OzFclass

Quick wrote:Be interesting to see how accuracy went with 308 Palma necked down.

The only person I know who used .308 Palma brass for a 7-08 got reduced velocity.

What primer did he use?

Quick wrote:What primer did he use?

According to him............
"I run CCI 250s because right up there the 215s would pierce"

He did run the thing quite hot from all accounts!

Ok. I'm talking about the small rifle primer Lapua brass.

Quick wrote:Ok. I'm talking about the small rifle primer Lapua brass.

That's the stuff he couldn't get velocity with. I got his notes mixed up. The 250's were used with the standard Lap brass.

I think I will be using .260 Lapua brass if I can get some or Privy 7-08 brass as its thinner in the neck and cheap. At the moment any brass is getting hard to get. The local shops have even run out of .308 brass.

When I first started to look at the alternatives to the .284 win I had a serious look at the comparison chart listed on the Accurate shooter web site for 7mm Cartridges.

http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/7mm/

One thing that seem strange to me was that the 7-08ai cartridge was not included. Various loads for the straight 7-08 were shown but it looked to me like this data was being held back by the use of light bullets, short throats and short barrels.

Now with an AI chamber, long throat and a long barrel this cartridge seem to me to be capable of driving the heavier bullets at competitive velocity. It should also offer long barrel life.
Photo of 7-08 and 7-08ai (long throat) when loaded with 180gn Berger.
Looks just like a scaled up 6.5x47, maybe?



Below is a plot of what velocity is possible with Berger 180gn Hybrid projectiles. These loads were safe in my rifle but other shooters should work up their loads in their rifles.

Hi Norm,

Many thanks for the info and pictures. I ordered a 7-08 reamer from PT&G a week or so ago. The plan is to use it as a training rig / test rig. I have plenty of 308 Winchester brass and plenty of 7mm projectiles, so after reading your post I was curious.

I cannot wait to get it built and start the process of getting solid data on performance.

Please keeps us posted on your progress.

Craig.

Craig,
From my testing so far. The standard 7-08 is about 150fps behind the
7-08AI with 180gn bullets.
Its a sweet little round.

Norm,

How goes your testing? Is it Performing well? Is it showing the accuracy you expect?

Quick wrote:Norm,

How goes your testing? Is it Performing well? Is it showing the accuracy you expect?

Still fire forming my large primer flash hole Lapua brass.
Accuracy is great and I will get up to a 150fps boost in velocity once fire forming is done.
All good.

norm,
there seems to be a good node for 180 bullets at about 2730 to 2750.
if you can achieve that safely and economically, you won't know you aren't shooting a 284.
keep safe,
bruce.

Norm, how goes the 7mm-08AI? Any more news about it?

G,day Norm, hows that 7 08 going ? Chop

Chopper wrote:G,day Norm, hows that 7 08 going ? Chop

Hi Chopper,
Yes its an interesting round. Still playing with it and learning its quirks.
My .284win shit itself at the Queens so I gave up on it and used the 7-08ai on the last day. Managed a decent score at 900 and 1000 but the rifle has a quite thin barrel and seems to wander a bit in vertical on the last few shots as the barrel gets hot.
Got me thinking. I like the calibre but don't like the thin barrel. Some sort of rehash of my barrels are in order but as this is a fairly new barrel I will persist with it for a while yet.
The Privi brass was a failure, it is soft and less accurate. The standard Lapua brass seems much more accurate and lasts longer.
I got a box of Palma brass to try with small rifle magnum primers and AR2208. Looking forward to seeing how they compare to the standard Lapua brass.

Norm I can get over 3000fps with 180 out of some of my 284 barrels
Max velocity is one thing barrel tune is another and thats what we look for the accurate workable velocity.

I like the fence post when it meet some sandpaper it will be ready for some pimping

BTW Norm I would give the 168gr a serious look they can hammer