Thread: Short barrel 7mm08 loads

Originally Posted by Rock river arms hunter

16"

160gr TMK.
40.0gr 2208
Remington brass.
Fed LR primer
Model 7 rifle.
COAL 2.780

2430fps

Used ADI pistol data for reasons stated above due to barrel length.

If you're going from a shorter barrel there's 2 theories: 1) send a light for calibre projectile and drive it as fast as you can like a Barnes or 120gr NBT. Usually of stouter construction.

Or option 2) push a heavier weighted match style bullet slower that opens up across the velocity range no worries. I generally aspire to the latter for both 308 and 7mm08. They both work. Keep it as simple as I can seems to be a oxymoron for a reloader but I've found that that is not far off the money.

Hope this info helps

Yep keeping it simple really is an oxymoron a lot of the time ha ha. I'm just going to keep things simple this time, as he purchases an annealer and concentricity gauge

But yes I agree with that theory on the heavier bullet, no worrying about it going too fast to penetrate, generally lose less velocity with the heavier bullets and having a higher bc than the lighter ones, they still have plenty of energy further out.

Originally Posted by caberslash

Not sure what the point is trying to run a long/ heavy for calibre bullet out of such a short barrel, slower MV means worse BC.

Better to push something that's a bit shorter a lot harder and faster

Yeah same reasons @superdiver said, also I don't have any light bullets and now is not the time to go shopping for bullets

I understand that is one approach, the light and fast bullet, but I'm familiar with the 162 ELD-X and I've got enough to keep me going for a while so I'll be a little boring and stick with what I know works.

Twist rate is 9.5 so should be fast enough to make the most of the high bc but I'm more thinking about the bullet construction than that, big tip and hollow.point for expansion, good penetration etc.

120bt / 2206h is my favorite because i can get the speed back up there.
But really anything goes.
Ive tryed cheapo speer, seirra gk, hornaday sst, RN, eldx
Factory remington, federal blue, even S&b and PPU.
All kills outa the 16inch barrel at <300y

I've run 139gn SSTs, 150gn ELDx and now settled on 162gn ELDMs @ 2630 (20"barrel) only taken a couple of stags with it so far but been pretty impressive. Last at 380yrds was poleaxed on the spot. According to the ballistics calcs it's got horsepower to further than I'll likely shoot. Wind calls will be the biggest challenge.

I run an 18 inch model 7 in 708 with a gunworks can
139sst with 42gr 2206 in Norma brass and federal primers
Goes well

120 gr Barnes . 45 gr of 2208 from a 17" barrel . Getting 2775 fps. Zerod at 200 m, 2.5 inches high at 100. Click in 3 Moa and bang on at 300.

2206. 18" 3k with 120 Sierra and NBT. Primo accuracy.

Originally Posted by caberslash

Not sure what the point is trying to run a long/ heavy for calibre bullet out of such a short barrel, slower MV means worse BC.

Better to push something that's a bit shorter a lot harder and faster

Run the numbers on a 162 eldm at 2500 fps vs a 120 NBT at 3000fps. A short barrel doesn’t necessarily make lighter pills run better, they both lose the same amount of performance by shortening the barrel. Pros and cons to both just depends what you’re wanting to achieve.

Out of a 16 inch T3 7mm-08 with DPT suppressor we were running 120 gr Barnes with CFE223 topped with a 1-4x20 Leupold scope it was a deadly accurate lightweight rifle.

I also have a Kimber Montana 20 inch with DPT but I use 120 gr sierras with AR2206H which has been good out to 400 mtrs

I never chrono’d either load as accuracy was what I chased.

Another good projectile is the 120 gr ballistic tip or the 120 gr Speer

Norma are claiming to make rounds optimised for short barreled, supressed rifles: https://www.norma-ammunition.com/en-...ilencer-series

Doubt they have any special voodoo in them but suspect they are running double based high energy powders (like Viht N5xx series and simillar).

Originally Posted by caberslash

Norma are claiming to make rounds optimised for short barreled, supressed rifles: https://www.norma-ammunition.com/en-...ilencer-series

Doubt they have any special voodoo in them but suspect they are running double based high energy powders (like Viht N5xx series and simillar).

Half case fills so they burn up all the powder before the suppressor

16” T3 708. 140gn ballistic tip. 42.2 gns 2208. Getting 2680 fps. Accurate and good killer.