Short 7mm-08 length, 18"?

grfox92

WKR
Joined
Mar 14, 2017
Messages
2,480
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NW WY
I can't speak to the 7/08 data but the 7 RM data is 100% bogus. My 24" 7 RM makes 2925 fps with H1000 and 180s for accuracy, zero pressure until 3000 fps but doesn't shoot as well there. I'm on my 4th barrel with the exact same load and get 6+ firings on Norma brass so it's pretty well vetted at this point.
I believe it. It was hard for me to believe it could be that close.

Regardless the numbers for 7mm08 if correct turn what was commonly referred to as a 400 yard max hunting gun to a 700 yard killer with Match bullets. I have a gift car for Murdochs and am patiently waiting for them to get 6.5 SB back in stock. Im curious to see what velocity I get out of it.

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dkime

WKR
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Feb 25, 2015
Messages
751
I have the same rifle. What velocity were you seeing? Handloads or factory?

These were loads I picked up from Unknown Muntions. I want to tell you they were moving around 2700 or better but I’m probably lying as it’s been awhile since I actually chronod the gun.


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wyosam

WKR
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Aug 5, 2019
Messages
1,032
I’ve got an 18” and a 20”, both are Ackley improved, but that does change performance much at all on the 7-08 (do it mainly because I like to tinker, less trimming, maybe longer brass life). The 308 cartridges do great in short barrels.


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Joined
Dec 20, 2023
Messages
73
I've got one at the smith getting chopped soon at around 18.5", should be able to report back here for 150 ELDX and 162 ELDM and 140 AB's in a 3-4 weeks... but for now, color me curious also!
Thinking hard about shipping my tikka action to unknown to get milled and lightened up then spinning a 18” carbon on it with a can. Currently is a 7mm08 and since I have the bullets/brass and dies it’s just the easy button to stay with it
 

walk2112

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 22, 2020
Messages
118
Thinking hard about shipping my tikka action to unknown to get milled and lightened up then spinning a 18” carbon on it with a can. Currently is a 7mm08 and since I have the bullets/brass and dies it’s just the easy button to stay with it
Mines a Model 70 FTW, but because I have a rifle problem/solution (depending who you ask, haha) I have come extremely close to buying a(nother) Tikka so I could go down a very similar path to what you’re describing and I still just might! All my research that lead me to chopping the M70 convinced me that a suppressed 18” 7-08 is just about perfect in alot of ways for 0-600 yds for me.
 
Joined
Dec 20, 2023
Messages
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Mines a Model 70 FTW, but because I have a rifle problem/solution (depending who you ask, haha) I have come extremely close to buying a(nother) Tikka so I could go down a very similar path to what you’re describing and I still just might! All my research that lead me to chopping the M70 convinced me that a suppressed 18” 7-08 is just about perfect in alot of ways for 0-600 yds for me.
Yeah my plan with it is a kids gun as my daughter will be deer hunting this season. She doesn’t like recoil and really doesn’t like loud.
 

Tmac

WKR
Joined
Mar 16, 2020
Messages
784
Location
South of Portland
Have used a Rem 788 with a 18” barrel since the 80’s. Have zero idea about the fps, but everything I have pointed it at has died. 140 gr bullets. Same story with my 788 in 243, same 18” barrel, but 100 gr. bullets.
 

walk2112

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 22, 2020
Messages
118
Well get it back yet?
Got the 18.5” 7-08 back (it really turned out good btw, awesome balance with light wt. can at that barrel length) remounted scope, threaded on can and got some chrono data:

34 deg. F, Garmin Xero, 10-15 shot ave.

150 eld-x handload (6.5 StaBall) - 2722 fps
150 eld-x factory - 2645 fps
139 SST Superformance - 2780 fps

In summary, for this barrel/chamber, 3.5” of barrel chopped off = 100 fps velocity loss. For what I’m doing, worth it.
 

TxLite

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Joined
Sep 6, 2018
Messages
1,383
Location
Texas
Got the 18.5” 7-08 back (it really turned out good btw, awesome balance with light wt. can at that barrel length) remounted scope, threaded on can and got some chrono data:

34 deg. F, Garmin Xero, 10-15 shot ave.

150 eld-x handload (6.5 StaBall) - 2722 fps
150 eld-x factory - 2645 fps
139 SST Superformance - 2780 fps

In summary, for this barrel/chamber, 3.5” of barrel chopped off = 100 fps velocity loss. For what I’m doing, worth it.
Was that maxed pressure on the staball or did it have room to keep going up?
 

walk2112

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 22, 2020
Messages
118
Was that maxed pressure on the staball or did it have room to keep going up?
There's a little room yet, but not much I don't think.
Also should mention I'm using Lapua brass, full length sizing each time, and the factory Winchester chamber is probably not as tight as a custom job. Could be over pressure in a different rifle.

For context as to where I'm at along the pressure curve, I tried neck sizing only once, with all else in the load being the same, and I gained 40-50 fps, 10 shot groups tightened up a little, but about 30% of rounds were a little squeaky to extract and a few required more force than usual to close the bolt, and a few times I noticed what I consider pressure signs on brass/primers.
 
Joined
Dec 20, 2023
Messages
73
Got the 18.5” 7-08 back (it really turned out good btw, awesome balance with light wt. can at that barrel length) remounted scope, threaded on can and got some chrono data:

34 deg. F, Garmin Xero, 10-15 shot ave.

150 eld-x handload (6.5 StaBall) - 2722 fps
150 eld-x factory - 2645 fps
139 SST Superformance - 2780 fps

In summary, for this barrel/chamber, 3.5” of barrel chopped off = 100 fps velocity loss. For what I’m doing, worth it.
Sounds pretty wicked
 

sneaky

"DADDY"
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Feb 1, 2014
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Load with H1000 is for 7mm RM max load is 2905fps.

Load with Staball is for 7mm08 max load is 2821fps.

84 fps slower with 22.2gr less powder.

For the record. This is just load data, but I have talked to guys on here that introduced me to those loads and they are proven. IMR 8208 XBR also makes a screaming load for 7mm08.
b3c92791c47c612f65faf4607a2932ca.jpg
be29d635db2148b789a5d948d5116fe1.jpg


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I bet a 7SAW with Staball would be even more impressive

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