A buddy has a Browning in 7mm-08 that has been giving him a hard time grouping well and has asked for my help. Checked all the normal things but I believe it’s his choice of ammo. He’s not much of a gun guy and has the mind that more money equals better performance AND, when something says super performance, it has to be incredible, right?

So the first ammo he sent to me to test the gun with was Hornady Super Performance, doing like 3200fps! I don’t think that’s this gun’s sweet spot.

This is the first 7mm-08 I’ve dealt with.

What rounds have you had success with?

I like Barnes monolithic bullets, I’m guessing at a 140 grain-ish weight range, and somewhere around 2700-2800 FPS.

UPDATE:

Thanks again for all the suggestions. Got the troublesome rifle to the range today. I found Fusion 140 Grains at Academy along with some reduced recoil Hornady 120 SSTs.

Pleased to say that the Fusions were the perfect choice and the rifle is now zeroed, dead-on. The rifle did not like this Hornady load either.

Gave the targets and the rifle to my friend and he’s happy.

All in all, a great day at the range!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: sjames,

A buddy of mine swears by the 140 grain Federal Fusion. They also offer a 120 grain load, if your rifle prefers lighter/faster bullets. You might buy a box of each, and see which one shoots better in your particular rifle.

I don't have a 7mm-08, but I've used Fusion rounds in several other calibers (.308, .30-06, 7.62x39, and .223) with good effect.

Thanks, Rogue.

I’ll order a box of each to give a shot in his rifle.

I also recommend Fusion ammo. My 270 and 308 bolt actions are a touch more accurate with the lighter bullet weights offered per caliber.

I have been using Fusions also in .308 with good results.

Only real way to be sure is buy a few box of commercially available rounds and see what works best.

For me, terminal bullet performance takes precedence over dead on balls accuracy in a hunting gun.

I like Federal ammo and I like Nosler Partition, Sierra Game King, and Barnes copper bullets. Any combination of those should be more than accurate for killing deer.

Remington's 140gr Cor-Lokt load has produced many one-shot kills on deer for both me and my wife for over 20 years.

quote:

Originally posted by apprentice:
No offense intended, but deer in general just don't require anything fancy when it comes to bullets.

Don't let your buddy feel bad about it, we all go through a phase like that, but it just isn't necessary.

Buy two or three different makes of flat base spitzers in the 140-160ish weight range and see which ones group best. Then use those.

I've had great luck with Federal, Hornady, and even Remington over the years in lots of different calibers.

Wisdom of the Ages....So many OVERTHINK this stuff. Deer are NOT hard to kill. ANY standard old cup and core bullet will work in that 7mm-08. My wife has used 160 Speers on two mature cow elk...BANG....DEAD.

quote:

Originally posted by Bigboreshooter:
Remington's 140gr Cor-Lokt load has produced many one-shot kills on deer for both me and my wife for over 20 years.

That's what I use in my 7mm-08

Thanks for the replies. For those who gave info pertaining to my question, thanks for the data.

I swear some of you guys never read the OP.

Yeah, I know deer aren't hard to kill...I've killed more than my fair share. Will hunt with a 6.5 Grendel suppressed SBR this year.

This guy's rifle should be capable of more accuracy than it has demonstrated when I have shot it with the Hornady ammunition he had.

Additionally, the rifle was an anniversary gift from his wife and he wants to use it to validate her gift to him but doesn't feel confident with it.

Every rifle has a load that it likes and the guy wanted to find his rifle's pet load. Plus, it's chance for me to get him to the range and show him some other firearms that might help him realize guns are more than tools to harvest animals but might, just might, save his life some day.

Consider this:
The guy isn't a gun guy. He takes his rifle out once to sight it in before deer season, kills a deer, and puts it away for next season.

Wouldn't you think that a round capable of better/more repeatable groupings would grant a marginal hunter a better chance of making a clean kill?


Sorry for the vent...but dang...I know what will kill a deer, but that's not what I asked.

quote:

Originally posted by sjames:
So the first ammo he sent to me to test the gun with was Hornady Super Performance, doing like 3200fps! I don’t think that’s this gun’s sweet spot.

I should have commented earlier -- Hornady SuperFormance ammo has not been a hit with my rifles.

I believe its predecessor was the Light Magnum line. It grouped like dog doo in the pre-'64 Winchester model 70 .270 Dad gave me.

In cold weather, SuperFormance shot nicely in my 308. In hot weather it blew primers and made bolt lifting really hard. Way too hot for a tightly chambered rifle, and I suspect the powder is pretty temperature sensitive.

In my ARs, I rarely found a pattern on which Superformance would shoot accurately in a given gun. The only exception is my best match rifle, which shot lights out the last box of 75 grain ammo I had.

I think SuperFormance is built first and foremost for high muzzle velocity. I suspect accuracy is Hornady's second priority with this ammo line.

*****
The reasons I recommended Fusion:
- It's pretty easy to find, even in most hunting seasons.
- It was generally available during that lovely "8-year period".
- The bullets I dug out of dirt berms expanded well and held together. I defer to those who have hunted with the bullets, but I say that's a good start.
- Ammo prices are generally reasonable. The bullet isn't an uber-special alloy, or made in some new-fangled CNC machine.

What are the groups at what distance and what ammunition?
Believe it or not 2-3 " groups at 100 yds can be the norm for some shooters AND will take deer.-Richard
BTW I use 140 gr Nosler 7mm-08.-Richard

quote:

Originally posted by budrichard:
What are the groups at what distance and what ammunition?
Believe it or not 2-3 " groups at 100 yds can be the norm for some shooters AND will take deer.-Richard
BTW I use 140 gr Nosler 7mm-08.-Richard

4-5 inches at 100 yards with me shooting the rifle. I'm not the best shooter but can shoot 1 MOA groups with my rifles and did so on the same day I shot his rifle.

Read the OP for the rest of the info

quote:

Originally posted by fritz:

I think SuperFormance is built first and foremost for high muzzle velocity. I suspect accuracy is Hornady's second priority with this ammo line.

This is why I sought the wisdom of the forum. I believe the Hornady to be going way too fast and, as a result, has a bit more recoil than necessary, especially in a light hunting rifle.

Norma sells a few loads in 7-08 that are a little heavier (longer). Might help sort out that barrel. I've had good luck with their ammo in 6.5 Swede. Good luck, sounds like a nice project.

FWIW: I've been shooting Barnes (solid copper HPs) TTX and TTSX bullets out of cartridges loaded by Double Tap for several years now. The bullets work perfectly and I'm extremely happy with the consistent accuracy provided by Double Tap. I've shot mule deer, wild pigs, elk, and moose with their loads and I really think you'll like them. Note that these 140 grain TTSX rounds are rated at a very reasonable 2845fps from a 22" barrel.

http://www.doubletapammo.net/i...3_368&product_id=426

I have been very happy with HSM and Nosler

Try some heavier bullets. My Model 7, 7mm 08 only get feed handloads. Mine shoots the 160 gr Sierra SBT much better than 140 gr bullets. FWIW my 7mm rem mag and 7mm STW also really like the Sierra 160 SBT. Something like Federal Power Shok Ammunition 7mm-08 Remington 150 Grain Speer Hot-Cor Soft Point may be worth a try if you don't handload.

https://www.midwayusa.com/prod...soft-point-box-of-20

Check to see if the scope mount screws are tight.

I've shot 20-30 deer with the Hornady Light Magnum and later Superformance 139 grain SST out of a Remington 700 in 7mm-08.

It never grouped very well for me but it sure did a number on the deer. I never recovered so much as a fragment of a bullet and the contents of the chest cavity would be practically liquefied.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: maladat,