7mm-08 150 gr velocity in short barrel

[livetooextreme]

I'm wondering if I can reasonably push a 150 gr eldx or Partition at around 2,750 fps in a 20" barrel?

Second, any good recommendations on a lightweight, short barrel rifle for under $1k? Im looking for a short mountain rifle to hunt elk and bhs if I ever draw.

Thanks!

 

[N2TRKYS]

I’ve got a Remington Model Seven SS in 7-08 with a 20” barrel and love it. I’ve got 140 grain Partitions traveling at 2860fps and 120 grain NBTs at 3000fps. I put a McMillan edge fill stock on it. It has a Leupold VX3i 3.5-10x40 scope sitting in Talley lightweight rings/bases.

I don’t know if that helps you or not, but that’s what I have.

 

[std7mag]

With H414, and powders in the 4350 range i could "only" get to 2,836 fps from a 22" barrel in 7mm-08AI with 140gr bullets.
RL17 is the only powder that went faster.

With a 20" barrel & 150gr pills, i'd say you'd be pushing the pressure envelope pretty good to get what your hoping for.

 

[Brian in Montana]

I don't have an enormous amount of experience handloading, but most of it has been in 7-08. My though is that 150grn partition out of a 20" barrel might be tricky to reach the velocity you want and be accurate. The best load I've got in 7-08 is moving about 2920 fps, but that's a 139grn Interbond with a 24" barrel. I haven't worked a lot with 150grn bullets but I want to say 2700 fps was about the best I did and still kept it on the paper (I'd need to look at my notes). It could be possible, I have this thought you might have more luck with the quicker burning powders commonly used in that cartridge, I've done some good with Varget and 4895. My rifle seems to like Ramshot Big Game the best, but like I said that's with a lighter bullet and longer barrel.

Why so interested in a 20" barrel, out of curiosity?

 

[PsRpOiGrRiAtM]

I think 2700 is probably achievable, but your best accuracy might come at 2600-2650? You could either do the ELD-X, or a 150gr ABLR--either would expand well at typical hunting ranges, starting at that MV. Or you could drop down to a 140-145gr monometal bullet like the Barnes Triple Shock, or LRX, or try the Hammers that get rave reviews.

 

[livetooextreme]

Why so interested in a 20" barrel, out of curiosity?

Thanks for the quick replies. To explain more, I am going to be running a supressor and want to keep shorter barrel length and weight down

My hunting buddy runs a supressor and I was with him when he shot his bull elk last year and his antelope this year. And man, it is awesome. Neither of us had to wear ears. In case of the bull hunt, everything happened so fast that it was a relief not to have to worry about scrambling for ear protection.

Maybe I'll just look to run a lighter monolithic bullet instead.

 

[Brian in Montana]

I don't know where you're planning to hunt but supressors are not legal everywhere.

Also, other bullets you might look at are the 140grn Federal Trophy Bonded Tip. And my 7-08 seems to really like 139grn Hornady Interbonds (although I haven't ever shot an animal with this bullet yet). Lots of good options out there, but if you're planning to develop a load from scratch for use this fall, you probably want to hustle.

 

[N2TRKYS]

After hearing/reading so many positive reviews on the 7mm 120 grain NBTs, I tried them out last year. I shot 3 bucks last year and had great performance on all of them.

BuzzH and his wife kill so many elk with their 7-08s and 140 grain Accubonds, that I'm thinking about taking my 7-08 this year instead of my 7 SAUM.

 

[Deleted member 22670]

I loaded the 150's ELD-x in my 7/08 and was able to get 2800FPS, I believe the barrel was 22" though. Try reloader 16

 

[livetooextreme]

I don't know where you're planning to hunt but supressors are not legal everywhere.

Also, other bullets you might look at are the 140grn Federal Trophy Bonded Tip. And my 7-08 seems to really like 139grn Hornady Interbonds (although I haven't ever shot an animal with this bullet yet). Lots of good options out there, but if you're planning to develop a load from scratch for use this fall, you probably want to hustle.

I hunt mainly in Idaho, and it's legal. And luckily I plan on using this rifle next season - so I'm getting a jump on things. This year I'm using my 270 win.

I loaded the 150's ELD-x in my 7/08 and was able to get 2800FPS, I believe the barrel was 22" though. Try reloader 16

Thanks! I was thinking of maybe jumping up to 21 or 22 inch barrel if needed.

 

[Frozen Land]

I’ve got a Remington Model Seven SS in 7-08 with a 20” barrel and love it. I’ve got 140 grain Partitions traveling at 2860fps and 120 grain NBTs at 3000fps. I put a McMillan edge fill stock on it. It has a Leupold VX3i 3.5-10x40 scope sitting in Talley lightweight rings/bases.

I don’t know if that helps you or not, but that’s what I have.

fyi same little savage 7-08 i run win 760 @ 45 COAL at MAX MAG 2.895 CBTO 2.330 at 1100 FT and 81* Vel = 2825. 5 shot groups over the years avg under a 1/2 @ 100

 

[chevyman181]

The 5 shot group is with Stabal and 150eldx, the 4 shot group is Stabal and 150 ABLR, and the 3 shot group was factory 150eldx... That's in a 18.5 in Remington model 7... Non of them shot let than 3 inch at 100 but you can see the speed.

 

[std7mag]

I hate to say it, guys...
But I'll bet in the 6 years it took you to respond, they've found a load for it.

Just say'n....

 

[Bonasababy]

I hate to say it, guys...
But I'll bet in the 6 years it took you to respond, they've found a load for it.

Just say'n....

This place seems to have a lot of old threads pop up. Fine by me.

So FWIW, add me to the list of model 7 folks whose gun just loves 140 grain partitions. Mines a SS synthetic 20"er.

1/2 to 3/4" groups if I do my part. Which takes some work...lightweight rings and compact scope make it a dream to carry but also harder to hold steady off hand.

I am running low in the federal/partitions it loves, and can't find them any more...trying others but haven't found one that shoots as well yet. Just another reason to take up reloading someday...

 

[Frozen Land]

View attachment 383215View attachment 383216


The 5 shot group is with Stabal and 150eldx, the 4 shot group is Stabal and 150 ABLR, and the 3 shot group was factory 150eldx... That's in a 18.5 in Remington model 7... Non of them shot let than 3 inch at 100 but you can see the speed.

Sweet just teste my desert floor load 45 of Win 760 at CBTO 2.330 COALs in a savage Ultra lite Mt hunter sitting at .015 off. At 1500 gets 2825 fps 6.1 ES 3 SD Went tested at 6000 Velocity only dropped to 2801 5 shot Avg. same ES at 6.1 SD at 3. Quite happy the 20inch squirts the 150ELDs @ 2800 zero issues of course with Lapua brass.

 

[Mallardsx2]

 

[Kimber7man]

Recent results with a new 18” barrel (8.5 twist)
120 NBT, 50.0 grains Big Game, R-P virgin brass, F210M, coal 2.82”
2,971 fps.

Barrel has less than 50 rounds on it so might speed up a little as it sees more rounds.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

150 @ 2750 in a 20" barrel? Definitely possible.

I've loaded for 7mm-08 for about 10 years now, in at least 6 different rifles. 139/140 @ 2800 out of 20" pipes is routinely the load I settle on. Right now, my 7mm-08 Howa Superlite is pushing 139 LRX's @ 2800 over 44 g of CFE 223 (a great load out of several 7mm-08's). Not a hot load, but very consistent and accurate.

 

[Brad]

By "pushing" things you can probably achieve 150/2,750/20" - but to do it within SAAMI specs, it will take one of the "wonder" powders rather than something like the standard H4350 which will give you around 2,650 w/ 20"@ max SAAMI pressure. Thing with a lot of the "wonder" powders is often they will not give optimum accuracy pushed to the max. I've been a handloader since the 1980's, and found out a long time ago to chase accuracy, not speed. I get it – we all want speed, and I've certainly chased it, but mostly have found it often doesn't go hand in hand with optimal accuracy.

Here's a dead bull that went down with a 7mm-08/150 Nosler Ballistic Tip that was barely going 2,700 from a 22" barrel – 2,750 (or even 2,650) isn't necessary...

 

[TripleDeuce]

I’m glad this thread is back from the dead. Still has relevance IMO.

I’m not handloading 7-08 yet but seems RL17 or staball6.5 has some extra fps behind them if you believe the hype.

Just picked up a 20” 7-08 1:8.5 myself and am excited to do some winter load development