7-08 Model 7 and RL-15

My favorite rifle to tote is a little 20" pencil barreled Model 7 CDL in 7-08. It shoots MOA but has never been what I would call a tack driver. When it comes to ammo it has always been finicky. Saying that is to lead into the fact that, as I headed to shoot yesterday evening after work, I did not have high expectations. I had resized 50 pieces of unfired 308 brass to 7-08 and wanted to fire form it. Rather than just load something low and bang through it, I loaded a 3 shot ladder with RL-15 and some 140 Accubonds. I put a target up at 200 yards. Sat down at the bench with a big wob of skoal and started shooting. Groups were pretty loose to start. From 39.5 to 40.5 the little model 7 shot like a witch. 9 shots had 1/4" of vertical dispersion at 200 yards. The three shots at 40.0 went into one little hole that measured .489" outside to outside. Just Wow! Those that have played around with the little whippy barrels should understand my amazement. More testing called for on this one!

Very nice!

Thin barrels shoot just fine, until they heat up. But they also cool off pretty quick.

Did you by any chance measure what your o-give to the rifling were with the 140 Accubonds?

I wonder how Ballistic Tips would work? 140's that is.

Those work fine in the 3 7mm-08s I have owned over the years

Yes. 0.080 which barely fits in the magazine.

now, if it will shoot the same group every time, I'll say great.

Are you trying to tell us this gun shoots these groups every time, or just once in a lifetime, the old "wallet" group.

If you say heck no, I'll pat you on the back.

I think we just went through this exercise on another thread.

Not trying to be a Richard but we all have shot a ragged hole at some time in our life.

Now on the whippy barrels yes they shoot well. I have one but haven't shot a one hole group with it yet. bUt rest assured I will post it here and will dang sure expect a parade

Well at this point I don't have enough data to say more than it appears I stumbled onto thie sweet spot with these components and it has the potential to be pretty sweet.

Smokey, that is some damn good shooting. Hopefully it shoots the same with fired brass, when brass volume changes, pattern will change.

I have shot this 3 shot group with the GAP 6.5 Creedmoor with 140 Hybrids at 200 yards with "virgin" brass as well,,,,,but it did NOT shoot like it again with fired brass. I don't call it ,,,,cough cough,,,,,,a .1 MOA rifle like tenyears said that his AR-15 can do. I wished I had a bolt gun that shot like tenyear's AR-15 So far it shoots .25 MOA at 200 yards which is acceptable for me with fired brass.

Yeah that's where my thought process leads me too.

I think you missed the boat Buzzsaw. The post was sharing how well reloader 15 works in 7-08. It is the powder the US military uses in it's M 118 long range sniper round and is also used in silhouette competition. Being how several of the reloaders are also long range shooters on this forum, I thought it might be of interest.

sorry, yes RL 15 is great for the 7mm08

Update. I reshot it through the chrono tonight out of fire formed brass at 200 again. Only three shots. Not screaming fast at 2616 fps but the little Model Seven gave a repeat performance with the Accubonds and RL-15. WOW! The little rig seems to be in harmony with these components.

There isn't much you can't kill with a 140 Accubond at 2600 FPS.

Great group and shooting. I have killed lots of deer and pigs with a 7mm-08 shooting 140s at about the same speed.

Awesome shooting!! I have 2 different Rem 700s 7-08s that shoot the 140 accubonds into bug holes above 41.0gr. RL-15. Seems to be a perfect match for the caliber.

My Model 7 sends 140gr SGKs out at 2735 FPS with 42.0 of R15. Sub-MOA and deadly.

Not much kacee hasn’t killed with her 7/08 and 149’s loaded with rl15 from bobcat to giraffes