7mm-08 ammo recommendation, please

[armedwalleye]

Just completed assembling the latest "rifle of my dreams", having found last summer a Browning A-bolt left hand micro in a 7mm-08, and yesterday topping it with a Leupold VX-3 in 2.5-8x36. Over a pound lighter than the 7mm mag stainless stalker I had previously been shooting.
I've searched the forum for ammo recommendations, and finding lots of good loading data, which I might still take advantage of, but anyone shooting something similar with any thoughts about factory ammo brands and bullet weights as a starting point, or perhaps what loads to stay away from?

Thanks for your inputs....

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I have found my 7/08 Rem 700 BDL does not like really heavy bullets. Pretty much anything over 139 grns it does not like and patterns them. 120 grn bullets are its favorite. No preference for brand.

 

[slicksleeve]

Hard to beat good ol' Remington Core-Lokt, in 140 grain.

 

[Pacsd]

mine does "OK" with factory 140 Fusion but it really likes the 120 Sierra with 45.5 of H380, CCI 200LR primers and the 130 Speer BT pushed with 41.0 IMR 4064.

 

[Ala Dan]

Factory fodder in 7mm/08

Remington Core-Lok 140 grain PSP~!

 

[GJgo]

Well you didn't mention what you'll be hunting with it, but I've eaten a lot of Elk over the years harvested using Federal's loading w/ 140gr TSX...

 

[armedwalleye]

Sorry 'bout that...

Forgot to indicate I'm looking at this gun/ammo selection for MN Whitetails, most likely for stand hunting in open woods, scattered brush, out to 200 yds.

 

[True Grit]

My Remington 700 BDL 7mm-08 seams to like the Remington boat tail loads.

 

[cal74]

I have two Remington 7mm-08's, one a Model 7 and another Mountain Rifle.

My Model 7 has shot most 140g factory loads very well, with a real liking for Federal Premium 140g Ballistic Tips.

My Mtn. Rifle HATES 140g Corelocks, but shoots the Federal Premium 140g BT extremely well.

 

[chas08]

My 1999 vintage Remington 700 LSS Mountain Rifle likes regular old 140 grain Winchester Power Points pretty good. About an inch, or barely over, at a 100 yds. Before Hornady screwed up and discontinued their light magnum line it loved their 139 grain offering with sub moa groups. It will not shoot the Superformance loading at all, with groups being around, or just over 3inches at 100 yds. Why they had to mess with a good thing is beyond me, Oh well, one customer lost. The next best most commonly found is Remington Core-Lokts.

 

[smurfman]

I use a Savage in the same caliber in probably the same area as you. Pretty much anything in the 140 gr range has proven very effective for me. I am using up the Winchester Power Points I started with and am replacing them with 140 gr Remington Core-Lokts and Federal Fusions as they both shoot to the same place. I did not find the Federal 150 gr factory loads to do well in my gun and the Remington 120 gr bullets grouped just as well but I did not like its performance on a buck that field dressed a tad over 250#. It died but it did not leave much of a blood trail in its 200 yard sprint.

 

[Brian Williams]

I have a Win Mod 70 Compact Classic and it really likes 140gr Sierra boattails over 42 gr of 4064. It also likes Rem Corelokts.

 

[6.5swede]

Try the Federal 120 gr fusion...reasonable price , usually accurate, and an excellent deer bullet.