7mm-08 for a new reloader

[keylargo]

I am considering getting into reloading for my 7mm-08. I know nothing about it,but because my father-in-law has the set up I am considering it.
I currently am shooting Hornady light magnums 139 grain SST's at a published velocity of 3000 fps.
I have done a little looking at varget powder and it seems to get close. Does anyone here load for the 7mm-08? I would appreciate any information on what I can hope to accomplish. I would also like to know if I will get any real financial savings. My ammo is running about $32.00 a box retail.

Thanks

[Hairtrigger]

If you are saying you have access to reloading equipment, I would say you can save money reloading. If you are going to buy equipment you may not save much.
I find I shoot more sice I reload.
7/08 is a good caliber that is not picky and reloading should be fun.

[BigBob .30-06]

Keylargo,

The 7mm-08 is a dandy cartridge and a whole lot more useful than the resent lot of cartridge from the gun makers. We had two here, my daughters Winchester M-70, which impressed me so much I got my own 7mm-08 in a Remington M-700. I found H-4350 to be much too slow to give me the velocities I thought were reasonable for the careridge. W-760 was better, but still slow. The two powders that gave the velocity and degree of accuracy we expected were H-Varget and H-4895. Varget got the nod due to the slightly better accuracy and tighter groups.

Remington M-700 Winchester M-70
Nosler 140 grain PartitionNosler 140 grain Partition
CCI #BR2 primer CCI #BR2 primer
43.5 Grains Varget 43.0 grains Varget
Velocity=2835 fps Velocity=2879 fps
5 shots=.289" c/c 5 shots=.455" c/c
Extreme spread of Velocity= 6 fps Extreme spread=17.3 fps

This is with finely tuned rifles and hand loads that had had case necks turned and I had custom made from '06 cases. I had done everything to these cases that I could think of.

Katie took a cow elk with her rifle and a neck shot at 233 yards. So you can see why we are high on this cartridge.

[Pawildman]

BigBob 30-06--
I couldn't get decent groups out of mine using Varget behind 139 Hornadays, but since I've been trying the Accubonds with 4350 and having decent success, I'm gonna try the Varget and see what happens when I can get the time.

[James B]

RE 15 and RE-19 show promise for me so far.

[keylargo]

Can one of you tell me if you are actually supposed to load higher than the books? I saw someone getting 2950 fps with the harnady 139gr,but he is loading more powder than I have found listed. I know speed isn't everything,but I do want to stay with roughly the velocity I am getting now.

[trailer]

The reloading books is just a guide line. I have had some loads for my 7 mm-08 be lower in velocity then what was printed in the books and some very close like the Hornady SST. The real test is to reload and check with the chronograph...

[cataway]

my favorite power for the 7-08 is H414 and Nosler 140gr #28140

[Pygmy]

My 7mm-08 has been easy to load for and shoots well with most everything I've tried in it..Due to that reason I have not done a lot of experimenting with different powders...I've had excellent results with IMR 4064 and the Nosler 140 ballistic tip...

This year I decided I wanted to try the Barnes 120 TSX for deer..I'm getting one inch groups with this bullet with RE 15... Some guys on the forums favor Varget with this bullet, but I haven't tried it in my rifle...As well as the RE 15 shoots, I probably won't bother...

[BigBob .30-06]

wildman,

Your problem might have been the Hornady bullets rather than the Varget powder. Then again, you may not have gotten enough velocity to stabalize the Hornady. Another powder that gave good velocity but the accuracy was a little off, was H-4895. Let us know how things work out, we're interested.