Author Topic: Best factory ammo for 7mm08 (Read 3488 times)

staface · « **on:** December 29, 2003, 02:59:32 PM »

I just purchased a rem model 7 in 7mm08 and was wondering what factory ammo you guys use. I know i have to purchase different ammo to see which one shoots best in my gun but just curious to see what works for you. Maybe you can help narrow it down to save me some money.

longwinters · « **Reply #1 on:** December 30, 2003, 05:39:00 AM »

I reload now for all my guns. But in the 7M-08 that my son has, or any rifle for that matter, I am a firm believer in the Federal Premium and Winchester Supreme ammo. Before reloading these were my go to cartridges and they were excellent.

long

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** December 30, 2003, 06:00:30 AM »

I don't believe there is a BEST ammo in any caliber or for any cartridge. However I've used both the Remington 140 CLSP and the Hornady Light Magnum with 139 BTSP to great satisfaction. Both kill game effectively and are quite accurate in my rifles. Currently I use only the Hornady Light Mag however.

GB

Crayfish · « **Reply #3 on:** December 30, 2003, 07:54:21 AM »

My Dad and I both have Rem 700 Mountain rifles in 7mm-08. He prefers Federal Premium with 140gr Nosler Partitions, whereas I prefer Hornady Light Mags with 139gr SP's (flat base). Mine are cheaper and shoot around .75" groups (or better at times) out of my gun. His will shoot around the same size groups if not slightly better, but I can't see spending $25 or so a box!!

FWIW, my gun hated Remington factory loads with 140gr Ballistic Tips ... the only other factory load I've tried.

... Crayfish

Bubba Jack · « **Reply #4 on:** December 31, 2003, 03:30:44 AM »

My 7mm-08 loves the Hornady Light Mag. 139 grain sst bullets, 3/4" or less at 100 yds. It also like the Remington Supreme 140 grain ballistic tips, but the groups opened up a little. Winchester Supreme Ballistic Silver Tips shoots about the same as the Remingtons, 1 1/4" groups at 100 yds. Still plenty good for hunting.

Bubba Jack

jim21 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 21, 2006, 11:33:03 AM »

wrong message :oops:

jim21 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 21, 2006, 11:34:51 AM »

I have a Stevens model 200 in 7-08 it shoots best with remington speer 140 bullet.

257 roberts · « **Reply #7 on:** April 21, 2006, 04:08:00 PM »

We use Winchester Ballistic Silver Tips 140gr. we've killed 7 deer with that round.

Don Dick · « **Reply #8 on:** October 29, 2006, 02:14:27 AM »

I like 140 grain Federal Premium in my Remington Mountain rifle.

Johnny Reb · « **Reply #9 on:** October 29, 2006, 03:01:38 AM »

I have a Encore in 7mm-08. I've tried Hornady Light Mag, Winchester, Remington, and Federal Ammo. My gun likes the Federal Fusions best. With the others I was getting 1-2" groups at 100 yds. With the Federal Fusion I get .75" at 100 yds. I haven't been able to find them in any of the local shops, but Cabela's has them for about $21 a box. Hope this helps.

HuntingGuy · « **Reply #10 on:** October 29, 2006, 04:38:36 AM »

140 Gr. Federal Premium Nosler Partitions... Great penetration, good accuracy = out of my Kimber 84M Montana.

beemanbeme · « **Reply #11 on:** October 29, 2006, 06:05:47 AM »

Well, we didn't help you pick a brand of ammo but it seems a 140gr bullet (139 in the Horn) is a consenus.

I've had 7-08's since back when they were still a wildcat and have never shot a round of store bought ammo thru any of them. It wouldn't take too many boxes of that twenty-something a box ammo to equal out to a beginner reloading kit.

HuntingGuy · « **Reply #12 on:** October 30, 2006, 08:53:23 AM »

beeman, aint that the truth.. I'm just lazy

1marty · « **Reply #13 on:** November 07, 2006, 01:55:27 PM »

I've shot the Win Supreme, Vital shock NBT and Rem greenies-give or take an inch they all shoot about the same from my Rem 700; the deer don't seem to mind when I'm one inch off.

Slamfire · « **Reply #14 on:** November 08, 2006, 01:40:33 AM »

The first factory ammo I try is Remington's Greenbox. If that don't work, then I try Winchester's Super X. After that, I'll start tryin' whatever premium ammo I can find. If that gives me satisfactory result, I work on a handload that works as well.

MRC · « **Reply #15 on:** November 08, 2006, 02:47:33 AM »

I like 140 grain Federal Premium Nosler Partitions in my Remington Mountain rifle also. They shoot great and give great performance. It's worth the extra money for the piece of mind.

Chuck White · « **Reply #16 on:** November 08, 2006, 10:19:10 AM »

Well, the rifle was made by Remington.
So, I'd try Remington 140 grain PSPCL first.

Then, if you want to try to improve your groups, try another weight or brand.

HuntingGuy · « **Reply #17 on:** November 08, 2006, 10:47:47 AM »

I've had no problems with Core Lokts yet.. If they shoot in your gun, use em. They are cheap and have performed effectively on every buck that was shot with a Core Lokt.

Zachary · « **Reply #18 on:** November 09, 2006, 05:43:56 AM »

I own 3 rifles in 7mm-08. One Sako, one Tikka, and the other Remington. With the Federal Nosler ammo, the Sako won't cycle the ammo for some reason. (I had a post about this some year(s) back). Then when I used Hornady ammo, the Sako cycled fine. Some people thought that maybe the Federal ammo was a bad batch. However, my Tikka and Remington cycled it just fine. Go figure.

That said, all of my rifles seem to like the Hornady Light Magnum ammo the best. Keep in mind that there are 2 bullets in this line-up (or there used to be). One is an interlock boat-tail, and the other is the SST. You would think that the SST would be more accurate, but actually the interlock is more accurate in all 3 rifles.

Zachary

HuntingGuy · « **Reply #19 on:** November 10, 2006, 07:11:03 AM »

Zachary-

Between your review on the reviews on Midway with the Hornady loads, I'm just about sold. Midway sells two types: the SST's and the SP's. Are the Spire Points the other ones you were referring to? -- I can't find the BT's. Folks are saying the SST's have better penetration over 100 yards, shots within 100 would be best taken with the SP's. I await your response before whippin' out the credit card.

Graybeard · « **Reply #20 on:** November 10, 2006, 06:32:32 PM »

I've been telling folks about the Hornady Light Mags in 7-08 for years. In fact I'm pretty sure I'm the one who got Zach hooked on them. So far no one has told me they didn't shoot well in their rifles. Like Zach the 139 SPs have always outshot the SSTs in my guns. In fact that's the ONLY load to ever shoot less than a one inch at 100 yard group in the old Model 7 that is now my wife's gun. Anyone not trying them is making a mistake.

HuntingGuy · « **Reply #21 on:** November 12, 2006, 07:03:50 AM »

GB, thanks for the tip - I'll run out and grab a box.

BRL · « **Reply #22 on:** November 17, 2006, 11:50:37 AM »

I just posted the following under another topic about the 7mm 08, but thought it might get more attention here.

-"I have a 7mm 08 and love shooting it in my Browning BLR. This cartridge seems to be very popular. One thing...why are there not very many factory offerings for it? There is a huge selection of 7mm bullets if one reloads. It seems as thought every ammo manufacturer loads a 140 for deer and a 120 varmint load...but not much else, unless I am just not looking in the right place. I would think there would be a deer load in 130 g and 160 g. If your gun doesn't like the 140's, your only option is to start to relaod with a different bullet weight. Any thoughts?"-

I meant the Hornady 139g. in that 140 class too. I have only shot Rem. CoreLokt and Fed. standard ammo in my rifle. That rifle doesn't have a scope on it yet and has been used at 50 yards with the iron sights. I will be getting a scope for it soon and wondered about other options for the 7mm 08. Maybe once I scope the rifle and shoot it at the bench will I really come to enjoy the 140's, but I am just surprised that there aren't many more options.

Zachary · « **Reply #23 on:** November 21, 2006, 09:55:26 AM »

Quote from: Graybeard on November 10, 2006, 06:32:32 PM

In fact I'm pretty sure I'm the one who got Zach hooked on them.

I am not 100% sure, but there is a pretty good chance that GB is correct (maybe 80%+). There may be an old thread somewhere here to confirm, but if there is, then it must be pretty old.

I also agree with GB. The SPs shot better in all of my rifles than did the SST. Don't know why...you would assume that the newer technology and better areodynamic SST would should better, but they didn't.

I thought that the SPs were boat-tail, but I may be wrong. Sorry for any confusion huntingguy.

Zachary

Graybeard · « **Reply #24 on:** November 21, 2006, 11:57:35 AM »

I'm pretty sure I recall a real old thread where you said me talking up those Light Mags got you to try them as well and they worked so well for you. I've shot a LOT of the SST Hornady bullets and so far the originals have outshot them every time in every caliber and bullet weight whether factory ammo or reloads. Dunno why but for me they just aren't that accurate. But their V-Max bullets seem just as accurate as BTs.

brasskeeper · « **Reply #25 on:** November 21, 2006, 01:34:15 PM »

Remington all the way.

HuntingGuy · « **Reply #26 on:** November 21, 2006, 05:36:14 PM »

Quote

I thought that the SPs were boat-tail, but I may be wrong. Sorry for any confusion huntingguy.

No problem, was just a little lost is all [but that ain't new for me

]... Anyways, gonna order a box of these bad boys for my Kimber and will report on accuracy.

Zachary · « **Reply #27 on:** November 22, 2006, 03:14:22 AM »

Quote from: Graybeard on November 21, 2006, 11:57:35 AM

I'm pretty sure I recall a real old thread where you said me talking up those Light Mags got you to try them as well and they worked so well for you.

Yea, like I said, I was about 80% sure that you were the one that got me hooked on them. I do recall a thread about it, which is why I mentioned it. The more and more I think about it, the more I think with a higher certainty that you were the one who got me hooked GB.

Zachary

Zachary · « **Reply #28 on:** November 22, 2006, 04:10:45 AM »

Quote from: HuntingGuy on November 21, 2006, 05:36:14 PM

Quote
I thought that the SPs were boat-tail, but I may be wrong. Sorry for any confusion huntingguy.

No problem, was just a little lost is all [but that ain't new for me ]... Anyways, gonna order a box of these bad boys for my Kimber and will report on accuracy.

Keep in mind that Kimbers are very light guns, so 1" accuracy is especially very good because, all else equal, heavier guns are a bit more accurate.

I have a Kimber Montana in .300WSM. With Federal Premium 180 grain Barnes X (or is it the new TSX?), I get about 1 1/4" groups. Not bad for such a light gun. With Federal Premium 180 grain Nosler Partitions, I get about 3/4" groups - very good for such a light gun.

I mention this because, as with all rifles, your gun will like one particular bullet/load over another. In all my rifles, the 139 LM SP gets better groups than the LM SSTs, but that could change in your rifle. First try the 139 SPs and see what kind of accuracy you are getting. If you get 1" or better, I would stick with them.

Zachary

butterman · « **Reply #29 on:** November 22, 2006, 08:47:53 PM »

For just shooting practise the Rem. then for hunting Federal Premium Noslers is the way to go hunting