[SSN Vet]

Thanks to all who posted on my caliber dilema thread.... I opted for 7mm-08 and am now the proud owner of a Savage 14 American Classic.

Though I've reloaded for some 3 years now, 7mm-08 will be my first venture into the world of higher accuracy rifle reloading.... not quite bench rest league, but getting close.

I pushed the budgetary limit with the rifle (Christmas & birthday rolled into one, w/ any cash gifts ear marked to replenish the checking account :( ), so my funds to set up to re-load this new to me caliber are tight.

Though I knew that the world of Norma, Lapua, Berger, Nosler, Vihtavuori, etc... existed out there, I was none the less a little stunned to talley up what this was going to cost me. So I had to re-wind and come up with a economy kit to start me off.

Here's what I came up with....

Powder... I have RL-15 and W748 on hand, and think it will suite to get me started.

Primers... I'm pretty well stocked up.

Bullets..... After doing some reading on the 6mmBR site, it looks like the best bang for my buck for a premium, high BC bullet that I can actually find in stock is the Hornady 162 A-max, which I can get for $26/100.

Brass... I can't find Winchester brass in stock anywhere.... but after reading up on Privi-partisan, it sounds like it should do well for me, it's in stock at Grafph's, and is only ~$36/100.

Dies... I've wanted to have my first go at neck sizing, but unfortuantely, Lee doesn't offer their Deluxe Rifle Die Set (FL size, collet die & seaing die) so I ordered the Lee collet die set. I usually full length resize factory new brass as well as range finds, but hatched a plan to defer the cost of the Pace Setter set, and the new brass....

Since I had intended to pick up a couple boxes of factory ammo. to start out with, my brainstorm is to fire form these cases, while setting up my scope and then I can get by with only neck sizing for a while. This way I can also defer buying brass.

It figures that my local Dick's and Walmart both have no 7mm-08 ammo in stock, but fortunately, Grafph's has Privi-Partisan ammo. for "only" $16 a box.

So here's what I ordered today...

two boxes of the Privi ammo. $32
Lee collet die set $25
Hornady 162 gr. A-max $26
Lee trimmer guage $4

So for ~$90 I should be in businees, with two boxes of factory loads to get going with and the tools and components to load my first 100 rounds after that.

How'd I do?

[Bush Pilot]

Nice!!! I've got a Model 7 stainless and a 788 in 7/08, great cartridge.

[interlock]

good call, re15 is a good powder for 7mm08...maybe more suited to lighter bullets. you know that you can run .308 brass through a full length die and have perfectly acceptable cases. i hunt with mine and like the sierra120 gr prohunter or speers 130 or 145 gr hot cor. of course i don't know how you will use yours. i believe the Amax is a good bullet though. good luck with 7mm08

interlock

[Remo-99]

nice score, the savage classic and the 7mm-08, a cartridge that's under-rated imo.

7mm-08 easily made from f/l sizing 308win brass.

[Ben Shepherd]

Just a quick note-

First, congratulations on the new rifle.

Secondly, through my reading and experience in helping my father work up a load for his 7mm-08 A-bolt, I've found that this particular cartridge shows a preference for 140 grain slugs.

[SSN Vet]

I've found that this particular cartridge shows a preference for 140 grain slugs

The factory Privi-Partisan ammo is 140 gr., so I'll be giving that a try...

Wanted to try the 162 gr. for some longer ranges, as the BC is .625

I'll need to pick up a FL sizing die eventually.... I'm just trying to get going and defer cost for now...

I'm kinda ticked that Lee has so few caliber offerings in their deluxe die set, as you wind up paying for reduntant shell holder, dipper, plastic case and bullet seating die if you buy both the collet die set and the pace setter set.... That pushes your cost up to >$50 and Grafph's has a Redding die set with neck sizer, FL sizer and seater on sale for $58.

I'm kind of kicking myself for not ordering the Redding set... but I do value "marital harmony" and have stayed out of "hot water" so far, so I really didn't want to push my luck with another multi-hundred dollar order.

I do have a small stash of .308 cases, but they'll have to wait untill I can pick up a FL die.

I hope this Lee collet die is as good as they brag it up to be. Anybody using one want to comment on it?