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The wife bought me a Savage Axis 7mm-08 last Christmas and the in-laws gave me 4 boxes of Remington Core Lokt with it and I haven't been getting very good groups (4 plus inches). I'm putting in a knew trigger spring to help with the trigger pull. But just wondering what others out there are using for factory loads. Just seeing what direction I want to go first. Guess I should also say I plan on using this for whitetail and coyotes under 300 yards.
I have a Stevens 200 in 7mm-08 and it shoots Hornady American Whitetail very well.
Not saying this will be true with your rifle, but when I tried Remington Corelokt 130 gr. ammo in my Axis .270 I got 5-shot groups about like yours. Tried some federal 130's, groups shrank to 5 shots in barely over an inch. That accuracy level has now held through almost 100 rounds of Federal loads from three different lots, so I know what my factory load is likely to be from now on.
BTW, I gave 2 boxes of the Remington load to a friend who also has an Axis .270 -- and in his rifle they shot as well as the Federals did in mine. So, go figure...
Trigger spring will help. Some rifles are picky so try the Whitetail's.
Thanks Guys I will will pick up some Hornady and federals to see which my rifle might like better.
You are going to like the way the Hornady Whitetails (HWT) shoot. Weather you like Hornady bullets is a different story. My son dropped a bunch of bucks with the HWT. For some reason he now shoots a solid TSX
I have a Savage 11 in 7mm-08. I tried Reminton 140 gr Core Lokts and got terrible groups - on a good day 3 inches. I went the handloading route to shrink my group size. I second other's suggestions that you try other brands. I know of a number of hunters who have been having problems with the Winchester ammo. Accuracy is good, but, hit animals are not staying down. Not sure why - bullet failure?
Try something in a lighter bullet weight.
Mine loves the 139g SSTs.
Win 140 SuperX work well in my mod 11....
Brothers 11 7mm08 shot the CoreLokts into 1.5" at 100m.
Remington accutip V would barely hit the target because the bullet's kept breaking apart after leaving the muzzle.
Federal Fusion shot about 1 moa and it's what I recommend for you.