7mm/08

[gunman72]

Looking for input on all around best white tail ammo for my 7/08. Any g
ood and tested advice? I'm shooting a savage 110 that has been accurized. Floated, trigger work and such. It is an absolute tack driver, but I'm pretty well unfamiliar with available factory ammo options.

 

[Texaszach]

Unless you are shooting at extremely long ranges I would say any standard cup and core would do the trick in the 7mm-08.

 

[witchhunter]

Shoot what is most accurate and available. A good hit with a cheap bullet beats a bad hit with a premium bullet.

 

[DanTheFarmer]

What's your twist rate? I got a Savage 7mm-08 during the relatively brief time during which they were using a 1 in 12 or so twist. The usual twist, and the one Savage uses now, is 1 in 9 or so. The slow twist works great up to the common 139/140 grain bullets. I've got good loads worked up for 120 gr, 139 gr, and 140 gr. That's plenty of choices for just about anything you should use a 7mm-08 for.
For fun I tested my slow twist barrel with 175 gr bullets and got keyholes all over the target at 50 yards. I tried 154 gr and they didn't keyhole but weren't very accurate either. By the way my accuracy standard is to shoot a three shot group at 100 yards and have all three covered or touched by a quarter.

I recommend trying some of the common brands at 120, 139, or 140 grain and seeing which your rifle likes.

Good Luck,

Dan

 

[Abel]

Federal Fusion 140gr is a good place to start for 7mm-08 factory whitetail ammo.

 

[oneounceload]

My Model 7 prefers 140 gr over 120 - Sierra or Nosler - and will easily outshoot what I am capable of doing with it

 

[1prcntr]

+1 on 140 gr Fusion!

 

[tahoe2]

find any 140 grn that shoots good in your gun, should do the trick.
Prvi-Partizan(soft point), Winchester(power point), Remington(core-lokt), just to name a few.

 

[Kachok]

My 7mm-08 hates all factory ammo (4-8" groups) but if I had my pick of bullets I would want the 140gr Fusion, 140gr Ballistic Tips or 150gr Hot-Core depending on the game you have in mind. For my handloads I shoot a variety of bullets from 120gr Pro hunters to 160gr Deep Curls, but the 140gr Game King is my go to hunting bullet.

 

[Lj1941]

7mm08

I have had good luck with the original Remington 139 Grain Core Lok factory loads.Or is 140 grain ? It has been a very long time since I used factory loads.:banghead:

 

[flipajig]

If I remember right the 7-08 was basses on a 139-140 grain bullet. Depending on your shot distance would depend on what bullet for me. For 100 to 200 yds a good old soft pointed bullet is for me a Balistic type of bullet up close is too destructive for me.
Flip

 

[Kachok]

Ballistic tips are no more destructive then the faster expanding soft point bullets, in my experience the SGK is every bit as destructive if not more so. I still use fast expanders but up close keep it in the neck or behind the shoulder to minimize gunshot meat. If you like shooting through the shoulder use something tougher those are better at breaking bone anyway, TSXs Partitions, Hot-Cores, Fusions....etc
Ballistic Tips are in general a very good bullet, most of my rifles shoot them accurately and they are devastating on game. I have never once had a bullet failure with either of my fast expanding bullets, jury is still out on my Speer BTSP but I hope to be able to report on them as soon since my 308 loves them so.
The 120gr Pro Hunter is the most accurate in mine, it drives tacks when pushed with H380.

 

[nathan]

My Marlin XS 7 in 7mm 08 shoots very well with Hornady 139 gr SST. I notice it has a noticeable recoil compared with the Winchester 140 gr Supreme with the black ballistic tip. Mine groups 1.25 inch at 100 yrds using sandbag rest.

 

[Vern94]

I have good luck with Speer 145 gr BTSP over 46 grains of IMR4350. 3 shots within an inch at 100 yds. Good performance on the deer I shot last fall. Hit him behind front shoulder. He ran about 30 yards before piling up.
I have 120 and 140 BT's that I want to get loaded up and see how they work on paper.

 

[VAPOPO]

I've had great luck with the 140grn SST and either Reloader 15 or IMR 4064. To get the most out of this cartridge you have to hand load.