7mm-08 and 162 ELD-M

[TxLite]

Planning to start loading the 162’s in my 22” 7-08 but wanted to see what others are having success with and get an idea of what success looks like with this combo (velocity, accuracy, terminal reports, etc).

For components I’ve got the following

Alpha brass
Cci 200’s

And looking at trying the following powders that I’ve got on hand-
Varget (a bunch)
H4350
Imr 4451 (a bunch)
Staball 6.5 (really curious to see if others have tried this combo, it gives fantastic velocity with 168 bergers)

 

[Timberline001]

I load RL26 with magnum primers in my brothers 22 inch 7-08 with 162 ELDMs. Shoots 2730. It’s a very compressed load but doesn’t require a funnel. Shoots great but I’ll probably need to find a new load now that rl26 is impossible to find.

 

[TxLite]

I load RL26 with magnum primers in my brothers 22 inch 7-08 with 162 ELDMs. Shoots 2730. It’s a very compressed load but doesn’t require a funnel. Shoots great but I’ll probably need to find a new load now that rl26 is impossible to find.

I hadn’t considered going that slow with it. I wonder how h1000 would do? I’ve got a bunch of that

 

[Timberline001]

I hadn’t considered going that slow with it. I wonder how h1000 would do? I’ve got a bunch of that

It’ll depend on how far into the case you have to stuff the bullet. In his ruger American it’s stuff way in there to fit in the mag.

 

[MThuntr]

I load RL26 with magnum primers in my brothers 22 inch 7-08 with 162 ELDMs. Shoots 2730. It’s a very compressed load but doesn’t require a funnel. Shoots great but I’ll probably need to find a new load now that rl26 is impossible to find.

That's moving. RL26 seems to play well in a lot of cartridges. I wonder if N565 might yield favorable results. Droptubes will definitely help with those big kernels.

Back to the OP. I'd give Stabal6.5 a look. It's given me some pretty good loads for my 6.5CM on heavy bullets. I've never worked with it in variable temps but it might be a good choice to burn a dozen bullets if you it already

 

[Timberline001]

That's moving. RL26 seems to play well in a lot of cartridges. I wonder if N565 might yield favorable results. Droptubes will definitely help with those big kernels.

Back to the OP. I'd give Stabal6.5 a look. It's given me some pretty good loads for my 6.5CM on heavy bullets. I've never worked with it in variable temps but it might be a good choice to burn a dozen bullets if you it already

N565 as performed almost identical to rl26 for me but with better temp stability so I bet it’d be great.

 

[TxLite]

It’ll depend on how far into the case you have to stuff the bullet. In his ruger American it’s stuff way in there to fit in the mag.

I’ll hit the lands before I run out of room in the mag. It’s going into a tikka with a LA bolt stop

 

[Timberline001]

I’ll hit the lands before I run out of room in the mag. It’s going into a tikka with a LA bolt stop

That’s sweet. That’s the perfect set up.

 

[TxLite]

That’s sweet. That’s the perfect set up.

Looking at GRT, RL26 actually looks like a pretty good match. Definitely a very full case though. Maybe I’ll be able to find some in 2030

 

[wind gypsy]

Guy in my squad at a match was doing the 162s over staball6.5 and getting very good speeds. Much faster than i would have guessed!

 

[TxLite]

Guy in my squad at a match was doing the 162s over staball6.5 and getting very good speeds. Much faster than i would have guessed!

Staball 6.5 is where I plan to start based on how it did for me with 168 vld’s

 

[Timberline001]

Staball 6.5 is where I plan to start based on how it did for me with 168 vld’s

Let’s us know how it goes! I need another powder option that’ll get us up to 2700. We love what that bullet does in the -08.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

I recently bought a couple hundred 162 ELDX from another member and also plan to start with SB 6.5. @Pharmseller is a big fan of Big Game Hunter in the 7-08 if you can find it.

I'm running CCI LRP and 1x fired and necked down Federal .308 brass. This brass has been consistent and easy to work with, and I have a truckload since selling my RA .308.

I swapped to LA mag stop and LA mags, and it feeds flawlessly.

 

[HGL]

In my old Rem 700, 7-08 that had a 22" Bartlein, I used Varget with the 162 Amax.

Ended up at 39.5 grains at 2630 fps. I worked up to 41.0 grains at 2720 and it shot good, just better at the lower node.

 

[Ram94]

41.6gr of Varget
40.5gr of IMR 8208xbr

Both of these have gotten me 2750 fps with the 162 ELDM.

Great load!

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Good news on Varget on the heavies. I'm shooting the 120 NBT over 44 grains of Varget and it's very accurate.

 

[TxLite]

In my old Rem 700, 7-08 that had a 22" Bartlein, I used Varget with the 162 Amax.

Ended up at 39.5 grains at 2630 fps. I worked up to 41.0 grains at 2720 and it shot good, just better at the lower node.

41.6gr of Varget
40.5gr of IMR 8208xbr

Both of these have gotten me 2750 fps with the 162 ELDM.

Great load!

Quite a bit faster than I expected with varget. One of my all time favorite powders. Will definitely be working up some loads with it. Thanks for the feedback

 

[Pharmseller]

150 eldx with 46.2 gr BG.




Deer, elk, antelope. 2790 fps. If you want a 280, get a 280.




P

 

[TxLite]

150 eldx with 46.2 gr BG.

View attachment 708580


Deer, elk, antelope. 2790 fps. If you want a 280, get a 280.




P

Congrats on the bull. I’ve got a 150 tgk load that’s been awesome on whitetail and axis deer. But as a reloader I enjoy working up new loads. Flavor of the month this time is 162 in 7mm-08. Don’t want a 280, I just want to see what all I can do with it.

 

[Timberline001]

150 eldx with 46.2 gr BG.

View attachment 708580


Deer, elk, antelope. 2790 fps. If you want a 280, get a 280.

Nice bull. What’s up with the want a 280 get a 280 comment? Shooting 162s at 2700 is well within the 7-08 wheelhouse.