Elk load for 7mm-08

[Huntbear]

My Ruger M77 7mm, REM. Mag. Stacks 160gr accubonds on top of each other. I use 61.3 grs of RL-19, Mag primer. I found that seating depth on my 7mm-08 is a BIG issue when it comes to accuracy.

PA BEN

You mentioned this is your daughters elk gun.  A few points to reconsider.

Heavier bullets equal heavier RECOIL!  If she is gonna have to sit at a bench and shoot these, it WILL HURT!  Bigger is not always better, if it is going to make her start to flinch.  If you really want a bigger bullet, go get her an 06 and let her get kicked.

Seating depth is a very big issue with 160 gr. bullets and the 7mm-08.  This is a short action round, and in reality was designed to best use 120 & 140 gr. bullets in most applications.  You are also using up valuable powder space by having to seat the 160 gr. bullets deeper into the case. 

Plus, you have the added aggravation of having to make sure EVERY round will feed through the magazine, unless you are just seating the bullets to COAL, but then you are eating the above mentioned powder space up.

140 gr. Partitions and Accubonds will kill any elk out to 250 yds. easily.  If the shot placement is good.

Not trying to bust your chops, but it seems like you are going out of your way to make this more difficult.

Those bullets probably do work wonders in your 7 mag.  However, you are reloading for a little girl, in a lot smaller gun.

[PA BEN]

I know these are heavy loads for a 12 yr old girl. BUT, she has shot a lot and she knows that when you pull the trigger on an animal you don't feel the recoil. I use a gun rest so bench shooting is know problem. I want a load that will put an elk down. It's harder on the girls when you wound one and it gets away. I know, I have 5 daughters and all have killed deer, back in the day we would put 6 to 7 deer in the frizzier each year, deer meat is all we ate for meat. This is the youngest, been there done that. Again, looking for a good elk load for the 7mm-08. I would like to thank you guys for all the help.

[PA BEN]

Loaded up some rounds today, here's the results. BTW, I know I'm a big guy but didn't notice any difference in recoil from 140 to 160 gr bullets. All nosler, 140 gr accubound, 150 gr partition and 160 gr accubound.
This Target. The load last year she shot for deer. 1 1/2 " groups 140 accubond, at the lower group, the new elk load, 160 gr accubond 3/4 to 7/8's group. As I noted on the target I pulled the off shot on the 160 gr group.

This target 150 gr partition. 2 2/4", I guess I could play w/powder or O.A.L. But w/the recoil and the group the 160 gr might be the load.

[carpsniperg2]

Looks like it likes the 160's No need to play with the 150's if it's already shooting the 160's good

[BOWHUNTER45]

Not bad I think your in .....

[C-Money]

Nothing wrong with the 140 Accubond load either. Very nice! 

[PA BEN]

Yeah, I like the 140 accubond too. I'm going to play w/them all a little more and see if I can tighten them up a little more. BTW, I started a thread about rate of twist and a chart w/posted and in .284 caliber (7mm) w/a 9 twist they recommend heavier bullets 150's to 175's. I've always liked heavier bullets, shot 170's through my 30-30 as a kid, put one through both shoulders and out the other side on a bear at 100yds. My first big game kill at age 14. I shot 180's for deer out of my 308. I think the heavier bullets don't wast the meat like the lighter ones do.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Yeah, I like the 140 accubond too. I'm going to play w/them all a little more and see if I can tighten them up a little more. BTW, I started a thread about rate of twist and a chart w/posted and in .284 caliber (7mm) w/a 9 twist they recommend heavier bullets 150's to 175's. I've always liked heavier bullets, shot 170's through my 30-30 as a kid, put one through both shoulders and out the other side on a bear at 100yds. My first big game kill at age 14. I shot 180's for deer out of my 308. I think the heavier bullets don't wast the meat like the lighter ones do.
[/quot  Hey Ben do me a big favor ... sometime please go pick up a box of 140 gr. hornaday SPBT ... If you want to see some sheet hit the dirt then you should give them a try ... not bragging by any means but I have dropped bear out past 500 yds with my .270 and I always shoot for the shoulders and only remember shooting one to two twice .. most of them I watched roll to the bottom of the mountain ..and I will show ya what kinda country I hunt bear in .. you do not ever get shots closer than 200 and most of the time you have seconds to get a shot before they disappear back into the Oregon grapes....I brag up hornaday because they make the real deal .....

[BOWHUNTER45]

What type powder do you us ? I have worked up some good loads for the 7mm-08 and my best luck was with IMR 4831... WITH 140GR...

[PA BEN]

Tried IMR 4350 didn't like it at all. These 140's are Varget. Going to play w/the O.C.L  before I switch powders. There a little over the 2.8 right at 2.85. They just fit in the mag. This gun has never grouped real well w/factory load 140's, good enough for hunting but I like to tack drive my rounds.

[Slenk]

Pa Ben
Try some IMR 4007ssc. Works great in my rifle, with 140 or 160 gr. bullets.

[PA BEN]

I know different powders work. Last year on my 7mm
rem.mag. I used IMR 4350, head shot a deer at 250 yds w/a 160 gr nosler accubond. Then I tried RL-22 same length grouped better then I tried RL- 19 and I stacked each bullet on top of each other. I used the same OCL for each load. I'm going to try OCL on these 7mm-08's w/the same powder.

[BOWHUNTER45]

I know different powders work. Last year on my 7mm
rem.mag. I used IMR 4350, head shot a deer at 250 yds w/a 160 gr nosler accubond. Then I tried RL-22 same length grouped better then I tried RL- 19 and I stacked each bullet on top of each other. I used the same OCL for each load. I'm going to try OCL on these 7mm-08's w/the same powder.

nothen personal bud .. I use 4350 in my 243 but I get awesome groups out of the 7mm-08 with 4831 ... just trying to save you time and money ... all my guns are tact drivers and thats because of all the time and money I have spent doing so.. no biggy what you have will definately work !!

[BOWHUNTER45]

Do not think I am being a smart butt because I am not .. just want to show ya how 140 gr out of my .270  runs ...again Imr 4831 loaded with 54.5 grains of powder ...

[GEARHEAD]

A 7MM-08 will do anything a .270 will.