7-08ai shooters.

[Norm]

I would like to hear from 7-08ai shooters. I have a Giles built rifle sitting in the safe just awaiting a new Stock.
My build is on a Stiller Viper SS action LPRB, with a 32" Archer barrel. Twist 1 : 8

What bullet are you running? Loads?
Rifle set up, Barrel length? Twist rate?
Are they competitive against the other F-Open calibres?

Cheers Norm.

[DaveMc]

A couple of years ago I was shooting against Vince Northfield in Brisbane and he had one working VERY well. Think he was still using the 180 VLD with 2209, BR2 and doing slightly less velocity than the 284 (2750 odd). He was very competitive. Guess it was a 1 in 9 twist on Savage action from memory.

I have toyed with running one with 2208 and 160 class projectiles and palma brass) in a shorter barrel for short range to use up my half cooked barrels.

[jasmay]

Dave,

How woudl you think the 7mm-08 would hold up at the longs?

[DaveMc]

Pretty good I reckon. You should get great barrel life and reliability I would imagine. Also the smaller more efficient cases tend to be easier to tune. Being 50-100 fps behind the 284's is a very small disadvantage but could cost a point here or there - Question is can you make it up elsewhere with better vertical, better points at short range, better gun handling etc.
In reality they are very much in the same ball park. Mark F might know more about this caliber as I know he has a reamer and has played a little.

[Brad Y]

If you really wanted your velocity up there, you could always run it with the 168's as well. It might be a little better suited if you wanted to run that for the shorts and a 284 for longs. Try the 308 palma cases necked down as well. They go very good in a 243AI and my 260 improved works well with them too.

[Norm]

For those that want real data on the 7-08AI with 180gn weight projectiles. Have a look at the last three velocity readings shown in the photo below.
I changed powders and found a load that gave an easy 2815fps without being compressed.

Who needs a .284????

[Quick]

What powder norm?

[Norm]

What powder norm?

Plain and self raising............. LOL..........

Nah I tried AR2206H, AR2208, AR2209 and AR2213sc.
AR2209 is the bomb and AR2213sc is also great but a bit slow and loads end up being compressed.
The 2823fps was with 52gn of AR2213sc. Good luck getting that much powder into a case. I had to persuade it in with a good bit of crunching just to see what it would do. 51gn was fine though.

[Quick]

That's good news I think for 7mm shooters as I have heard getting 284 brass is an issue at times.

Did you run normal 7mm-08 brass or necked down 308 Palma?

[Matt P]

Norm
Velocity is one thing but how was the accuracy ???
Very interesting, I still keep looking at the 7x57 AI.
Matt P

[Quick]

I've considered that one myself Matt. Just haven't found much info about it in competition. I think you can get Lapua brass for the 7x57 aswell.

[RAVEN]

8 twist is faster than the normal?

I have used 168 Berger out of a few barrels
before I became fixated on 180 grainers
And they always shot well they gave me better grouping than the 180's
this is out of a 284 of coarse and there would be no reason that they would work well out of the 7/08

RB

[Matt P]

No Lapua brass in 7 x 57 but RWS !!!

[Norm]

That's good news I think for 7mm shooters as I have heard getting 284 brass is an issue at times.

Did you run normal 7mm-08 brass or necked down 308 Palma?

I just used some old .243 Winchester brass that I had laying around.

No accuracy testing yet. It doesn't even have a scope on it yet. Still waiting on a stock too. Had to whittle up a stock with a chain saw so that I could have a play.

I might have to send it to South Australia just so someone can pimp it up for me......

[Quick]

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