I have owned three 7mm-08 rifles. Every one of them loved 6.5 StaBall powder with 150 grain bullets, no matter the style or manufacturer. I currently shoot a Rem 700 and get 2870 fps with 150 gr ABLR bullets (max book load) and groups are around 1.5 inches at 200 yards. I don't count 100 yards because these long bullets don't stabilize by 100 yrds. My previous 7mm-08 got 2930 fps with this combo. I live out west and this combo has turned my 7mm-08 into a 500 yrd deer rifle. I have ditched all my magnums and now only use the 7mm-08 and 35 Whelen for big game. IMO the 7mm-08 is one of the most under rated calibers. Thanks for the interesting vids.
I have tried 6.5 StaBall with a few bullets 139s, and 140s and it wont group at all. New build with a Bartlein 1-9 twist 22 inch, Had a lot of trouble finding any load data at all and hit pressure very early with the 139 CX bullets. 140 Nosler AB also shot bad. Factory Hornady 150 ELDX did group pretty good at 2850 fps. Maybe I should try those bullets with the 6.5 powder, thoughts of starting loads?
I use 49 grains of 6.5 staball. At 49.5 I get no velocity increase and the first tiny pressure signs. If I were you start below 49 for sure and work up. Generally I start right below max book value just because I am not concerned about doing that in new modern rifles. But that's me.
I love those rifles. Most beautiful of the factory rifles in my opinion. When I first started loading for my 7-08 I had a hellofatime finding something that could match the factory Remington 140 grain rounds. They shot consistent 3/4 inch groups at 100 yards. Most of the others were at least 1 MOA or more. One day I was talking to the range owner about it, and a fellow listening to me said " Have you tried 139 grain Hornady and 4895?" I said no, but I have tried everything else so I might as well. Flash forward a few weeks later and bingo! 3/4 inch groups all day long. They became my go to, and have harvested many animals since then. Much later on a lark I tried 120 Nosler BT. Low and behold the accuracy was just as good if not better. Bullet a bit light for larger animals I think but very accurate. LOVE MY 08!
Probably the "cratering" you were seeing is actually the primer fire forming to the bolt firing pin hole, not actually cratering in the usual sense. I pay more attention to how flat the primer is at the outside edge of the pocket and the surface of the flat area of the primer.
I had a Rem Model 7 in 7-08 in the 90's. I got broke and sold it. That was a sweet shooting deer slayer. I shoot a 308 now. I can't tell a difference and neither can the deer. I love SST's.
My Ruger loves Speer 140 flat base and H 414. It will shoot under 3/8 all day and my wife shot 5/16 with it out last outing. Fixing to work on some 160s.
I'd say you need some firing pin work. I've had the same apparent cratering on brass but as it turns out the problem was the firing pin, not too much pressure. Your brass showed the same signs no matter the load so I think that's a big clue. Good luck!!
With my handloaded Remington 700bdl in 7mm. Magnum, I am using reduced speed loads. I have chosen the 139 grain interlocks at 3004 fps with a maximum deviation of only 7fps. So I have downloaded it to 280 Remington level. This load will poke all three rounds into a single jagged hole everytime I wait for 15 minutes between shots. I use hodgdon 4831 and Remington 9.5 Magnum primers and haven't had nothing take another step from a dose of it yet. I would not go for elk unless it had 175 grain nosler partition bullets loaded to 2960.
In my experience, the 7mm08 usually tightens up its groups as you increase the load. Just the peak you showed of the 120 they seemed a little long. I know BT's are longer but are you sure they have enough neck tension? I loaded my 120 hornady quite a bit shorter than 2.80 inches. Your 140 grain loads were respectable. Haven't tried H4350 though. I mostly used IMR 4064 and H414 in my reloads firing 140's and 145. My 140 gn BT load with 4064 will fire moa. H414 maybe a little bigger but not by much. Both average a 2800-2820 in a 21.5 inch barrel. Don't know what you're shooting for but you sound a little disappointed? Not sure how light your barrel is but 4 shots might be a little too much? Is the last shot opening your groups? I fire 5 shot groups but have to let it cool a little between shots. If not, the 4th and 5th will open up the group. Notice you added .5 grains and had same average velocity. You were also fire forming your brass to your chamber. You will get better results when you re-size the once fired cases with minimal shoulder set back and reload those cases. All in all a good start. I certainly didn't get such a good load in my first 3 tries. Very good.
Good point.... ive noticed higher pressure signs in other calibers with longer oal.... i was trying to tweak with overall length and noticed the longer seating caused higher pressures with same powder amount.... you come across so many "experts" online and in my experience its best to ignore them and follow the actual data. For instance.... in even .223 people will look at overall length as a fixed number for every bullet.... well try and load 40 grain ballistic tips at 2.26 as opposed to the manusls 2.20 and see what happens..... its amazing what 6 hundredths of an inch will do... and seeing lower pressure in a shorter length... it goes against what many people would assume should happen
My Ruger 77 in 7X57mm worked well with 47.0 gr of IMR 4350 and Speer 145 SPBT. 1.75” @ 300 yards in a strong wind. Suggest working up in smaller increments than .5gr. Your H4350 should work well maybe H4831 also. I have no experience in the 7-08 but they are close cousins. Oh my rig at that time was the 7X57mm in a Lee Six beaver tail fiberglass stock and CanJar trigger. Shot lights out. I took that barrel off and have a 244/6mm 1-12” Shilen heavy barrel on it and for varmints. I bought another 7X57mm in Rem 700 Mountain rifle and just seated the Bullets back to factory coal and shot about an inch without doing anything to the rifle so the Speer 145’s might be worth playing with.
Hey hows it going. I have the model 70 super grade in 270. I want something lighter because the super grade is very heavy. I want your exact rifle so I was wondering what you thought of the recoil and total weight is after you put your scope on, thank you.
Try some 140g sierra pro hunters and H4350. That combo almost always shoots. That being said you seem to have a good shooting rifle. Winchester isn't known for bench rest accuracy especially out of a wooden stock. Nice thorough report.
Ok Willy...I have good luck with 47.4 grs of R17.with a good 140 grainer......like the Nosler PT...usually around .75 to 1.00 groups when I do my part. Getting less than .5 MOA....010 off lands with Berger VLD140s....l..awesome combo....My go to powder is R17 or W760 in 7mm08....140 and heavier.
Did you ever find a powder that worked for the speer 130... I have a few hundred on hand. I'm looking to get a decent starting point.. I have varget and h4895 looking for an other powder option. Was thinking mayb h380...Goal is to build a hunting round for large white tail shots under 200 yards.. keeping the mild recoil and flat shooting of the lighter weight 7mm-8 bullet.
I'm considering this gun. Either that or the Browning Hells Canyon Speed. Did you ever figure out the issues with this gun? Do you regret buying it? Thank you sir.
I can't find but one box of Remington 7mm-08 ammo at walmart but they have 6 boxes of 6.5 CM or .308. Even online there are about twice as many ammo options for the 6.5 CM or .308
Im looking at buying one of these Winchester model 70 featherweights. I like the ole 7x57 Mauser, good luck trying to find a new production 7x57 mm. I believe Rigby has a 98 Mauser, the highland stalker. You are looking at the price of a new car for one. 7mm-08 I think would be a great choice, It's definitely an underappreciated cartridge, that 2700 fps with a 140gr bullet is the cats ass for a deer and antelope cartridge. I think 7mm-08 has been overshadowed by 6.5cm. I like that CRF Mauser type action. This definitely gives my good information to go by.
I know Winchester used to have some M70 models that you could get in 6.5x55 Swede not all that long ago, but I don't think they have chambered one in 7x57 in a very long time. 7mm-08 is definitely the next closest thing, and what my M70 is chambered in. Absolutely my favorite deer rifle of all my bolt actions, and what I shot my last deer with a couple weeks ago. Bambi doesn't get up and walk away at the end of that movie.
I love your rifle ! I have the exact same model but chambered in .280 Remington. I was online looking for information about getting started in reloading for it , and stumbled across this video . Any information or suggestions are appreciated.
Speer Reloading Manual No. 11 7mm-08 160 gr bullet. 27 gr IMR 4350, 2850 fps. This chases along with the 30-06. Parker Ackley shows a similar load in his book. Care to check it out? Consider this a load one should approach with caution because their claimed velocity seems overly optimistic. I don't have time to test this myself.
@@litlczer9865 Arguing over what one manual says over the other is silly. Know that they will not always agree and some differences can be whopping. Reloading is not an exact science. Pick up 10 manuals and you will discover 10 different load recommendations and each one having a super duper pet load, they are all right and all wrong. I only mentioned this particular load to illustrate there IS some wiggle room, but I have never worked with this load. This is something you must discover for yourself because each barrel is different and you must be the one to make the call. No two manuals will ever agree because the barrels they use are different, the powder lot numbers are different, and the weather conditions different. Just don't try to turn the 7-08 into something is isn't. If you want magnum performance, get a magnum. This is a very nice well balance round, one I've found to hit like an 06 and kick like a Creed. Welcome to the world of reloading. And good luck.
Has this rifle been bedded or pillard or 100% factory? I've been thinking about getting a Alaskan 30-06. I know not exactly the same but not that different either. Thanks
@@hammerheadms Thanks I appreciate it. Do you know what the barrel contour is on the super grade versus the squirter? I see the current models the super grade is about a pound heavier than the sporterr in the same caliber. Thanks
@@brianlee6849 not sure about that. I know the Featherweight barrels are 2" shorter in standard and magnum calibers and they have a thin profile barrel. As far as I know the Sporter is the same contour as the Super Grade. Have you checked out Winchester's website? I know they usually outline most of those details. It could be possible that the Super Stock is heavier since it's a higher grade of hardwood. I know that high quality walnut can be very dense, and you can feel that difference in its weight.
@@hammerheadms Yes I got that from the website sporter 24" 270 7 pounds 4 ounces super grade 24" 270 8 pounds 4 ounces. Maybe the wood but seems like a lot... I think maybe heavier profile but both say sporter contour in literature. I'm thinking about getting a super grade in either 243 270 or 25-06 but they don't list 25-06 for supper grade but they do for sporter. I love quality wood so I really want the super grade. Thanks 👍
I was thinking 30-06 but I want something my wife and 13 son can shoot to and I plan to use it for deer and Target fun so maybe 243? 25-06 would be perfect 270 might be a little too much for my wife to shoot. Thanks
No. The projectiles will rattle a bit on their way down the bore (7.62 (0.30") bore inside diameter vs 7.2mm (0.284") projectile outside diameter. Gas seal may not be optimal. Or even at all. Not to mention that the case will fall down inside the chamber without even touching the edges. Which makes the possibility of light strikes on the primer quite likely, unless you get a firing pin with about a 16mm (5/8") extension. I'd suggest using 300 Winchester magnum rounds. They are designed to fit the chamber and bore.
That's my goto grain. size. Will shoot dimes at 200 all day. Did my development using .2 grain increments, you'll quickly find the barrel node. When it locks down at the preferred weight, once you go beyond thats it's dramatically obvious. Just fired the remainder for fun. H4350, started at mid weights. Nosler 120 BT, normal seating depth. Federal match primer. Browning 20" barrel. Remember to let barrel get to ambient between shots, it is time-consuming but worth the effort come hunting season, 100% confidence in your rig. All one shot DRT, no gained yardage. Steven
I guess that depends on how you define a flyer. I have two featherweights and the one in 280 Remington shoots .65" groups and the second in 270 Winchester shoots .85" groups. They both usually have two touching and one away from the other two. However, based on overall average group size, the shot that is not touching still makes for a good group.
