Found a fairly accurate load in my then-new TC Pro Hunter 7mm-08 last year - worked up loads with several powders including Varget, H-4895, and H-4350 with a number of "normal" bullets (don't do premium) and found that the most accurate load was:
47.5 grains H-4350 pushing a 140gr Sierra SP flat base, avg. 2860fps
---remember this is a 28" barrel, not a max load either
This load was worked up at the book-listed OAL of 2.800".
Checked that rifle recently for freebore and found that in order to "touch the lands" with that 140 Sierra I have an OAL of 2.925"... that 1/8" jump into the lands seems like a lot for me despite the 1.5MOA accuracy already given.
I think this rifle has a lot more, it's a 1:9 twist so it should spin anything up to 175 grains well (no?) and I'm curious what you all think given the above information:
1) Best next-step to take the 140 Sierra load and try OAL's of 2.840, 2.880, and 2.900 to reduce that "huge" (?) jump into the lands? One thing I'm worried about is that this bullet has barely a half-caliber IN the neck at the longer OALs. That cool?
2) Best next-step to take the load for what it is and try something heavier (thus longer) like a 150gr or 160gr bullet? That would automatically seat it closer to the lands while also keeping more in the neck.
Hope I provided enough info but let me know what you think. I'm mostly curious whether playing around with the 140-class OAL, versus moving up in bullet weight, will likely lead me (if it will?) to more accuracy. As it is now the thing is a "hunter" with the big-jumping load above, so it's not the end of the world.
thanks!
47.5 grains H-4350 pushing a 140gr Sierra SP flat base, avg. 2860fps
---remember this is a 28" barrel, not a max load either
This load was worked up at the book-listed OAL of 2.800".
Checked that rifle recently for freebore and found that in order to "touch the lands" with that 140 Sierra I have an OAL of 2.925"... that 1/8" jump into the lands seems like a lot for me despite the 1.5MOA accuracy already given.
I think this rifle has a lot more, it's a 1:9 twist so it should spin anything up to 175 grains well (no?) and I'm curious what you all think given the above information:
1) Best next-step to take the 140 Sierra load and try OAL's of 2.840, 2.880, and 2.900 to reduce that "huge" (?) jump into the lands? One thing I'm worried about is that this bullet has barely a half-caliber IN the neck at the longer OALs. That cool?
2) Best next-step to take the load for what it is and try something heavier (thus longer) like a 150gr or 160gr bullet? That would automatically seat it closer to the lands while also keeping more in the neck.
Hope I provided enough info but let me know what you think. I'm mostly curious whether playing around with the 140-class OAL, versus moving up in bullet weight, will likely lead me (if it will?) to more accuracy. As it is now the thing is a "hunter" with the big-jumping load above, so it's not the end of the world.
thanks!