Loading 7-08 in a 7-08AI

So, I have a lot of 7-08 once fired brass and I want to load them up to fire form them into my 7-08AI barrel, so I can then load them to 7-08AI.

Here’s where my rookie reloading brain is trying to sort things out...

Do I resize to a headspace of an over the shelf ammo (or Chad’s ammo) that shot really well?

I could use the Hornady OAL gauge and find where the ogive of the bullet touches the lands (I think I’m using the right terminology here?) and that way I can find a good seating depth.

Or is there some other step or measurment I should be accounting for here?

Thanks!

Bump the shoulder back .001" of the fired 7mm-08 brass with a full length die.

Seat the bullets even with the lands or .001" off.

Once you find the distance from bolt face to lands that never changes, even after you brass is formed to A.I.

Powder charge; work around a max, or above max 7mm-08 load, while forming brass into A.I. A hot 7mm-08 load in an A.I. chamber doesnt build the same pressure since the brass shoulder is moving so much. Just find a charge that shoots well, and keep it. I've seen many a 7mm-08 A.I. be 1/4 MOA rifle's WHILE FORMING BRASS.

Got it. Thanks!!!

I understand the idea that the measurment from bolt face to lands will be consistent.

I’ve seen a lot of folks talking about finding the lands and then seating 0.020” back...and then working your way towards the lands. I was under the impression that you want to get close, but didn’t know it was good to try to get 0.001” close or touching. Good to know I can seat that close. I was not sure why some folks suggest seating for the JUMP to be 0.020” (Or more) and some folks said to seat even closer. Left me scratching my head a bit.

Doesn't make any sense to me to jump the bullet if you've got the mag length.

Good deal. Just got into using the OAL gauge and two videos mentioned Seating back 0.020” yesterday...I had understood the idea of loading close to lands, but wasn’t sure why they picked that measurment. Other video I saw said seat just under the lands, but it didn’t give a measurment.

Ok, ready to start loading. I’m going with RL16 and Hornady 162 ELDM. Trying to find the right starting point for loading

Here’s what the RL16 data shows:



Haven’t found anything online showing what would be a max load for 162ELDM for R16 in 7-08.

I’ve been told by two people they run right at around 45g for their 7-08AI loads in RL16.

Just curious if anyone has any suggestions...

I’m fireforming with these, but want to use them for hogs and deer while I do.

Via quickload in standard 08 with a 162 seated to 2.80 41.2 is about max. It's mainly max due to case fill not pressure. No if you're going to jam the bullets I'd obviously drop the charge weight.

Maximum is when the brass won't hold anymore powder.

Or the gun comes apart...whichever comes first

I haven’t tried any 16 but I use Varget burn rate stuff...my fireform load is 40.5 (which is .5 grain below max) then once formed I’m normally somewhere around 2 grains over book max of a standard 7-08. Work up to that but if you use as a guide you should stumble across something.

Good luck!

I've got more than a few that are limited by capacity.

^^Says the guy that shot a .284 Win making a 180 gr come out it 7 Rem Mag speed.

Where'd that primer go off to?

Since it was not a Tikka I knew it could handle the pressure without splitting.