I finally got the Tikka T3x Hunter in 7-08 I’ve been wanting. I started working up loads for it and starting with the 120gr TTSXs. What’s yalls go to load for the 7-08 or what are proven Powders for the 7-08?

I use Big Game(BG) powder for my 140 grain Accubond/Partition load. I get 2850 fps out of a 20” barrel.
I use Varget(didn’t need BG to get the velocity I wanted) for my 120 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip(NBT) load. I get 3000 fps with this load.

Think I used around 39 gr of Varget. Was just under max load. Absolutely smoked a doe at about 150 yards. Lungs were jelly

I tested a few loads in the 7-08 and settled on the Varget with the 120gr TTSXs. I got it close at 100yds and fired a 5 shot group with the Magnito Speed on the end of the barrel. It wasn’t terrible and think I can tighten it up some without the chrono on the barrel. I fired 8 shots between sighting in and the five shot group and they averaged 3002fps. The group was a little over an inch.

Did you seat to the Barnes load data COL or did you measure from your rifle's lands?

When loading a Barnes TSX, Tipped TSX or LRX bullet, your rifle may prefer a bullet jump of anywhere between .050” up to .250” or more. This distance off the lands (rifling), aka “jump” may be limited to the rifles throat length, magazine length and bullet length.

Barnes recommends adjusting the seating depths and shooting for group until that sweet spot is found. Considering the cost of their bullets, that gets pricey.

I think their recommendation is 2.80” and I seated them to 2.75”. I’m gonna fool around some with seating depth and try to get it a little better.

I load 140 gr sierra game kings.I tried varget ,imr 4350 .powders that i had.
well believe it or not i settled on imr 3031.worked up a load on quickload.A little over
2800 ft. I think i am the only one that reloads for the 7mm/08 that uses this powder

I took a couple rounds today and seated them to 2.730. I think I found what I wanted. Fired 3 shots at 100yds. 2 bullets touching and the 3rd was about 1/2” lower then other 2. That’s plenty accurate for me!!

I have used Big Game and 4350. TTSX is a great bullet! My only issue with them is if you shoot a whitetail behind the shoulder, they tend to pencil hole. If you hit shoulder, they definitely do damage. I personally don’t use tough bullets on whitetail. They really aren’t very difficult animals to kill. I prefer a bullet that goes in and dumps its load in the thoracic cavity. To each their own. The TTSX is a great bullet! Good luck.

I shot the 120 TTSX in my 7mm-08 last year and shot an 11 point with it. It got the job done and he only ran about 50 yards but I ended up calling a dog in to find him because there was no blood or hair anywhere and I actually thought I'd missed. I may give it another try but I also loaded some 120 ballistic tips last week and plan to try them out once it cools off a little. The exact load I used last year and had the best accuracy was 50.0 grains of ramshot big game and a COAL of 2.750. I started off at 2.800 and didn't get good results and started seating deeper and when I got to 2.750 all 3 shots were touching and I stuck with that.

I am loading 140gr ballistic tips over 4350 right now. Getting decent velocity and accuracy out of a Ruger M77 compact. I believe that barrel is only 16” so it isn’t designed for long range shooting anyway. My experience with the TTSX was similar except my deer ran further through the thickest briars I have ever been in. It truly was amazing the stuff she went through. I hit her perfectly, the TTSX just didn’t expand.

The key with using TTSX bullets is to drive them as fast as possible. I only use the 168 gr TTSX in my 300 Weatherby at a MV of @ 3300 fps. I've only shot a few deer with this combo but it works very well.

The 130s in my 308 are around 3150fps. The only thing I killed with them so far was 2 blackbucks in Texas. I shot 1 at 180yds and he dropped in his tracks. The other was around 200yds and only went about 10yds. I know they aren’t big animals but the TTSXs performed great. My reason for trying the 120s in the 7-08 is because my buddy’ Wife killed 2 deer with this combo last season and I really like how they performed. Complete pass throughs on both and a great blood trail on the one that went about 60yds. I hope I’m not disappointed.

I don't think you'll be disappointed in them. More than likely I'll be hunting with them again this year and give them another try. One thing I will say as far as the buck I shot last year with one is that I was able to pretty much eat right up to the bullet hole other than the chunks of bone that the bullet busted through and picking that out it did not bloody up the meat like I figured it would and I only found 1 little piece of a copper petal while deboning his left shoulder. But I did load up some nosler 120 grain ballistic tips using ramshot big game that I plan to test as soon as it cools off a little and depending on how they do I may give them a try this year.

And set them back off the lands

Since your going Mono I'd look into slower instead of medium speeds. Win 760 the 4350s RL19 AA 3100 even the 4831s. I don't think you could get enough speed out of the super slows like H1000 Imr 7828 Rl22 H870. I don't know your barrel length but the 708 has always been efficient and I'd set the bullets at least .050 off the lands. Let us know how our Goober advice works out.

I’m not sure I improve on the load I have worked up with Varget as for as my ability to shoot them. However I do have some IMR4350 and have some H4350 on the way. Win. 760 really made the 25wssm shine with the 100gr Barnes TTSXs. I’m working on a load for my daughters 243. I’m wanting to try the H4350 in the 243. I’ll let y’all know if it works out.

H4350 is the winner in my wife's 243 with anything 95gr-100gr. Varget did well with the 85gr TSX. I have a few 80gr TTSXs I haven't tried out yet. I have been trying to get to work on the 120gr NBTs with Big Game in 708 for my wife's new Tikka but I just haven't found the time yet

Let's discuss Maximum Point Blank Range (MPBR) from the reloader's perspective.

A 7mm-08 with a 140 grain bullet's MPBR = approximately 285 yards.

A 7mm-08 with a 120 grain bullet's MPBR = approximately 287 yards.

If you didn't get a complete pass through or had issues with a 140 you did something terribly wrong. In theory (on paper) the 140 will be ballisticaly superior in all respects. If your gun shoots the 120's better that's your gun's fault. Why in the cornbread hell would anyone shoot a 120 stating they need to get the velocity up so that it will do whatever magic bullshait y''all think it will do.

Completely ridiculous to be shooting a 120 in this caliber.

I've caught more 139 and 140 gr .284 bullets with deer than any other bullet by a wide margin. The were loaded to 3000 fps in my 7x57 or 3270 fps in a 7mm RM. Bullets were either a 139 gr Hornady or 140 gr accubond.

Never have caught a 140 gr Partition...