Youth Loads 7mm-08

Next school holidays I’m going to take the lad chamois hunting. He is ready to move up from the 223 and will go to a suppressed model 7, 7-08. I am keen to develop a mild load for him.

Hodgen have some recommendations on youth loads using either H4895 or trail boss.

I have a container of H4895 and picked up some 120grn nosler bts and ready to start.

Hodgen recommend to start at 60% of max load as a starting point so 43.7grn x .6 = 26.2grns

Has anyone had any experience with these youth loads and any pointers would be appreciated.
Thanks

I started my daughters with a 120gr TTSX at about 2960fps. Used 42gr H335. Rifle was about 7.5lb suppressed. They shot it well, no issues with recoil.

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Originally Posted by stug

I started my daughters with a 120gr TTSX at about 2960fps. Used 42gr H335. Rifle was about 7.5lb suppressed. They shot it well, no issues with recoil.

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I might be being too precious!

The rifle is light with one of your stocks on it, however dropping from a 140 to 120grn would make quite a difference.

Do yourself a big favour and grab some IMR 4198.

Load the 120gr with 30gr of the 4198, you could test for best grouping from 28 to 32 gr.

This powder gives way better grouping than 60% of max charge with 2206H.

Remington used 30gr of IMR 4198 in their factory reduced recoil youth loads.

Ive used the 4198 for reduced loads in 223, 243, 260 and 708.

It works damn well.

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Originally Posted by GWH

Do yourself a big favour and grab some IMR 4198.

Load the 120gr with 30gr of the 4198, you could test for best grouping from 28 to 32 gr.

This powder gives way better grouping than 60% of max charge with 2206H.

Remington used 30gr of IMR 4198 in their factory reduced recoil youth loads.

Ive used the 4198 for reduced loads in 223, 243, 260 and 708.

It works damn well.

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Thanks, but shit getting hold of powder is a bit of a mission!

I better start scouting

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Originally Posted by Stag

Thanks, but shit getting hold of powder is a bit of a mission!

I better start scouting

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I don't think it's that commonly used in NZ compared to other powder types, so you may well find some sitting on shelves. AR2207 is an equivalent, and I have a friend who has done the reduced loads as I've suggested above with Ar2207.

Suppressed 7/08 is gentle as anyway why bother

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Greetings Stag,
Based on my experience with AR2206H (H4895) in the .308, .303 and .30-40 Krag you will find good results at around 80% of maximum charge. Much below that there are likely to be smoked cases. 35 grains of AR2206H would give 2,500 fps or a little more with the 120 grain and have recoil easily managed by a youngster used to shooting a .223. You will probably find that the primers back out of the cases with those light loads but this is normal. It would be best to set the cases aside for light loads and don't use them for your full power loads as their head space will be shorter. I was testing some 7mm-08 loads with 150 grain projectiles in a light suppressed rifle recently. These gave about 2,600 fps and to me the recoil was light.
Regards Grandpamac.

Anyone tried the Hornady 120gr SST Custom Lite? (I know, dirty factory ammo for the plebs)

Greetings again Stag,
I just remembered I had a sheet of youth loads they put out at one time. It is probably still on their website somewhere. They listed 35.6 grains of H4895 for 2,605 fps with a 120 grain Hornady and 35.2 grains of H4895 for 2,503 fps with the Sierra 130 grain. Pressure was 34,700 CUP and 32,500 CUP respectively. This is pretty much in line with my results in the .308 and others. Get the youngster to try the loads before the trip but please don't let him shoot them prone wit a bipod. This makes the recoil worse as you can't ride with the punch. He will never notice it in the field.
Regards Grandpamac

Or you could just take him hunting chamois with the 223. Its an excellent calibre for chamois, shoots flat, knocks em flat.

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Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings again Stag,
I just remembered I had a sheet of youth loads they put out at one time. It is probably still on their website somewhere. They listed 35.6 grains of H4895 for 2,605 fps with a 120 grain Hornady and 35.2 grains of H4895 for 2,503 fps with the Sierra 130 grain. Pressure was 34,700 CUP and 32,500 CUP respectively. This is pretty much in line with my results in the .308 and others. Get the youngster to try the loads before the trip but please don't let him shoot them prone wit a bipod. This makes the recoil worse as you can't ride with the punch. He will never notice it in the field.
Regards Grandpamac

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Thanks for your very generous supply of info. Given I have the powder and projectiles I will work to your recommendation of 80%. He will get plenty practice in. Has shot a few deer now but I’m sure when lined up on a Chamois his heart will swing the crosshairs.

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Originally Posted by NRT

Suppressed 7/08 is gentle as anyway why bother

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Because he is 8 years old……..

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Originally Posted by Stag

Because he is 8 years old……..

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It's gentle bro give him ear plugs

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You guys must be some hard arses, theres no farken way my almost 8 year old boy or 10 year old girl could comfortably shoot my suppressed 708 with my full power handloads.

I had to download my 223 55gr for my daughter a couple of years ago, she shot the cock of a nat at 200 yards with it but moaned about her shoulder.

Both my kids are pretty lean thou. I guess that makes a difference.

My normal loads are always pushing max thou and i like light rifles.

Ill be doing some lighter 243 loads for the kids soon to start shooting goats etc