7mm-08 hunting & subsonic loads

[tnflyfisher]

I'm trying to work up cast loads for 7mm-08 Tika. The only mold I currently have is a Lee 130gr GC. Using 7 gr Unique it still get 1234 av. so I'm going to dial it back to 5-5.5gr and try for 1000 fps.

Accuracy is poor. I get 5/8" #100yd with jacked hunting loads, but 2+" with this cast load.

I assume that a heaver longer bullet would be better--about 175 gr.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[runfiverun]

in the mean time try bumping that load up....

there are several boolit molds available other than the lee, rcbs makes one and lyman makes a couple.
if for accuracy only a silhouette type boolit at about 1850 fps should do the trick.

[dverna]

How consistent are you cast bullets? Weigh 100 and see what the variation is. Also look for imperfections.

There are a few casters who can produce cast bullets that will shoot as well as jacketed bullets - but it not many.

Don Verna

[tnflyfisher]

How consistent are you cast bullets? Weigh 100 and see what the variation is. Also look for imperfections.

There are a few casters who can produce cast bullets that will shoot as well as jacketed bullets - but it not many.

Don Verna

I weighed each one and selected the top of the bell curve all w/i 3 gr (1.5+-). The Lee mold and tumble lube worked great.

The only inconsistency I know of is the aluminum gas check. Couldn't find Hornady copper last year so I bought some aluminum GCs from a small manufacturer. They have a ragged edge and don't fit tight or grip well when sized. Hornady is available again and I've ordered some.

My main concern is that a 130gr boolit is too short to reach the lands and may be getting a bad start. 170/175gr was the original standard for 7mm so 'maybe' that would work better.

[tnflyfisher]

My first goal is a dead-quiet sub-sonic plinker for backyard varmints. But it also needs to be headshot accurate. Then, I'd like a cast hunting load, just in case I ever run out of my jacketed loads.

Actually my real goal in entertainment.... ;-)

[randyrat]

Your GC may be part of it...The base of the bullet is below the neck? and if your kinda iffy on how well it is staying on the bullets. Dang short neck on the 7mm08

[44man]

The hardest thing to do is to shoot slow. My guess is you need a very fast twist.

[cbrick]

Both of my 7-08's have a 1 in 10 twist. Kinda wish it were 1 in 12 but it is what it is. Don't know what the twist is in a Tika.

Rick

[Larry Gibson]

That is too light a bullet for Unique to burn efficiently at subsonic velocities. Use Bullseye, well fire formed cases, flash holes drilled out with 30 - 28 #'d drill, soft alloy and soft lube.

Larry Gibson

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

What alloy? I've been working on a 7mm-08 in a handi rifle, and found that my light loads would should but faster wouldnt.
Making the alloy stiffer (water dropping) improved it significantly.

[tnflyfisher]

No, the bullet is as far in the neck as I can get it--1 caliber back from the rim. Even then the bullet is not far in the throat to engage the lands. That's why I want a heaver/longer bullet.

[tnflyfisher]

What alloy? I've been working on a 7mm-08 in a handi rifle, and found that my light loads would should but faster wouldnt.
Making the alloy stiffer (water dropping) improved it significantly.

Lyman #2 not quenched.

[tnflyfisher]

Both of my 7-08's have a 1 in 10 twist. Kinda wish it were 1 in 12 but it is what it is. Don't know what the twist is in a Tika.

Rick

9.5 twist

[tnflyfisher]

That is too light a bullet for Unique to burn efficiently at subsonic velocities. Use Bullseye, well fire formed cases, flash holes drilled out with 30 - 28 #'d drill, soft alloy and soft lube.

Larry Gibson

Thanks Larry, I'll try Bullseye and opening up the flash hole.

[michiganmike]

Hi TN,

I hope this is still helpful. I have a Ruger Mountain Rifle in 7mm-08. And I have two dies, one is a Lyman 145 grain Loverin type that is very accurate. The other is the RCBS #82018 7mm mold. The data that came with it says it will throw a 168 gr. bullet.

But I get 175 gr. bullets using my version of Lyman #2 alloy. This is 1-1 Linotype and wheel weights. I don't have my notebook handy.

But I recall that it shot reliable, accurate groups using H4895. If you want more complete, detailed data, let me know. Since velocity is limited by the alloy, I wanted the heaviest bullet that shot accurately. An accurate 175 gr. bullet traveling close to 2,000fps does the job nicely.

MichiganMike

[kevmc]

Thanks Larry, I'll try Bullseye and opening up the flash hole.

Might want to mark/keep these cases separate.......
I don't think I'd reload these cases with full loads after opening the flash holes! (pressure)