Thread: Powder choice for 7-08

Originally Posted by stug

Only shot 1 deer with the 120 NBT so far. A heart shot on red spiker at 220yds. Only bones hit were ribs, exit hole showed expansion. Spiker went about 10-15m and then keeled over.

Here is the cross-sction pic 120NBT on the right

Attachment 115196

120 NBT out of 7mm08 M7 16"

Has anyone had experience with staball 6.5 in sub 20" 708 with 140s. All the data online shows real good velocities but out of 24" barrels

Originally Posted by Trav-6mmrem

Has anyone had experience with staball 6.5 in sub 20" 708 with 140s. All the data online shows real good velocities but out of 24" barrels

Velocity loss for any calibre is a function of the case capacity to bore size ratio IE the more 'overbore' a cartridge is the more velocity you'll lose per unit of barrel removed. It's not dependent on the powder choice. If Staball gives higher velocities than the other powder choices within safe pressures at 24", it will still be the faster option with a shorter barrel.

Originally Posted by Trav-6mmrem

Has anyone had experience with staball 6.5 in sub 20" 708 with 140s. All the data online shows real good velocities but out of 24" barrels

I've got a load with the 150gr ELD-X and 48gr of 6.5 Staball.
Book max for 150gr Sierra (Projectile in Data) is 48.5 and the 154gr Hornady (what Hornady group Eldx with in their data) max is 48.1gr.
Out of my 24" barrel
Velocity via a Pro Chrono is 2739 so it's not exactly matching the data.
The load is nice and accurate though so I'm happy.

Originally Posted by stug

Weirdly the 120 NBT is a harder projectile than the 140 NBT. To make the 120 they got the 140 cup and cut it shorter, so the 120 jacket wall is thicker at the tip than the 140 jacket. I've posted a cross section pic of the two on here before. It's on my computer though, and I'm on my phone.

That's good to know.
I used heaps of 120 NBT In my Tikka CTR 20" shot pests from the vehicle mostly foxes but effective on many pigs too.
Punches above its weight it's pleasant to shoot.

Just picked up some Staball 6.5 , in the loading manual it is suitable for a raft of calibers, the 7mm08 shows very good velocities. Burn rate is about the same as AR 2209 ( H 4350) so should have plenty of applications, also isn't temp sensitive , has added anti copper fouling in it.
Tried a few loads in my 303 180 gr PPU behind 46 grs of Staball 6.5 and got 2341 fps av (max load is 47.8 grs.) Got some 95 SST loaded to try in the 243 next time I go out.