Question for the group

[Nevada Ed]

Since you live in Texas...........

I would think that there would be a few pigs that you could test that bullet out on, to give it a fair shake.

Maybe a stack of wet news papers, wedged into a 5 Gallon bucket.

Most factory ammo, should put meat on the table, even though it might be "Ugly".

 

[LostintheOzone]

My opinion.

What kind of accuracy do you get on a range target? I would first try to establish an MOA at 100 yds using that ammo. 2 MOA is acceptable for game but 3 MOA, maybe not.

Several things may be going on here. It could be the precision of that ammo or actually the bullet as you suggest that's causing the less than spectacular recovery rate. I would want to know which one is causing the problem.

If you find poor MOA from that ammo that's a load problem for your particular rifle. It doesn't like it. Not unusual in any event. That means a different powder and/or bullet. I wouldn't mess around with that powder trying to work up a better load.

Now if you have good MOA (2 or better) it's your bullet not doing it's job. That means just pulling those bullets and replacing them with a better bullet of the same weight. The powder and primers are usable. You've proven it isn't the load.

I wouldn't do anything until you isolate the problem. 7mm-08...I'm thinking bullet expansion problem.

 

[DWalt]

From what I can see finding 7mm-08 brass to load might be easier said than done...? With the exception of 223/5.56, shooting factory fodder 1st is how I sourced almost 100% of all the brass to reload for my rifle calibers.

It is extremely simple to make 7-08 cases by necking up .243 brass. Or by necking down .308. The former is preferred. One pass through a 7-08 FL sizing die is all that's necessary. May have to thin the neck-wall if you start with .308. Depends on your gun.

 

[murf205]

Same bullet weight and seating depth? I've done it a bunch with 308 match ammo. I pull the bullet by using a pair of wire strippers at the top of the press to grab the bullet and pull the handle down. Pour the powder in the scale pan and then take the decapping pin out of the sizing die and neck size the case. Good opportunity to weigh the factory charge (don't be surprised if it varies a bit). Put the powder back in and seat the bullet to make sure it chambers correctly. Do about 5 and go shoot them. It's time consuming but it'll work. The 308's i pulled were 168 Sierra Matchkings and I replaced them with 165 Hornady's and they shot great.

 

[22hipower]

The ammo in question is not very accurate out of my rifle. I shoot a bunch of wild hogs at my place in the country I have never had issues with recovery of the animal when I shoot them with a Nosler BT or a Hornady SST on top. I bought some other ammo during the pandemic for a just in case scenario. I decided to use this ammo for hogs but suddenly have issues with recovery I may recover 50% when I am use to 80% recovery or so

Shoot them in the head, just behind the ear, doesn't much matter what bullet you're using, they'll drop.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[lppd4]

Shoot them in the head, just behind the ear, doesn't much matter what bullet you're using, they'll drop.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

That's true and that's the goal however, it is a measured 203 yards to my feeder from my front porch and most of the time, under the green glow of a hog light. Many times I have just awakened from a dead sleep and maybe my eyes aren't what they used to be

 

[DWalt]

Around my location, 200 yards would be over double the average hog-shootin' distance. Many use rifled slugs, and 00 Buck use is not unknown. ARs in 6.5 Creedmoor are fairly popular.