7mm-08 adequate for Elk?

[SuperstitionCoues]

Is the 7mm-08 adequate for Elk, or should I stay with the .30-06?  Yea or nay?

[nasem]

I have never hunted elk but I do reload 7mm-08 ammo for my friend...

He likes my speer reloading manual #13 and you can load up them 175 grainers at up to 2500-2600 FPS with... (forgot powder, I think one of the 4350s, I can't remember for sure).... he says he is getting good accuracy withthe load.  I can't see how 2500 or 2600 fps from a 7mm bullet not being able to kill an elk

[Coyote Hunter]

I've been using a 7mm Rem Mag for elk for over 20 years with no complaints- no lost elk and no long tracking jobs.  Only had one go more than a few yards, and a fair share dropped in their tracks.  The load for most of those yards involved a 160g bullet (one year I used a 162g bullet) at 2850fps.  Hodgdon lists a 2823fps load for a 7mm-08 and a 150g bullet with a 24" barrel.  Even after deducting for a shorter barrel, that's close enough.  Pick a good bullet and go hunting.

[NONYA]

I use a 160 out of my 7mag but i have killed many elk with a nosler partition in a 140 loaded around 3000 fps,lots of dead elk 0 complaints.

[Slamfire]

I can't speak about herd bulls, but I've taken 5 eatin' elk with a 6.5-.257, with pretty much the same performance as the 7x57. Since the 7mm-08 is just a modern version of that venerable old cartridge, I'm sure it'd work just fine.

[Syncerus]

The question isn't "will a 7mm-08 kill elk", since clearly, under reasonable conditions it will. The real question is this: why use a 7mm-08 when you have a .30/06?

[safetysheriff]

The question isn't "will a 7mm-08 kill elk", since clearly, under reasonable conditions it will. The real question is this: why use a 7mm-08 when you have a .30/06?

i couldn't agree more!   with the price of brass and bullets today, why not put the price of a rifle (if you don't have the 7mm-08 already) into components for the .30-06?

i'd expect either a 165 or a 180 gr' Hornady spire point.....if it's accurate out of your '06......to knock over the largest bull out there with good shot placement at 300 yds'.    if you can handle the recoil and can assume a proper field-shooting position then i think the '06 will do it at that distance with one of those bullets or with one of the same weights in the more-expensive Nosler variants.

if the barrel length and its related velocity, with a proper bullet, on the 7mm-08 are not 'enough', you'll be disappointed.

good hunting and shooting to you,

ss'   

[mikedb]

I would consider the 7mm08 about the minimum for elk.  Why use the minimun when you can use an 06 and feel more comfortable the the gun can make up for a less than perfect set up or shot.  I like 30 caliber bullets for large game.

[SuperstitionCoues]

The question isn't "will a 7mm-08 kill elk", since clearly, under reasonable conditions it will. The real question is this: why use a 7mm-08 when you have a .30/06?

i couldn't agree more!   with the price of brass and bullets today, why not put the price of a rifle (if you don't have the 7mm-08 already) into components for the .30-06?

i'd expect either a 165 or a 180 gr' Hornady spire point.....if it's accurate out of your '06......to knock over the largest bull out there with good shot placement at 300 yds'.    if you can handle the recoil and can assume a proper field-shooting position then i think the '06 will do it at that distance with one of those bullets or with one of the same weights in the more-expensive Nosler variants.

if the barrel length and its related velocity, with a proper bullet, on the 7mm-08 are not 'enough', you'll be disappointed.

good hunting and shooting to you,

ss'   

Because, because, because...

Actually, that is the same question that my wife has lately. 

My 30-06 is a Win. Mod. 70 Classic Sporter with a David Miller stock (Limbsaver recoil pad) in NRA Excellent condition.  Same with the 7mm WSM Win Featherweight in Excellent condition, with a Limbsaver and a Williams Guide Series Muzzle brake.  Now that Win./U.S. Repeating Arms is out of business, I am sorely tempted to relegate the weapons to the safe, and pick up a new Ruger Hawkeye to use. 

While I am still getting out into the field on a regular basis for my doctoral research (chasing mule deer on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon  ), after 5 operations in my abdomen and back in the past 2.5 years, I watch the recoil.  So, while I know the .30-06 will work well, with my medical history and the way that I periodically feel crummy, switching to a 7mm-08 isn't a proposition that is out of the realm of possibility. 

So, please, give me all of the feedback that you can.  I will place it into the hopper and consider everything before I make a decision.

Thanks,

Matt

[usherj]

Use the rifle you can shoot best, which in your case would be the 7mm08. Correct shot placement with the 7mm08 is better than poor placement with the 30-06. Use 175s for nice penetration, assuming you have 9" twist. Keep range moderate, of course.

[Buckskin]

Plenty gun.  Not what I would pick, but plenty.

[captdp]

The 7x57 is almost identical as the 7-08 ballisticlly. A friend shot a 6x6 bull through both shoulders at a little less than 200yds. The bull ran 60yds and fell over.The bullet was under the skin on the off side. Finn Arrguad (sp) or Jack O'conner said that the 7x57 was the smallest gun that he would hunt all non-dangerous game world wide with. My suggestions wouild be that using 160gn 7mm that you would be fine up to about 250yds and 300yds using the '06. capt david

[safetysheriff]

since you are speaking about recoil and your surgery i'd go with something that kicks as lightly as a .25-06 using a premium bullet.   no, i myself don't buy premium bullets.   i don't hunt elk!   but that is my suggestion if you think you can get close enough to use the rifle properly on an animal that large.   i offer some documentation in a paragraph below.     

5 operations in 2.5 years tells me that there may be more wrong with your physical condition than you can handle with a larger caliber.    with the way people have harvested elk in the past, using that caliber with premium bullets, i'd say try the .25-06 which will put the "hunt" back into your experience.   

if you can find it, read, "Timber Magnums" on page 88 of the 1997 Handloader's Digest re: heavier/slower bullets in a number of calibers.......including the Speer Grand Slams of 120 gr's weight in the .25-06......which can successfully give you want you want.    the Grand Slams can apparently take the tough chore of anchoring a bull elk......

take care,

ss' 

[billy_56081]

  If you shoot it good its perfect.

  I used to be a guide many years ago. (God I hope ate 39 I'm not that old). We used to feelmuch more comfortable with a hunter with a standard caliber than a magnum. ( Not that magnumsare bad but most places likes to sell em to DUDES.) It's all in the placement.

  I worked for an outfitter whoallways said "we used to shoot elk with a 222 magnum till we were told it wasn't big enough" .While I wouldn't recomend using a 222 mag for elk it drove home a point.

   If your 7mm-08 shoots for you, you will be fine. Don't believe the hype. Go with what works for you.

Good Luck hunting

[lilabner]

Shoot the most powerful cartridge you are comfortable with. Bullet placement is more important than ballistics. With accurate bullet placement, you can reliably kill bull elk with a 7-08. With bad bullet placement, you can wound and lose bull elk using a .338 Winchester magnum.

[Ahab]

I'd go for 7mm-08. I have a light ss Ruger M77 with the new LC6 trigger and couldn't be happier with it. Actually was contemplating going with the .25-06 but an avid elk hunting friend convinced me otherwise.

[mikedb]

Could you tell me more about the LC6 trigger?

[tnekkc]

They got sick of eating elk on the Lewis and Clark expedition, and their rifles were nowhere near a 7mm-08.

[Syncerus]

It's all about time in the field. If you can spend months at a time, as did Lewis & Clark, you can kill all the elk that you want with a .22/250. As a recreational hunter, your time in the field is much more limited. A larger caliber with premium bullets, when shot effectively, allows a wider variety of shots to be taken in good conscience.

How much time do you have to go hunting? Are you willing to turn down all but a perfect shot?

[nomosendero]

If for example you load the 150 gr. Nos Part. at 2,800fps, at 300 yards you will have enough vel. for expansion @ 2,228 & enough
energy @ 1,653# with good penetration for a chest cavity shot. A 7 mag with the same bullet at 3,200fps will give virtually identical
numbers at 500 yards. To me, this is what it boils down to. 300 yards & under you have ADAQUATE Elk taking capabilities with you
placing that careful shot (something we need to do anyway). The 7mag gives you more range & power & bigger calibers of proper powder capacities & good bullets can give you an extra margin of power. It is doable with these things in mind & I wish you success in your hunt!!!

[Coyote Hunter]

They got sick of eating elk on the Lewis and Clark expedition, and their rifles were nowhere near a 7mm-08.

There were also a great many more elk around, with no restrictions in the way of hunting seasons, limits on what they could take, or where.

In 25 years of hunting elk I have never taken one that I couldn't have taken with a .308 Win ... or a 7mm version.  Longest shot was 350 yards, everything else was under 300.  I hunted them with a .44 Mag, 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, .375 Win and .45-70.

A 7mm-08 and a good 140g bullet will do it, but that is the minimum I generally recommend to non-residents that are on a rare ore once-in-a-lifetime hunt.

[tnekkc]

My father shot an old cow elk that was so tough, we ate the steaks ground up as hamburger and fed the rest to the dogs.
The dogs chewed on the meat for a long time to get a meal.
It seems that cow had a built in bullet proof vest.

[nomosendero]

My father shot an old cow elk that was so tough, we ate the steaks ground up as hamburger and fed the rest to the dogs.
The dogs chewed on the meat for a long time to get a meal.
It seems that cow had a built in bullet proof vest.

One that didn't work.

[ruffled feather]

  If you shoot it good its perfect.  I worked for an outfitter whoallways said "we used to shoot elk with a 222 magnum till we were told it wasn't big enough"

   If your 7mm-08 shoots for you, you will be fine. Don't believe the hype. Go with what works for you.

Good Luck hunting

well, at least it was "MAGNUM!"

And later, when reading another's post. if you look at the ballistics for the 7mm RemMag, what he's telling you is true. If the 7MAG is considered a 500yd elk gun then why with the exact same bullet is the 7mm-08 not good enough for 300yds? the bullet still arrives with the same impact velocities but at a closer distance, hmmm.... bottom line it is good enough!

[Syncerus]

A final thought: if the surgery/recoil situation is that serious, why not try using an autoloader? A BAR (skip the Remingtons) in .30/06 with a good recoil pad, or maybe a BOSS break / mercury insert will get you the reduced recoil that you need for your medical situation. And you'll still be using a fully capable hunting cartridge.

Just an idea.

[257 roberts]

Picked up a nice but used Sav. 99 in 7mm08 from a guy that retired here from Colo. and it was his elk rifle, he used factory Rem 140gr. AMMO( I almost died when I seen it was chambered in 7mm08 )

[Brithunter]

Hmmm so where is the photgraph?

C'mon we want to see it