Alright I’m scratching my head on this one. I bought this HOWA for my son last year. It’s mounted in a Boyd’s at one stock and I put a Swarovski scope on it. It’ll shoot Barnes 120g factory load and hornady reduces recoil loads at about 1.5” which is plenty sufficient for the ranges in shill let him shoot. However this little rifle is very handy and feels really good and from time to time I might hunt with it so 1.5” is a no go. I worked up some 140 Nosler BTs with 40g of Varget and 41g. 40g shot 1.4” and 41g shot about 5”. I’m kinda at a loss since nothing factory shoots great in the 120s and the Varget hand loads should have grouped better than they did. The rifle was bought from a friend who I trust so no issues there. Scope is not moving, action screws are torqued properly, action is pillar bedded and the barrel is floated. I have R22, imr4350, h4831, imr4831 and h1000 powder. Which one would you try next? I also have 120g nosler BT, Barnes 150g ttsx, Barnes 145g LRX, nosler 140g BTs, 140g combined tech BTs, 154g hornady spire points and 150g accubonds. Which bullet would you try? Keep in mind my 10 year old will be shooting these so recoil is a small factor.

Try the 120 gr nosler with imr 4350. If you had any ramshot big game I'd almost guarantee you could find a load for the 120 nosler.

Joshm look into imr4350 with the 150&154's or use the varget with heavier bullets too. Some rifles just hate some loads.

My 120 grain NBT load is with Varget. My 140 grain Partitions and Accubond load is with Big Game. I hate your rifle is being finicky. Mine shoots factory 120 grain Barnes ammo into tiny little groups, as well.

RL16 is another good powder, too.

I would also suggest giving IMR4350 a try. I have an old S&W Model 1500 (a Howa) in .243 and it loves IMR4350 pushing 87gr Sierras. Didn't see them on your list, but my Steyr 7mm-08 likes the Hornady 139gr SST....and also IMR4350.

Ramshot Big Game is a good powder for the 7 08.

If you can't find any I would use 4350 with 140 gr bullets. The other powders you listed are a little too slow for this case IMO.

I'd stick with the Varget and try some of those other bullets. If that didn't work I'd move to the 4350 with the bigger ones. I know it's no help but I've had good luck with 4064 in a couple 7'08s.

I ran to Vans in Cullman yesterday and picked up a box of super performance SST and corelocks. If these don’t shoot I’ll load some with the 4350. I’ve got a stable of rifles he can hunt with so I’m not really under a time crunch but now it’s just aggravating lol.

Good to hear. More rifles more better.

My 708 liked lower charges of varget with the 140

I ended up stopping load development at 47g of imr4350 and 120g BTs. Haven’t chronographed it yet but should be around 2850fps. My soon to be 11 year old will carry and shoot this rifle. It’s light recoiling and shoots under1”. Once he gets a little bigger I’ll start working up a little quicker round. Just don’t see the point now.