Kimber 16in 7mm08 loads

Hi

Just got this rifle to try out. I’ve mounted a Weaver 4.75x40 and sighted in yesterday.

I know there are lots of bushpig posts but I need some factory advice as well as hand loads.

I tried out some Hornady Whitetail 139s yesterday and they were clocking 2430fps. This is a loss of 50fps from the factory indicated velocity in 24in barrel. I was expecting at least 2550. My theory was I’m using the same bullet in my 284 handloads but I’m not happy with the velocity in the 7mm08. I was hoping to maintain 1000ft/lbs to 400yards and this won’t crack it. Accuracy was ok.

In order to get consistent cases for reloading I was thinking about trying Factory Superformance 139SSTs next. Has anyone chronographed these in a 16inch barrel for comparison??

Next question is Powder for reloading. I have 120 Ballistic Tips and was thinking CFE223 or 2206. I also have RE16 from the 284 I can use but not sure if this is so good in the short barrel. The RE16 is quite bulky and mag length pretty short

The Kimber is brilliant - super light with the DPT can and then trigger is excellent. Attachment 140098

Rel16 I think you run out of space in the 7mm08. My 7mm08 kimber in full length so not much help. Most factory ammo runs slower that the box says. Usually in the 50 to 100fps slower range.

A friend uses win760

I'm running in my 20 inch Kimber 7mm-08 the following

41 gr AR2206H behind a 120 gr Sierra in Privi Partisan cases, Federal large rifle primer... goes very well but that load hasn't been through the chronograph yet.

Sorry to clarify for the Hornady Whitetail ammo I meant losing 50fps PER INCH vs factory 24inch velocity. I was expecting more like 30fps per inch in the 7mm08. Hopefully the Superformance Powder is more efficient in the factory SSTs and the 16inch velocity will be over 2600fps

CFE 223 will give you the best velocity. 2206H just more temp stable. Try both and go with what gives best accuracy. Personally I don't subscribe to the 1000 ft/lb theory but use 2000fps impact velocity instead. This was a figure I got from a Sierra bullet tech and relates to there gameking and prohunter bullets. Funnily enough it equates to 1000ft/lbs or more for bullets 120gr and over.

Cfe and 120nbt will be lethal but 2206h and 120barnes ttsx should get you 2900ish so plenty out to 400

Sauer 100 16in 7mm08 44gn 2206h and 120nbt have been getting me 2900,(shoots a inch, does the damage)

managed to push that sst upto 2720 before preasure at 44.5 gn 2206h(most acuuate in my rifle)

150 eldx 2600 at 43.2 gn 2206 (terrible groups)

Been using 145 speer spbt at 2500 for fellow with good results,

Im going to try 2209 soon to test the theory that fast powder arnt necessary in a short barrel when i get round to it.

I was really hung up on muzzle volocity and 1000ftp when i first started with the short barrel but have decided that it is 300m rifle and made piece with it.😁

Good luck

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Im going to try 2209 soon to test the theory that fast powder arnt necessary in a short barrel when i get round to it.

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I'm going to do the same, looking at reloading tables 2209 gives the best velocity from 130Gr to 145Gr in a 24in barrel (out of the ADI powders).
I've done a bit of research, even down to which primers to use. I just need to test the theory.
I'll make a new post when I have finished but my barrel is 20 Inch so my not be too relevant.

I'll be following this as I was going to start a similar thread.

I'll be running the 160gr TMKs out of a model 7 with a 16" barrel and unsure as to which powder to use? Benchmark 8208 of 2206h?

2206h or 2208. Wouldn't bother with 2209 in such a short barrel in that cal. You could try it and see though

I did manage to get some 2208 after we spoke, i will get around to that as well.

So has anyone here put a chrony over Factory Hornady Superperformance 139SST ammo in a 16inch barrel??

I tried a few factory loads

Fed blue box 150s went 2350 wahwahh

Remington corelock
Went 2500

Superformance 139 went 2650

Thanks Muka88. That’s exactly what I was looking for. Based on that I’ll try the Super performance Factory for accuracy and then move onto handloads with some good suggestions above.

I had a Kimber Montanta in 7-08 cut it down to 13", I like to run heavy pills ( instead of light ones in short barrels, as people try to keep speed ) I go heavy for retained energy & to get the most out'a 08 based cases.

You want a fast burning powder in short suppressed barrels so my load was 160 game kings - 39g of 2206h doing around 2350 & shot .75 moa, so plenty good enough for a bush gun.

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Originally Posted by Philipo

I had a Kimber Montanta in 7-08 cut it down to 13", I like to run heavy pills ( instead of light ones in short barrels, as people try to keep speed ) I go heavy for retained energy & to get the most out'a 08 based cases.

You want a fast burning powder in short suppressed barrels so my load was 160 game kings - 39g of 2206h doing around 2350 & shot .75 moa, so plenty good enough for a bush gun.

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@Philipo

That was my line of thinking with my model 7 funnily enough.

Running 42gr CFE223 behind 162gr ELD-M in my Kimber 7mm-08 with 16" barrel.

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Originally Posted by joelhenton

Running 42gr CFE223 behind 162gr ELD-M in my Kimber 7mm-08 with 16" barrel.

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How you going for speed with that combo?

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Originally Posted by Rated M for Magnum

How you going for speed with that combo?

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@joelhenton I interested in that too.

@winaa and @Rated M for Magnum I'm still to chrono this load, will do shortly, I'll post up here with results. I believe it's on the warm side. I got up to 43gr CFE223 with no obvious signs of over pressure and before I had a chrono. When I measured speed it was very high (2600fps) and I didn't feel good about it. Nor is it necessary or probably safe in other rifles. Might even need reducing further. 162gr ELD-M ogive in Kimber is way off the lands also. Cheers

Thanks for that Joel

Looking at 7mm08 pistol data with 15inch barrel the faster powders (CFE223, 2206 and 2208) look more efficient with more velocity. With the 140s and above and longer barrels the data reverses

I think I’ll buy some CFE223 after I use up my factory ammo and see how it shoots with the 120BTs. Thanks for all the reply’s and data.

Give Win760 a go, can be a little temp sensitive but it works - I'm running 49gr in a 17" barrel, nosler 140BT @ 2760FPS. This is hot so work up to it.

Thanks - that is a hot load but good velocity

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Originally Posted by Philipo

I had a Kimber Montanta in 7-08 cut it down to 13", I like to run heavy pills ( instead of light ones in short barrels, as people try to keep speed ) I go heavy for retained energy & to get the most out'a 08 based cases.

You want a fast burning powder in short suppressed barrels so my load was 160 game kings - 39g of 2206h doing around 2350 & shot .75 moa, so plenty good enough for a bush gun.

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@Philipo
Resighted her in this sarvo Phil with the new Steiner Scope
2 shots zeroed !!
I have gained 100grms with scope but with the 1-4 x 24 - the 1x with middle size Red Dot on - both eyes open - just perfect in bush
So your Leupold 1.25-4 VX-R is now on Brno .22
Back with loads tomorrow when can find box in shed that nice chap on here did for me


Attachment 140975

@winaa and @Rated M for Magnum I chrono'd my 42gr CFE223 charge behind the 162gr ELD-M with my Labradar yesterday, it averaged 2488fps in roughly 12°C temp.

@joelhenton Thanks for that. That's a pretty good speed for a heavy (for 7mm08) bullet out of a 16" barrel.

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Originally Posted by winaa

@joelhenton Thanks for that. That's a pretty good speed for a heavy (for 7mm08) bullet out of a 16" barrel.

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Yeah I may need to reduce further, will assess when I get a chance. Would like to try measuring the web of the case for excessive pressure but would need to invest in a high end micrometer for that type of measurement.

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Originally Posted by joelhenton

@winaa and @Rated M for Magnum I chrono'd my 42gr CFE223 charge behind the 162gr ELD-M with my Labradar yesterday, it averaged 2488fps in roughly 12°C temp.

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Thanks @joelhenton the reason I'm interested in your results as I'm using the same bullet in my 19" barrel 7mm08 at 2600fps with 40.5 grains of 2208. That's a warm load in my rifle, 40.8 grains and I'm getting very light ejector stamps.

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Originally Posted by Sarvo

@Philipo
Resighted her in this sarvo Phil with the new Steiner Scope
2 shots zeroed !!
I have gained 100grms with scope but with the 1-4 x 24 - the 1x with middle size Red Dot on - both eyes open - just perfect in bush
So your Leupold 1.25-4 VX-R is now on Brno .22
Back with loads tomorrow when can find box in shed that nice chap on here did for me


Attachment 140975

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Looking good mate, yes must admit that the VXR being 1.25 ( really 1.5 ) was a bit of a pain a genuine 1 power is far better.

I still regret selling that gun :XD: :D

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Originally Posted by Philipo

I had a Kimber Montanta in 7-08 cut it down to 13", I like to run heavy pills ( instead of light ones in short barrels, as people try to keep speed ) I go heavy for retained energy & to get the most out'a 08 based cases.

You want a fast burning powder in short suppressed barrels so my load was 160 game kings - 39g of 2206h doing around 2350 & shot .75 moa, so plenty good enough for a bush gun.

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Just a side note on running heavier pills at slower speeds for down range power, basic specs for the ARX

125g @ 2635fps MV energy 1927 ft-lb @ 400 yards 827 ft-lb

155g @ 2435fps MV energy 2041 ft-lb @ 400 yards 1068 ft-lb

Mighten seem much but shows that a bigger, heavier & better BC bullet holds far more energy, you do need a bullet that will work & expand at lower speeds though.

I had a look through the simple bullet drop app. Up to about 400yrds a 120BT at 2900 vs 140BT at 2700 and 162ELD at 2450 are pretty close. The 162 has more retained energy and less wind drift but the 120 less drop by about 6inchesAttachment 141332

Given energy is only good if imparted on the animal (and I do like an exit) I’m now leaning toward at 140BT as being best compromise for the short 7mm08......the debate continues. The drop at 400yrds is about the top of the post on the little 4.75x40 Weaver Grand Slam and that’s more than far enough for this combo.

Anyway I’ll try the 139SSTs Factory’s first and if they are accurate I might not be hand loading the 7mm08 in any case.....

Yeah I have done a lot of math and comparisons as well for me drop doesn't come into it as I have a good scope that I can dial or hold over with, and energy on target is only part of the performance on game which I will explain next.

A few of years ago I was looking around on the internet for heavy 7mm08 load's as I wasn't really getting good performance with the 139/140 gr bullets I had been using. While on this search I came across a statement that the heavy bullets in the Sierra 7mm range where only suitable in the magnums as they where too "hard" to be used at standard velocity's. Not taking anybody's word for it I email Sierra and asked the question, the reply I got was "You need at least 2000 FPS on impact for reliable expansion with all 3 of those bullets". This was for the 150, 160, 175 Gamekings. So I ran some numbers through a ballistics calc and the original statement holds true with Sierra bullets, you just don't get enough of an increase in BC to overcome the velocity drop to warrant going to a heavy bullet in the Sierra line. Actually for a laugh I ran the 120 Prohunter and it came out on top at 350m (380Yd) but the wind drift was pretty bad.
Admittedly since then there has been a big advancement in bullet technology and this may longer ring true, But since then I have used 2000fps as a minimum velocity rather than the often quoted 1000 ft/lbs of energy when deciding on how far I could theoretically shoot with a given bullet.
I reckon the 150 ELD-X would be one of the better choices from bush distances to as far as you could comfortably shoot, if you can get them to group in your rifle.
Just some food for thought.

Given a few people suggesting 760 powder has anyone worked up some loads with STABall powder? Less temp sensitive based on the marketing information. I’m sticking with 120/140 BTs as the short barrel ideal as I don’t have a dial up scope and have a 284 for longer range if needed

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Originally Posted by Forestry

Given a few people suggesting 760 powder has anyone worked up some loads with STABall powder? Less temp sensitive based on the marketing information. I’m sticking with 120/140 BTs as the short barrel ideal as I don’t have a dial up scope and have a 284 for longer range if needed

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I'll be interested in STABall powder as well. None available in my home town at this stage.
As a side note the temp sensitivity or W760 is exactly the same as RL-17 at 1.42/deg F so not as bad as a lot of people think.

This is a wheel that probably doesn't need re-inventing. Just run with the classic 2208/ 120 TTSX combo which is easily good for 2900, or if velocity's your thing, use CFE223. Those TTSXs kill well and have massive penetration, in fact most go right through, so there's no need to consider heavier projectiles IMHO. Fine out to 350yds.

I cant comment on performance of factory ammo in short barrels, but im picking velocity will be quite slow.

I use to run 120 nbt with cfe223 for just shy of 2900 fps from my 15 inch barrel M7.

Worked well, but changed up to the 140NBT at 2700 with same powder for a bit more distance and they shot slightly better in my barrel

Win760 gives 3050 with the 120ttsx in 18 inches