Hornady,s web site claims they get 3000 fps out of a 139 gr in the light magnums for a 7-08. I dont have any loads listed that get that kind of fps for a 7-08.
what up with that.
I would love to be able to load to those velocites.

I have tested Light magnums twice and both times I was not able to achieve thier claims within 100fps.

I myself only get 2770fps with 140gr sierra and 48gr of IMR4350. But iwth sub0.5MOA accuracy, I don't care. I am sure I can 2850-2900fps with 140gr pill if I tried hard.

Did it occur to you that's why they don't publish reloading data for light magnum loads, supposedly it's a special blend of propellents to deliver those velocities. Which by the way are not available to the reloader.

........Yeah......Like bigcountry, I'm loading 140 Accubonds over 48 gr. IMR 4350, and can BARELY squeeze 2800 out of it on a given day. That's in a 700 CDL...24" bbl. But it really does shoot nice. I've tried other powders and even the 139 gr. Hornadys. Can't come up with a load anywhere near as good as this one. I tried the Light Mag loads in my gun, but was disappointed with their accuracy. Never did chronograph them.

I recently started hanloading and this has me thinking. My 7-08 hit lands on a 139 gr at 2.79, if factory ammo is set at 2.80 that would have caused problems. I have read that 7-08 sometimes have short throats. My friend had a rem sps in 7-08 that wouldnt shoot at all and was showing pressure signs with rem factory ammo, I wonder if it wasnt jamming into the lands.
He never did let me reload for it so I never checked anything, he's starting to understand the benifits of reloading now.

I have an 1980 7mm-08 BDL varmit edition with heavy barrel, that you can't put a lot of factory ammo in. I hit the lands at 2.73" (I think). I am not complaining, but this is short.

I rarely see factory ammo ever hit 2.8".

This sounds like a job for IMR7828 SSC

I was able to boost my .243 from 2800fps(42g IMR4350)-3050fps 47.5g 7828, shooting Rem 100g bullets, with my 22inch barreled Mossberg SSI-One. With no pressure signs. Neck sized brass. Moly Coated bullets.

With a 24-26inch barrel maybe you could be able ta get that velocity with a 140g bullet in the 7-08

If you want to get 3000 out of a 7mm 08 with a good hunting bullet, why not consider the 120 Barnes TSX....??...

My 22" bbl Mountain rifle averages 3015 with the 120 TSX and 43 grains of RL-15...

Will you be more accurate? Will the deer drop faster? Will any tendency for inaccuracy, get covered over by a "hot load'.

Possibly. Only way to find out is to experiment. Thats what I love about reloading. Your only limited by the strength of your brass/action and how much experimenting. I never understood why some are so satisfied by medocrity. But then, they never understood why I love shooting and experimenting so much.