MTNTOUGH - Use promo code RANDY for 30 days free

150grn ELD-X in a 7mm-08

Brian in Montana

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 20, 2017
Messages
2,442
Location
Ramsay, MT
I tried one test batch using H4350. That was remarkably terrible. What powder would you recommend? Anybody loaded 150grn ELD-X's for a 7-08?
 
I've tried a box in a friend's 7mm mag Not one decent load from them, and I love Hornady bullet's! Switched to 154gr interlock's and doing a whole lot better. Of course might be a mind thing with me. Plastic tip's belong on varmint bullet's and monolithic bullet's. They are good on monolithic as they insure the bullet opens every time. They work good on varmint bulet's because it make them explosive!
 
Try RL19.
I was getting decent accuracy out of them, just looking for more velocity from my 7mm-08.
So i stick with 140gr. bullets.

If i'm going to slow my velocity down, then i'll shoot the ABLR. Expand down to 1,300 fps.
 
Big Game powder is awesome in my 7-08 with 140 grain Partitions at 2850fps.

RL16 did nicely in my 7-08 with 140 grain Accubonds, but only around 2750-2800fps.

These are out of a 20" barrel.
 
H1000 is too slow burning for the 7mm-08.
Varget good for the lighter bullets.
I didn't care for RL16.
4451 and Big Game would probably work good for your 150gr.
 
Jonboy,
I'm thinking you fat fingered and meant 2,530 fps.

Brian,
I would start over doing a ladder test, going from start load and increasing 0.3 gr per round.
Then play with seating depth. I'm betting you can get some good groups out of your combination by doing some fideling.
 
RL-15 and Varget have proven to be the two that kept themselves in the forefront of my 7/08 testing, from 120's to 150's. I always test both, because it's a funny thing, one will clearly give better results than the other, depending on the bullet I'm trying.
 
I just started some load development for a ruger hawkeye compact in 7-08. Started off with 2 different loads of RL15, 2 different loads of Varget, and 1 load of IMR4895. Best out of those 5 was the IMR4895 with all 3 shots inside a 1" square. Might try H4895 since I have a bit of it.
 
I am working on load development with 150 partitions currently; RL 16 at max charge per Alliant data is producing 2760 and roughly 1MOA. I am going to compare velocities and accuracy with IM4350 and see what happens.
 
Your 4350 is more than likely going to be slower. No less accurate though.
The new Reloder powders seem to have more energy.
 
Sorry, i was replying to Dcreiss.
Alliant's Reloder series (RL16, RL17) has more energy than IMR4350 that he wants to try.
 
Dcreiss: Just stumbled on to this site and joined. Came across your post from back in 05/18 about 7HT and RL-16. You may have already crossed that bridge, but I thought I'd toss something your way. My February 2018 American Rifleman magazine has a recipe on page 34 by Field Editor Aaron Carter for 150 GK over 44.5 grs RL16, GM210M primer, COL 2.760", 2655 fps (22" bbl). I lean toward RL powders and my 7-08 likes RL19. I hope your RL16 project goes well.

NRA Life Member...Marine Corps Life Member
 
Thanks for the suggestion Bulldog. I have worked the 150 gr partition through 3 different powders and just didn't find the accuracy I would like out of the gun. I have moved back to 140's in RL 16 and found impressive accuracy and speed at max loads. My TC just didn't care for the partition or ELD-X in 150, the best I could get to was around a 1.25" grouping consistently.
 
I have tried RL 17 and the 150 gn eldx in my 7mm-08. Velocity was great, near 2,900 fps. Accuracy was just so-so.
 
Back
Top