My 11 year old son is shooting a tikka 7mm-08 and has been using the Hornady 120 grain custom light load. Performance is ok but looking for other options to try. Any suggestions would be great.
Thanks

Does recoil bother him? Might try Remington Managed Recoil if it does.

If recoil doesn;t bother him there are lots of good loads. Favorite current factory load is the Nosler Custom loaded with 140gr accubonds.

Do you reload?

Recaoil not bothering him much but he wouldnt mind something lighter if possible but more, just looking for other options to try and I dont reload.

Ok, you said recoil doesn't matter but would like something lighter. Do you actually mean less recoil. If so, then, the Tikka in 7mm-08 is a perfect combination. Here's a good recommendation. Read up on Muzzle Brakes, or better yet look at youtube videos on muzzle brakes. They WILL absolutely cut the recoil by about 30%. Cost with installation should be less than 200 bucks. You still have a phenominal rifle and a lot less kick.

My 9 year old is shooting a marlin youth bolt action with the accu trigger style trigger. Weight is not bad for him , neither is recoil. He stayed s fairly small framed and shoots the 140grway federal fusion.

I am getting good results from the Hornady Superformance 139 grain SST out of my Remington 788. Don't know what type of recoil pad your using, might check out one from Pacmyer.

If wanting less felt recoil a bteak will do it but at the expense of imcreased noise and muzzle blast. A recoil pad like pacmayr, kick-eez or limbsavers can sure teduce felt recoil

+1

I have a couple of Limbsavers and the change in recoil is drastic!

+2 on the Limbsaver, 139-140 grain bullets are the sweet spot for this round, IMHO.

The 140g Fedral Fusion shoots great in my wife Tikka 7-08. That is a lightweight rifle and she enjoys shooting much more since putting a quality recoil pad on it.

Thanks for all of the input, going to Cabelas this afternoon.

My wife's Ruger 7-08 loves Rem Core locks in 120 HP. She killed a big doe Tuesday at 160 yds. Doe ran maybe 50 yds with blown up lungs.

I do like the limbsaver recoil pad and I put them on my go to rifles. But I have shot a 300remington Ultra mag with 96 grains of powder standing with no rest and the recoil with a muzzlebrake was less than a 30-06. Yeah, the recoil pads help but until you shoot a muzzle braked rifle hold off on criticisms. No sane individual shoots a rifle without hearing protection unless absolutely necessary.

I have a Limbsaver pad on my youngest son's Model 7 7mm-08, it does make quite a difference.

Don't over look the 7x57 Mauser. Pawn shop cheap and usually shoot just fine. the Spanish made a bunch of 98 mausers in 7x57.
Lots of aftermarket stocks from Browmnells, Cabelas & Cheaper than dirt. They are good for any creature around here. If you hand load than all the better. You can load them dowm and still be good.

I have one for a truck gun with an original Weaver K6 From the 60's that shoots great. My 12 yr old daughter is just itchin' to hunt with it.
Recoil is lighter than what you may think.

Just my 2 cents worth

TBone

IF you like T Bone's suggestion, I have a sporter '95 Mauser in 7mm Mauser (7X57mm) for sale in the classifieds. Gun, scope, case, ammo. It's what the 7mm-08 was modeled after ballistically when they were formulating the round.