Have a Stevens 7mm-08 w/ 9.5:1" twist. This is basically a savage 11 w/o accu-trigger. Have RE 15, IMR 4064, and IMR 4895 on hand. Shooting Hornady 139 gr, SST. Need help w/ most accurate loads. W/ reloading prices going through the roof would like to pare down my range time.
Stevens 7mm-08 Loads
- Thread starter berk3720
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Why would anyone want to spend less time on the range?
The answer to your question is to spend more time at the range shooting different loads until you find the one your rifle likes best. All of those powders will work and all of them will likely be accurate...
What charge will that load be? Only you can answer that question. With you rifle, your bullets, your lot of powder and primers.
One possibly way to reduce the time it take to get there is to try to do either an "optimal charge weight" experiment. Another is a "ladder test" if you have a long enough shooting range.
Search and ye shall find.
p.s. welcome to the forum
X-Rap
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What ever you do work up the load in Stevens carefully, I was working up a load for a Stevens and a 788 Rem and had the extractor blow out and the ejector pin bend and jam hard enough that I had to get a gunsmith to drill it out.
This happened after I shot the same load in the shrouded bolt of the 788 with no signs of presure.
The case in the Stevens was blown out, same load, new brass and very accurate in the Rem although I backed down some on the next bunch.
I have heard raves about the Savage action and own a 223 that I won't part with but after my experience I will load light if it's going in one of those actions.
This happened after I shot the same load in the shrouded bolt of the 788 with no signs of presure.
The case in the Stevens was blown out, same load, new brass and very accurate in the Rem although I backed down some on the next bunch.
I have heard raves about the Savage action and own a 223 that I won't part with but after my experience I will load light if it's going in one of those actions.
Some of us can't afford to spend too much time on the range. I as well would be interested to know what some of you all have had success with in this gun. It of course is obvious that most of them will like a different load, but it would at least offer a starting place in an array of probably 1000 combination's in 7mm-08.
The starting place would be: pick a bullet, pick a powder, and then use the "start" load listed in your favorite data manual. If your manual doesn't list a "start" load then subtract 10% from the "max" load.
If you can't afford time on the range, a pound of powder, and a hundred bullets, then buy factory loads.
If you can't afford time on the range, a pound of powder, and a hundred bullets, then buy factory loads.
Just looking for some ideas. In case you had not noticed there are 1 or two different powders out there, and bullets as well. I did not say I could not afford to shoot, I just do not exactly feel like buying a pound each of 15 different powders and 100 each of 10 different bullets. I did find some older post with some helpful info so berk3720, if you want to do a forum search on "stevens 200 7mm-08" and maybe just "7mm-08", you can find some ideas on where to start. Of course you will want to start experimenting from there with your particular rifle.
GooseGestapo
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In the 7mm08, of the powders you listed, I'd start with IMR4064.
In reality, you'll find that either IMR4350, H4350, or RL17 will give you the best results. Also worth trying is H414.
My 7mm08 is very finicky about what it shoots well. With the 139gr Hornady, you can't get enough IMR4350 in the case to cause over pressure problems. It's the most accurate powder in my 7mm08. RL17 has given the best velocities with H4350 close and likewise H414.
You will probably find that 42.0gr of the IMR4064 will give you the best results of what you listed. 41.0gr of RL15 is max in my rifle and is a bit slower than the IMR4064 load. The 4895's are just too fast for the 7mm08. You'll find that they max out at about 40.0gr and about 140fps short of the IMR4064 or slower powders. The 7mm08 is suprisingly fond of slower burning powders.
Good luck and reduce the above loads by 10% and work up.
However, with IMR4350, I suggest just loading 46.0gr and go shoot! It'll get 2,750-2,800fps depending on barrel length. An aquaintance suggested this load with the 140gr Sierra BTSpt back in 1982. I haven't found anything that will beat it since..... He shot over 100 deer with it that year on a control permit. He also placed it the top 10 in National Metallic Silhoutte competition with the same rifle.....
In reality, you'll find that either IMR4350, H4350, or RL17 will give you the best results. Also worth trying is H414.
My 7mm08 is very finicky about what it shoots well. With the 139gr Hornady, you can't get enough IMR4350 in the case to cause over pressure problems. It's the most accurate powder in my 7mm08. RL17 has given the best velocities with H4350 close and likewise H414.
You will probably find that 42.0gr of the IMR4064 will give you the best results of what you listed. 41.0gr of RL15 is max in my rifle and is a bit slower than the IMR4064 load. The 4895's are just too fast for the 7mm08. You'll find that they max out at about 40.0gr and about 140fps short of the IMR4064 or slower powders. The 7mm08 is suprisingly fond of slower burning powders.
Good luck and reduce the above loads by 10% and work up.
However, with IMR4350, I suggest just loading 46.0gr and go shoot! It'll get 2,750-2,800fps depending on barrel length. An aquaintance suggested this load with the 140gr Sierra BTSpt back in 1982. I haven't found anything that will beat it since..... He shot over 100 deer with it that year on a control permit. He also placed it the top 10 in National Metallic Silhoutte competition with the same rifle.....
Sunray
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"...Need help w/ most accurate loads..." You absolutely have to work up the load for your rifle. No two will shoot the same ammo the same way.
If you're getting good accuracy with the SST, use that bullet. IMR4895 gives a bit more velocity than IMR4064. Toss a coin. Mind you, I've found IMR4064 to give more consistent accuracy in .30-06. Don't load 7mm-08 myself.
"...4895's are just too fast for the 7mm08..." Um, no. Where you got the 140 fps is questionable data. The starting load of IMR4895 is 24 fps faster with a 139 grain bullet than IMR4064. 4 FPS at the max load. An H4895 starting load is 4 fps slower. Max load is 6 fps faster than IMR4895, 10 fps faster than IMR4064. Burn rates aren't far apart either.
You will have to work up the load then sight in. And practice with it until you can hit a 9" pie plate, every time, off hand at 100. You can't gain shooting skills and keep them without spending time on a range.
If you're getting good accuracy with the SST, use that bullet. IMR4895 gives a bit more velocity than IMR4064. Toss a coin. Mind you, I've found IMR4064 to give more consistent accuracy in .30-06. Don't load 7mm-08 myself.
"...4895's are just too fast for the 7mm08..." Um, no. Where you got the 140 fps is questionable data. The starting load of IMR4895 is 24 fps faster with a 139 grain bullet than IMR4064. 4 FPS at the max load. An H4895 starting load is 4 fps slower. Max load is 6 fps faster than IMR4895, 10 fps faster than IMR4064. Burn rates aren't far apart either.
You will have to work up the load then sight in. And practice with it until you can hit a 9" pie plate, every time, off hand at 100. You can't gain shooting skills and keep them without spending time on a range.
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