Thread: Model 7 7mm08 150gn eldx load development

Just out of curiosity, what velocity did you get with the factory precision hunter?

Originally Posted by GlenM

Just out of curiosity, what velocity did you get with the factory precision hunter?

Already deleted the data off my strelok but from memory about 2500fps.
So no massive gains over factory ammo velocity, but gains none the less and way more consistent.

Originally Posted by GlenM

Just out of curiosity, what velocity did you get with the factory precision hunter?

I’m getting 2570 ft/sec out of a 18 inch barrel on my model 7 with the factory ammunition. Shoots pretty well too, so well that I can’t see the point in reloading, at the moment; as long as I can get ammunition! :-)

Interesting comparison with my mates 15" 308 today he's shooting 155gn amax with a mv of 2700fps
The bc on the 150gn eldx us substantially better and the 708 has more velocity and ft/lbs at 500 yards than the 308 even though the 708 has a lower mv

Originally Posted by dannyb

Interesting comparison with my mates 15" 308 today he's shooting 155gn amax with a mv of 2700fps
The bc on the 150gn eldx us substantially better and the 708 has more velocity and ft/lbs at 500 yards than the 308 even though the 708 has a lower mv

Not that it matters at all just interesting

Originally Posted by dannyb

Interesting comparison with my mates 15" 308 today he's shooting 155gn amax with a mv of 2700fps
The bc on the 150gn eldx us substantially better and the 708 has more velocity and ft/lbs at 500 yards than the 308 even though the 708 has a lower mv

Very common almost all heavy high BC projectiles will overtake lighter lower BC projectiles eventually when fired from them similar sized case. The bigger calibre are usually a little more efficient in terms of muzzle energy but often lose out on the open of high BC projectiles.

Hence why the factory precision hunter 7mm08 holds 1000ftlbs to 700 yard while a 270 only holds it to 750 yards at the cost of significantly more recoil and 200fps higher muzzle velocity. At extended range BC is fairly significant for retaining energy . Obviously need a balance it with velocity to allow the projectile to expand and do it job. Should have a bloody good load there mate!

Originally Posted by Stocky

Very common almost all heavy high BC projectiles will overtake lighter lower BC projectiles eventually when fired from them similar sized case. The bigger calibre are usually a little more efficient in terms of muzzle energy but often lose out on the open of high BC projectiles.

Hence why the factory precision hunter 7mm08 holds 1000ftlbs to 700 yard while a 270 only holds it to 750 yards at the cost of significantly more recoil and 200fps higher muzzle velocity. At extended range BC is fairly significant for retaining energy . Obviously need a balance it with velocity to allow the projectile to expand and do it job. Should have a bloody good load there mate!

I'm certainly very pleased with the results

Originally Posted by dannyb

I'm certainly very pleased with the results

Looking forward to seeing some animals soon!

I'm just about to start loading the same combination in a sako 7mm08, 22" barrel, 150eld-x, 2208, Fiocchi large rifle primers, once fired Hornady brass.

I've been using the factory Precision Hunter ammo and have found the projectile extremely good on animals from 30 yards to 300. The velocity averages around 2650fps but has quite a wide spread with as high as 2680fps and low as 2624fps within 10 rounds. I have a suspicion it became less consistent when they changed from the regular silver primers they had to brass ones (only on 7mm08 rounds, everything else still gets the silver primers).

Does anyone recommend a good range for an initial ladder test? Looking at the hornady reloading page, depending whether you count 2208 as vargant or imr4064 (the two comparisons adi make on their comparisons table) it changes the max load by 1.7 grains...
and on hodgdon's and ADI's website it has a great varience for 150gr projectiles between sierra or barnes, no eldx.

Should I be looking at the data for 154gr hornady sp instead as on Hornady's website it has them in the same group. Fairly new to reloading so taking it easy but hoping to find a load with decent accuracy around 2700+fps which seems doable from what other people are getting.
Cheers

Originally Posted by Stocky

Looking forward to seeing some animals soon!

Took the latte rifle out for a walk this weekend and shot 2 fallow yearlings at 311 and 330 yards, both bang flops and the damage to the wee fallow front shoulders was brutal....I almost felt over gunned
I'm happy the drop chart I set up with strelok was bang on the money "pun totally intended"
May have to call it the espresso rifle from now on, what a little beast

Barrel was 20" unsure of COA but they are seated to Tikka mag length.

Sent from my CPH1903 using Tapatalk

Excellent!

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Well done, enjoyed the zero to final blood read. What's your take on a 708 as a "one do all" rifle?

Originally Posted by DBD

Well done, enjoyed the zero to final blood read. What's your take on a 708 as a "one do all" rifle?

Liking it alot so far, definitely need to test on reds but I have no doubt it will preform equally well on them.
I wouldn't mind a little more top end zoom those yearling fallow are pretty bloody small at 300 yards with a max of 10x zoom, that being said I had no trouble lining up on the front shoulder and putting the bullets exactly where I wanted.
2-12 or 3-15 scope may be on the cards when funds allow.
Very light on the recoil even with what is considered a stout 150gn load, its a pleasure to shoot, not that recoil has ever bothered me.

Originally Posted by dannyb

Liking it alot so far, definitely need to test on reds but I have no doubt it will preform equally well on them.
I wouldn't mind a little more top end zoom those yearling fallow are pretty bloody small at 300 yards with a max of 10x zoom, that being said I had no trouble lining up on the front shoulder and putting the bullets exactly where I wanted.
2-12 or 3-15 scope may be on the cards when funds allow.
Very light on the recoil even with what is considered a stout 150gn load, its a pleasure to shoot, not that recoil has ever bothered me.

I went back to a 3.5-10x40 vx3i from my 3.5-18x44 z5 on my 7mm08 to save some weight and just think its united better. Haven't missed the extra zoom much.

Shot my longest ever shot (on a live animal), a bull Tahr that a guy I met in a hut had injured with his 270 (gut shot at about 200 yards) Friday at 630yards after it paused before going into the next catchment. Didn't feel that it was unreasonably small in the scope. I do feel the 10x is plenty for any reasonable shot (way less than this shot but once an animals injured like this one figured it was better for me with a decent drop chart to shot rather than old mate and his kentucky windage just scaring it over the ridge wounded. I'd definitely weigh up whether the extra size and weight of a bigger scope is worth it. If you just want it then do it anyway that's why I've got another vx3i and z5 on the bench with no rifles just incase I want to play musical scopes again.