Recently bought a Howa 1500 ranch rifle, 20" barrel. Shot my break-in loads fairly well. Can't seem to find an accurate load for the 140 gr bullets I want to load. I've tried Rem, Sierra and Hornady in this range along with powders Win 760, H-414 and IMR 4064. Best groups I've gotten so far is around 2-3/4 in. @ 100yds. Checked mounts and stock screws already also.Anyone have any good pet loads that are accurate in a lighter rifle like this?
7mm-08 loads
- Thread starter wapabrown
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The 7-08 needs a 24 inch barrel to come up to its full potential but you should be able to get good velocity out of your 20 incher. The most accurate load (3/8 Inch groups) in my 7-08 is the 140 gr ballistic silvertip in front of 47 gr of 4350. This is a max load in my gun and should be approached with caution. A prudent approach would be to start out at 45gr and slowly work up. Again I strongly recommend that you do NOT start out at the 47gr load.
Kernel
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With 140 grain bullets I think your on the right track with W760 and H414. I'd keep my focus there. Speed wise, those powders are ideal. I'd put 4064 in the "too fast" catagory for top performance.
Are you sure you got a good scope? I've seen a lot of guys driven to distraction looking for an ammo problem, only to find it was a bad optics that was causing their poor accuracy.
Are you sure you got a good scope? I've seen a lot of guys driven to distraction looking for an ammo problem, only to find it was a bad optics that was causing their poor accuracy.
SSN Vet
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No love for Reloader-15?
RhinoDefense
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Well, H414 and W760 are the same exact powder, just different names by their distributor for marketing (the powder is called SMP760 and is made by St Marks).
Varget, H380, H4895 or IMR4895 work well also. An often forgotten powder is IMR4320. It was used in factory .300 Savage ammunition and can be a sneaky favorite in similar capacity cases around the Savage/.308 Winchester capacity.
Varget, H380, H4895 or IMR4895 work well also. An often forgotten powder is IMR4320. It was used in factory .300 Savage ammunition and can be a sneaky favorite in similar capacity cases around the Savage/.308 Winchester capacity.
Just food for thought. I have 2 7mm-08's (both with sporter barrels) and each one has a sweet spot for a certain bullet weight. One of them shoot's 140's good enough for minute of deer (1.5 moa @ 100) but with 120gr's I can put 5 shots into the size of a dime at 100. The other rifle loves 139gr and 140gr bullets but doesn't group well with lower weights. From what I have experienced and from other people who have 7mm-08's this isn't uncommon. You may never be able to tighten up your groups to where you like them with 140's. I would try different weights or try some more brands such as the Barnes 140gr TSX and Noslers, etc. Try some factory loads to doublecheck if it is you or the rifle.
Also play around with OAL of the rounds you are loading. Barnes like a longer jump to the rifling where Hornady and Nosler can get real close as long as your magazine will still feed them.
This is a must have for getting super tight groups (outside of blind luck): http://www.hornady.com/store/Lock-N-Load-OAL-Gauge-Straight-1Each/
Reloader 15 and Varget are also a big help (7mm-08's love these powders).
Also play around with OAL of the rounds you are loading. Barnes like a longer jump to the rifling where Hornady and Nosler can get real close as long as your magazine will still feed them.
This is a must have for getting super tight groups (outside of blind luck): http://www.hornady.com/store/Lock-N-Load-OAL-Gauge-Straight-1Each/
Reloader 15 and Varget are also a big help (7mm-08's love these powders).
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Bull Nutria
Member
I have a TC Venture in 7mm08, i tried 3031,4831, 4350, H380 and settled on 4064. My best groups are about 1 inch to 1.25 inch at 100yds off sand bags. I have had better luck with near max loads in H380 and have settled on 42.5g of 4064 with the Rem 140 gr spire point flat base core loct. bullet. i shot 100 hornady 139g BTSP and was not satisfied. the 140 rems are flat base. a poster suggested i try flat base bullets,and it looks like he was onto something.
are you shooting boat tails?
on bullet weight if i wanted to shoot 120 gr or 130 gr bullets i would have purchased a different caliber. I think 140g is about perfect for deer, if i changed bullet weight i would go heavier to 150g .
overall my rifle will shoot 1.5 to 2 inch groups with H380 , but it does best with the 4064 at 39 and 42.5 respectively. i settled on the 42.5 g for a lttle more velocity as i could not differentiate these two loads by group size.
I have read that varget was very good in 7mm08, i could not find any when i was working up my pet load .
Good luck, some rifles are a challenge, I would think you should be able to duplicate a Win factory load!! Lyman folks may be able to help if you ask them.
Bull
are you shooting boat tails?
on bullet weight if i wanted to shoot 120 gr or 130 gr bullets i would have purchased a different caliber. I think 140g is about perfect for deer, if i changed bullet weight i would go heavier to 150g .
overall my rifle will shoot 1.5 to 2 inch groups with H380 , but it does best with the 4064 at 39 and 42.5 respectively. i settled on the 42.5 g for a lttle more velocity as i could not differentiate these two loads by group size.
I have read that varget was very good in 7mm08, i could not find any when i was working up my pet load .
Good luck, some rifles are a challenge, I would think you should be able to duplicate a Win factory load!! Lyman folks may be able to help if you ask them.
Bull
SSN Vet
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And now that I have learned something new, I can call this a successful day.
quartermaster
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7mm-08
I ended up shooting 120 nosler bt's in mine using Varget. Shoots very consistant tight groups. I didn't have much luck with 140's plus I wasn't happy with the velocity.
I ended up shooting 120 nosler bt's in mine using Varget. Shoots very consistant tight groups. I didn't have much luck with 140's plus I wasn't happy with the velocity.
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