7mm-08 users, what are your loads for elk?

[juan trueno]

I’m more of a 140 partition guy but I’ve dipped my toe in the 120 ballistic tip water, and can’t complain. I think it’s too light to recommend for elk but not because it hasn’t worked for me. I’ve thought about going 160s in a lower drag format but 140s just hammer

 

[jdhmhatch]

Last year was my first for rifle elk hunting and I took my stainless Tikka 7mm-08 hand loaded with 162 ELD-X @ 2650 - a very, very accurate load from my rifle. I'm not sure yet if I'll be rifle hunting or bow or muzzleloader this year, but since I didn't get the opportunity to shoot an elk last fall, I'm still wondering how that load would have performed. Any thoughts?

What 7mm-08 loads are people having luck with for elk, and at what distances?

Thanks.

I used 140 grain nosler partition last year and they performed well

 

[Newtosavage]

That's quite a few votes for 140 Partitions, which really doesn't surprise me at all.

 

[.270]

I use the 140 accubonds and RL 17 in my 7mm08. They shot really well and I havent tried any other bullet or powder in that rifle.

 

[kmbrewcrew]

I worked up a load with the 162 grain eld-x for my dad’s 7mm, and it (at least on paper) maintained 1500 foot pounds of energy out to about 700 yards...I don’t shoot that far, but like knowing I’ve got the energy I like out past the distance I do want to shoot...

 

[Newtosavage]

I worked up a load with the 162 grain eld-x for my dad’s 7mm, and it (at least on paper) maintained 1500 foot pounds of energy out to about 700 yards...I don’t shoot that far, but like knowing I’ve got the energy I like out past the distance I do want to shoot...

That 162 can produce some impressive numbers on paper.

 

[BuzzH]

I hear good things about 140 accubonds and about 43.0 grains of varget with a MV of 2850-2910...from ranges between 25 and 625 yards.

Two in about 30 seconds:

 

[BuzzH]

625 pass complete pass through

450, exit side:

 

[BuzzH]

Rumor has it, the 120 nosler ballistic tip doesn't suck either, at 2825 fps, at least for 12 year old kids:

more with the 140 AB:

I'm sure other bullets would work equally well, just never did see a reason to look any further...

 

[bluetick78]

Lovin' the 140 Partitions too. I've used 145 Speer hot-cor's as well. They work equally well, and a touch more accurate in a few of my guns. 139 Hornady SST's work great too, suprisingly I always get pass throughs under about 300 with the SST. Any of these 3 loads shoots to the same POA out to around 350. I don't even look anymore when I use the '08, I just grab a box and hunt.

 

[OXN939]

140 grain Nosler E Tip. Was nice not having to worry about lead fragments in the front two quarters in a state like Alaska that mandates salvage of even bloodshot meat.

 

[Dougfir]

The only elk I've killed with my 7mm-08 fell to a 150 accubond LR. It did the job just fine, but wouldn't be my first choice again (it's a little on the soft side). At this point, I'm shooting a 140 e tip, but haven't had the opportunity to use it on an elk, yet. Last year, I used 140 accubonds and was pretty darn impressed with what they did to a deer shoulder.... I'm just looking to ditch the lead.

 

[RoJo]

Last year was my first for rifle elk hunting and I took my stainless Tikka 7mm-08 hand loaded with 162 ELD-X @ 2650 - a very, very accurate load from my rifle. I'm not sure yet if I'll be rifle hunting or bow or muzzleloader this year, but since I didn't get the opportunity to shoot an elk last fall, I'm still wondering how that load would have performed. Any thoughts?

What 7mm-08 loads are people having luck with for elk, and at what distances?

Thanks.

So, is the 162 ELD-X the most accurate load you've found for your Tikka? Do you care to share load details? My daughter has that rifle and will be hunting cow elk with it this fall. I'm considering trying to work up some hand loads for her rather than her using off the shelf ammo.

 

[Newtosavage]

I'd be glad to. I tried a LOT of different loads in my Tikka. 140/150/160/162 grain bullets and about 6 different powders including all the usual suspects like RL-17, H4350, H414, Big Game, etc. The most consistently accurate combination I came up with was 162 ELD-X over IMR 8208 XBR. It's not a powder many folks know much about, but it's listed on the Hodgdon site as the fastest with 162's and my LGS had a pound in stock, so I tried it.

Glad I did! It is incredibly temp stable. I've shot it down to 20 deg and over 100 and have seen no change in POI out to 300 yards.

There are powders that will give me another 20-50 fps. velocity, but they are not as stable or accurate in my gun as 8208. I'm just under the max published charge on the Hodgdon's load data (online).

Keep in mind, the 162's kick noticeably more than 140's in that light rifle.

My other go-to load is 139 grain SST's and Interbonds (hard to find though) over 41 grains of 8208. They roll out at 2800 fps and are very accurate.

 

[Sekora]

I'm glad to hear you guys are having such good luck on elk with the 140 grain accubonds out of your 7mm08's. I have a 7mm08 but also have a 280 that shoots the 140 accubonds really well. It absolutely hammers whitetails but I never really thought of it as an elk rifle. I do have some 160 grain accubonds I was going to try to work a load with but I may have to consider the 140's for my next elk hunt. I really like carrying that rifle.

 

[juan trueno]

it just is one of those things - 7mm 140s 2800-1800, like small block chevies, jeeps, and SGs have existed long enough to be one of the most well known and proven reliably performing tools available with a track record of delivering succcess from the back 40 to the most austere and far flung venues they perform as well in the most mundane as well as the most groundbreaking of chores. There is no greener grass.

 

[Newtosavage]

I had a stainless Ruger 77 in .280 for a while. It was the big brother to my stainless Ruger 77 in 7x57.

I really liked that .280. Should have never sold it. I've been thinking about having my Tikka rechambered to .280 AI for a while now, mostly because of that .280. It would throw 160 Accubonds at 2800 fps into nice little groups. If that's not elk medicine, then I'm doing it all wrong.

 

[HNTR918]

Anyone load 175 or 180gr eld's in there 7mm-08?

 

[Jon Boy]

Anyone load 175 or 180gr eld's in there 7mm-08?

I'll be testing the 180 eldm in my 7/08 when its finished in around a month. 162 will be the primary load but it's an 8 twist so I want to dink around with the 180. West texas ordnance have some data on game with it un their 7 SAW and they really enjoy it.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[HNTR918]

Just found this from your post above.
https://westtexordnance.com/7mm-saw-barrel-length-and-power-tests/
This is very similar performance of what I'm trying to reach with 180gr Eld-M seated LONG in a 7mm-08 case.
I'll need a COAL of about 3.2'' ...
Please let me know what your results are.