350yards the first two deer I shot with it were terrible shots completely miss judged distance and just how much drop the new rifle had being so short hit very low in the chest think brisket low and fell over very well I was very impressed once I reached the animals and got eyes on where the bullet impacted that they died the way they did always a good judge of performance to me when the shots so bad and it performed so well

I'm a fan of heavy for caliber in the 7mm08. Run a 20" with 162gr ELD-M. Original load with 2208 was only doing 2530fps but was a hammer of Thor on stags out to 400y. Have since moved to superformance and now at 2700 fps just below max. Very effective load in a compact rifle.

ELD-M or ELD-X ? I know the ELD-X is a long range bullet, but I also used an ELD-X out of the .243 on a great big stag at close range and it went very well,

what is the construction of the ELD-M like?