Cartridge for Savage 110 in 7mm-08

[PsoasHunter]

My wife got a new rifle for Christmas from her dad and we've been working on sighting it in.  It came w/ a box of low-recoil rounds that were great for sighting to 50 yards, but group terribly out to 100 and are not what she'll be hunting with anyway, so we need a new cartridge. I am not interested in hand-loading at this time, it's got to be factory rounds.  Sounds fun, but a 1 year old in the mix doesn't lend time to new hobbies. 

Is anyone shooting this rifle and caliber?  What factory ammo groups well for you?

Anyone shooting this caliber have a thought on 140 vs 150 grains?  We hunt primarily mule deer, sometimes blacktail.  She likely won't be shooting past 200 yards.  Seems like there are more options in 140 and it should be large enough for mule deer no?

I hunt w/ accubonds and also like partitions so I have a bias there, but am not opposed to trying something new. 

Thanks for any info or input y'all have!

[Karl Blanchard]

The best ammo for any gun these days is the ammo you can actually find in stock 

https://www.shootersproshop.com/7mm-08-rem-120gr-ballistic-tip-hunting-ammunition-blem.html

[jrebel]

Nosler trophy grade 140 grain accubond would be my choice.   

For cheaper ammo that is equally as effective you could get the hornady American whitetail or Winchester super x.   All three ammos I suggest have shot well in savage rifles I have owned over the years.   I now hand load so haven’t used any in quite a few years. 

[Damnimissed]

The best ammo for any gun these days is the ammo you can actually find in stock 

https://www.shootersproshop.com/7mm-08-rem-120gr-ballistic-tip-hunting-ammunition-blem.html

This ^^^^
Don’t be afraid of the 120 ballistic tip. It has a thick jacket, comparatively. It’s one of the best bullets for that particular cartridge, and they happen to be available, currently!

[arrowflinger]

Not going to say this hasn't happen, but more of a suggestion before you give up on those rounds.

I'm assuming all the factory grease/oil was removed.

I would check all screws (Action, Bases and scope rings). I have seen to many straight out of the box that are loose.
Also, verify the crosshairs aren't canted.

some do this some don't, Barrel break in complete?

again just a suggestion to verify these.

[Thwack]

Before I started reloading I used Federal premium loaded with 140 grain Nosler ballistic tips. Very accurate in my rifle. I now reload essentially the same round.

[Wingin it]

My wife runs 120 grain Nosler ballistic tips for deer and has had good success with them. Real mild recoil too. She has not hunted elk but I would move to a 140 grain accubond for that.

[ghosthunter]

My grandson and I have been shooting the whitetail ammo in 130 grain. Touching groups out to 200 yards. Both guns are Savage.

[sjhgraysage]

Hornady "Whitetail" ammo with 139 grain spire points has done well in a Tikka T3 7mm08 for a young hunter I know.

[PsoasHunter]

The best ammo for any gun these days is the ammo you can actually find in stock 

https://www.shootersproshop.com/7mm-08-rem-120gr-ballistic-tip-hunting-ammunition-blem.html

Yeah, seriously!  Pretty slim pickings right now, maybe I shouldn't or can't be too picky.

[PsoasHunter]

@arrowflinger, thanks for the good suggestions.  I cleaned the barrel well before shooting, but haven't checked screws.  Good thinking.

[jrebel]

https://opticsandammo.com/product/hornady-american-whitetail-7mm-08-139gr-sp-20-mfg-8057/

[thinkingman]

The best ammo for any gun these days is the ammo you can actually find in stock 

https://www.shootersproshop.com/7mm-08-rem-120gr-ballistic-tip-hunting-ammunition-blem.html

This ^^^^
Don’t be afraid of the 120 ballistic tip. It has a thick jacket, comparatively. It’s one of the best bullets for that particular cartridge, and they happen to be available, currently!

My Tikka shoots these Nosler factory loads with boring accuracy.
I'm glad to see they are considered decent for mule deer...I was concerned about their construction.

The same Tikka shoots everything well EXCEPT Hornady...I wanted to like their Superformance and Whitetail but it lags in accuracy compared to Federal and Nosler ammo. I just practice with it and harvest the brass.

Good luck.

[Karl Blanchard]

I shoot the 120 BT (hand loads) in a little youth model ruger american. It has been the village bicycle for a handful of kids with easily 30 deer and 4 or 5 elk to its credit. Great little bullet.

[Lumpy Taters]

Both of the guns we use love the Federal 140 Accubonds.   Tried the Hornaday whitetail and got too many bad rounds for my taste.  Hornaday claimed light primer strikes but from 2 different guns from 2 different makers that never had a issue before was enough proof for me.   

[Karl Blanchard]

Both of the guns we use love the Federal 140 Accubonds.   Tried the Hornaday whitetail and got too many bad rounds for my taste.  Hornaday claimed light primer strikes but from 2 different guns from 2 different makers that never had a issue before was enough proof for me.

I'm curious, was one of the rifles a Savage Axis by chance?

[jrebel]

https://www.shootersproshop.com/7mm-08-rem-120gr-ballistic-tip-hunting-ammunition-blem.html

In stock and not a horrible price. 

[Lumpy Taters]

Both of the guns we use love the Federal 140 Accubonds.   Tried the Hornaday whitetail and got too many bad rounds for my taste.  Hornaday claimed light primer strikes but from 2 different guns from 2 different makers that never had a issue before was enough proof for me.

I'm curious, was one of the rifles a Savage Axis by chance?

Nope one was a Thompson Dimension and the other is a Ruger American.  Both have never had a problem with any other ammo and I now have probably 200 rounds through the Thompson.  I have tried several brands of factory ammo and the Federal is by far the best in both of those guns.  The Thompson is a tack driver with either the 140 AB's or the 140 partitions  POI doesn't shift at all out to 250 yards.    I have not been the only one to have issues with the American Whitetail brand of ammo.  But i was terribly let down by the customer service I got.   

[NiteHawk]

I've been trying out multiple ammo types through my Kimber 7mm-08 Adirondack with an 18" barrel. I've tested the Hornady American Whitetail 139gr interlock, Nosler Balistic tip 120gr, and Norma Soft Point 150gr.

The Norma 150gr groups best (about 1"), Hornady second best (about 1.5"), and Nosler was about a 2"group. My rifle seems to like the heavier bullet.