Thread: 7mm08 loads and a short barrel

I’m using the 162grain eldm at 2520 fps in a 20 inch 7-08 with 2209 and are having great results. Can push them faster but the groups start opening up. A bit of extra velocity would be nice, but the reality is the animal is no going to notice another 100fps and at extended range 400m+ the extra accuracy is more important. I have got a few 120grain ballistic tips loaded up that are doing 3070fps and very accurate to and am looking forward to seeing how they go.

Thats two votes for the 162 ELD-M. Will read up on them

ELD-M is soft but works brilliantly at 7mm08 velocity from point blank to way out. Do a quick Google, loads of threads on them.

They seem to be a contender - but they look long...I only have my Remington 700 DM - magazine length is 2.810. Still. I am no stranger to compressing powder

Originally Posted by chainsaw

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

yep , the 120 hammer hunters at 3030 ft/sec is very accurate and works well . recent hunting in 7mm-08 Pig, 2 stags , 5 hinds ( 1 out at 400 yards ) . 45 gr of 2208 . Note that 400 is stretching the rounds ability , out to 300 is really about the limit of the load . cheers
les

My life time experience with several Remingtons is that factory barrels tend to have long throats and often take 3+ grains over max to get top velocities.

I bet your projectiles are sitting off the lands and possible out of the case a fair way, both lowering pressure and velocity.

Personally I wouldn’t go below a 139/140 gn pill in a 7-08 or x57.

In a short tube I’d live with 2700 fps if needed.


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Hi Dicko, the situation with the detachable mag model of the Rem 700 version, is that I am limited by the magazine length, which stops me from seating bullets out much at all, I am stuck at 2.800 OAL, or they wont fit in. But which is also too short to reach the lands at all with anything. It also means with heavier bullets I am invading powder space too much, and I have to compress powder more than you normally would have to.

I think I can live with 2700fps and a 140 g bullet. I have a week trip coming up to the West coast shortly, so I will pick either the 139 grain or 140 grain BT at 2700 fps or thereabouts, till I have time to do more experimenting.

I had a stainless synthetic version 700 mountain rifle in 7-08 and a wood blue in .280.

Both rifles had to be bedded and free floated to shoot consistently. Both required good technique and practice for consistent accuracy. Both were lively in the hands under recoil.
Made me appreciate a bit more steel in the barrel to make life easier.

Both nice to carry though.


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