Thread: First time reloading: 7mm08

Originally Posted by raspy

I realise I'm opening myself up to flack for posting this thread, so appreciate the restraint so far.


My intention wasn't to achieve 7mmRM performance out of my 7mm-08, but because the pressure signs I was looking for never eventuated I pressed on as carefully as I thought I could.

I did some initial loading on my last 7mm08 with a friend who's an experienced reloader and we got to a shade under 40gr of IMR4064 with a similar projectile (actually the older, translucent tipped 162gr ELD-M which were giving me a different CBTO by about 0.003" for the same COL, but that's by the by) and started to see a step up of primer cratering and some clear, small ejector marks so we pulled pin. I was trying to do the same here... though this time I was doing it on my own.

It sounds like I should count my lucky stars that I didn't have a failure on those higher loads and back right off back down to be under max pressure and work for an accurate node under that? I'm happy to discard the brass from the higher loads as I would rather be on the safe side—would you advise getting rid of all the brass from over max pressure then?

Really appreciate the advice so far @Cigar and @lau lau!

Agree with the advice of others above, my suggestion would be to get alongside your friend or another reloader in your area to learn everything you can - you'll learn plenty more on your own later, but you need to do it safely.
Personally - I've always loaded conservatively as I'm seeking accuracy & good hunting results (rather than velocity).