7mm-08 with 1-11.5 twist won`t zero for poop

[oldbrass]

I aquired this model 11 LH 7mm-08 (G prefix) about six months ago on a trade. My goal is to get it dialed in for deer season. I tried some 150 gr accubonds over W760 and its all over the paper, actually a terrible 8" spread at 50 yards. I tried some 139 factory hornady loads and its down to 3 inches which is still terrible.(this was on a bench rest) I checked the usual suspects action screws, scope base and rings etc. I took the 4X bushnell off and tried a 3-9 Nikon prostaff and the same results..Were these 1-11 twist barrels that bad ? The bore looks clean but I don`t know all the history of the rifle..Being its a lefty I really like the gun..Is it worth a re-barrel or just get something newer.

[stangfish]

Try a 120 grain or less bullet. Try varget or R-15. that twist rate is for light bullets. Your scope may have something to do with it as well. What caliber rifle were they on previously. There are many unknows here, like experience, trigger pull, etc....

[oldbrass]

trigger pull is 3.5 experience is good, 20 years army and hunted since 12..the nikon prostaff is new..I read here on the forum savage made some of these in slow twists, I expected they would atleast shoot minute of deer. I will take your advice and try a lighter bullet...thanx for the input

[emtrescue6]

Same advise as stang...lighter bullets. I suspect it won't shoot anything over 120's consistently, but a 120g accu-bond or partition is what I plan to load for mine and should be good medicine on deer! I also have a LH Model 11 in 7mm-08 I picked up last year but mine has the 1:9.5...haven't shot it yet, it was too good a deal to pass up, plus as a lefty I still tend to impulse by left handed rifles, having grown up when they just weren't that easy to find...haha.

[oldbrass]

Heck yes a 120 would be good deer medicine.I`ve heard rumors of elk taken with a 120 gr TSX but I`m not that brave..I also have model 11 lefty in .223 that shoots lights out with a 65gr Sierra game king

[scope eye]

Sierra makes a 100gr HPs, that combined with 46gr + of Varget, will cure your grouping wows.

Dean

[J.Baker]

As has been noted, the 1:11.5 twist rate is for 130 grain and lighter bullets. Someone at Savage had a brain fart which resulted to their using this slower twist on the 7mm-08 barrels for a couple years. Suffice to say they finally got the message and reverted back to the 1:9.5" twist rate after a ton of complaints and a noticeable drop in 7mm-08 sales.

[AROKHUNTER]

I'm telling you, you won't part with that rifle once you load some 120 grain Barnes TTSX bullets. I trim my brass and load the bullets to where the last cannelure that is closest to the tip of bullet is seated to where the base of that cannelure is just showing at top of neck of brass. ( I can't remember exact OAL). Use H4895. Anything from 40.0 grains to 41.0 grains shoots good with 41.0 grains being the winner at 0.470" groups for me. I use CCI primers also and Winchester brass fully prepped. I won't part with this barrel anytime soon. I've heard the horror stories, but I have none. Oh, and 120 grain Hornady Soft Points with Varget shoots 0.360" groups (cant remember how much Varget, but I wanna say 43.0 grains). But the Barnes blows through deer at either 50 or 200 yards with no trouble following a blood trail, if you need it.

[Jetpig]

The most accurate load I ever had for a 7mm-08 was with Sierra 120g spitzer flat base gamekings. They shot a hole just a tad bigger than the bullet its self with 5 shot group. Same twist. I believe I used IMR 4064.

[oldbrass]

I picked up some barnes 120 TSX today I`ll try. Powder in these parts in quite scarce. all I have left is W760

[parkj5]

Also be sure the mount screw on front scope mount is not bottomed out on barrel.i have seen this before front screw to long.

[LHitchcox]

My 11.5 twist shoots Hornady 139 grain bullets well. Normally I shoot Nosler 120 BTs.

[oldbrass]

Also be sure the mount screw on front scope mount is not bottomed out on barrel.i have seen this before front screw to long.
Thanx park, I`ll check it before I hit the range saturday. Actually I`m re-checking everything again. I`ve been shooting for 39 years and get comfortable thinking I can`t make simple mistakes anymore

[fossil]

My Stevens 11.5 twist sporter only likes 110 gr. Speer T-N-Ts. It's a 7mm-08 also.

[jonbearman]

I get half moa with sierra 120's and it is a hammer.It will take a deer easily with this weight bullet and will be trying it for the first time this year as new york has finally opened high power in several more county's.

[mudpig]

I agree with the above posts about going to the lighter bullet for this twist. I was fortunate to get the later generation of 7mm barrels and it simply shoots amazing. I've had amazing luck with Rem brass, WLR primers, and 47gr of W-760 under 140gr Rem PSP for 3/4" groups at 100yds and 48gr of W-760 with 140gr TSX for 1/3" groups at the same 100yds. ..010 off the lands on the Rem bullet and .050 off the lands with the Barnes. Good luck