[Elkoholic8]

I did a search on some loads for this 7mm-08. Over the last couple years there were a lot of you guys who said you were going to try this or that. What did you end up going with for a deer load? What about an elk load?
Harvested 3 elk and 2 deer with this load so far. Performance was decent.


I have been using 46gr IMR4350 and 140gr Partition. COAL is by the book, and Remington large rifle primers.
Accuracy is minute of elk, but no where near MOA. About 1.625 @100.

 

[Cooky]

Accuracy is minute of elk, but no where near MOA. About 1.625 @100.

Careful, that sounds a lot like a truth. ;-)

.

 

[Loke]

MOA = 1.05". I'd say you are somewhere near.

 

[DallanC]

My boys load is 48grns of H4350 under a 140grn Accubond. Hovers around 1MOA out of his youth savage, he dropped his cow easily with it.


-DallanC

 

[Elkoholic8]

Dallan, did that bullet perform well on the elk? Did your boy hit any big bones? I don't think it matters what bullet you use if you hit them in the lungs. It's when the shot lands outside of the "sweet spot" that matters. That's what I'm most interested in. I plan to try those 140gr accubonds this year.

 

[DallanC]

Yes, hit bones on the way in. Didn't exit.


-DallanC

 

[Firehawk]

My son harvested his cow cleanly last winter with his 7-08. Browning A bolt II loaded with Varget and a 140 Accubond. Dime size entry, perfect hole in the lungs about 2" in diameter and hit a rib leaving a nice silver dollar size exit. No need to follow the blood, went down in about ten yards. Shot was at a lazered 360 yards.

This combination shoots 1" groups regularly and occasionally I get 5 shots touching at 100 yards. I shoot it in both his Browning and my Winchester Model 70 seated a touch longer and a half grain less powder. Same poi with 140 Ballistic Tip and the Accubonds.

I have tried partitions in my 7-08 and it teases me with a good group every now and again, but it really shoots the types of groups you get. Accubonds shoot half the size and perform well. I am good with using them.

FH

 

[Firehawk]

I forgot to add that we both shot antelope with 140 Ballistic Tips this past fall. Bang flop on both animals. No large bones, just ribs. Mine was 421 yards and his was 260. My boy's muley buck gave him a few tries. He hit him in the neck and it died quickly. Accubond on the deer and it left a huge blood trail, typical of hitting the main arteries of the neck. Honestly it never really got up just kicked wildly down the hill through the scrub it was hiding in.

 

[Springville Shooter]

Elkoholic-
If you are looking for endorsements for the Accubond, I've killed game with 25, 27, 28, 30, and 33 caliber Accubonds with perfect results each time. I know there are folks that claim they have had problems but after more than a dozen kills I still never have. I have hit bone, ribs, spine....etc. I have recovered a couple bullets that were 60-70% with great expansion. I fully endorse these bullets for all big game use. They also happen to shoot pretty good most of the time. 140 or 160 AB's in your 7-08 will kill every elk you hit in the vitals.-------SS

 

[Elkoholic8]

Thanks for the replies guys! Glad to hear about the success stories. I have been reading a lot of reviews, and of course you can find all kinds of positive and negative reviews on about anything you look for.
I have made up my mind that I am going to try them in the 7mm-08 this year (if I can find them at the store). I will probably try them in the 7mm mag as well.

Thanks again.

 

[NevadaMax]

Elkoholic8, I too shoot a 7mm-08 and have had success in punching multiple deer tags over the last few years. Every animal has dropped in the scope. I have been shooting the 140gr Federal OTC stuff but my avid reloaded friend (who just bought one as well) has been working up some rounds for this upcoming fall. Thanks DallanC for past posts, we have made good use of your info!!
I shoot a Browning A-Bolt II that I scored on a screaming deal and I have been very pleased. After I filled each of my tags my dad has quickly asked to carry it over his vintage BBR .270.
Your elk success makes me wonder if I can carry my lightweight rifle on a spike bull elk hunt??? Have you had any luck on a spike hunt? Most posts on this caliber deal with cow hunts and I am curious if I could stretch the use of the gun to additional hunts. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Springville Shooter]

What am I missing here? Why would a gun be good for cows but not for spikes? Serious question. A good bullet out of a 7-08, placed correctly, will kill any animal in the lower 48 without any issues at normal hunting ranges. Shot placement means WAY more than energy and velocity do. All the cartridge has to do is propel the bullet fast enough to penetrate the animal deep enough to destroy vital organs. The 7-08 will certainly do that to a spike elk.------SS

 

[400BULL]

Elkohoilic,

My boy and a nephew of mine have used nothing but the 7mm-08 though out their youth. Between the two of them they have harvested 3 mule deer, 3 cow elk and 1 spike elk. Out of all the animals that have been shot by these young boys, we had one cow that we had to track a whooping 10 yards from where she was first hit. Other than that they all took a dirt nap where they were standing when first shot. All have been shot with a 140 grain bullet from 100 yards out to 300 on one of the mule deer. My boy uses the Accubond, not sure what my nephew used but I think it’s the Federal Fusion.
400bull

 

[Elkoholic8]

A little update on the 7mm-08 reloads.

No major changes; still using 46gr IMR4350 but switched to 140gr Nosler Ballistic Tips instead of Partitions. I am using Winchester mag primers in this cartridge too. COL was 2.80 (what the book says), I have not messed with bullets touching or just off the lands yet. Maybe next year!

Went to the range today, and sot .85" groups at 100 yards. (Partitions were about 1.5" last year) so we saw a slight improvement. Didn't shoot any paper at 300, but he went 2 for 2 on milk jugs at 300yards.