I was out to the range today with my 7MM-08. I chronographed some Winchester Ballistic Silvertips. I have a 22 inch barrel and these loads fell quite a bit short of the mark at 2617 FPS. They were however very accurate and uniform. I just shot a four shot group because it was pretty windy but they grouped in a nice group of just over an inch. These were 140 grain bullets. Thses should be alright for deer for this year but I should be able to increase the velocity a bit with hand loads. I would be happy with 2700 fps. My 7mm-08 is an NEF Handi rifle. It also shot the corlokt into just about 1 1/4 inch last time out. I don't recall if I chronographed them of noy. I stuck a Leupold 3x9 Rifleman scope on it for this year. I have had it on the shelf for better than a year.

I also tested some load for my 7mm-08 and found that the 160 gr. Sierra were giving the best 5 shot groups being just under a 1” at 100 yards with my 22” barrel. I had also checked the speed and found the load to be nearly 200 fps slower then published in the book. I will try and increase the load without loosing accuracy. As you mentioned this will have to do for me this year although I would have rather used lighter bullets for deer.

I have never used anything heavier than the 140 for deer but I think the 160's will work well as long as the range is not to long. They may not expand to well at lower velocity but anywhere within 200 -250 yards should be fine. Good Hunting. I think I will try the 140 Ballistic tips next year.

I have always been told the listed velocities are not attainable with your average hunting rifle. Everything I have read seems to support this as well. James maybe we should see if we can borrow one of the ammo companies chrony's

James, I think you will be pleased with the 140 grain ballistic tips. My 7mm-08's both shoot them very well.

Doe Dumper, just to let you know that with most of my loads I was approx. 150 to 200 fps slower then the books for Sierra and Nosler bullets but when it came to the Hornady 139,154 and 162 gr. SST bullets I had reached or was very close to the velocity printed in the Hornady book. They had tested with a T/C Encore 24” barrel and I was using my 22” barrel. Now the pattern on 2 of the 3 bullets wasn’t great but the speed was as printed.

The Winchester Ballistic silvertips shoot well in my rifle. I shot some Federal Blue box 150 grain factory loads today. The grouped pretty well. They are loaded with 150 grain Speer Hot Core bullets.

Hey Doe Dumper. Yes I would like to try that. My chronograph reads pretty well but does not have all the bells and whistles that some have. By the way, where we live, we missed the 18 inches of snow that was just north of us. It was to early for that even here in the frozen north. Are you getting in on the heavy rain?

Thanks for the info Trailer. I have a bunch of different bullets to try and load in the 7-08. Just havent done very much yet.

James actually it hasnt rained but twice in the last 2 months. First long dry patch we have had in 5 or 6 years. The heck with 18 inches of snow...ANYTIME

I've been working up a hunting load for my 7-08, and found that so far, it shoots VERY well with IMR 4350 powder and 139 gr Hornady SP bullets. 47.5 gr. shot best, with both 47.0 and 48.0 giving quite respectable groups for my rifle (700 CDL). As we all know, guns have personalities of their own and what is good in one may not work well in another. Good luck-------

My Rem 700 Mtn LSS 7mm-08 hunting load this year is 145 Grn Hornady SP (HotCor) on top of a max load of 48.0 Grns of IMR 4350.The average chornographed muzzle velocity forthis load is 2,825FPS and 3 shot groups at 100 Ydsare consistentlybetween 1/2" & 3/4".

firstshot
--------------------------
Make your first shot count!